Everglades Holiday Park (Home of the Gator Boys) Review #usfg

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Everglades Holiday Park is South Florida's premier gateway to the state's most exciting natural attraction-the Everglades. The park started nearly three decades ago by George M. Bridges who build the first airboat by hand in his backyard in 1982. The park is a family fun entertainment destinations and offers everything from guided Everglades airboat tours and live alligator presentations to food, souvenirs and fresh water fishing,

A moms review:
Visiting the Everglades has been on my, "places to visit list" for a very long time. So when we received an opportunity to review Everglades Holiday Park during our visit to Florida I just had to say yes. Everglades Holiday Park is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida so it took us about 3 1/2 hours to get there from the Orlando area but the drive was well worth it.

We arrived at the park around 11 am. Parking was plentiful and it was very easy to locate the gift shop where we received our airboat tour ticket. The gift shop was quite large and offered snacks, souvenirs and fishing gear. There were well maintained restrooms located just outside of the gift shop. There was also a deli located next to the gift shop in case you need to grab a bite to eat. After receiving our airboat tour tickets we went outside to sit on the covered porch in front of the gift shop to wait for our tour number to be called. In about 10 minutes they announced our tour number over the PA system and we proceeded down to the boat dock.

Once at the boat dock a staff member gathered our family and took a souvenir photo. And guess what the photo is included in the cost of your tickets! How cool is that? No need to pay another $20+ for a photo to remember your experience.

At this point the kids were getting really excited.....okay so was I. Our Captain walked us up the dock to the boat and we piled in. The boats seat 20+ people and are covered so you don't have to worry about melting in the Florida sun! After our Captain Mike went over some rules we were off on our 60 minute thrilling airboat tour of the Everglades.

WOW! We learned so much in 60 minutes. Mike told us the history of the area, how the Native Americans lived off the land, and how to survive if you ever get lost in the Everglades (which I hope never happens...eek). He also showed us the numerous flora and fauna of the area and yes we did get to see a couple alligators...one of them was only a few feet away from the boat! Our Captain really made our experience a fun and remarkable one. It is one that we will never forget. He was funny, informative and you could tell he was very dedicated to his job. **Important note: bring cash to tip your airboat Captain and the Gator Boys that do the presentation...they deserve it. The Everglades Holiday Park airboat experience is perfect for all ages and a must for nature enthusiasts, thrill seekers and artists!

A video posted by @kbalman on Jun 16, 2016 at 11:05pm PDT

This video clip explains it all!

After our airboat tour we picked up our souvenir photo and headed up to the waiting area for our gator show with the famous "Gator Boys"! If you don't know who the Gator Boys are let me tell you a little bit about them. The Gator Boys are a group of people (and not just boys there is a woman too) dedicated to rescuing nuisance alligators around Florida. Their reality show airs on Animal Planet, in fact many of their episodes were filmed at Everglades Holiday Park. When it was time for our show they walked us down to a covered walkway located in front of the "gator pit." **Important note: Everglades Holiday Park is in the process of building an arena area for future shows! The 20 minute show is an adrenalin-charged good time filled with exciting stunts, tricks and some of the best entertainment around. It is also very educational which is a plus for our homeschooling family! The show is very animal friendly and in fact the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue actually helps nuisance alligators by giving them a place to live and eat in a natural setting. These gators, if not rescued would have been euthanized...instead they are now animal ambassadors helping to break down alligator stereotypes!

After the show is over you can head over to the photo area to capture some more special memories. For a small fee you can get a memorable experience and photo holding a baby alligator, snake or other critter (animals do vary but they generally always have a baby alligator available for a photo shoot). Look at their grins. They were in absolute heaven.

We give Everglades Holiday Park 5 stars. The cost, experiences and staff were all stellar. We highly recommend this experience to any family looking for a one of a kind way to spend their time in Florida! I promise you will not be disappointed. When I posted our photos to social media several followers told me they had similar experiences with Everglades Holiday Park and visit every year when they vacation in Florida!

Extra details:

• Ask QUESTIONS! The captains are a wealth of knowledge and being prepared with questions can definitely enhance the experience.
• Take along sunscreen and bus spray...after all it is Florida and a swamp!
• The airboat ride can be very loud at times. If you have a child sensitive to loud noises take along ear protection, 
• Don't forget to take cash along to tip your airboat Captain and the Gator Boy or Girl doing your show!
• All ages can ride the airboat, children under 3 are free!
• Find out about various family friendly events taking place at the park by visiting the Gator Kids Club page.
• Everglades Holiday Park is home to many animal species learn more about them here.
• If you want to get a glimpse of the park before visiting check out the web cam.
• Everglades Holiday Park can accommodate various groups and offers discounts for 15 or more, read more here. 

Where:

21940 Griffin Road
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33332  

954-870-4822

Links to follow:

-Everglades Holiday Park Website

-Everglades Holiday Park Facebook

-Everglades Holiday Park Twitter

Vote For Nature Travel

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For the third year in a row I am participating in the World Traveling blog series. This years theme was, "vote for." It didn't take me long to come up with the perfect topic for my post. It is something our family is very passionate about and something we make a point of exploring just about every week...nature! Nature is all around us so it is one of the easiest and most inexpensive things to explore when you are traveling either in your home state or to another state.

One of my many passions is exposing adults and children to nature. All around us we are surrounded by nature which makes it one of the most effortless travel experiences. Yet so many families don't take advantage of the natural world and all it has to offer our children. Over the last decade there has been a great disconnect between children and the natural world and it is up to us to make a change today. So I, "Vote for Nature Travel."

To read the rest of my post visit Wordtraveling.com.

Make sure you click over to Wordtraveling.com and Cast your "Vote for Travel' by entering the awesome $1500 vacation giveaway to the incredible Beaches of Ft. Myers/ Sanibel and to read more posts from other bloggers and family travel experts in our third annual series!

No purchase or real voting necessary!

*Terms and prize details can be found at WordTraveling

Click the image below to read the rest of my post and ENTER TO WIN:

Loupe Led Magnifying Glass Review

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We have a lot of pastimes some of which include exploring nature, stamp and coin collecting, rockhounding and playing with maps. All of these activities require a specialized piece of equipment which has been around since 400 BC. It hasn't changed much over the years...until now! The Loupe Led Magnifying Glass with 3 interchangeable lenses is a new, innovative magnifying glass that meets all your needs.

This set comes with a high quality case to help you protect your equipment, 3 interchangeable lenses, a cleaning cloth so you can safely clean your magnifying glass, a cleaning brush to help you clean hard to reach areas, such as the changing lenses connections, assuring a longer product life, and a credit card magnifier so you can easily have access to a magnifier on the go.

2.5x, 5x and 16x interchangeable magnifiers are included. The lenses are so easy to switch...even a child can do it. Simply push the 2 release buttons and the lens pops right off. With this feature you will NEVER have to worry about not having the right lens for the job. The lenses are top quality and provide you with a clear, sharp image. The powerful LEDs can easily be turned on and off using the handle switch. We especially liked this feature because we often go out on night excursions and we were still able to explore nature even in the dark! the magnifying glass also has a great non-slip handle making it comfortable and stable to hold...especially for littler hands. Everything fits safely and securely into the carry case so it is easy to transport if you are on the go like we always are. I can just toss the magnifying glass bag into our hiking bag and we are ready to go explore nature or hit up rock, coin or stamp expo!

Best of all your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you are not satisfied with your purchase they will give you a full refund. So you can buy this product with absolute confidence.

Check out Gwyn's YouTube video below:

Camp Google - 4 Weeks of FREE Fun Science Adventures #NGKinsider

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I am about to leave for a a week long camp to become certified as an Outdoor Wildlife Leader along with my two friends. But I won't be the only one having fun....you and your children can experience a science camp from the comfort of your own sofa over the next 4 weeks. Khan Academy, National Geographic and NASA have joined forces with Google to bring you Camp Google. Camp Google is a 4 week online camp designed for children ages 7-10 years old. Each week will be filled with fun science activities and exploration.

Every Monday camp starts with a live adventure that you access right from the Camp Google site. Adventures include a dive into the Atlantic ocean, a hike up an active volcano and jamming with a music star. If you miss a week don't worry, camp activities will remain open and you can look back and relive the experiences at anytime.

National Geographic kicks off the fun on July 13th with Ocean Week. During Ocean Week children will go on a 1 hr live dive into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with with National Geographic Explorers Erika Bergman and Sylvia Earle. The event will be staged from inside Baseline Explorer's Submarine 'Nemo' where Erika Bergman and Sylvia Earle will discuss marine biology, technology and then pilot an OpenROV pre-positioned several miles offshore and piloted through a wireless ethernet bridge.

Children will learn things like:

• What's at the bottom of the ocean floor?
• How are volcanoes formed?
• What do astronauts eat?
• Why does music make us want to bust a move?

All you need to participate is internet access and a few household items.

As children progress through camp activities they will earn cool badges....like these.

Google explains:

"To really dig into the answers, kids will complete hands on science projects led by experts - using supplies often already available at home - that encourage them to learn by doing, explore the real world and get a little messy. With every activity completed, kids collect special Camp Google badges and track the new skills they've learned along the way."

Watch this video to learn more:


I'd love to hear your thoughts on the camp after you attend some of the session!

FREE Nature Scavenger Hunts

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First off I want to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. Do you have any exciting plans this weekend? We are going on a camping adventure with some friends and visiting another one of a kind camping destination in Georgia (don't worry I will share all about it when we return). Remember you can follow us on our fun adventures by checking in with us on Instagram and Facebook.

We have all kinds of fun activities lined up for the weekend like learning how to tie the different types of knots, making para-cord bracelets, playing board games, geocaching, and going on scavenger hunts. So today I decided to make up my own nature scavenger hunts and share them with you.

Download the nature scavenger hunt here, or click the photo below.

Download the fungus scavenger hunt here, or click the photo below.

For more fun, FREE downloads including nature journal pages (leaf, arachnid, flower, etc) and fieldtrip/road trip worksheets (letter game, travel journal page, road trip scavenger hunt) visit my freebie page.

Do you have any camping trips planned this year? I'd love to hear more about them post a comment below.

You can also tag us on instagram (@kbalman or use hashtag #2015campingfun) or share a photo on our Facebook page.

Exploring The Amazon Rain Forest

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We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Forests and Woods" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read, craft we made and grab your FREE journal page. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.

Books:
This month we read Afternoon on the Amazon which is book #6 in the Magic Tree House series. In Afternoon on the Amazon Jack and Annie are whisked away to the Amazon River where they get lost. During their journey they encounter vampire bats, killer ants and man eating fish. Will they ever find their way back to the tree house? Or will they be stuck in the rain forest forever? The book was a great way to teach the children about forests. They learned about the different forest levels, where the Amazon Rain Forest is located and more.

We also utilized our Usborne Geography Encyclopedia to learn more about South America. This book goes along great with the journal page below.

Other book recommendations:
-Rainforests
-Secrets of the Rain Forest
-Rain Forest to Color
-Magic Treehouse Rain Forests Research Guide
-Rain Forest Colors National Geographic
-If I Ran A Rain Forest (Dr. Seuss)
-National Geographic Kids Funny Fill-in: My Rain Forest Adventure 

Crafts:

For our craft we did a mixed media art project to learn more about the rain forest levels.

Materials:

• White cardstock
• Green tissue paper (different shades)
• Corrugated cardboard
• Markers
• Scissors
• Construction paper (optional)
• Green and brown pipe cleaners (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut strips of corrugated cardboard for the tree trunks. You will need 3 different lengths which will represent the emergent layer, canopy layer and understory layer. Glue the cardboard onto the white cardstock. Be sure to leave enough space on the side to label the rain forest layers
2. Color the top of the cardstock blue for the sky.
3. Tear little pieces of tissue paper and glue the pieces to the top of the trees.
4. Use a marker to add the forest floor. Color any remaining white background areas green. 
5. Label the 4 rain forest layers:  emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer and forest floor.
6. Optional: Add pipe cleaners for vines and draw some animals:
   

Free Journal Pages:
Here is the geography journal page that will help children explore South America more. Download your copy here or click the picture below.

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - 3 Dinosaurs - ABC Creative Learning - As We Walk Along the Road - Brain Power Boy - Chestnut Grove Academy - Embracing Destiny - Every Bed of Roses - Farm Fresh Adventures - Growing in God's Grace - Kathys Cluttered Mind - My Bright Firefly - Peakle Pie - Preschool Powol Packets - Pray Species - SAHM I am - Stir The Wonder - Sunny Day Family - Sweet Silly Sara - Teach Beside Me - To the Moon and Back - Tots and Me - Tree Valley Academy - Witty Hoots

Enter the Woods with The Gruffalo Bundle Giveaway!

Get ready for some fun in the woods with this month’s Gruffalo Bundle Giveaway! The Gruffalo is a fun children’s book set in the woods and has a very funny, yet easy to follow story. This month the Poppins Book Nook group has partnered with NCircle Entertainment to offer readers a chance to win a brand new copy of The Gruffalo storybook, The Gruffalo DVD, and the Gruffalo’s Child DVD. This month’s lucky winner will enjoy all this woods themed family storybook and DVD fun with their family compliments of NCircle Entertainment and the Poppins Book Nook cohosts.

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here. 

Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:

Image attribute: Melonheadzdoodles CollectiveCreation

Homeschool Nature Journal Club and All About Squirrels

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About a week ago I had my first homeschool nature journal club meeting for the North Metro Atlanta area. This has been something I have wanted to do for quiet sometime, but have always been too nervous to start. Well I finally took the plunge and the first meeting was fabulous. Nature journaling is something that myself and my children are really passionate about and we have been nature journaling since we started homeschooling in 2011. I wanted to share the joys and importance of nature journaling with other families and so Homeschool Nature Journal Club - Metro Atlanta was created. I will try my best to share each of our monthly meetings on my blog in hopes that it encourages you to start nature journaling with your children or perhaps even start your own club.

First let me tell you how to create a nature journal club group for those that are interested then I will tell you more about our first meeting topic and share exactly everything we covered and the resources we utilized.

Staring a nature journal club: 
It is really not as hard as it sounds. I created the group on Facebook, because for me that is the easiest way to communicate with a large group and post events. I decided to offer meetings for the entire North Metro Atlanta area (which includes Cherokee County, Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County and more), but you can make it for a smaller region if you want, like just your city or county. I offer two meetings a month and because my group covers multiple counties I offer one on the west side and one on the east side to try to accommodate everyone. In the past I have arranged nature walks with another group I am in and was very disappointed when the day of the nature walk no one or only a couple of families showed. I felt like all my hard work had been for nothing. So with this new, larger group I charge each family a small fee from $5-$7. This basically pays for my time and any supplies I may need for the meeting (like handouts, craft materials, books, etc).

For each meeting I pick a topic and different location so families can get exposed to a variety of nature preserves, parks, etc. Some of the upcoming topics include squirrels, GA birds, mushrooms, worms, pine cones and conifers, macroinvertabrates, spiders and more. At each meeting I talk about the topic, read a book, provide a drawing demonstration, have some sort of hands on activity and then we hit the trail for nature journaling.

For the first meeting I covered what nature journaling is, the reasons why nature journaling is so important, as well as what type of information to put in a nature journal. Be sure to view and download my nature journaling 101 handout.

Of course it is very important to give families a list of the supplies they will need to bring to nature journal club.

What to bring to each meeting:

• Writing utensils (coloring pencils, crayons, etc)
• A blank nature journal - it basically needs to have a blank page/spot to draw. If it has some lines to write that is fine. (see below for recommendations)
• Snack or lunch
• Nature bag for further exploring
  

Here are some journal recommendations

• Miller Pads and Paper - spiral bound, blank space on top with writing lines below
• Nature Log - Targeted for children, ages five to twelve, Nature Log Kids is a journal that lets youngsters note encounters with nature. Pages to paste photos and artwork add a perfect blend of creativity to each and every entry.
• Guided Nature Journal - No one could describe Nature Journal as a blank book. Clare Walker Leslie has transformed what could have been an ordinary diary into something truly unique. The text and illustrations offer just the right amount of inspiration and guidance to help the journal-keeper begin and succeed at making this book his or her own.
• Standard Journal - This stylish journal is a must-have for everyone, from artists and students to writers and professionals! Featuring a natural cork cover that's soft to the touch, this unlined blank book is ideal for note taking, sketching, doodling and more.
• Handmade diary or handmade brown bag journal

1st Club Meeting  - Squirrels:
Our first meeting was fantastic and my heart jumped for joy when I read the comments parents posted afterwards on the Facebook group.

My non-writing, non-artistic child today enjoying our first nature journaling meet up. He actually took notes about what was being taught and drew a few pictures! We are really going to love this new group! It's all about finding what they love. Stacy

Thank you for a great morning. The nature journaling is going to open a lot of doors for us. We look forward to next month! Stephanie

I heard great things, so glad my husband was able to take them! Looking forward to the next one and meeting you all. Thanks for putting these things together! Sarah

After I covered the nature journaling 101 information I introduced the children to the KWL chart. We discussed what they knew about squirrels, what they wanted to learn and hopefully later they discussed all they had learned with their parents. Since we are unschoolers we use KWL charts a lot.

After the KWL chart I read some interesting squirrel facts to the children. While reading the facts though I worked in some questions, like "what is a mammal," and "what is an herbivore." This helped keep the children involved and interested.

After we covered the facts I asked if anyone had any questions. The weather was a bit chilly so we didn't get around to reading the book I had planned to read, Burgess Book of Animals for Children.

So I passed around the red squirrel skull I purchased on Ebay and showed the children how to tell that squirrels are rodents (long orange teeth). They all really loved the skull!!

I then showed the children how to draw a really simple squirrel. This YouTube video was a great help.


After the drawing lesson I verbally gave the children a list of questions to think about as they observed the squirrels (these were taken out of the Handbook of Nature Study book). Then I handed out little cups of birdseed and gave them each a little squirrel ornament goodie for being so well behaved. I also encouraged them to do journal entries in between our meetings and told them at the next meeting I will ask for volunteers to share some of their entries.

Then we hit the trial! During our walk we didn't see many squirrels...can you believe it.  Luckily though most of the children said they have squirrels in their backyard so they promised to go home and watch the squirrels in their yard. We did all sit down though to create journal entries. Some children journaled about squirrels, others journaled about other things like trees and birds.

Be sure to download a copy of my squirrel nature journal club guide.

Here are some of the additional books I took along for the children to look at:

• The Squirrel
• World of Animals
• Fun With Nature

The first meeting was tons of fun and I am looking forward to so many more fun nature journal club adventures. I hope this post inspires you to get your children outdoors!

Elachee Nature Center Review

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Elachee Nature Center is an beautiful nature center located in Gainesville, GA that we stumbled across one day while running an errand in Gainesville. It is located in the 1,500-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. This place is a nature lovers paradise and is definitely one of our favorite nature centers in GA.

A moms review:
We are avid hikers and geocachers so we are always on the search for trails to explore. Well Elachee offers that and so much more.

The nature center features:

-Interactive Discovery Areas
-Astronomy Exhibits
-Fossilized Mosasaur Skeletons
-Local Archaeology & History Exhibits
-Live Animal Exhibit
-Nature Shop
-13 Miles of Hiking Trails
-1,500 acres of Woodland Preserve

There is a fee for the museum which houses the exhibits and discovery areas, but the trails are FREE to walk. Since this was an unplanned field trip we didn't have our nature backpack which we normally take with us on hikes. But that was okay because they have awesome "Discover Nature Packs" you can borrow for FREE (they do require you give them your drivers license as collateral). The backpack was filled with paper, writing utensils,  books, field guides and more. There is even a Gecoaching GPS Backpack. (Update: on one of our return trips we checked out the GPS pack and had a blast. The children were able to solve the clues to unlock the cache). After walking around the museum we took a nature walk on the short unpaved Ed Dodd Trail. We saw wildflowers, inchworms, lots of butterfly's, spiders, all sorts of trees, toadshade trillium, fungus's and mushrooms. The kids had a great educational day. My son traced some leaves and my daughter drew and wrote in a mini nature book that we made by folding a piece of paper in half. We learned all about lichens from one of the field guides in our bag and tried to locate the different kinds during our walk. After we finished the nature walk we checked out the butterfly garden which was just starting to grow. Hopefully next time we visit it will full of pretty flowers and butterflies. On the way back to the car we checked out the compost center they have set up. They also have some brochures and coloring pages about composting that you can take home with you.

Since we spent so much time at nature center we did not have a chance to check out the Chicopee Woods Aquatic Studies Center and Chicopee Lake which is located across the preserve from the main complex. You can access the Aquatic Center by either a 2.5 mile hike or a 10 minute car ride around the perimeter of the preserve. The lake and surrounding wetland provide a perfect spot for the study of pond life, wetland inhabitants, and birds, who favor this site as home or a stop on their migration route.

Some of the photos are from a recent trip.

Elachee's mission is to promote environmental understanding through education and conservation. Some of the ways Elachee does this is by offering teacher education, summer day camp, special public programs, scout and home school programs, children's birthday parties, and facility rentals. Elachee's curriculum is designed to develop a healthy ecological consciousness and includes preschool. elementary, and secondary education programs paralleling the Georgia Performance Standards. Elachee is a private not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) institution and is supported by program fees, memberships, fundraising events, museum admissions, and donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals.

The kids beg to go to Elachee anytime we are in Gainesville. They love the hands on exhibits, live animals, trails and creek. My daughter says her favorite animal at the nature center is the corn snake. And my son says he loves the red tail hawks they have in the outside enclosure.

Extra Details:

• Dress for the weather and make sure you were good walking shoes. I highly recommend keeping the flip flops at home.
• Bring water if you plan to walk the trials.
• Make sure the kids use the restroom before you head out on the trails.
• Don't forget your good camera (like I did) there are some beautiful things to take pictures of.
• Remember there are snakes in the woods so make sure you discuss with your kids about not touching or picking up ANY snakes. Especially since GA does have a few venomous species.
• Don't forget to pick up a trail map which are located just outside the front door of the museum building.
• Check out the boards just inside the museum entrance for information on what types of flowers are currently blooming.
• If you want to make your visit even more educational and memorable be sure to check out the Discover Nature Pack in the museum lobby. These backpacks, which are FREE to check out for the day, contain lots of information, nature guides and fun activities to help you explore the woods using Leave No Trace guidelines. These backpacks are geared toward grades K-8, pack themes include animals, plants, and GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation. A combined animal/plant backpack is available in Spanish. Sponsored by a grant from REI.
• Make sure you check out the events page on Elachees website to see if there is anything going on.
• Make sure your children know not to pick the wildflowers or collect plants, animals, rocks or other natural materials.
• If you wish to take your family dog you can do so during permitted hours if they are on a leash. They are not permitted Monday through Friday from 9 am - 3 pm due to school groups.

Where:
2125 Elachee Drive
Gainesville, GA 30504
770-535-1976

Links to Follow:
-Elachee Website
-Elachee Facebook
-Elachee Twitter

7 Natural Wonders Of Georgia

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Did you know that Georgia has 7 natural wonders? Well one of our goals this summer was to visit the remaining natural wonders on our list. If you're wondering how these seven were chosen from all of Georgia's fabulous natural resources, check out the New Georgia Encyclopedia's article about the history of the select seven.

So in no particular order here are the 7 natural wonders along with some photos and details.

Georgia 7 Natural Wonders:

1) Stone Mountain - Ten miles northeast of Atlanta is the largest exposed mass of granite in the world. Stone Mountain Park is 3,200 acres of natural beauty and offers visitors a variety of family friendly activities and seasonal events. One of the activities is a trip to the top of this amazing natural wonder. You can get there by taking a 1 mile hike up one of the sides of the mountain or by sky lift.

2) Okefenokee Swamp - At the very bottom of Georgia (near the Florida/Georgia state line) you will discover the largest swamp in North America. The swamp was named by the Native Americans and means "land of the trembling earth," so be careful where you step! This oasis can be accessed at two points Stephen C. Foster State Park is on the West and Folkston is on the East. The majority of the swamp is a National Wildlife Refuge which makes it the it a wildlife paradise. Rent a boat or take a ranger led boat tour through the black swamp to experience everything this 402,000-acre refuge has to offer. Some of the flora and fauna you will encounter include beautiful Spanish moss-laced cypress trees, alligators at every turn, bobbing turtles, black bears and deer romping through the woods and ibis and herons flying overhead. At night you can experience some of the best stargazing in Georgia. If you are weary of a boat ride there are several amazing trails at Stephen C. Foster including a 2,100 boardwalk trail that provide breathtaking views of the park as well.

3) Warm Springs - You will find the healing waters of Warm Springs in Pine Mountain, Georgia. This area became internationally known when president Franklin Delano Roosevelt built a home, known as the Little White House, there so he could be closer to the spring. The spring provided relief for many people who suffered from polio in the early 1900's. To experience the 88 degree water for yourself visit the Historic Pools Museum or the Liberty Bell Pool (both operated by Georgia State Parks). For more information about this area visit the FDR/Warm Springs Welcome Center. You can visit FDR's residence, the Little White House, and his favorite picnic spot at F.D. Roosevelt State Park.

4) Amicalola Falls - Amicalola Falls which means "tumbling waters" is the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. Its seven cascades, drop 729 feet to the base. The spectacular scenery and hiking trails at Amicalola Falls State Park make this one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. There are 12 miles of trails at the park and several fascinating views of the falls so that everyone can easily experience their breathtaking beauty. The West Ridge Falls Trail is the easiest for most people because it's paved. This trail provides one of the best views too (photo above was from this trail). For a view from the top of the falls you can take the short connector trail or the staircase from the West Ridge Falls Trail. For a more strenuous hike there is the Appalachian Approach Trial which is a dirt hiking trail that follows the river and includes lots of stairs (it's lots of fun to hike in the snow). Be sure to check out the Appalachian Trail display at the visitor center too.

5) Radium Springs - The largest natural springs in Georgia are found just outside of Albany. This place is so magical. This natural spring pumps 70,000 gallons of clear, 68 degree water per minute from an underground limestone cave. In 1927 the Radium Springs Casino and Resort opened and visitors from all over flocked to this special Blue Hole. However the depression, fire and a couple floods resulted in the casino and hotel closing it doors. Up until the mid-late 90's the spring was a popular swimming place for Albany residents but due to the flood damage the state and local governments eventually took over the property in 2003. Thankfully in 2010 Radium Springs Gardens opened it's gates again so that visitors could enjoy this magical place. Though swimming is no longer allowed there is still much to see and do at this beautiful place which is FREE to visit. Part of the casino ruins still stand and have been converted into a butterfly garden area with ample seating and even public restrooms. There are walkways, interpretive panels, spectacular viewing areas, and gazebos around the spring. Enjoy a few hours or entire day soaking in the foliage-draped hillocks, crystal clear waters, and exotic flora and fauna. Read more about Albany here.

6) Providence Canyon - AKA "Georgia's Little Grand Canyon" is located in South West Georgia. The canyon was formed by poor farming in the early 1900's. Each year the soft, unconsolidated sediment canyon walls continue to widen. There are some gullies that are as deep as 150 feet. The views are absolutely breathtaking. There are three miles of trails, picnic areas, a playground and several hike in campsites. Besides offering an amazing geology lesson this park also offers some fantastic flora and fauna viewing. Did you know the rare Plumleaf Azalea only grows in this region? Providence Canyon State Park is a definitely a must see and I encourage a walk down to the canyon floor.

7) Tallulah Gorge - In Northeast Georgia sits a gorge that was once known as "the Niagara of the South." Tallulah, which means fearsome, originally described the waterfalls which used to rage through this part of Georgia. In 1912 though Georgia Power dammed the falls to create a hydroelectric facility. As a result the 2 mile long, 1,000 feet deep gorge is all that remains. This gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern United States. You can view the gorge best from the Tallulah Gorge State Park North and South rim trails which are moderate trails that offer breathtaking views, ample shade and resting areas. The suspension bridge that sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom is tons of fun and provides the best views of the Tempesta and Hurricane waterfalls. The bridge can be accessed by either rim trail, however I recommend the South Rim staircase because it has more resting platforms (it does have more steps though 347 to be exact as opposed to the 310 on the North Rim). Tightrope walkers have crossed the gorge twice and visitors can still see the towers used by Karl Wallenda. If you are feeling very adventurous you can get a free permit to explore the gorge floor (100 given out daily). Also at the park you will find the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive center which highlights the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area. While you are on the trails be on the look out for the persistent trillium, monkey-face orchid and green salamander which are all protected species found within the gorge.

8) Cloudland Canyon - The Bonus Wonder - There is one more natural wonder that I feel needs to be highlighted. Call it the bonus 8th wonder. Cloudland Canyon is located on the western ridge of lookout mountain and is yet another spectacular natural wonder in Georgia. This canyon offers amazing rugged geology and exceptional hiking. The deep 800-1,980 feet gorge has been cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek. This park offers something for everyone including hiking, caving, camping, geocaching biking, horseback riding and more. An easy walk from the picnic area provides the most spectacular view into the canyon. But for avid hikers and adventure seekers you can explore the rim trail or travel the 1,200 staircase to the canyon floor (we did the stairs when my children were 4 and 5 yrs old). There are also two beautiful waterfalls that cascade over layers of sandstone and shale at Cloudland Canyon too.

Since 6 of these sights are located in Georgia State Parks you may want to consider getting a Georgia State Park Pass. These passes start at $55 and will save you money if you visit the state parks often. The money from the passes also helps keep these beautiful parks in pristine condition.

I definitely encourage you to add these Georgia 7 (I mean 8) Natural Wonders to your list of places to explore. You won't regret it! 

Mile Marker News - South Carolina Beach Getaway

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

"Mile Marker News" will include details about our upcoming trip, the preliminary itinerary, the planning process, travel tips, and more. And of course there will be many posts to follow after the adventure when we share our reviews and other travel articles pertaining to our trip.

Well we are gearing up for another fun adventure, but this time we are heading north to our sister state, South Carolina. Did you see our South Georgia Adventure itinerary? I completed the post about our stop in Albany, Georgia, but I am still working on a few more for the other cities we visited.

Remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and/or Google + so you can see snapshots of our adventure.

South Carolina Beach Getaway:

We are total beach bums and if we could live near a beach we totally would. In a few days we will be heading to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. Myrtle Beach is the perfect beach getaway and offers a wide variety of activities, accommodations and dining.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org.

Here are just a few of things Myrtle Beach offers:

• Rich history - there are tons of great historical places to visit in Myrtle Beach where you can learn about the Native Americans, colonial living, plantations, pirates, railroads and much more.
• Beautiful beaches - with over 60-miles of beach Myrtle Beach is a picture-perfect gateway to the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. There are tons of activities like boating, fishing, kayaking, scuba diving and more. And the area's ancient rivers, winding creeks, and spectacular marshes, along with the Intracoastal Waterway, offer water lovers even more opportunities for fun in the sun and water.
• To die for food - from mouthwatering seafood and steaks to scrumptious pastries and coffee Myrtle Beach offers a wide variety of eateries. 

This trip is not nearly as elaborate as the last trip but it is going to still be tons of fun and super relaxing. Here is information on where we plan to stay and have fun!

Itinerary:

• We will be staying at the beautiful, newly renovated Crown Reef Resort. Crown Reef Resort, which opened its first tower in 1994, is located at 2913 South Ocean Boulevard along the south end of Myrtle Beach. Crown Reef offers the most oceanfront rooms (514) in Myrtle Beach, a large conference center, indoor and outdoor water amenities, on-site dining and more. We are really excited about the $2 million waterpark that just opened at Crown Reef Resort. In addition to two new 4-story enclosed waterslides, including the world’s first hotel “EXPLOSION” slide, the waterpark features a kids waterslide, sub play area with water sprays and bucket dumps, and a sun deck.

Image courtesy of Crown Reef Resort.

• We will visiting Alligator Adventure the largest reptile facility in the world. This 15 acre zoo gets visitors face to face with nature’s fiercest and most beautiful animals. We cannot wait to meet the 2 rare albino alligators that live at the zoo. The zoo is located adjacent to Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, and is one of South Carolina’s most outstanding tourist attractions, 

Image courtesy of Alligator Adventure.

• At some point we will swing by the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. This FREE wildlife exhibit and living tiger museum gives you the chance to meet some of the world's most amazing animals up-close and in-person while they play and relax in an outdoor environment. There are Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers, Royal White Bengal tigers and of course, the Golden Tabby tiger. 
• For some geocaching fun we plan to visit Myrtle Beach State Park which sits nestled among an oceanfront maritime forest. A quiet, and surprisingly green, escape from the otherwise bustling beach, the park provides educational opportunities, a nature trail and some of the best surf fishing South Carolina has to offer as well as stunning ocean views and another great fishing spot on Myrtle Beach pier.
• Either on our way to or from Myrtle Beach we will be stopping by Murrells Inlet a historic fishing village where you can experience nature along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. The MarshWalk is FREE to enjoy and offers great views of the saltwater marsh, birds, and beautiful scenery. Home to many waterfront restaurants, music is in the air once evening rolls around. 
• For some evening time strolls we plan to visit the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Broadway at the Beach and/or Barefoot Landing. These place offer a variety of dining, shopping, entertainment and magnificent views!
• Since we are an art loving family we definitely plan to visit the FREE Burroughs-Chapin museum. This is the only art museum in Myrtle Beach. It is located across the Springmaid Pier. They feature many exhibits including an Art Studio just for kids. 
• To learn more about how native people lived along the Carolina coast before the arrival of Europeans we will make a stop at the Horry County Museum in downtown Conway. This museum features a great collection of Native American artifacts from Archaic, Woodland and prehistoric time periods. There is also a living history farm. Admission is FREE.
• For more nature exploration we will be hitting up the Heritage Shores Nature Perserve. This preserve is one of the most unique parks in the city; created in 2007 with seven (7) acres of walking paths. The park is located on an island that extends into the Cherry Grove Marsh.  The land is preserved in its native state and is accessible via a series of elevated boardwalks and observation docks. Interpretive signage throughout the park describes the plants, animals, fishes and birds that can be seen in the park. This is also FREE to visit.

What is your favorite beach to visit?

Exploring North American Wildlife - Craft, Free Journal Page and Giveaway

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2014. This month's theme was, "The Great Outdoors." Keep reading to learn more about the book we read, fun craft we made and to grab your FREE journal page. There is also a giveaway is at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.

Books:
This month we choose a book off of our our bookcase called The Kids Wildlife Book. I picked this book up at Goodwill a several weeks for 75 cents. I knew it would become a favorite for my nature loving children. It is filled with information about the wildlife of North America including bats, opossums, bison, owls, toads and more. The book provides fascinating information, remarkable experiences, and unforgettable tales that dispel myths, encourage understanding and delight children. There are over 100 learning experiences that use science, language arts, nature, math, art and crafts to explore more animal lives and habitats. The book is geared towards children ages 4-10 yrs old. 

Craft Project: 

Here is the fun project we did to go along with this months theme.

Marsupial Pouch:
This craft is quick and easy to make. Afterwards children will have a cute pouch that they can use to collect things in on their next outdoor adventure!