Snowbird Special
Georgia State Parks
When the weather cools off, the deals warm up for campers who want to enjoy Georgia’s sunshine. Several Georgia State Parks are courting northern campers who migrate south during winter. RVers and tent campers can enjoy 50% off stays of 30 nights or more, November 2014 through February 2015. Those with four-legged children are welcome to bring their leashed canine family members along. To take advantage of this fine-as-a-feather offer, use promotional code SnowBird50% when calling 1-800-864-7275 or on www.GaStateParks.org/reservations. For additional details on the Snowbird Special, visit www.gastateparks.org/snowbird.
Participating Georgia State Parks include:
Florence Marina State Park on Lake Walter F. George
Sitting at the northern end of 45,000-acre Lake Walter F. George (also called Lake Eufaula) this quiet park offers the perfect getaway for those who love fishing and boating. Some campsites offer sewage hookups. Birders are likely to see herons, egrets and even bald eagles. The Kirbo Interpretive Center showcases area wildlife and plants, local history and Native Americans. Ten miles southeast is Providence Canyon State Park, known as Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.
www.GaStateParks.org/FlorenceMarina - 229-838-6870
Kolomoki Mounds State Park near Blakely
This historically significant park is the oldest and largest Woodland Indian site in the southeastern United States, occupied by Indians from 350 to 750 A.D. Georgia’s oldest great temple mound stands 57 feet high. Campers can enjoy fishing, boating, walking trails, mini-golf and geocaching.
www.GaStateParks.org/KolomokiMounds - 229-724-2150
Magnolia Springs State Park between Augusta and Savannah
Beautiful Magnolia Springs is known for its crystal clear springs flowing 7 million gallons per day. A boardwalk spans the cool water, allowing visitors to look for alligators, turtles and other wildlife. A small lake is popular for fishing. During the Civil War, this site was a large prison called Camp Lawton. Archaeological digs conducted in the past few years have been called the most significant Civil War findings in recent history.
www.GaStateParks.org/MagnoliaSprings - 478-982-1660
Reed Bingham State Park near Adel
Located just off I-75 in south Georgia, this park’s campground has 18 sewer hookup sites. Wildlife is abundant around the park’s 375-acre lake, and fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and bream is excellent. During winter, thousands of “buzzards,” actually black vultures and turkey vultures, roost in the trees and soar overhead. Nearly 80 percent of the Coastal Plain’s plant community can be found along the park’s nature trail, making its habitat some of the most diverse in the country.
www.GaStateParks.org/ReedBingham - 229-896-3551
Seminole State Park north of Tallahassee, Fla.
This southwest Georgia park is on beautiful Lake Seminole, a 37,500-acre reservoir with excellent boating, fishing and birding. Many of the campsites are right on the water, and some have space for boats to pull up near shore. Visitors can enjoy a 2.2-mile nature trail, mini-golf, geocaching and nearby restaurants.
www.GaStateParks.org/Seminole - 229-861-3137
Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp
This remote park is a primary entrance to the legendary Okefenokee Swamp -- one of Georgia's seven natural wonders. Spanish moss-laced trees reflect off the black swamp waters, while cypress knees rise upward from the glass-like surface. Here, paddlers and photographers will enjoy breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. Some campsites have sewage hookups.
www.GaStateParks.org/StephenCFoster - 912-637-5274
Chattahoochee Bend State Park near Newnan
(Note different dates for the Snowbird Special: December 12, 2014 – February 28, 2015)
Located in a graceful bend of the Chattahoochee River, the park is a haven for paddlers, campers and anglers. At 2,910 acres, this is one of Georgia’s largest state parks, protecting five miles of river frontage. A boat ramp provides easy access to the water, while more than six miles of wooded trails are open for hiking and nature photography. An observation platform provides nice views of the river and forest.
www.GaStateParks.org/ChattahoocheeBend - 770-254-7271