Field Trips with Sue » Weekend Getaways

Get Outdoors with REI’s Family Adventure Program

Sue — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:17:18 +0000

What: REI Family Adventure Program
Where: Download a guide online
Cost: Free

If your kids are like mine, it can be hard to pry them away from the wii to get them outside. REI has a good summer adventure guide to help your children (and you) get outside and really take in the world around you. When kids complete the adventure, they receive a certificate for their efforts. Not sure where to go on your adventure? REI has a list of family friendly hiking and biking spots. Share pictures of your adventures and you could win a REI gift card. Don’t want to lead the adventure yourself? REI has guided family adventures.

Another great outdoor guide is the Jr. Ranger Program from the Georgia State Parks. Complete sections of this guide and receive a patch like in scouting.

Things to do in Atlanta | History, Nature and Webkinz

Sue — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:20:24 +0000

If you missed the Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta yesterday, here’s what we discussed:

B*ATL (145th Anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta)
Piedmont Park Green Market (Tango Lessons and Kids Cooking Workshop)
Shrimpin’ Aboard the Lady Jane

Tree Climbing at Panola State Park
Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Flying Colors Butterfly Festival
Webkinz Road Trip

Become a Shrimper aboard the Lady Jane

Sue — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:16:10 +0000

What: Shrimpin’ on the Lady Jane
Where: Golden Isles, Ga. (Includes Brunswick, Jekyll Island, St. Simons and Sea Island)
When: Generally Wed. – Sun., but check the schedule online
Cost: $39.95 per person, $25 6 and under

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a shrimper, then a tour on the Lady Jane is for you. It’s the Deadliest Catch, Golden Isles style.

After boarding the authentic shrimp boat, the vessel heads out into the marsh to see what adventure awaits. A few minutes out you hear “Lowering the nets” and watch as the shrimp nets go into the water. After about 10 – 20 minutes of trawling, the nets are brought up and the sea’s bounty spread on a table before you. In addition to shrimp, we caught puffer fish – all puffed out, grouper, squid, crabs, shark and even a 4 foot spotted eagle ray. The catch is laid out and guests are encouraged to pick up the sea creatures as first mate Cliff, explains a little about the fish we caught. Once all the shrimp are pulled out and guests have touched all the fish, everything is returned to the sea where the hearty swim away and the not so hearty become food for the flock of seagulls following the boat.

The crew of the Lady Jane generally drags the net two to three times each trip, depending on tides, crowds and the catch. After the first catch, boat guests feast on boiled shrimp, caught fresh the day before. While waiting for the next catch, we watched shore birds and even spotted a few dolphins along the marsh. There is bottled water on board for guests and some enterprising folks brought their own cooler with additional kid and adult beverages. Even in mid-July, the trip was pleasant with a cool sea breeze. There is ample shade on board and guests can duck inside the cabin where there is air conditioning if it gets too hot. This is also where the on-board bathrooms are located.

The best part is seeing what comes up in the nets, followed closely by feeding the seagulls and seeing if they can catch the fish in mid-air. A shrimp boat cruise is a great way to not only learn about the sea life that lives along the Georgia coast, but also get up close and personal with it.

Family Vacation
St Simons Island

Things To Do
St Simons Island

Family Vacation
Jekyll Island

Things To Do
Jekyll Island

Travel Itinerary | Things to do with kids in West Georgia

Sue — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:09:47 +0000

If you read this blog regularly, you know I spent my spring break touring west Georgia. You also know a good bit about the places we visited as I have chronicled them all on this blog. I’ve had quite a few people ask me about the route we took and several have shown interest in booking a similar trip in the future. So, in an effort to save you the time and trouble I went through to plan the trip, I thought I’d give everyone a brief itinerary and a few tips I learned along the way.

Day 1: We began our journey at my in-laws in St. Simon’s Island. If you are starting in Atlanta, you might want to do this a bit differently. We crossed South Georgia and arrived in Albany on a Monday evening. We checked in to the Hilton Garden Inn and went to the restaurant for dinner. Food was difficult on our adventure. I was really hoping to find some great local restaurants, but aside from BBQ joints, we really didn’t find any. Downtown Albany is not an evening destination, there really weren’t any restaurants open, so I’m glad we had the option of eating at the hotel, even if it was satisfactory food and service. Next time I’m in Albany, I’m going to make time for Jimmie’s Hot Dogs. This was the type of place I expected to find throughout the trip and really didn’t.

Day 2: We visited Chehaw Animal Park, Flint RiverQuarium and walked along RiverFront Park. We had a good lunch at Riverstreet BBQ (but again, Jimmie’s was more of what I was looking for and cheaper too!) I wish we had made time for the Thornateeska Heritage Museum and Planetarium. We left Albany in the evening and headed to George T. Bagby State Park for the night. On the way we passed through Antebellum Cuthbert, which seemed like a town in need of some exploration, but alas, that is for another visit.

Frontier Village, Ft. Gaines, Ga.

Day 3: Our original plan was to travel 45 min. to Lumpkin, Ga. on both Day 3 and 4 to visit first Providence Canyon and second Westville. We opted to hang out at George T. Bagby State Park for the day and combine our Lumpkin visits into one day. It was a good decision as everyone needed a bit of just hanging out. Frontier Village was a great side trip and we were a lot closer to the Kolomoki Indian Mounds than I thought. Next time, I might head there for part of the day. We ate dinner at Tommy’s restaurant, a cinder block building that had all the attributes of a fantastic little find, however the food was ok, but nothing to write about. We had breakfast at the lodge, which was fine and close. Food was a good mix of eggs and bacon and healthier fruit and yogurt.

Providence Canyon State Park

Day 4: This was the only day of rain. Of course this was also the day we planned to hike Providence Canyon and visit Westville, an 1850’s living history museum. Luckily, we were able to hike the canyon itself before the rain hit. It waited until we were at the opposite end of the rim hike, so we had the maximum walk possible back to the car. We would have loved a bit more dry time to truly explore the canyon. Food in this area is non-existent, so bring a picnic and snacks. If you’re planning to visit these attractions, the best place to stay is Florence Marina State Park. It’s right down the street. Cottages book fast, so if you don’t want to camp, plan ahead. If you can’t get a place at Florence Marina, Columbus isn’t far either. In fact, in an effort to get out of the rain, we opted for a side trip to the National Infantry Museum in Columbus before heading to our final destination, camping at FDR State Park.

Day 5: The rain on Day 4 made me question my decision to camp at FDR. They do have cottages, but as with all the other parks, these book fast and were not an option when we finally decided on our trip’s itinerary. FDR is right next to Callaway Gardens, so if you need less primitive accommodations, Callaway is the way to go. Again, we had a difficult time finding food. I would recommend heading to nearby Warm Springs for food vs. Pine Mountain. Our quest for pizza ended up at the chain Fox Pizza Den in Pine Mtn., but a better choice would have been the Whistling Pig across the street. Better still, Mac’s BBQ in Warm Springs. Warm Springs also had the elusive ice cream shoppe we had been seeking since Fort Gaines on Day 2. The highlight of this day was a horseback trail ride. Since it was our first horse riding adventure, I booked an hour trip, but the boys were clamoring for more. I booked our trip the weekend before, but when we got there, they were full for the weekend. I’m not sure if that’s normal, but I wouldn’t wait until you are on site to book the riding, however, you don’t need to book it as far in advance as the cottages.

Treatment Pools at Warm Springs, Ga.

Day 6: Our last day we spent at the Little White House and the actual Warm Springs pools. The older boys found this somewhat interesting, but the 5 year old was ready to go fairly quickly. This was more a stop for me than them. I’ve always had a fascination with the 30 and 40s and as the daughter of New Deal Democrats, FDR has always been an interesting figure to me. These stops took longer than I thought. It was great that we were only an hour and a half outside of Atlanta when it was time to go home.

Things To Do
Atlanta

Family Vacation
Atlanta

Field Trips with Sue in the News

Sue — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:58:17 +0000

Field Trips with Sue was featured recently in the AJC and on WXIA’s 11 Alive News during the Ways to Save Segment. If you’d like to see what local news organizations are saying about Field Trips with Sue, here is a link to the AJC article “Field Trips with Sue: Find something fun to do with your kids at a reasonable price,” and here is a link to the 11 Alive Ways to Save Segment.

Volunteering with Kids in Atlanta

Sue — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:25:28 +0000

I recently received an email from Field Trips with Sue reader Alissa Shreeve asking if I knew any opportunities for kids to volunteer in the Atlanta area. I wish I could say I’m a huge volunteer and I had a nice list for her, but, I did not. So, I turned to good friend and former co-worker Diane Maicon, who always has something useful up her sleeve, and she suggested the website Pebble Tossers. Pebble Tossers helps children and adults find fun, creative ways to make a difference in their communities. I asked Alissa to review the site so Field Trips with Sue could let readers know what to expect. Below are Alissa’s thoughts on Pebble Tossers. Let us know your ideas for volunteering with kids.

by Alissa Shreeve
I am thrilled you found a site which recognizes that little kids can help. Without registering, you can see a list of the projects and the names show that they are geared towards kids’ interests and capabilities. I went ahead and registered the family and chose the “Get Matched with a Project” option.

This page lets you select your kids’ ages, areas of interest, the types of things you like to do, and note what you are good at. It makes it obvious that the intent is for kids to join, as options for things you like to do include: collecting things, dance, getting dirty, horses, and the options for things you are good at include: being loud, being quiet, giving hugs… Every child will fit a few of these categories!

My search came up with a huge list. However, the filter for ages didn’t work well. Many of the projects weren’t age appropriate. We are still limited due to the kids ages, but I found at least 3 we could participate in – coupon clipping, cake baking, and snack packing. I am happy to find a way to involve my children.

My only complaint about the Pebble Tossers site, and this is a common issue across the web, is that you must register before you can search out and view details on projects. I hate to give out a lot of personal information (especially with children involved) and resent that it is required just to view the project descriptions. The personal information includes your entire contact information as well as full birth dates.

Thanks Alissa for your inquiry and for writing this great post!

Things To Do
Atlanta

Things to do in W. Ga. | Westville, An 1850’s Living History Museum

Sue — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:46:35 +0000

What: Westville, an 1850’s living history museum
Where: Lumpkin, Ga.
When: Thurs. – Sat. 10 – 5 pm and Sun. 1- 5 pm
Cost: Adults $10, Seniors, College Students and Military $8, Students K-12 $5
Click here for a $1 off admission coupon

Westville is a working 1850’s town located in Lumpkin, Ga., not far from Providence Canyon . The museum is a collection of 30 historic buildings assembled from across the state, and arranged as a typical 1850’s town layout with commerce buildings in the center and residences on the outskirts. Buildings include various trades, a school, courthouse, church, store, carriage house, gardens, slave quarters, upscale residences and a farm.

We visited on a random rainy Thursday. Two costumed interpreters lead three different tours explaining various aspects of 19th century life. I found the cotton gin and press to be most interesting. Our guide demonstrated a hand crank cotton gin and showed us a more advanced model that spit the cotton out into a barn. The massive cotton press was quite impressive. Mules were used to turn a huge pole that “pressed” the cotton into 500 lb. bales which were then tied by hand.

Westville alone was interesting, but unless you plan to go more than once, I would recommend timing your trip around the various special weekends on the Westville event calendar. During special events, there are more costumed interpreters and activities making it a more enriching experience. For example, staffers told us during the Civil War Days program in October, there is a soldier encampment in addition to numerous demonstrations of life in 1850. Interpreters spend the weekend at Westville and remain “in character” from Friday evening through Sunday night.

Things To Do
Columbus

CBS Better Mornings Features Fruit, Freebies and Fun

Sue — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:57:37 +0000

If you missed last week’s Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, have no fear, here’s an update. If you’d like to see the segments, click here.

Free Swimming at Atlanta area pools (post coming next week)
Summer Reading Programs that offer great incentives to read
Fabulous vacation deal at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club
Blueberry Picking (look for a post next week)
Family Summer Camp at Bass Pro Shops
Free and Cheap Summer Movies

Little St. Simons Island, A Private Paradise

Sue — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:52:22 +0000

What: The Lodge at Little St. Simons Island
Where: An Island off St. Simons Island, Ga.
Cost: All inclusive – Rates begin at $495
I realize the price may not be in everyone’s travel budget, but I encourage you to tally ALL your normal vacation expenses, you may find Little St. Simons Island is affordable luxury.
Photos: For photos from the Island, Visit the Field Trips with Sue Facebook Page. While you’re there, please “like” the page.

A vacation at The Lodge at Little St. Simons Island begins with a short 10-minute boat ride from St. Simons Island to the retreat. You step off to a rustic setting on an unspoiled Island. There are only 15 guest rooms within 6 cottages and a maximum of 30 guests plus The Lodge staff on this 10,000 acre barrier island that includes 7 miles of beach, marshlands and more than 20 miles of wilderness trails. Several naturalists can guide you through your island adventure, or just step out on your own, all the supplies are within easy grasp. There are organized activities for adults and children and the small number of guests means flexibility to find something everyone can enjoy. In addition, the resort has recently acquired a Benchmarked Certification from Green Globe 21, a worldwide benchmarking and certification program for sustainable travel and tourism.

It’s so hard to come up with the best part of this vacation. My husband liked that all-inclusive meant three meals, drinks (including his drink of choice Bud Light), activities and tips. My oldest loved finding tons of sand dollars on the beach, and the food, chef selections that when possible use ingredients from the Island’s organic garden. (If your youngster only eats PB&J and Mac n Cheese, let the staff know ahead of time and they’ll have some prepared.) The middle son liked the freedom to grab a fishing rod, crab trap or bike whenever he wanted. The youngest was taken with the wildlife, armadillo, alligators, ghost crabs, deer, and more. I loved the total escape, no tv, no video games and a perfect place to reconnect with family and nature.

Although we were provided a complimentary room for the purpose of reviewing it (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.

Family Vacation
St Simons Island

Lots of Family Fun at Innisbrook for $695 a week!

Sue — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:17:53 +0000

What: Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club
Where: Innisbrook, Fla. (near Tampa)
Cost: Special $695 for a week in a 1-bedroom suite, $995 for a 2-bedroom suite
Photos: For photos of the resort, go to photo album on Field Trips with Sue’s Facebook page.

We spent Memorial Day weekend enjoying the Florida sunshine at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club near Tampa, Fla. Innisbrook is best known as a golf resort, hosting the Transitions Championship, part of the FEDEX Cup, on the Copperhead course. There are three other courses on property with the most scenic being the Island Course. Golf is still a big draw, but for families there are lots of wonderful activities in addition to hitting the links. For Summer 2010, Innisbrook is offering a great deal, $695 for a week in a one-bedroom suite or $995 for a two-bedroom suite. All suites offer full-sized kitchens, a real plus when traveling with kids.

The resort encompasses 900 acres, has four golf courses, six pools, a playground, mini-golf course, shuffleboard, nature walk and four restaurants. There are lots of activities for families including complimentary junior golf and tennis lessons on specific days. Daily from 4 – 7 pm, families can golf together at the 9 hole, par 3 Fox Squirrel course for free. The Loch Ness Pool is the center for family fun and has two water slides, zero entry with sandy beach and fountains, good for little ones and crawlers, and beach and water volleyball for older kid fun. There are also poolside crafts for an extra charge. During our visit, family programming included a dive-in movie and family whiffleball tournament.

If the kids like to fish, poles and gear are available from the tennis center. While you fish, look for several of the native Florida birds that live on property. Pick up picture cards at the Loch Ness Pool and head out on an early morning bike ride for the best viewing and bring some bread to feed the turtles along the Nature Walk. In the evenings, the golf courses are open as walking trails. The Island Course is the most scenic of the four.

If you want more excitement, Innisbrook is near Busch Gardens Tampa or take in a Ray’s baseball game at Tropicana Field. Although the resort is not along the ocean, they offer shuttle service to nearby Honeymoon Island. Guests can then take a ferry to Caladesi Island, recently voted as a “best beach.”

On your way home, have a Greek lunch at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs.

Although we were provided a complimentary room for the purpose of reviewing it (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.

Family Vacation
Tampa

Field Trips with Sue » Weekend Getaways

Get Outdoors with REI’s Family Adventure Program

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Things to do in Atlanta | History, Nature and Webkinz

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Become a Shrimper aboard the Lady Jane

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Travel Itinerary | Things to do with kids in West Georgia

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Field Trips with Sue in the News

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Volunteering with Kids in Atlanta

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Things to do in W. Ga. | Westville, An 1850’s Living History Museum

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CBS Better Mornings Features Fruit, Freebies and Fun

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Little St. Simons Island, A Private Paradise

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Lots of Family Fun at Innisbrook for $695 a week!

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