Watch Field Trips w/Sue on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta

This morning was a Field Trips with Sue morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. If you missed it, here’s what we talked about…

Field Trips with Sue on CBS Better Mornings in the 5 am hour

• Atlanta History Center’s Sheep to Shawl Day
• UGA’s Spring G Day Football Game

Field Trips with Sue on CBS Better Mornings in the 6 am hour

• Atlanta Rocks Family Night
• Strawberry Picking 

You Pick Strawberry Patch Near Atlanta. The warm weather has ripened the strawberries earlier

What: Strawberry Picking in Atlanta
Where: Southern Belle Farm, 1658 Turner Church Rd., McDonough, 770.288.2582
When: The Pick Your Own patch opened March 27
Mon. – Fri. 8 am – 6 pm, Sat. 8 am – 6 pm, Sun. 1 pm – 6 pm
Cost: You Pick – 1 gallon for $10
Pre-Picked – 1 gallon for $12
Bring a container to put your berries in or purchase a 1 gallon bucket for $1
** Southern Belle Farms accepts Cash and Checks ONLY

Mid April is strawberry season in Georgia, but the warm winter has ripped the strawberries earlier this year. I received an email from Southern Belle Farms letting me know the strawberry patch is ready for picking.

In addition to strawberries, Southern Belle Farm has picnic tables. Bring your lunch or dinner then purchase some goodies from MiMi’s Kitchen, where you’ll find homemade pound cakes that are turned into strawberry shortcake and home churned strawberry ice cream.

You can't help but eat a few while picking!

I have not been to Southern Belle Farm for strawberries (although I believe we have been there for pumpkins in the fall). We generally visit Cottle’s you pick strawberry patch in Fayetteville. There is also a Stockbridge location.

To find other you pick strawberry farms in Georgia, visit www.pickyourown.org. Scroll down the page and you’ll see the U-pick farms by county.

Atlanta

The Castillo de San Marcos is the only 17th Century fort in the United States

What: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Where: 1 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
When: Anytime (but weekends they shoot off the cannons)
Cost: $6 per person, Under 15 FREE
Photos: For additional Photos of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook

While passing through St. Augustine, along the main route A1A, we happen to pass a rather large stone fort, or castle – it’s kind of a bit of both. My son, recognizing it from his social studies books, informed us that it was the only 17th Century fort still in existence in the United States. Well, of course we had to stop.

Investigating holes in the coquina from past battles.

The Castillo de San Marcos was built by the Spanish. It took more than 80 years to erect the fort which at the time, was quite innovative. The walls are thick and graduated to withstand cannons and gun fire rather than tall and thin to block arrows and catapults. A limestone mixture of shell, sand and calcite called ‘coquina’ was used for the bricks and proved to be quite good at absorbing shot from guns and cannons. A sewer system used the natural tides to wash out waste helping keep the fort sanitary.

Costumed interpreter at the Castillo de San Marcos

The fort was used by various occupants since the 1600′s. That’s a lot of history to cover. We listened to a costumed Ranger talk in the Plaza as he brought us through several hundred years and gave us an idea of what daily life was like for soldiers and other occupants. It was a story of greed, pirates, imprisonment and daily routine. Even my 7-year-old was quietly listening.

Working through the Jr. Ranger Booklet, which is available free at the gift shop.

To engage the youngest even more, we requested a free Junior Ranger book on the Castillo. The booklet is a great way to engage kids in the fort and guide discussions about the many time periods covered in a single place. It’s also a great way for adults to learn about the fort.

The Castillo seems to have strong programming with a variety of events at various times. Had we been there a day later, we would have seen them shooting the cannons (something my boys have asked to go back to see). Several Foursquare tips also mention that the Fort is amazing at night (and one says a bit spooky). To make it even better, the staff we encountered were enthusiastic, helpful and obviously enjoy what they do.

We went on a cool October day, but remember this is Florida, so summers can be quite hot, bring lots of sunscreen and stay hydrated. There is limited metered parking in front of the Castillo. It’s central Downtown location is also a great home base for a tour of St. Augustine. On our list for next time, in addition to a return visit to the Castillo, is the Pirate Museum, Gator Zoo and the Government House Museum.

The view out to sea from the top deck.

Family Night at Atlanta Rocks! Go ahead, let the kids climb the walls.

What: Atlanta Rocks Family Night
Where: 1019 Collier Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318, 404-351-3009
When: Wednesday evenings 6 pm – 9 pm
Cost: One Parent climbs free with each paying child.
$20* for your first family member under 18. Additional members under 18 climb for $15 each.
Five Visit Family Night Punch Card (First youngster) is only $90 (Second youngster) is only $65
* Family night is supervised by Atlanta Rocks! Please make reservations so they can staff accordingly
Photos: For additional photos of Atlanta Rocks Climbing Gym, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook

Gear is included in the family night price.

Each week, Atlanta Rocks, a climbing gym off I-75, hosts family night. It’s a great active night out with the kids, especially if you have multiple age ranges. My boys are between 7 and 14; I enjoyed seeing them contemplate the walls and determine what route they were going to climb. Each one was challenged, but not frustrated. There is so much to do in Atlanta with smaller kids, it is nice to find something that engaged and excited my tween and teen, but also kept the attention of my youngest. Family night prices include shoes and the harness. You only need to bring socks for the climbing shoes.

Getting instruction from our guide Ashley before heading up the wall

Bouldering walls allow climbing without a rope or belay

Atlanta Rocks has more than 12,000 square feet of professionally designed climbing surfaces. There are 50 top-rope stations, some with auto-belays, which means the safety straps you clip onto gently let you down to the floor if you fall or after reaching your destination. These walls are a great way to warm up. Belay walls require a staffer or someone trained to belay the rope that straps to your harness. If you have someone belay trained in your group, you’ll be free to move about the gym. If not, no worries, family night is supervised by Atlanta Rocks staff and they belay participants, usually in groups of six. Bouldering rocks allow those waiting to be belayed the chance to try their climbing skills without ropes. Bouldering is allowed up to shoulder height and doesn’t require a staff or trained support person.

Some upside down bouldering.

Couple of notes on the different walls. The auto belays are generally the easier climbs. You can use these to work up to more difficult walls like 14 where the rock jets out. Climb 10 allows you to swing out from the wall if you can’t climb up the entire way – a fun exercise for my youngest and a big challenge to avoid swinging for my oldest.

Swinging off Climb 10 is popular with kids. My son was challenged to make it around the outcrop.

Determining the route for the next climb. Guide sheets explain the difficulty of various routes.

Ashley, our guide, was a great help. She steered us to the right walls for our ability and challenged us to various routes. She even instructed us on climbing, showing us how to lean into the corners for a good grip. We also needed her help to read the guides around the gym, basically a sheet of paper with the various routes and difficulty level. The guide corresponds to colored holds on the wall. Using the same colored holds is more difficult than just using the closest hold available. Colored tape on the holds gives instructions for the more experienced climbers who can read them, I could never figure out what route the tape was taking.

A view from the top!

Atlanta Rocks Family Night is fun for tweens, teens, children and parents!

Family Night is a perfect way to test your group’s interest in climbing. If they love it, have someone get certified to belay and you can come anytime. Weekends are busiest, so if you have a belayer in the group, you won’t have to wait for a staffer to belay. Atlanta Rocks offers a Family Climbing Class for a flat fee of $50 per family. After the course, anyone over the age of 12 can take the belay test to belay other climbers. Always make a reservation to climb or call ahead to be sure there is space.

Atlanta

Watch Field Trips w/Sue on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta

Today was a Field Trips with Sue morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta.

During the first hour we talked about some fun activities for all ages on Field Trips with Sue on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta including:

• Hunger Games Premiere Party at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur (I’m reading the books now and can’t stop thinking/talking about them!)
• Atlanta Braves Free Open House
• Disney on Ice at Gwinnett Arena

During the second hour we talked about Easter Activities in Atlanta on Field Trips with Sue on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta including:

• Atlanta Opera’s Rabbit Tales Community Performance
• Easter Bunny at Atlanta Area Malls
• Easter Egg Hunts in Atlanta