The Inside of Fort Pulaski National Monument

What: Free Entrance Days
Where: 100 Select US National Parks
When:
August 14 – 15, 2010
September 25, 2010 (Public Lands Day)
November 11, 2010 (Veterans Day)
Cost: Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservations, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

This weekend is the second Free Entrance Day of the summer at 100 select US National Parks and several within Georgia including Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and the Chickamauga and Chattahoochee National Military Park. If you’re headed south, you can also visit Cumberland Island National Seashore, Fort Frederica National Monument or Fort Pulaski National Monument as part of the fee free weekend.

Looking for ways to engage your children in nature? Check out REI’s Passport to Adventure or the Georgia State Park’s Junior Ranger Program.

What: A list of Summertime Activities
Where: Atlanta Area
When: Summer 2010
Cost: Free and Cheap

Last week Field Trips with Sue posted Cheap things to do in Forsyth County, Ga. and a list of Summer 2010 activities. Here’s another list of cheap and inexpensive things to do with kids for the Summer of 2010.

Thanks to Donna Blanton, the resident storyteller at 45 South Café in historic Norcross, for sharing this wonderful list. And thanks Heneghan’s Dunwoody Blog author John Heneghan, for sending me the list.

I’m especially excited about the Sunflower Farm where you can pick your own bouquet for $5. Sunflowers are my favorite. You can’t help but smile when you see a bouquet of sunflowers. I can hear my boys groaning already about the pictures I’m going to take in that field.

What: National Infantry Museum
Where: Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.
When: Mon. – Sat. 9 – 5 pm, Sun. 11 – 5 pm
Cost: Free, (donations welcome)

While initially not on our agenda during a trip through west Georgia, my boys and I decided, after a day of hiking and touring in the rain, to take a slight detour and visit the dry, indoor, National Infantry Museum on the base of Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. By the time we arrived, we only had 45 minutes to see the museum, but it was enough time to know we want to go back.

The museum tells the heroic story of everyday Infantrymen through a collection of more than 30,000 objects. It chronicles the journey from training through every conflict from before the Revolutionary War to action today in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a special gallery recognizing Medal of Honor recipients and one that pays tribute to the family and loved ones the soldier leaves behind. Children will enjoy the play space and costumes available for role play in this gallery.

The central exhibit, titled “The Last Hundred Yards” immerses you in life-sized dioramas depicted the fight for the last hundred yards of some of the toughest battles throughout US history. As a mother of three boys, I have very mixed emotions. On one hand, I’m proud of the men and women who would sacrifice so much for my freedom. On the other, the thought of my boys in any of those scenes is more than just a little disturbing.

The highlight for the boys was the rifle range. For a $5 fee, guests can fire weapons in a training simulator, just like the one used by the soldier’s training at Fort Benning. Thankfully, my children don’t need to be sharp shooters. After repeated warnings to “think like a sniper, don’t be trigger happy,” each one fired all the ammo within seconds. I was assured they could be whipped into shape in no time, so I gathered my chicks close to me and we moved on to the next gallery.

In addition to the various galleries, there is also an IMAX Theatre. Prices for the IMAX movie range from $6 – $8. Behind the museum is an authentically recreated World War II Company Street. Each of the seven buildings is furnished with period pieces and includes audio recordings of life on an Army post during the 1940s.

Photo by Barbara Weibel

What: Swim the Warm Springs, Dip Into the Past
Where: Warm Springs, Ga.
When: Memorial Day Weekend 2010
Cost: 1.5 hour swim sessions are $20 adults; $12.50 ages 6 to 17; Family Package-$75
Only Family Package includes admission to Roosevelt’s Little White House.
Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling The Little White House at 706-655-5870

During Spring Break 2010, my boys and I visited The Little White House and the accompanying Warm Springs pools. FDR originally came to Warm Springs seeking relief from his polio but enjoyed it so much, he eventually built a home.  The historic pools where FDR found relief are now kept empty for preservation. However, over Memorial Day weekend, the shallow pools will be filled with naturally warm spring water for public bathers to enjoy. Tickets to the swim may be purchased over the phone with credit card. Space is limited to 80 participants per session. Reservations are suggested. All remaining tickets will be sold first-come, first-served, based on availability.

What: FDR State Park
Where: Warm Springs, Ga.
When: Open Daily
Cost: $5 Parking Fee

Our last stop on a recent tour of west Georgia was a camping trip to Franklin Delanor Roosevelt State Park in Warm Springs, Ga. The park is named for the only four term president in US history. FDR came to the area to find relief in the warm springs from polio. He enjoyed it so much, he built the only house he ever owned and the one in which he died. FDR State Park is a combination of beautiful scenery and National history. In addition to hiking a bit of the 42 miles of trails, here’s what we found:

1. Roosevelt Stables: This activity was a vacation favorite. Located within the park, the stables offer trail rides from one hour to overnight. If you have your own horse, they offer boarding and 28 miles of horse trails to discover. Children must be at least 6 years-old for the trail rides, but they do offer pony rides for the younger set. Make a reservation before you arrive. We called the week before and had no problem, but the day we arrived, they were booked for the entire weekend. Rates from $35.

2. Dowdell’s Knob: FDR’s favorite retreat when visiting the area was Dowdell’s Knob, a rocky outcropping where FDR would entertain friends using a grill that remains on the site or contemplate the issues of the day. As my children climbed on the statue and ran around the picnic area, I tried to imagine the weight of the issues FDR contemplated. A marker states that just before he died, FDR rode to this spot and told his secret servicemen to leave him until he honked the horn, more than two hours later. No doubt he was grappling with a decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.

3. Camping: Our camp site was right on Lake Delanor. It was great to be free of TV and electronic devices. The first night, we sat by the lake and made up a progressive story that involved a catapil named Larry and an elephant that layed cheesecake eggs. The second night, we built a fire and the children who can’t sit still for a minute in church were engrossed for literally two hours.

4. FDR State Park Office: Located in a former Inn, the park office is made entirely of stone and was built by FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) during the Great Depression. In addition to the Inn, the CCC built a swimming pool, bridge and several other structures within the park. In the park office are videos of former CCC members talking about their experience, that by today’s standards would seem like a prison, yet these gentlemen talked with pride about what they had accomplished and were grateful for the experience that many felt “made a man out of me.”

5. The Little White House: No visit to FDR State Park would be complete without a visit to the Little White House. Nestled on the estate is an museum that tells the story of FDR and his legacy. Among the many items, you can listen to his fireside chats and see his 1938 Ford convertible equipped with hand controls so the handicapped president could drive himself. The Little White House itself is amazingly small, but guard shacks scattered throughout the woods remind you that it is a place of importance. Nearby you can visit the actual pools where FDR sought relief from his polio. The pool is drained most of the year to preserve the historic structure, but you can feel the warm 88 degree water. Once a year, the pools are filled and opened to the public and in 2010, they will be open Memorial Day weekend. Admission ranges from $5 – $8.

What: Frontier Village
Where: Fort Gaines, Ga.
When: Whenever
Cost: Free

Part of the fun of traveling is discovering new things. I especially like the off the beaten path “finds” that aren’t front and center on any brochure. Such was the case with Frontier Village. While in Albany, Ga., perusing the brochures at the visitor’s center, I struck up a conversation with a women who told me not to miss the village in Ft. Gaines, a collection of 1800’s houses assembled from all across Clay County. Seeing my three boys, she said they’d love the lookout tower of the old fort.

Frontier Village is located on a bluff overlooking the Flint River and literally at the end of a residential street. Formerly the location of a civil war fort, the lookout tower and one cannon are all that remain. Since then, several historic 1800’s era buildings have been moved to the site including: a toll house, homestead, smoke house, grist mill, cane mill and out house.

There is no entry fee or costumed interpreters, just buildings and historic markers letting you know the history. The village had a bit of a ghost town feel, as we were the only people there, but my boys had a blast playing in the lookout tower while I walked around. Frontier Village was a great diversion on our tour of west Georgia and only a few minutes from George T. Bagby State Park where we were staying.

This morning was a fun one on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, I met Shane, of Shane’s Rib Shack. Shane’s supports my son’s local baseball program, so it was nice to have the opportunity to say thanks in person. In addition, I had a delicious breakfast of ribs. You can get your own free ribs too! Be one of the first 100 people to visit Shane’s Rib Shack on Sat. May 15 and receive a 1/2 rack of ribs, large beverage and a Shaniac t-shirt.

But what about the Field Trips with Sue segment this morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta? Here’s what I highlighted:

Albany Georgia and the Flint Riverquarium
Durhamtown Plantation
Buy One, Get One Free tickets to the Georgia Aquarium

Shrek Fest at Atlantic Station
Julie Andrews Book Signing at Little Shop of Stories
The Georgia Kite Festival
Dora The Explorer Appearances

What: George T. Bagby State Park
Where: Fort Gaines, Georgia
When: Open Daily
Cost: $5 Parking Fee

I once heard when raising children, it’s better to vacation at state parks, not theme parks. Although I do love a good theme park adventure, we took that advice this past spring break and visited three Georgia State Parks.

Our first stop, George T. Bagby State Park, along the banks of 48,000 acre Lake Walter F. George in Ft. Gaines, Ga. After an active day touring attractions in Albany, Ga., the boys were excited to just hang out at the park. In addition three miles of hiking trails, here’s what we found:

1. Boating: There is a full-service marina at the lake. Since we didn’t have a boat, we rented a canoe ($5 for an hour!) and paddled around beautiful cypress tree outcrops in the middle of the lake, explored inlets and even put in on a peninsula and did some exploring on foot. I was quite proud of my pinecone Christmas tree with shells and sand decorations.

2. Fishing: Anglers will be excited to know that a new state record blue catfish was captured on Walter F. George Lake in February. Too bad we didn’t fair as well. On our trip, we borrowed rods from the marina and purchased some crickets for $3. A very nice couple from Cuthbert, Ga. shared their fishing spot, but alas, we came up empty. It was a relaxing few hours though and we even had a picnic while we waited patiently for the fish to bite.

3. Golf: George T. Bagby has a Willard Byrd designed golf course and was ranked 6th best affordable public course in the U.S. by Golf Digest in 1998. Summer can get a bit hot and buggy here, but it’s the perfect location for a family golf trip any other season. Kids play for only $5 during the week and weekend afternoons. Georgia’s State Parks also sponsor junior golf leagues and tournaments.

4. Swim/Tennis/Playground: At the lodge is a traditional in-ground swimming pool and well maintained tennis courts including a backboard for solo hitting. The playground at George T. Bagby offers lots of different climbing, swinging and play structures. It’s located near the beach and picnic area, so wear a bathing suit and take a dip when you get too hot. There’s even a sand volleyball court for the older kids.

5. 1814 Frontier Village: A short drive south is the Frontier Village in Fort Gaines. Located on a bluff overlooking the Flint River and literally at the end of residential street, Frontier Village is an assembly of historic buildings from across the county. There is no entry fee or costumed interpreters, just buildings and historic markers letting you know the history. The village had a bit of a ghost town feel, as we were the only people there, but my boys had a blast playing in the lookout tower while I walked around. Now if Ft. Gaines would just get an ice cream shop!

Where to Stay: George T. Bagby State Park has cottages, lodge rooms and camping available. We stayed at the lodge and took advantage of the Georgia State Park “logical” rate of $69 a night which includes breakfast for two each morning. There are only a few cottages, so book well in advance if you want to stay there. The lodge rooms were clean, standard motel type rooms with outdoor access. The lodge has meeting facilities and a full restaurant.