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.