Photo by Lorilynn

  Camp Sumter was one of the largest confederate prisons during the Civil War. The city of Andersonville Georgia was chosen for the site of the prison due to its location far from Union lines and its close proximity to the railway. Soon after the first prisoners arrived in 1864 it was dubbed “Andersonville”. Andersonville is infamous for being one of the deadliest prison camps during the Civil War. Over the next 14 months, almost 13,000 Union soldiers lost their life.  Stricken by the same diseases and insufficient rations hundreds of the confederate prison guards perished as well.  A replica of the North gate was rebuilt on the site along with markers signifying the 15 ft high outer wall and the flimsy inner wall, which marked the “dead line”.

  Doris Atwater, a prisoner, kept a secret list of men that died. After the war ended he and Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, went back with a team to dig up the mass graves and rebury the dead with dignity. There are monuments throughout the prison site and cemetery from each state that had prisoners held at Andersonville.

Clara Barton Image via Wikipedia

  Andersonville is a great day trip it takes about 2 ½ hours to drive there from Atlanta or make a weekend out of it and visit former President Jimmy Carter’s Hometown in nearby Plains Georgia or the State fair in Perry. They offer several guided tours daily. We chose the audio tour, you can rent it for a few bucks and go at your own pace.

  Also on site is the Nation Prisoner of War Museum which was opened in 1998 to honor those who were held captive in the defense of their country. You can also visit the Andersonville National Cemetery where the dead from Andersonville are at rest.

  Today the walls that covered over 26 acres have since fallen but the memories and spirit of the men who lived there linger on.

Andersonville Slide show:

http://www.kleep.com/Arts/Slideshow/Andersonville-Georgia-Civil-War-Prison.515505

Image via Wikipedia

1. Spend the day at Tybee Island beach.  Sand, surf, and fun you can never do wrong with that.  Some great restaurants to visit include: The Crab Shack, Macawee’s, and Cousin Vinny’s Pizza.
2. Hit Riverstreet.  This is the ultimate downtown tourist destination, a must see.  The Savannah river is beautiful down there and drinking down here can spill out from the bars to the street. 
3. Another downtown must visit is City Market.  This is an artsy area filled with art gallery, bars, popular restaurants and shops.
4.  Visit the famous Lady and Son’s resturant owned by Paula Deen herself.  Pull up to the table and be prepared to eat like a true southerner complete with greens and cornbread.  DELICIOUS!
5. Catch a Sand Gnats minor league baseball game.  This is fun and affordable entertainment for the whole family.  Friday night home games have free fireworks following the game.
6. Take a dolphin cruise.  Marine life here is prevalent.  I have seen dolphins in the rivers many times.  I have even seen them at the beach.  Twice I have had the pleasure of seeing whales off the coast.  It is a majestic sight.
7. Have a glass of ice tea and sit in the shade downtown at Vinny Van Gogo’s.  They have some of the best pizza and atmosphere around.  This is a favorite hangout for locals.

Image via Wikipedia

The building has five sections, and I aimed for the huge underwater tunnel exhibit right away. As I stepped into the clear tunnel, I immediately found myself surrounded by swimming fish, and “ooohing” and “aaahing” people. Above me a massive whale shark passed by, followed by a parade of fish: hammerhead sharks, sawtooth sharks, manta rays, and the list goes on and on. OK. I was impressed! They passed so close you could see the muscles contracting on the ray’s bellies. And the tank was loaded with fish! Everywhere you looked you saw something incredible.

Image via Wikipedia

After staring for a long time, I continued around the path which opened up into a room with a massive window view of the aquarium. Again, very impressive view. A sample chunk of the clear walls showed they were around 2 feet thick! The aquarium has pictures of kids having a sleep-over in front of this window. I think that would be extremely fun to do.

Image via Wikipedia

The other four sections of the building include a large tank with beluga whales (awesome!), two otter exhibits, breath-taking displays of jellyfish, a unique petting tank where I was able to pet rays and small hammerhead sharks, and quite a few other cool exhibits of ocean creatures. I must say though, that in my personal opinion, the underwater tunnel area was by far my favorite section.

Image via Wikipedia

The one downfall to visiting this aquarium was the cost. The general admission was 26.00, and I’m not rich. I had expected to be at the aquarium for a good part of the day, but saw everything, and even went back for a second stay in the amazing tunnel, in less than 3 hours. Of course, the only exit from the building is through the gift shop. 

So, bottom line…was it really that big and amazing? Yes, it really is impressive. In particular, like I mentioned before, the underwater tunnel area and the large viewing window. You feel like you are in a different world. You will see crazy, wonderful, enormous and tiny creatures close up, an opportunity you will most likely never have in nature.

Another Great Aquarium:

• The Shedd Aquarium

More Eye-popping places to visit:

• The Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth Minnesota – Over the top spectacular!
• Crater Lake
• Water Towers with Pizazz; Including the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle!
• Minnesota Water Towers to Gawk at; Like Paul Bunyan’s Fishing Bobber – A Must See!
• Cape Canaveral National Seashore

St. Simons Island offers a variety of activities for the entire family. From dolphin tours to horseback riding or spending the evening on a ghost walk. Whatever your idea of fun, St. Simons Island is sure to have it.

Grab your bags and head over to the Ocean Lodge. It’s much more than a place to lay your head for the night. The Ocean Lodge is rich with history and blessed with an abundance of beauty. Enjoy the warm gentle breeze while walking along the beach or simply relax out on the sundeck. This establishment has extraordinary details throughout, including the state of the art kitchen, bathroom and down to the luxurious view from the balcony. You won’t be disappointed.

Now that you’re settled in, take a ride over to Jekyll Wharf and catch a popular Dolphin Tour. See the dolphins carefree play, take in the view while you enjoy a water excursion like no other. Looking for something a little more hands on? The island offers sunset and beach horseback riding, grab a saddle and charge on. Interested in getting a little wet? A kayak is just what you are looking for. You can explore the Golden Isles and catch a glimpse of the wildlife on the beaches of St. Simons or journey through the Marshes of Glynn under a glorious moon during the Full Moon Paddle.

You might have to search high and low for this tucked away gem, but the Georgia Sea Grill is one of the best seafood stops on the island. Don’t forget to order the Buttermilk Oysters, you won’t regret it. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, J Mac’s is your place. Choose from lobster, steak, veal or lamb and enjoy a drink at the piano bar, the Boston Cream Pie martini is a local favorite.

Take a walk over to Neptune Park, stroll along the beach and search for sand dollars or take a carriage ride and fall in love. This island has a variety of options for your enjoyment. But if you are up for a little adventure out of the ordinary, try searching for a tree spirit. That’s right, surrounding the history of St. Simons Island lies a folklore legend; the St. Simons Island tree spirits. A local sculptor etched saddening faces into the trees in order to immortalize sailors who lost their lives at sea as well as several Indian faces. Follow the trail of the tree spirit’s and allow your creative thoughts to take you back in time and imagine a storyline like no other.

St. Simons Island has something many other vacation destinations do not; it is not necessary to sell the idea of a visit with large theme parks, America’s 1 beach or famous celebrities. Although those things are great and they do a wonderful job of attracting visitors, this tiny slice of the Golden Isle uses pure southern charm to whisk their visitors into place. That’s the catch. St. Simons Island is charming, quaint and most of all, interesting.

Let’s talk about one of my favorite attractions thus far, the Original Ghost Walk. I’ve been on many of the best including St. Augustine and Savannah, but I believe that this one is tops, by far. You can venture into the past with the local ghosts and spirits. The guided tour has you baffled by the talk of the tree spirits, the Lighthouse ghost and Mary the Wanderer.

Spooky, at best. But riveting for sure. The tour is led by only the light of an old tattered lantern and the legends of the historic south tip of St. Simons Island come alive by searching every nook and crannies of the eerie island paradise.

Throwing a little bit of nature into your vacation mix is always a good way to enjoy the great outdoors. Get out and play; St. Simons Island has more than an eyeful of exciting wildlife and scenic views of the island. Take on a nature tour and explore coastal Georgia. Search the island for a guided Marsh Walk or Beach Walk, you can even learn about the majestic live oaks that create the glorious landscape of the island.

Stop by Lovely Lane Chapel on your way to the beach. This is the oldest standing Church building on St. Simons Island. The windows are made of Old English art glass and colorful flowers highlight the traditional island landscaping surrounding the chapel. An elegant place to take your vows with the one you love; wink, wink.

Make sure to try out the local tastes while visiting the Golden Isles. What better way to enjoy the coast than to sip a raw oyster on a half shell? Don’t forget the hot sauce, that’s what makes it a real treat. Slurp away.

Before you leave the island make your way over to the St. Simons Island Lighthouse, one of only five surviving light towers in Georgia. Climb the 129 steps to the top and take in the view of the Golden Isles below. The keeper’s cottage has been transformed into a museum featuring exhibits on the history of the lighthouse as well as unique lighthouse-related items. Make sure you join the “129 Club”. Do so by climbing to the top of the St. Simons Island Lighthouse. A marker for St. Simons Sound, this historic landmark was created in the early 1800’s by a local plantation owner. A local secret, the 129 Club signifies the 129 step cast iron spiral staircase to reach the top.

St. Simons Island is glowing with culture, wildlife and interesting facts and historical features. It is a hidden gem of the south and a vacation spot for both families and couples.

This area has it’s own quirky spots to visit. No matter what your visit entails, you are sure to find something interesting around every corner. Some say this tucked away world is just the place to fall in love. I say, go and see for yourself why St. Simons Island, Georgia is a vacation getaway like no other.