Callaway Gardens is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the south, and there’s no surprise why that is. This location is covered in tens of thousands of acres of lakes, gardens, and forests and offers all sorts of outdoor and wildlife-oriented activities. Nearly 750,000 people visit the site every year, but the peak is in spring when the flowers bloom on the Azalea Trail.
Callaway Gardens got its start in the Pine Mountains in the 1930s when Cason Callaway decided something new was needed in Georgia. As the owner of one of the most prosperous textile mills, he set forth on importing plant life, rebuilding the soil, and creating the largest man-made inland beach on the planet and then opened it up for everyone.
If you’re headed to Callaway Gardens, you aren’t going to have much trouble finding some things to fill your days. However, the variety of activities can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to some of the top things to do when you stop in and enjoy this paradise right in Georgia.
One of the co-founders of the Callaway Gardens was Virginia Hand Callaway and she had a passion for connecting people with the world around them. This facility is named after her and continues that tradition today. The center is located near Mountain Creek Lake and makes a great starting point for your trip to Callaway Gardens. Make sure to check out the Free-Flighted Birds of Prey presentation.
You’ll find a lobby with interactive kiosks and friendly staff who can answer all of your questions and provide an overview of the Gardens. There’s also a theater that shows an orientation video to get you acclimated to the area. There is also an education wing, auditorium, exhibit hall, and gift shop inside. When you step outside, you also have access to a garden, an amphitheater and a café.
If you enjoy butterflies and want to learn more about them, the Cecil B. Day Center is the right place to come. You can often find thousands of free-flying butterflies fluttering their wings inside North America’s largest butterfly conservatory. There’s always a butterfly of the month, as well, so you can learn more about a specific species each time you visit.
The center is glass-enclosed and also offers a variety of tropical plants to keep the butterflies healthy and happy. You can even sometimes watch a new arrival coming out of a chrysalis and beating its tiny wings for the first time. It’s a beautiful place to visit that is well worth adding to your itinerary if you're going to be in town.
There are miles and miles of winding trails on Callaway Gardens for you to take advantage of in your favorite way. Hike or pick up a bicycle and enjoy the location while getting some exercise at the same time. There are numerous nature trails ranging in length from a little over half a mile to a couple of miles and all of them are at your fingertips. All trails are open from 9 in the morning until dusk and there are options for both seasoned and casual hikers.
Bicycles can be rented and rode on the Discovery Bicycle Trail that winds through all sorts of woodland and past many attractions and gardens on the way. The trail is family-friendly and not too difficult to ride on but is 10 miles in length for those who want a more intense workout. There are bikes for kids and adults, as well as bikes with space for the kids to ride with their parents.
If you’re the type of person who loves flowers, you need to visit the Azalea Bowl. This is a 40-acre garden that offers more than 3000 hybrid and native azaleas that bloom in vivid lavender, white, red, and pink in the spring. In addition to the flowers, there are thousands of shrubs and trees to add something extra to all the blooms you will experience.
There are walking paths all across the gardens, which makes for a nice stroll at all times of day in any season. If you need to rest, the gazebo near Falls Creek Lake is a great place to catch your breath while taking some Instagram-worthy photos. The bowl is named after brothers Ely and Fuller Callaway. Ely’s son was the founder of the bowl which opened in the late 1990s.
When it comes to truly taking in the history of the area, one of the best options is the Pioneer Log Cabin. You can see what things were like in simpler days long behind us. You can see how difficult life used to be with days spent doing many chores and nothing but corn husk toys for kids to play with. The homes back then were illuminated using oil lanterns, but the thin mattresses still gave a good night’s sleep.
This cabin is a two-room dwelling that was built in the 1830s and is constructed of longleaf pine. The home was occupied for more than 100 years and at some points housed as many as 15 people at once. This house was relocated in the 1950s to Callaway Gardens and it serves as a reminder of the struggles the people of the past had.
This chapel is located in the forest off of Falls Creek Lake and was planned by Cason Callaway as a tribute to his own mother. The structure is inspired by Gothic chapels of the 16th century but has touches of the area it is in incorporated throughout. There are amazing stained glass windows with samples of the hard and softwoods of the area to see, and you can also enjoy the sounds of the custom-built pipe organ used during seasonal concerts.
The chapel offers a non-denominational service every Sunday morning in the summer and near Christmas. It is also available for small weddings. Every weekend there are organ concerts, as well as during the holidays and on special occasions. Admission to the Gardens gives you access to concerts if you want to pop in and enjoy the music.
There are tons of native animals in the area and what you see while you visit will depend on your luck and the season you come into town. During the summer, you can expect to see dragonflies, swallowtail butterflies, and bluegill in the air and the water. You’ll also view magnolias, buckeyes, and blueberry bushes. Toward the tail end of summer, there are also kingfishers to watch swooping down on the lakes.
Spring sees the Gardens come alive with hummingbirds as well as many songbirds. The lakes and ponds are lined with great blue herons and fireflies take flight in the evenings. There’s so much to see and do that you just need to walk around a bit to find something new to experience.
Callaway Gardens is a fantastic place to visit and you can’t go wrong with any of the attractions. However, the ones we’ve mentioned are some of the guest’s favorites and are sure to add joy to your day. Also, make sure you car is ready for your trip to the Callaway Gardens by getting your cheap car insurance in Georgia here. So, get your things packed and get on the road. Georgia awaits you with all of its beauty and charm.