Like Disney World and Disneyland, Callaway Gardens in Georgia is a prime family vacation destination, open year-round and affording unforgettable fun for the entire family – special events, golf, tennis, spa treatments, educational exhibits, Discovery programs, and a wide assortment of lodging options and dining spots, including a malt shop and a pizzeria. In warm months, fishing, water skiing, an island water playground and banana boat rides are offered on Robin Lake.
Unlike Disney’s theme parks, Callaway Gardens is committed to environmental sustainability, land stewardship and the simple things in life - swooping eagles, falcons and butterflies, eight nature trails, and a 7.5-acre vegetable garden. Ten miles of bike trails replace monorails, there are no long lines, and admission to the property is reasonable ($15 adults, $7.50 children over 5).
For more than 50 years, the nonprofit Ida Jason Callaway Foundation has provided “a place of relaxation, inspiration and better understanding of the living world” for millions of visitors. On-property recycling programs and water conservation are abundant, and housekeeping chemicals are all certified as “green.” Callaway Gardens is the first resort in the Southeast to embrace wind energy with a 100 percent annual commitment. Further, Callaway Gardens has offset all of its electricity use with the purchase of renewable energy credits.
Situated amid 13,000 acres in the peaceful foothills of Pine Mountain, an hour south of Atlanta’s airport, are The Mountain Creek Inn, the new Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens, luxurious multi-bedroom villas with living/dining areas, full kitchens, fireplaces and patio or porch. Also available are contemporary casual “cottages” with one or two bedrooms, full kitchens, screened porches and a deck tucked into the pines. All are smartly decorated and have wonderful beds. Spa Prunifolia encompasses 13,000 square feet and includes 13 treatment rooms for massage and hydrotherapy as well as saunas and steam rooms.
Dining at Callaway is a special treat - whether it is an abundant buffet lunch or dinner in The Plant Room, the down-home country cooking of the rustic Country Kitchen (be sure to savor the muscadine sherbet), the continental cuisine of the Piedmont Dining Room, or the Georgia-themed menu at the Gardens Restaurant, the original Callaway clubhouse. Lighter fare is provided at both the Discovery Café and Champions, a perfect spot for a mid-round lunch, and treats from the 50’s are always available at Rockin’ Robin’s Malt Shop and Pizzeria.
Among the property’s special attractions are the Sibley Horticultural Center of native and exotic plants, the Azalea Bowl, Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, where more than a thousand tropical butterflies flit from leaf to leaf to visitors’ shoulders, and the magnificent Birds of Prey Show, featuring eagles, falcons, hawks and owls demonstrating their survival skills.
In spring, 40 acres of the property are ablaze with the blooms of more than 20,000 varieties of azaleas, along with dogwoods, daffodils and daisies. In summer, four- to seven-day adventure programs are offered for adults and children, accompanied by circus shows, the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament on Memorial Day weekend, the Surf and Sand Spectacular in July and a Hot Air Balloon Festival on Labor Day weekend.
In fall months, the riot of color provided by Japanese maples, sweet gums, holly and hickory trees and mums surrounds October’s month-long Autumn Fest and adds even more excitement to November’s Steeplechase thoroughbred race. At holiday time, from Nov. 14-Dec. 30, 2009 the Fantasy In Lights (more than eight million) is the South’s most dazzling outdoor light and sound extravaganza. For more information, visit www.callawaygardens.com.
For more than 50 years, the nonprofit Ida Jason Callaway Foundation has provided “a place of relaxation” ...for millions of visitors.
Like Disney World and Disneyland, Callaway Gardens in Georgia is a prime family vacation destination, open year-round and affording unforgettable fun for the entire family – special events, golf, tennis, spa treatments, educational exhibits, Discovery programs, and a wide assortment of lodging options and dining spots, including a malt shop and a pizzeria. In warm months, fishing, water skiing, an island water playground and banana boat rides are offered on Robin Lake.
Dining at Callaway is a special treat - whether it is an abundant buffet lunch or dinner in The Plant Room, the down-home country cooking of the rustic Country Kitchen (be sure to savor the muscadine sherbet), the continental cuisine of the Piedmont Dining Room, or the Georgia-themed menu at the Gardens Restaurant, the original Callaway clubhouse. Lighter fare is provided at both the Discovery Café and Champions, a perfect spot for a mid-round lunch, and treats from the 50’s are always available at Rockin’ Robin’s Malt Shop and Pizzeria.