Calloway Gardens (2006)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Nov. 17, 2006 Pensacola – Callaway Gardens

It was a beautiful, crispy day to begin our trip to Callaway Gardens.  We had our luggage down in the lobby by 8 am and we left at 8:45 by bus driven by Frank – 26 hearty souls.

Callaway Gardens is on Hgwy 18 in Pine Mtn, Ga., 60 miles SW of Atlanta.  We arrived here about 3:45 + it was an easy trip, stopping in Montgomery at Wendy’s for lunch.  Enroute we stopped at Priesters for a rest stop + a browse through the store after sampling the pecan candies.

Our room at the Mountain Creek Inn was nicely furnished – two standard beds and the furniture is attractively decorated in pine.

Dinner tonight was a scrumptious buffet consisting of “real” turkey, cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish, and pecan pie + choc. cake for dessert.  Salad was Caesar – the real stuff.

We had plenty of reading to catch up on, so we retired early to get ready for tomorrow’s activities.

11/18/’06 Calloway Gardens

From 9-12 this was our itinerary spent visiting the various gardens:

1) Cecil B. Day – Butterfly Center – most spectacular!  Over 1,000 tropical butterflies from more than 50 species in a glass enclosed conservatory.

2) Horticulture Center – Native + exotic plants within a rock wall garden, fern grotto, + outdoor garden setting plus 22’ indoor waterfall.

3) Memorial Chapel – Gothic style architecture stained glass windows depicting the four seasons of the Southern forest.  Moller pipe organ

4) Azalea Bowl – 3400 blooming azaleas

5) Mr. Cason’s Veg. Garden – Victory garden as seen on TV.

6) Overlook Garden – 700 varieties in the spring.

Home for lunch, then we rested + watched the exciting Ohio-Mich. football game – Ohio State 42, Mich – 39!  Yeah!

After dinner we boarded our bus and drove to the fantastic Fantasy In Lights.  We went on the 5 mile ride on our bus. 8 million lights decked the winter wonderland – 731 miles of strings.  Swirling snowfall, Santa’s workshop, magical garden + best of all including the inspiring Nativity scene.

Now we are packing our bags for the trip home tomorrow, a wonderful worthwhile trip!!