Georgia: A day in the peach state

Southern Living, Mar 1997

From the time the first rays of the morning sun reach out to tickle the Atlantic beaches until your head finally hits that fluffy down pillow, the beautiful state of Georgia offers everything a visitor could want. In the following pages, we'll take you on a journey from dawn through dark and show you just what we mean.

RISE AND SHINE

Time to yawn, stretch, and look forward to a great day. But first perhaps a walk on the beach, a stirring mountaintop sunrise, or maybe . . . well, read on and find out.

* Get up with the dawn and amble along the Riverwalk through downtown Augusta. Enter the all-enveloping, otherworldly realm of the morning fog that shrouds the Savannah River. (706) 823-6600 or 1-800-726-0243.

* You have to get up before the sun to fool the fish. It's worth it at Lake Seminole near Donalsonville in extreme southwestern Georgia. Watch the first hints of pink begin to spread over the sky; with luck you'll have a full stringer by breakfast time. For lake information call (912) 662-2001. Seminole State Park, (912) 861-3137, offers 10 two-bedroom cabins and 50 campsites.

* Day breaks like a symphony of light at Providence Canyon State Park near Lumpkin. The sun paints the striated rocks with its own family of hues. Dew glistens on the pine trees that sprout from soil deposited on the craggy stone. Something stirs inside your soul. You may want to rent a cabin at nearby Florence Marina State Park just so you can come back and see it again tomorrow. (912) 838-6202 for Providence, (912) 838-4244 for Florence.

* Dawn first strikes Georgia at Tybee Island. It's a wonderfully relaxed place to enjoy the ocean, with 5 miles of beach located just 15 minutes east of Savannah. The ambience here is low-key and low-rise, and a variety of beach houses is available for rent. Call the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, (912) 786-5444, or Tybee Island Rentals, (912) 786-4034.

BOUNTEOUS BREAKFASTS

Nutritionists always say it's the most important meal of the day. Here are a few places where it may also be the most delicious.

* The Buckhead Bread Company and Corner Cafe in Atlanta serves adventurous morning meals: homemade granola, grits, pastries, and terrific fried prosciutto chips. (404) 240-1978.

* At The Flying Biscuit in Atlanta, try (what else?) the biscuits. The tasty oatmeal pancakes are worth a nibble as well. (404) 687-8888.

* The lovely 1842 Inn in Macon serves a nostress meal. You don't even have to get out of bed. Continental breakfast is delivered to your cushy four-poster, along with flowers and a neatly folded morning paper.1-800-336-1842.

* Enjoy such specialties as baked French toast and fresh apple juice at Leonard Wallace's beautifully decorated Burnett Place Bed and Breakfast Inn at Madison. (706) 342-4034.

* Parrott Camp Soucy Home and Gardens, a wonderful bed-and-breakfast in Newnan, squeezes fresh juice on request and lays out a marvelous array of exotic fruits. You'lllove this Empire Victorian mansion. (770) 502-0676.

* The Veranda in Senoia serves a breakfast so bountiful that you won't be able to move until evening-just in time for the fabulous fivecourse dinner. It's a lovely, welcoming place decorated with kaleidoscopes, which are collected by the owners. (770) 599-3905.

MORNING GLORIES

As you get out and about on a fine Georgia morning, you're ready to get some exercise, tackle some serious shopping, and dive into the day. Here are some ways to pass the time.

* While the animals-and the kids-are still feeling frisky, visit Chehaw Wild Animal Park outside Albany. Take a winding walk through natural exhibits of deer, elephants, zebras, eagles, bobcats, and other creatures. You can also fish, boat, camp, picnic, or ride the miniature Chehaw Choo-Choo. (912) 430-5275.

* The Georgia Museum of Art moved last spring into the Performing and Visual Arts Complex at The University of Georgia in Athens. There's usually a show worth visiting in this excellent new facility. (706) 542-4662.

* Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta features hands-on activities aimed at particular age groups. The Fantasy Forest, for ages 3 through 5, lets little ones play with shadows and drop "pollen balls" into giant talking flowers. The Georgia Adventure, designed for ages 6 through 10, lets youngsters examine fossils, inspect a simulated mountain stream, and maneuver tiny sailboats. Don't miss the IMAX Theater. (404) 378-0127.

* Atlanta's King Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site commemorate one of the giant figures of American history. Nearby, tour his birthplace and the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached. (404) 5241956 for the Center, (404) 331-3920 for the Historic Site.

* Walk out of the Monetary Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta with free money. Shredded, unfortunately. Here you'll learn about the history of money, how it's made, and how the Federal Reserve system works. (404) 521-8764.

*Let the kids burn off some of their energy at SciTrek, the fabulous, hands-on science and technology museum in downtown Atlanta. The more than 150 interactive exhibits are fun for adults too. (404) 522-5500.