This is just pure awesome.

The first lunar mission in 50 years.

The first time a woman, a Black man, or anyone other than an American has left the planetary sphere of influence at all.

The first Generation X crew of a manned space mission.

The longest distance from Earth any human has ever traveled.

Fifteen miles from downtown Atlanta is a beautiful park encompassing over 2,500 acres. Named Sweetwater Creek State Park, it’s located in Douglas County (in the city of Lithia Springs) and was the home of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company.

The land on which the park sits changed hands numerous times and the tall buildings that now lie in ruins were named Sweetwater Mill in 1849. The mill used the rushing rapids of Sweetwater Creek to power a cotton (textile) mill. The entire operation supported what was called a “factory town” where everyone living in it worked for the factory. There was also a general store where dry goods could be bought. The mill produced cotton that was later turned into yarn and this  kept the town financially afloat.

By 1864,however, the destructive Civil War was coming to a bloody end, and the Confederate soldiers retreated to their southern homes. When Union troops arrived at Sweetwater Mill, they burned it to the ground.

(Photo taken by author from the Red line trail)

To preserve what is left of the ruins, access is forbidden unless you are on a ranger-guided hike in the park. The ruins are also featured in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, which was one of many Georgia locations used for filming.

The park also has a 215-acre lake for fishing as well as multiple hiking trails. My friend Janette and I (calling ourselves the “hiking hermanas”) decided to start with the Red trail, which leads from the Visitor Center to the ruins. From there, you can press on but be warned that when the sign says the hike is “moderate to difficult”, they aren’t kidding. 

We clambered over rocks near the water, which does have class IV rapids, and past trees and stumps. The Red trail eventually meets up with the White trail, which is nearly vertical in some areas and after a long 3 hours and 4 miles, we ended up back at the Visitor Center. 

Activities in the park include birding, fishing, and geocaching. The park also holds the distinction of having a butterfly trail. The concept of a butterfly trail came from former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who wanted to preserve habitats for butterflies (particularly the Monarch), which are pollinators. The trail is a specialized, educational trail (separate from the hiking trails) that features pollinator-friendly gardens designed to support nearly 60 native species of butterflies.

The Visitor Center also hosts a Civil War-era museum showcasing what the mill looked like in its heyday as well as many taxidermied animals commonly found in the park.

Friendly reminder to #getoutside and enjoy the beauty of this state.

This is why I spent my recent birthday at the Georgia Aquarium. Admission is free on your birthday, and while I didn’t attend any shows, I did see several denizens of the deep, including the Aquarium’s most famous resident, a whale shark that has resided in Atlanta for 18 years.

(Shark swimming, photo by me)

(seals)

Whale sharks are the largest extant fish species and, fittingly, the Georgia Aquarium is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere with over 11 million gallons of fresh and salt water tanks and over 500 species of fish and aquatic mammals, including hammerhead sharks, beluga whales, and manta rays.

(Japanese sea nettle)

The Aquarium is located near Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, near the World of Coca-Cola. Its main purpose is to encourage marine literacy (if that’s a thing) and conservation efforts. It’s also open 365 days a year.

(reef fishes near a fake shipwreck)

(Whale shark in the background)

The views here remind me of Captain Nemo’s words in the 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: “See how peaceful it is here.”

(Leopard shark)

There are presentations involving sea lions (see picture above) and bottlenose dolphins in addition to a touch tank with quiet, gliding stingrays that feel like velvet when you pet them.

(bottlenose dolphin)

(beluga whale watching)

Admission is normally $59 and parking nearby is around $20, but spending the afternoon in the company of such beautiful creatures is priceless. 

It’s summer and everyone, it seems, is headed to the beach.

Make your reservations at Ocean Inn & Suites, where you’ll be about half a block from the beach. Pack plenty of sunscreen, a towel, and a calm attitude. You’ll also be close to the pier, the lighthouse, and all the tourist-y areas they encompass.

Massengale Park also has a nice beach.  If you do choose to climb the lighthouse, there is a combination ticket you can buy for the WWII Homefront Museum.  You can also tour Fort Frederica.  The Avenue of the Oaks makes for a beautiful photo setting.   If you don’t want to drive much (and who does, on vacation?), you can rent bikes and ride all over the island.  There’s even a trolley tour of the island. 

For meals, check out Southern Soul BBQ and Frosty’s Griddle & Shake. Also check out Barbara Jean’s. East Beach (Coast Guard station) has a concession stand.  Look for the carts from Sunset Slush when on the beach.  Brogen’s (by the pier) is also good.  Mullet Bay is a good seaford choice with plenty of outdoor seating.

(Some of the menu selections at Barbara Jean’s)

Jekyll Island is nearby with beautiful large pieces of driftwood that make for a magical photo op.

On your way back home, stop in Brunswick at Silver Bluff Brewery for beers before heading to Reid’s Apothecary for a good meal.

Muse Farm

Muse Farm is a refurbished barn/indoor entertaining area in Bremen, Georgia, not too far from the Alabama state line.  It’s perfect for any kind of event, including family reunions, wedding receptions, anniversary parties, or graduation parties.

Its decor is rustic chic inside and pure country outside, with rolling hills, antiques, and some local farm animals (mostly horses) that make for excellent photography.  There’s even an antique truck outside that can be used as a prop. 

There are Mason jar chandeliers and a seat made from the back of a truck bed:

There’s also a pool table in an adjacent room from the main dining area as well as a grill outside, for those who want to enjoy the sunny weather in spring or summer as well as the cooler fall air in Georgia.  

For centuries people have found restfulness and a sense of oneness with the universe from being in nature.  Poems and songs have been written, and the entire foundation of some companies like REI is to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. 

Dr. Qing Li has established scientific reasoning behind why we love being outdoors, particularly near trees and forests.  The term ‘bathing” implies more than just a leisurely hike in the woods; it’s immersive and involves all our senses.  It may involve stretching or yoga poses as well as contemplation or meditation.  One of the greatest benefits from forest bathing is seen in our immune system.  

Stress inhibits immune function and, because of this, we tend to fall ill frequently if we cannot get away from our stressors (work, school, other people, etc.) One of the ways the health of the immune system is tested is by looking at the activity of natural killer (NK) cells.  They are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that can attack and kill unwanted cells, which they do with the assistance of some proteins such as perforin, granulysin, and granzymes.  People with higher NK activity show lower incidence rates of cancer and other diseases.

Dr. Li discovered that after only three days and two nights in a forest, NK cell activity improved from 17.3% to 26.5%; NK cell numbers went up from 440 to 661 (a 50% increase!).  Dr. Li also writes that “the results showed that natural killer activity and the number of natural killer cells were significantly increased after forest bathing and that this effect lasted not just for seven days but for as long as thirty days.”

I’ve posted on this blog about hikes in and around Georgia, and I wanted to also share areas for forest bathing in and around the metro Atlanta area:

Check out the trails off Clifton Road at Emory University and Lullwater Preserve when studying for finals or just needing some time away from the office.  

There’s also Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, GA as well as multiple state parks including those near lakes or waterfalls.  

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest has miles of trails and wooded areas to explore and enjoy.

Renewal by Nature can set up a private or group walk for you and your friends and family.

The botanical garden is a gift from Douglas and Ada Ivester. Douglas is the retired CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, whose headquarters is in Atlanta. The gardens feature several walking paths including one especially for children with “shrub tunnels”, a fairy village, and a stone dragon made for climbing. 

There are benches if you get tired as well as a Little Free Library if your children feel the need to read about nature in addition to experiencing it. The day I toured, there were several small children playing and exploring and it’s encouraging to see parents allow their children to learn through play.

Starting June 7 and running through October, there is an art exhibit from Atlanta-based artist Huelani Mei, entitled Woodland Wonders. Shown below is Mike, the Wise Owl. Other creatures include an ant army, a fox, and a cardinal. 

Admission for adults is $14.95 and $12.95 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. Grab a map from the Visitor Center (check out the gift shop as well) and have a beautiful day.

In case you have a bad knee like me, know that there are stairs at the top and bottom of the trail near the observation point. The trail itself is about 1.1 miles down and back up again, partially paved, and a lot of fun. Dogs are welcome as long as they’re leashed.

The top of the trailhead has a gorgeous view of Mount Yonah. 

This is where you’ll park and hit the trail. Restrooms are also available. 

(Yonah is also a great hike but more challenging)

There is an ADA accessible platform at 0.1 mile on the trail, and this is where the pavement ends. The hike drops in elevation (the stairs) and there is a trail junction at 0.3 mile. Kids and dogs might want to take a right turn at this junction and head over to Davis Creek, where water flows over mossy boulders. 

The main trail can get muddy at times, and swings a hard left at the intersection, hiking southwest and descending into the creek valley. The sounds of the waterfall can be heard at various points along the trail.  My friend Kate and I brought our dogs, Georgia and Emma, and they didn’t have too much of a problem with the trail with the exception of the stairs; Emma doesn’t like those.

The trail reaches the Falls viewing platforms at 1 mile, with amazing views of the 150-foot tall falls.

The trail is only about 20 minutes north of the tourist town of Helen, GA, famous for its Alpine looks and Oktoberfest. Anna Ruby Falls and Unicoi State Park are also nearby.