Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

Callaway Gardens is an escape from the cold

I live in Georgia for many reasons and snow isn’t one of them. Friday’s snow sent me wishing for the tropics. Because I don’t have a jet at my disposal, I visited the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens instead.

Inside the conservatory, with the temperature in the 80s, the butterflies fluttering about the flowers, the rushing of a waterfall and the sun streaming through the 854 panes of glass, I escaped winter for a while.

Callaway Gardens is about 45 miles north of Fort Benning and for the rest of the month, admission is free. You can’t beat free.

I’ve seen the birds of prey show so many times, my daughter said she has the information memorized. I love it. The free-flighted shows feature great-horned owls, peregrine falcons and there’s even a bald eagle. Although Callaway allows dogs on leashes, Fido isn’t welcome at the lakeside amphitheater or inside any of the buildings. The trails are a great place to walk your dog.

The Rhododendron Trail is little more than a half-mile and starts near the Day Butterfly Center. There is a sitting area that overlooks Hummingbird Lake.