Sunday, July 6, 2008

Flint RiverQuarium - Georgia

Flint RiverQuarium
101 Pine Ave
Albany, Georgia
Mon–Fri-9a.m– 5p.m., Sat-10a.m.–6p.m., Sun-1p.m.–5p.m.
$9 X 2 + $6.50
  • 175,000-gallon 22-foot deep RiverQuarium Blue Hole Spring, showcasing Southwest Georgia’s unique underwater world. Explore it from the surface to the depths through a panorama of discovery points. See more than 100 kinds of fish, turtles, alligators, snapping turtles and other creatures
  • Flint River Gallery features both freshwater and saltwater tanks, plus a live fish hatchery, to give you a first-hand look at life all along the river’s path. Follow the Flint River’s amazing 350-mile journey
  • Discovery Caverns puts you in control of nature with fun games and eye-opening exhibits. Control the weather. Change the way a river flows. Explore an underground cave to uncover mysterious subterranean creatures.
  • The World of Water gives you an insider’s view of other rivers around the globe that share similar features and challenges with the Flint.
  • Catfish Planet walks visitors through the world of catfishes.
  • Dive Shows every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
  • Theater schedule:
    Whales
    Monday-Friday: 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, Sat.: 10:30, 12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, Sunday: 1:30, 3:00, 4:30
    Weird Nature - Fantastic Feeding
    Monday - Friday: 9:00
    Wild Weather - Heat
    Monday - Friday: 11:00
    Sea Forests
    Monday - Friday: 10:00
    The Blue Realm: Shark Business

    Monday - Friday: 12:00

The Flint RiverQuarium is located at 101 Pine Avenue in downtown Albany, Georgia.

From I-75 North:
Exit onto GA-300 S. at exit 99, just after Cordele. Turn right towards Warwick, Georgia. Travel straight on Highway 300 for approximately 33 miles. Turn right on Oglethorpe (Business 82). Proceed on Oglethorpe to the Flint River. Immediately after crossing the Flint River, take the first right onto Front Street. The Flint RiverQuarium will be two blocks, straight ahead, at the corner of Front Street and Pine Avenue.

From I-75 South:
At Tifton, take exit 62 onto Highway 82 west. Travel approximately 35 miles to the junction of 82 and 300. Turn left and proceed to the next traffic light at E. Oglethorpe. Proceed on Oglethorpe to the Flint River. Immediately after crossing the Flint River, take the first right onto Front Street. The Flint RiverQuarium will be two blocks, straight ahead, at the corner of Front Street and Pine Avenue.

From I-85:
Take I-85 South to I-185. Proceed south on I-185 through Columbus. Take exit 1A, Highway 280 South. Highway 280 becomes Highway 520 and eventually Highway 82. At the Albany City limit, Highway 82 becomes Dawson Road. Follow Dawson Road into Downtown Albany, where it becomes Pine Avenue. The Flint RiverQuarium is at the end of Pine Avenue, on the left, at the corner of Pine and Front Street.

3 micro geocaches a couple of blocks south and a regular north near the train tracks, looks like maybe a train yard.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Stone Mountain Park - Atlanta

Stone Mountain has a sky tram and Duck boats and a train and a farm and a village or something like that and a town square sort of thing with shops. They have DSA (Designated Smoking Areas). You can see them blowing glass and making candy, and there is a blacksmith. The train is half an hour. There are some caches there, too, at least 4 or 5 that shouldn't be too hard to get; one looks like it's in the parking lot. They have hiking trails that I seriously doubt we will have time for. All day passes are $25 (adults) and $20 (children), but they have a "twilight rate" of $15.

Stone Mountain Park
U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
16 miles east of downtown Atlanta

10am-8pm - attractions
Laser show at 9:30 - most shops and food places stay open until laser show

All Day Pass - $25 X 2 + $20
or Twilight Rate - $15 X 3
Day Pass includes everything but the Ducks
Parking - $8
Things we want to do at Stone Mountain (they have more stuff):
  • Ride the Ducks - 30 min ride - $13 X 3 or as add-on to Day Pass - $9 X 3 - get on the Ducks at Crossroads
    Reservations are required for the Ride the Ducks™ tour on the day of your visit.
  • Scenic Railroad - 30 min, 5 mile ride around Stone Mountain, train departs every 40-45 min., has a live show
  • Summit Skyride - 3 min ride with view of the Confederate Memorial Carving, largest relief carving in the world
  • Crossroads - 1870s southern town with Glass Blowing, Candy Making and Blacksmithing, live shows and entertainment, shopping, and food
  • Sky Hike - also has Camp Highland Outpost
  • The Great Barn - games, looks like Chuckee Cheese with slides, trampoline floors, climbing structures and over 65 interactive games, no time limit
  • Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard - collection of original buildings from around the State of Georgia, built between 1783 and 1875, with period furniture and working cookhouse and garden with demonstrations; Farmyard has petting zoo and trained sheep and goat shows.
  • Stone Mountain Museum - all about Stone Mt. and the carving
  • Paddlewheel Riverboat - 20 minute cruises depart every 1/2 hour. June 23 - August 10, the Marina complex including the Riverboat will be closed Monday - Friday and Open 1:00 - 8:00 PM Saturday - Sunday
  • Quarry exhibit - open daily from dawn until dusk. On Robert E. Lee Blvd., just prior to the roundabout near the Grist Mill.
  • Songbird habitat - On Stonewall Jackson Drive, on the back side of the mountain.
They also have a 4D movie, pedal boats, an antique car and treasure museum, and miniature golf.

Stone Mountain Park Campground
47 primitive tent sites
$25 - primitive tent
$35 - primitive tent - lakeside
If you arrive without a reservation, spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a two-night minimum stay with a reservation
Check In: 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Check Out: 12:00 PM
Phone: 770-498-5710
Fax: 770-413-5082
TOLL FREE: 1-800-385-9807

Monday, June 30, 2008

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island has 10 miles of beach and supposedly lots of shells, and has restrooms, showers, and picnic areas.

Jekyll Island Campground
1197 Riverview Drive
Reservations: 1-866.658.3021
primitive tent - $23
free wireless

sea turtles
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Hatchling walks - 7am-10am - check web site for dates
Turtle walks - 8:30pm-9:30pm

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Georgia's Barrier Islands - Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island National Seashore

ferry - Adults $10.17 - Children $6.05
camping - (no campfires at backcountry sites)
no stores on island
Day Use Fee $4.00 per person/per visitSea Camp Campground $4.00 per person/per dayBack Country Camping $2.00 per person/per dayAnnual Day Use Permit $20.00 per personPersons camping will also be required to purchase a day use permit.

Visitor Center: Daily 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

(912) 882-4335 - Reservation Line (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon-Fri)

(912) 882-4336 - Information Line (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily)

Cumberland Island Salt Marsh Earthcache

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Dolphin Tours

Benjamin wants to go on a dolphin tour so badly. We did a dolphin "watch" tour a couple of years ago, and we did see a few dolphins, but they weren't guaranteed. Benjamin was disappointed that they didn't come right up to the boat and talk to us like Flipper. So, let's see where they are and how much:

  • Captain Mikes Dolphin Tours on Tybee Island
    20 min. from historic Savannah, won awards, on TV
    departs daily from Lazaretto Creek Marina
    passes Cockspur lighthouse and Fort Pulaski and Tybee Lighthouse
    1 - 1.5 hours
    $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children
    from Savannah: Go east on Bay Street to Islands Expressway. Follow to end, Turn left onto Highway 80 East to Tybee Island. Cross Lazaretto Creek Bridge. Turn right just past the bridge to Lazaretto Marina.
    from Tybee: Go west on Hwy 80 to the last road on the left before Lazaretto Creek Bridge. There will be a bill board set back from the road. Turn left in front of the bill board. Go to the dead end and turn right.
  • Dolphin Tours - St. Simons Island
    90 minutes
    $24 - adults & $12 children
    Reservations Recommended
    Departure from Jekyll Wharf · Call 912.635.3152 - June thru August - Three trips daily
    Departure from St. Simons · Golden Isles Marina - Call 912.638.5678 - June thru August - Two trips daily

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Sun and Moon

Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia
(longitude W81.1, latitude N32.0)

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Sunrise - 6:29 a.m.
Sunset - 8:31 p.m.
(eastern time)

Full Moon on 18 July

Birmingham, AL - McWane, Vulcan, and Zoo

Birmingham, Alabama

McWane Science Center
200 19th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
$16 X 2 + $12 + $5 (parking) = $50 (est.)
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12noon-6pm
Dinosaurs of Alabama Exhibit
aquarium with jellyfish, IMAX

Vulcan Park and Museum
1701 Valley View Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209
phone: (205) 933-1409
open 7 days a week
Vulcan Park grounds: open Monday through Sunday 7 am - 10 pm - free
Vulcan Center Museum: open Monday through Saturday 10 am - 6 pm and Sunday 1- 6 pm.
Observation Balcony: open Monday through Saturday 10 am - 10 pm and Sunday 1 pm - 10 pm.
museum and balcony are $6 X 2 + $4 - free parking
largest cast iron statue in the entire world
free WiFi Internet access
3 geocaches here including an earthcache

Birmingham Zoo
2630 Cahaba Road
$12 X 2 + $7
admission is half-price on Tuesdays
open Mon, Wed & Thurs- 9 am to 5 pm & Tues, Fri, Sat & Sun- 9 am to 7 pm
has a train
Camel Rides - 10 to 4 pm (weather permitting) $5 plus tax per ride.
Lorikeet Aviary - 10 - 4 pm daily
Pelican Feeding & Keeper Talk 2 pmand right next to the zoo is:

Birmingham Botanical Gardens
free 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset
Gardens Cafe - Tuesday - Saturday, 11a.m. - 2p.m.
Lots of geocaches all around these, too!