Day Trippin’

We’ve got your ticket to ride with these 15 daytrips

 

Truckin’ north

“Come along ‘n take a trip . . .” –Bob Dylan

 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park

Less than an hour north of Columbus, FDR State Park is the largest in Georgia and an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. There’s much to do and see on the park’s 9,049 acres. A day on the Pine Mountain Trail, part of the park’s 40-mile system, brings you through some of our area’s most scenic landscapes, property verdant with hardwoods and pines, lined with creeks and dotted by small, refreshing waterfalls.

These rolling mountains drew President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1924, to swim in the natural warm springs. The president liked the area so much that he built a modest home, completed in 1932, to which he returned throughout his presidency. The home is now a museum, where visitors can learn about his life and visit the pool that first attracted him.

The park also benefits from many amenities built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public work relief program, during the Great Depression. The CCC, which gave work to unemployed, unmarried men as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal, built cottages that visitors can still enjoy. Additionally, there are 109 campsites in the park, picnic shelters, and 16 backcountry campsites, for the most adventurous. If camping overextends your Day Trippin’ spirit, the park offers a slew of events, ranging from butterfly and bird watching to stream walks, during which visitors learn all about the abundant life found in the park’s aquatic environments.

Reservations 800-864-7275, Park 706-663-4858, gastateparks.org/fdroosevelt

 

The Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain

While you’re exploring north of Columbus, take some time to get out of the heat at The Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain. Built in the early 1900s, the old city hall, including its two original jail cells, has been saved from deterioration by the generous efforts of people and organizations in the community, and is maintained by donations, membership dues, and volunteer assistance. Good thing, too. The center houses all manner of historically important documents from the area, including old letters, property deeds, land grants, diaries and newspapers. Be sure to check out the Flying Tigers exhibit, which showcases the brave efforts of the Tigers, American volunteers who volunteered for the Chinese Air Force in 1941-42. Children of all ages, with our endless fascination with trains, will love the old caboose preserved on site.

Completely renovated and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Chipley Center is a fascinating and vital resource for the preservation of our area’s rich history.

146 N McDougald Avenue, Pine Mountain, GA, 706-663-4044, chipleyhistoriccenter.org

 

 

LaGrange Art Museum

Before your exploits north come to a close, be sure you visit LaGrange. There’s plenty to do in this great gem of a southern town, including dining and walking tours. What you absolutely cannot miss, though, is the LaGrange Art Museum. The museum collects and preserves contemporary art, with a special emphasis on representing the southeastern US and the Lower Chattahoochee Valley. Classes and events abound, including Super Saturday, on the third Saturday of every month, when visitors can tour the exhibits and enjoy an art activity.

We are particularly enamored with the current exhibit, “In the Land of Pasaquan: The Story of Eddie Owens Martin,” which runs through August 5 and chronicles the life of St. EOM, to whom we devoted our cover story in June. This collection expands on what you will discover at Pasaquan (near Buena Vista, Ga.) and offers a unique chance at witnessing the development of the enigmatic artist, and includes never-before-seen drawings, sculptures, paintings, amulets and more.

Housed in the 1890s Troup County Jail, the LaGrange Museum is a vital partner in the educational and cultural life of the community it serves. While you enjoy the many wonderful shops and restaurants of LaGrange, take some time to visit this exceptional museum.

112 Lafayette Pkwy, LaGrange, Ga, (706) 882-3267

 

Hills & Dales Estate, LaGrange, Ga.

Completed in 1916, the 13,000 square foot historic home of the Fuller E. Callaway family was designed to flow gracefully into its gardens—a series of dwarf boxwood parterres planted by Sarah Ferrell, which have adorned the terraces of the hill for more than 175 years, is considered one of the best preserved 19th century gardens in the country. The classic lines of the house, designed by renowned architects Neel Reid and Hal Hentz, have now silently watched over the beloved gardens for a century. Guests are invited to tour the home, stroll through the historic gardens, and experience the serenity of this 35-acre estate.

As you stroll the well-trodden paths, descend the terraces, sit in the seclusion of the rose bowers, or pause to gaze up at the magnificent home, you are always in the presence of Sarah Ferrell and the Callaway women, three remarkable women who made Hills & Dales a home and its gardens a national treasure. Tours of the estate will take you through the home and gardens, where you can learn about these remarkable women, the history of the estate, and what makes Hills & Dales such the perfect destination on a sunny day.

1916 Hills and Dales Drive, LaGrance, Ga, (706) 882-3242

 

Truckin’ West

“The west is the best . . .” –Jim Morrison

 

Standard Deluxe and the 280 Boogie, Waverly, Al.

Waverly, Alabama is the kind of village you might drive through and wonder what it once was. Today, there is a post office, four churches and fewer than 200 residents. But—and this makes all the difference—there’s also Standard Deluxe.

Standard Deluxe is a screen-printing shop that decided to grow into a community center. As a screen-printing operation, they offer a wide range of top-quality products and are absolutely worth checking out. But what makes Standard Deluxe so special are the events. When, in 2000, the State of Alabama rerouted US Highway 280 south of Waverly instead of through it, the town was saved from destruction. To celebrate, residents held the first Old 280 Boogie in 2001, at Standard Deluxe. Since that first Boogie, the music and arts events continued. Now, two Boogies are held each year, one in fall and spring, and concerts are held regularly. Visiting a Standard Deluxe event is something like seeing only your best friends from Bonnaroo, if your best friends also brought their best friends.

At a recent Boogie, center stage hosted eclectic acts of all kinds. Sprawling out from the stage, between the various buildings on site, were food vendors, craftspeople, artists. And because Waverly is hardly fifteen minutes from Opelika, it’s an unbeatable day trip, when you’re in the mood for good music, friendly people and one of the most unique scenes in the area. The upcoming Fall Boogie is Sept. 23 and there will be plenty of music in July and August.

For more information about Standard Deluxe, the Old 280 Boogie and other events in Waverly, be sure to check this and future issues of The Local and absolutely visit standarddeluxe.com.

1015 Mayberry Ave, Waverly, Al., (334) 826-6423, standarddeluxe.com

 

Downtown Opelika, Al.

Whether you choose to begin or end your trip with Red Clay Brewing Company is up to you, but on the list of places to visit in Downtown Opelika, it is a must. From an oatmeal stout brewed with local coffee beans to their seasonal mulberry cider, Red Clay delivers to almost any beer enthusiast. After attempting the spicy pizza challenge and crushing your friends in a game of corn hole, you can mosey from the brewery to John Emerald Distillery. They offer your favorite gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey cocktails at their bar, and encourage taking tours through the distillery so you can witness the care they put into each of their liquors. After a drink or two, you can walk a few blocks for a game of laser tag at Cyberzone, or, if you’re more interested in shopping, then Fringe is right around the corner. The consignment shop sells brand name clothing for an affordable price, and if you’re looking for youngster’s clothing, Fringe Kids is a few blocks away. At Heritage Gifts and Gourmet, you can purchase local art and great pre-mix dips and spreads for a kind gift or your next event. Tucked behind Heritage Gifts, you’ll find Gnu’s Book Store, full of used books and featuring local writer’s publications. By the end of your shopping or laser tag war, you can stop by the Irish Bred Pub for an amazing Ruben or Shepard’s Pie. If you’re more in the mood for Southern comfort food, there’s always Café One Twenty Three where Southern favorites meet fine cuisine. Or, if you just want a quick bite before you head back to Red Clay for one last beer, Jefferson’s offers the wings, burgers, and sandwiches to sate your needs.

 

Auburn Arboretum

Sandwiched between Lem Morrison Drive and South College Street, the Donald E. Davis Arboretum is a beautiful, free, and an easy escape from everyday life. On the thirteen and a half acre facility, you’ll find serene trails to follow, and several pavilions to rest or pick up that novel you’ve kept on your bedside table for the last six months. Funded and kept up by Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics, the Arboretum features a core plant collection based on Alabama’s native representation of plant life. Be sure to check out the assemblage of the carnivorous pitcher plants and read about how their lives are threatened in Alabama by the cutting of the longleaf pine forest. Whether or not you’re interested in Alabama’s plant life, the Arboretum is still a great place to bring kids, walk a pet, or enjoy quality time with yourself or a loved one.

 

Downtown Auburn, Al.

Full of boutiques and restaurants, Downtown Auburn is the perfect day trip for any group of friends. With your girlfriends, you can explore the various local boutiques that specialize in selling clothing that caters to your own personal style. Behind the Glass specifically offers a broad range of clothing, shoes, and accessories that don’t adhere to the usual clothing found in commercial clothing stores. For the guys, be sure to check out Stamp, where you can find offbeat images and phrases printed on your favorite t-shirt. At lunch time, the options are endless. It’s up to you whether you prefer delicious BBQ from Moe’s where you’ll find a tree growing through the center of the bar and restaurant or a bison burger and fried green beans from the Hound. Whichever one you choose, be sure to stop by Toomer’s afterward for an ice cream cone or a glass of their famous lemonade. If you’re not feeling a heavy dessert, there’s always Steel City Pops across the street that specializes in gourmet popsicles made from local ingredients. For the caffeine enthusiasts, Coffee Cat can mix you up a great coffee soda with any flavoring you want to drive away the want for an afternoon nap or the sweet tooth craving. If you find yourself still in the area by night time, Avondale Bar and Taproom makes some of the best cocktails in town. With a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, the bartenders will suggest and make some a masterpiece that fits your needs. For dinner, stop by the Draft House for a hearty burger and a selection of over forty beers on tap. If you want to dine on the cheaper side, step into Little Italy for a slice of their cheese lover’s pizza for three dollars and a pitcher of beer for eight. Downtown Auburn caters to anyone who loves food, friendly people, and a great atmosphere.

 

Kiesel Park, Auburn, Al.

Dog lovers rejoice, there’s a perfect place to spend the afternoon with your furry friend. Kiesel Park caters to your best friend with their over two-mile long trail that makes you and your pal feel as if you’re adventuring through the countryside. With plenty of benches to stop and take rests and clearly marked paths, the park breeds safety alongside the adventure. Inside the park is a dog agility training area that’s fenced in, and allows your buddy a run without their leash. So your dog can jump over poles, duck into tunnels, or just run in circles to fulfill their heart’s desires. If you want to take a romantic walk with your partner or spouse, Kiesel provides the atmosphere with a beautiful historic home, gardens, lakes, and a pavilion. But, as long as you don’t forget a water bottle, Kiesel is the perfect, free place to spoil your dog.

 

Truckin’ South

“Oh girl dancing down those dirty and dusty stairs . . .” –Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson

 

Omaha Brewing Company, Omaha, Ga.

Just south of Columbus, near the Alabama line, sits unincorporated Omaha, a community of fewer than 2,000 people, and certainly an odd place to find a craft brewery. Lucky for those who live within driving distance, though: Omaha Brewing Company is there, and they make excellent craft beer.

Founded Dec. 12, 2012 by Robert and Stephanie Lee, Omaha Brewing is a family operation committed to craft and individuality. The current building, a 1940s school, ferments some fine beers, many of which you might have seen in bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Columbus. The Hannahatchee Creek IPA is a slightly hazy copper, has a refreshing malty backbone, and finishes with a strong citrus flavor resembling orange peels; it’s a hop-head’s delight. The Nada-Banana is an American weis beer with huge banana and clove aromas followed by a wonderful taste of banana, vanilla and spices that finishes with a smooth, fruity aftertaste. With nine beers currently in production, Omaha supplies the Columbus area with delicious, local brew.

Omaha Brewing is also a great destination. Whether you’re thirty after a morning at Pasaquan or Providence Canyon, or you’re just interested in seeing what a craft beer operation looks like, Omaha Brewing offers regular tour hours for visitors. Having launched a new core brand in May, the Gnat Knocker Helles Lager, now is the perfect time to trip down to Omaha and see for yourself why Omaha brews are some of our favorites.

265 Brew Street, Omaha, Ga., (229) 838-4779, omahabrewingcompany.com

 

Providence Canyon Outdoor Recreation Area

Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon” is a testament to the power of man’s influence on the land. Massive gullies as deep as 150 feet were caused simply by poor farming practices in the 1800s, yet today they make some of the prettiest photographs in the state. The rare plumleaf azalea grows only in this region and blooms during July and August, when most azaleas have lost their color, making this the perfect time to visit for those hunting spectacular flora. The canyon soil’s pink, orange, red and purple hues make a beautiful natural painting at this quiet park.

Visitors can enjoy views of the canyon from the rim trail, taking care to stay behind fences and off the fragile canyon edge. Hikes who explore the deepest canyons will usually find a thin layer of water along the trail, an indication of the water table below. Guests who hike canyons four and five might want to join the Canyon Climbers Club, and backpackers can stay overnight along the backcountry trail, which highlights portions of the canyon and winds through mixed forest. Camping, cottages and efficiency units are available nearby at Florence Marina State Park on 45,000-acre Lake Walter F. George.

8930 Canyon Road, Lumpkin, Ga., (229) 838-6870

 

Richland Rum, Richland, Ga.

The Spirit of Georgia—Richland Rum, named for the estate where it is produced and for the town where it was born in 1999, the name also signifies the rich, loamy soil out of which grows the rum’s base ingredient, sugar cane. From the first, nature-lured shoots of sugar cane to patiently aged finished product, Richland Rum eschews concerns about efficiency and quantity; the driving force behind this local spirit is quality. Quality at Richland Rum is the focus through the entire production process, from the cast iron kettles used to reduce the sugar cane to 100% unrefined, pure cane sugar, the same process used by genuine rum distillers for centuries, to the patient aging in virgin oak barrels, made from 100% Wisconsin white oak. The results are rums distinct with each production, yet which have in common this: a distinctive quality immediately recognizable to any palette.

At Richland Rum, visitors are always welcome. Tours at Richland offer a first-hand experience of the entire production process, giving visitors a unique insight into the remarkable product, capped with a tasting for guests aged 21 and older. Please make reservations. For information on availability in stores, bars and restaurants, and for a wealth of information about the distillery’s history and process, visit richlandrum.com.

333 East Broad Street, Richland, Ga., (229) 887-3537, richlandrum.com

 

 

Truckin’ East

“I’m bound to keep on ridin’…” –Gregg Allman

 

Taylor County Boondocks Mud Park

Just off Highway 96, as you head east toward Butler, Ga., is a park unlike any of the others we’ve recommended. Taylor County Boondocks Mud Park is the go-to spot for all kinds of outdoor fun, especially the gas-powered kind. There is camping, of course, with 300 acres dedicated to primitive campsites. But the real draw at Taylor County Boondocks is the mud.

Bring your ATVs to explore 70 miles of trails that wind through the park. The trails are open until midnight, which means there is plenty of time for nighttime riding. The park also boasts several mud pits, not only for ATVs but for your trucks, too, the largest of which is 200 square yards—that’s a lot of room to kick up mud in. Not content just to ride and mud? Come out on a weekend to enter any of the several races, whether you want to run your ATV or truck. Truck races include three classes: street class, or everyday drivers; class two, one ton and under; and class three, two-and-a-half tons and over. Cash prizes are awarded.

If you’re looking to get out and dirty, Taylor County Boondocks Mud Park is the place to be.

32 Culverhouse Road, Butler, Ga., taylorcountyboondocks.com

 

Pasaquan, Buena Vista, Ga.

Our featured story last month was Pasaquan and its eccentric creator, the outsider artist Eddie Owens Martin, and we love having yet another opportunity to promote his four-acre art environment, a Technicolor dream world situated on a seven-acre property outside Buena Vista, Ga.

Martin, also known as St. EOM, was born in a small town near Buena Vista, and knew from a young age that he did not fit in with pre-war, southern, small town society. When he was still a boy, he ran away, hitchhiking to New York City, where he worked as a street hustler and fortuneteller. After his mother passed away, Martin returned permanently to her property in Buena Vista, where he began work on his singular life’s work, the construction of Pasaquan. After his death, Pasaquan went into decay for many years. Recently, with the help of the Kohler Foundation, Columbus State University and The Columbus Museum finished a major restoration of the site. Visitors can once again enjoy Pasaquan brilliant arrayed in all of the splendid color and detail originally created by Martin and his friends. A visit to Pasaquan is made even more fascinating should Day Trippers also visit the LaGrange Museum, which is currently showing never-before-seen paintings and sculptures by Martin; it doesn’t matter so much the order in which you visit these destinations, so long as you get out there and go.

At Pasaquan, be sure to take a tour with caretaker Charles Fowler. Not only is Charles intimately knowledgeable of the site’s various nooks and crannies and of the history its lively history, he also worked and continues to work on the restoration of the art environment. When we say that Pasaquan is like no other place on earth, we are not being hyperbolic—and that’s exactly the way Eddie Owens Martin wanted it.

238 Eddie Martin Road, Buena Vista, Ga., (706) 507-8306, pasaquan.columbusstate.edu

“Just can’t wait to get on the road again …” – Willie Nelson