Savannah Day Trips

Okefenokee Swamp

The mysterious Okefenokee Swamp comprises 700 square miles (1,813 sq km) of wet, green wilderness stretching across the southern part of coastal Georgia. The largest peat-producing bog in North America, Okefenokee is a national treasure because it provides a refuge for a vast number of animals and plants that thrive in its lakes, islands and wetlands. The park consists of different environments, from towering cypress stands in still waters to vast prairie grasslands in other areas. Visitors have four parks to choose from when pursuing an Okefenokee experience: three of the parks are on the east side of the swamp and one on the southwestern side. All three offer sightseeing, boating and fishing opportunities. The southwestern park is Stephen C. Foster State Park, featuring cypress swamps, at the headwaters of the Suwannee River, near Fargo. Laura S. Walker State Park is near Waycross, on the swamp's margin. South of Waycross Okefenokee Swamp Park has some alligators, snakes and other swamp wildlife in easy-to-see captivity for a quick swamp experience, while Suwannee Canal Recreation Area near Folkston provides access to the prairie environment of the swamp, offering nature boardwalks and historic sites.

E-mail: waycrosstour@accessatc.net; Website: www.swampgeorgia.com; Telephone: (912) 283 3744 (Waycross Tourism Bureau)

Darien

A short drive south of Savannah lies the charming old town of Darien, established in 1736 on the banks of the Darien River as a military outpost. Today it is a favoured tourist town; its historic shopping enclave specialises in unique gifts and antiques, and the picturesque waterfront is lined with shrimp boats. A series of walking and bike paths, lined with Spanish moss-draped oak trees, connect the downtown waterfront with Fort King George, which houses a museum and plays host to living history pageants. Other diversions include paddling the river and tidal creeks in kayaks or canoes and dining on delicious shrimp. The area around Darien in McIntosh county is extremely scenic, dotted with quaint fishing villages like Valona and Shellman Bluff. Just offshore, accessible by ferry across Doboy Sound, is the pristine barrier island of Sapelo, which boasts one of Georgia's most beautiful beaches and a restored lighthouse.

Website: www.mcintoshcounty.com/points.htm

Tybee Island

The small barrier island of Tybee, 18 miles (29km) east of Savannah, is a popular seaside resort for locals and visitors alike. The three-mile (5km) long beach has rolling sand-dunes, and at the south end of the island a pier and pavilion offer a pleasant stroll, usually accompanied by live band music. Apart from swimming and sun worshipping, the island also has sightseeing opportunities including Fort Screven, a historic Tybee lighthouse dating to 1773, an intriguing museum and Fort Pulaski. There is a selection of restaurants, hotels, motels, inns and cottages available.

Website: www.tybeeisland.com