Wandering through the winding paths in the wooded country-side to check out the exotic and wonderful animals at the zoo…Crawling through a cavern display at the aquarium to get an up close and personal look at the amazing fish…Leaning back in a comfortable chair and looking up at the stars and constellations at the planetarium.
Albany, Ga., is a wonderful destination for a family vacation. There is so much to do that will delight children and adults alike. On a recent three-day visit, we enjoyed exploring the Southwest Georgia town.
The drive to Albany from North Georgia is scenic, passing through cattle farms and fields of cotton and charming small Southern towns. There are lots of fun places to stop on your way, including Perry, home of the state fair each fall; Plains, where you can check our former president Jimmy Carter’s hometown and even hear him teach Sunday School; Macon, where there is a great museum of arts and sciences; and lots of road-side stands with fresh fruit and vegetables offered.
Start your visit to Albany with a stop at the visitor’s center, where you will find information on the town, interactive displays, brochures and a gift shop. There is also a replica covered bridge behind the visitor’s center, as well as a playground, six miles of walking trail and picnic area. The visitor’s center is located in the Bridge House, which was built in 1858, which makes it one of the oldest buildings in Albany. The building has been used as a toll house, social hall, carriage house and auto parts store.
Nearby is the Flint RiverQuarium, located on the Flint River, where you will find an open-air blue spring hole with hundreds of different aquatic species. In addition to checking out all of the fish, we enjoyed seeing the aviary where many beautiful birds make their home. A fun stop for the younger people in your group is the Kids Cavern of Discovery, where kids can climb through a cavern and get an up close and personal view of some of the fish.
Our next stop was Chehaw, where animals are not caged but allowed to roam in larger areas. We saw lots of animals that we had never seen before, including a “bongo,” one of the largest species of Antelope. Our other favorites included kangaroos, lemur, black bear, emu, cheetah and meerkat. The keeper’s talk with the cheetah was also fun and informative.
This holiday season, Christmas more than two million lights will be featured at Chehaw, making it a great time to visit.
While in the downtown area, be sure to stop by the Ray Charles Plaza, where you will find a lifesize sculpture of the soul musician seated at a Baby Grand piano.
Another fun stop while in the Albany area is Mark’s Melon Patch, where you will find pumpkins of all sizes and shapes, including some cute hand-painted ones. Visitors can pick their own pumpkins and shop for jellies, jams, boiled peanuts and other Southern foods. The huge sunflowers at the pumpkin patch are a fun photo stop. Music weekends, hayrides, face painting offered.
HERITAGE CENTER
Thronateeska Heritage Center has a history museum, science museum and planetarium and transportation museum.
The Planetarium and Science Museum offers plenty of interactive and fun games for kids. The science museum has displays on arts and space, natural science, meteorology, paleontology, hydrology and archeology. Be sure to check at least one of the five shows that are presented in the planetarium, which has a 40-foot dome and digital projection.
Lots of history and heritage are found in the adjacent depot. A train is behind the depot with a miniature train display found inside.
The Civil Rights Movement is an important part of the history of Albany’s history and visitors should make a stop at the Civil Rights Institute, which has a very moving display on the effort. The Freedom Singers perform at the adjacent Mt. Zion Church on the second Saturday of each month. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke several times at Mt. Zion.
The historic church has the original wooden pews and stained glass windows. The Freedom Singers, which includes some of the original members of the group formed during the Civil Rights Movement, march down the middle aisle to the front of the church, where they perform and tell some of their history. It’s a very moving experience to hear their voices raised together in this historic church as they performs spiritual and freedom songs.
Angela Gibson, a member or the group and niece of original and current member, Rutha Harris, told the crowd gathered in the church to share the stories they learned at the center.
“When you leave, continue to tell the stories you hear today,” she said. “Allow your mind to travel back to that time period when it would not have been safe for people of different races to sit together—even in a church.”
The performance ends with the Freedom Singers and all members of the audience joining hands in chain-style and singing “We Shall Overcome.” It’s a very special moment.
DINING
Lots of family-style dining is offered in Albany. Our stops included:
•Blackbeards, a family-style seafood restaurant. The oysters and fish fillet combo is a great choice and the serving is huge. The fried catfish is a specialty of locals and visitors.
•Pearly Gates offers a country-style Southern breakfast. The link sausage biscuit with cheese and tator tots was a filling start for a day of touring. The pancakes are also a great choice.
•Harvest Moon has wonderful pizza, including “shroomage,” with tomato sauce, caramelized onions, Italian sausage, Portobello and button mushrooms, topped with mozzarella cheese. Great salads offered and they make a wonderful start to your meal.
•Riverfront Bar-B-Q has amazing Southern-style barbecue. Pork sandwich is a great choice. Be sure to try the vinegar sauce on it. For dessert, some wonderful red velvet cake was a sweet end to our lunch.
WHERE TO STAY
Wingate by Wyndham is conveniently located to all of the attractions and is a great place to make your headquarters. A hot breakfast is offered. Rooms have microwave and refrigerator. The hotel is located within walking distance of lots of shopping and dining options.
For more information, go to www.visitalbanyga.com.
