This Weekend in Georgia

Madison in May Bicentennial Tour of Homes in Madison, Georgia
Friday, May 1-Sunday, May 3
We continue our trend of being "on the road most every day" again this weekend. Our Traveler crew will be in Historic Madison, Georgia this Friday, May 1 for the kickoff of the Madison in May Bicentennial Tour of Homes. Hosted by our new friends at the Madison Morgan Cultural Center, the tour is self-guided and features a mix of new and antebellum homes. As you may know, Madison is the town that was spared by the armies of Major General William Sherman on his March to the Sea in 1864. We'll be featuring Madison as our getaway for the "Historic Tour of Georgia", part of Georgia Traveler's 3rd season, set to premiere this fall.



Southeast Electric Flight Festival in Andersonville, Georgia
April 30- May 3, 2009
Down in Southwest Georgia, the Fayette Flyers of Atlanta are hosting America's premiere electric flight festival. Mac Hodges' field is the location and features a full service, air conditioned hobby shop right off the flight line. The field has a flat 1,700 ft. bermuda grass runway and wide open skies. Organizers tell us that the pit area and parking are abundant for all. You can expect to see all aspects of electric flight: sport planes, hotliners, parkflyers, 3D, giant scale, slowflyers, gliders, pylon, ducted fan jets, helicopters, scale, F5B, etc. The event is primarily open flying. There will be some flying demonstrations by accomplished e-flight enthusiasts/sponsors and show teams. Vendors will be exhibiting their products, conducting demo flights and releasing new models. For more information, check out the ExploreGeorgia.org website or the Fayette Fliers website.


Mama Mia!: Cabbage Patch Kids Collectors' Club Spring Event in Cleveland, Georgia
Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1
If you're a collector, hopefully you've already registered for the Mama Mia event. If not, check out the event website for details. And remember, you can visit the birthplace of Cabbage Patch Kids year-round at the BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland. Or you can call 706-865-2171 for more information, or write to 73 West Underwood St, Cleveland, Georgia 30528. You can find BabyLand General Hospital 75 miles northeast of Atlanta off of U.S. 129 in Cleveland, Georgia. Admission is free.



And those are just a few of the great ways to explore Georgia this weekend. For more information, check out the Explore Georgia website operated by Georgia Traveler's production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

This Week on Georgia Traveler: Old Dixie Highway

On this week’s episode of Georgia Traveler, we explore U.S. 41 from Macon to Cordele. The nation’s first planned highway, U.S. 41 is often referred to as the “Old Dixie Highway”. The team gets great travel advice at the Visitors Information Center in Macon and David sets off for fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café in Juliette. Phil celebrates the state fruit at the Peach Festival in Fort Valley while Keely shoots skeet on her getaway to Henderson Village in Perry. Everyone joins in the outdoor activity of golfing at Lake Blackshear in Cordele and David dives into the local legend of the Grit in Warwick.

Food Find: Whistle Stop Café (Juliette)
Georgia’s own little taste of Hollywood is in Juliette, home of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. Converted from an old country store into the now famous restaurant for the movie, the Whistle Stop Café attracts folks from all over anxious to try the fabled Fried Green Tomatoes. While visiting, David gets behind the counter and takes a stab at being a short order cook, but he decides to leave it to the professionals. The next time you’re walking along the tracks, stop off in Juliette and the Whistle Stop Café. And remember, the secret’s in the sauce!

Family Fun: Peach Festival (Fort Valley)
Georgia may be the Peach State, but there’s one place where the Peach is really king, it’s in Peach County, home of the Peach Festival! Phil takes the opportunity of a visit from the state’s greatest tourism show to the state’s greatest fruit to find great things to eat. And in a festival devoted to peaches, he didn’t have to look far: the Peach Festival is home to the world’s largest peach cobbler! Measuring five feet by eleven feet, and eight inches deep, this confection feeds Phil with just enough left over for the rest of the fair patrons! From the Peach Festival, visitors can take the free shuttle out to the Lane Packing Company, and see just how peaches are grown and turned into, among other things, delicious peach ice cream. If you’re like Phil, the experience will leave you debating the age-old question: peach or peach ice cream???
Link: http://www.gapeachfestival.com/

Getaway: Henderson Village (Perry)
Keely takes a step back in time when she visits Henderson Village, a bed and breakfast resort made up of an array of historic 19th Century buildings. Situated on 19 acres, Henderson Village features cozy rooms, fine dining, beautiful gardens, and a 3200-acre hunting preserve. Keely shoulders her firearm and snags a few clays before deciding she’s more into the quiet and peaceful side of Henderson Village. Whatever your interest, Henderson Village has got it.
Link: http://www.hendersonvillage.com/

Outdoor Activity: Golf at Lake Blackshear (Cordele)
When our Traveler crew pulled up at Lake Blackshear Golf Course at Georgia Veterans State Park, some thought the Three Stooges had arrived. Instead of Larry, Moe, and Curly, it was Keely, Phil, and David, but the hilarious hijinks were on a roll. Join the Traveler Trio as they show their golf skills, or lack thereof, and have a great time putting around at Lake Blackshear Golf Course.
Links: http://www.lakeblackshearresort.com/

http://www.gastateparks.org/info/georgiavet/

Local Legend: Grits Festival (Warwick)
“You can eat it with butter, you can eat it with cheese, you can eat it any time with any old thing you please. As long as it’s grits, baby!” Every year in Warwick, the Grits Capital of the World, grits lovers from all over come down to take part in the Grits Festival. Our David Zelski meets up with such local notables as Granny Grits, Mike McDaniel, who came in first place in the Grits Eating Contest, and even the Grits Queen. By the end of the day, David finds himself submerged in a vat of grits. The only things that were missing were the butter and cheese!
Links: http://www.gritsfest.com/

Georgia Traveler's "Old Dixie Highway," airs this Friday, May 1 at 9 PM, Saturday, May 2 at 7 PM, and Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 PM on GPB. You can also watch this episode on Saturday, May 2 at 8 PM, and Sunday, May 3 at 8 AM on GPB Knowledge.

This Weekend in Georgia

"On the road most every day..." The Traveler Crew will be visiting the Gainesville Spring Chicken Festival on Saturday, April 25th. This segment will air in the third season, which we hope to premiere in fall 2009. The Gainesville Spring Chicken Festival will feature a unique ChickEkiden race, the Sweet Tea Challenge, Chicken Cook-offs, and live music. There's also lots to do for the kids! Things get started at 8:30 AM and wrap up at 4 PM. It's a whole day of fun with chicken! For more information, visit the festival's website.



For our cycle fans out there, the 30th Annual Athens Twilight is being held this weekend in Athens. Athens, the Classic City, is known for music and food, and Twilight takes advantage of the best that Athens has to offer. With dozens of downtown restaurants and music provided by the UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music, there's lots for everybody to do! The Athens Twilight Criterium has over eight separate race classes, and 150 cyclists competing in the main event. Qualifying takes place Friday night, April 24, and the big event is on Saturday, April 25! Visit the Athens Twilight website for details.



Located just minutes north of Kingsland, the Annual Woodbine Crawfish Festival is being held on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25. The crawfish, sort of a minature cousin to the lobster, has managed to achieve its own celebration in Woodbine. The two-day event is held at the Waterfront Park and Riverwalk in Downtown Woodbine. It includes food (with lots of tasty crawfish etoufee!), free all-day entertainment, arts and crafts, children's activities, and much more. If you crave crawfish, Contact Woodbine City Hall at 576-3211 or www.WoodbineGeorgia.net.


And those are just a few of the great ways to explore Georgia this weekend. For more information, check out the Explore Georgia website operated by Georgia Traveler's production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

This Week: The Best of Traveler, Season 1

Join Gerald, David, and Phil for a special episode of Georgia Traveler, featuring some of our favorite stories from the premiere season. We celebrate each of the State's regions by exploring Melon Bluff on the Coast, the Blue Ridge Railway in the Mountains, the Georgia National Fair in the Historic South, the Mule Day celebration in the Southern Rivers region, and Medieval Times in Metro Atlanta.

Georgia Traveler 113, "The Best of Traveler, Season 1," airs this Friday, April 24 at 9 PM, Saturday, April 25 at 7 PM, and Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 PM on GPB. You can also watch on Saturday, April 25 at 8 PM, and Sunday, April 26 at 8 AM on GPB Knowledge.

For more information, check out our website at: http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Tourism Foundation.

Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multiple media educational products and services.

Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta - WGTV/Channel 8; Albany - WABW/14, Augusta - WCES/20, Chatsworth - WNGH/18, Columbus - WJSP/28, Dawson - WACS/25, Macon - WMUM/29, Savannah - WVAN/9, Waycross - WXGA/8.

This Weekend in Georgia

Warmer weather appears here to stay; what a great time to get out and explore Georgia!

For all you coffee lovers out there, this weekend Atlanta is hosting the World Barista Championship. Nearly 60 of the most skilled coffee brewers in the world will compete Friday, April 17, to Sunday, April 19, for the title of World Barista Champion! The public is welcome to attend and sample the Concept Coffee Bar, where competition quality beverages will be served, and a Brew Bar featuring coffees from the Nicaragua Portrait Country. The World Barista Championship is being held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. For more information visit the World Barista Championship website.


Due to popular demand, BODIES...The Exhibition will be extended past its March closing. Running at the Premier Exhibition Center at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, the exhibition examines the history of anatomy and includes more than 250 real human body specimens and organs, providing visitors an up-close look at at journey through their own bodies. BODIES...The Exhibition runs from 9 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. Tickets range from $16 to $24. To find out more, visit the BODIES...The Exhibition website.



This weekend is your last chance to see the First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. These amazing figures were unearthed in 1974, and remain one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. The Terracotta Army was constructed to stand guard over China's first emperor's tomb, and each one of the 1000 figures on display is unique: each represents a different person in the court of the Emperor. The Terracotta Army represents a turning point in the history of China. It was in this period that China was unified under a single ruler, adopted a uniform code of laws, and adopted standardized coinage and script. This exhibit closes for good on Sunday, April 19. Visit the High Museum's website for more information on times and tickets.

And those are just a few of the great ways to explore Georgia this weekend. For more information, check out the Explore Georgia website operated by Georgia Traveler's production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

This Week: Mountains East (Dahlonega)

On this week's episode of Georgia Traveler, it's off to Georgia's picturesque northeast mountains. Dahlonega, site of America's first gold rush, is our destination city, where we visit the Smith House restaurant and Wolf Mountain Vineyards. David Zelski explores Elberton, the Granite Capital of the World, while Gerald Bryant meets Joni Mabe the Elvis Babe at her museum in Cornelia. Phil Proctor delights in the delicacies offered up during Oktoberfest in Helen, and Keely Muse guides us through some beautiful state parks in Dawsonville, Mountain City, and Tallulah Falls.

Georgia Traveler 103, "Mountains East (Dahlonega)" airs this Friday, April 17 at 9 PM, Saturday, April 18 at 7 PM, and Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 PM on GPB. You can also watch on Saturday, April 18 at 8 PM, and Sunday, April 19 at 8 AM on GPB Knowledge.

For more information, check out our website at:

http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Tourism Foundation.

Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multiple media educational products and services.

Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta - WGTV/Channel 8; Albany - WABW/14, Augusta - WCES/20, Chatsworth - WNGH/18, Columbus - WJSP/28, Dawson - WACS/25, Macon - WMUM/29, Savannah - WVAN/9, Waycross - WXGA/8.

This Weekend in Georgia

Georgia Traveler invites you to take some time off from tax preparation and enjoy a few Easter Weekend events happening around the state!

On Saturday, April 11, hop on over to Red Top Mountain State Park in Cartersville for their Easter Celebration. Kids can have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny, and participate in other games and activities, including the requisite Easter Egg hunt! The event runs from 9:30 AM to 12 PM, and breakfast is available from the nearby Mountain Cove Restaurant. There is a small fee for participation and parking. For more information call, 770-975-0055, or visit Red Top Mountain's website.


Easters in the South are famous for good eats, so if you're in the Savannah area April 10, 11, 0r 12, join up with the Paula Deen Tour. Paula's cooking and down home charm have made her famous in Georgia and beyond, and you can hear her story, as well as get some great food! The tour through Savannah's Historic District also includes a buffet lunch at Uncle Bubba's Restaurant. Tour participants will recieve a "fast pass" through the line at Paula's famous Lady and Sons Restaurant. You can see Georgia Traveler's visit to the Lady and Sons by clicking here. For more information on the tour visit the Savannah Trolley Tour's website.

In Ashburn on Saturday, April 11, Calhoun Produce is holding its 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. There will be over 3000 candy-filled eggs for the kiddies, as well as farm animals, and wagon rides! Don't forget to bring your baskets! Hunts are at 11 AM and 12 PM. Ice cream, milk shakes, and sandwiches will also be available. For more information, call 229-273-1887, or visit the Calhoun Produce Easter Egg Hunt website.

Georgia Traveler wishes everyone a safe and happy Easter!

And those are just a few of the great ways to explore Georgia this weekend. For more information, check out the Explore Georgia website operated by Georgia Traveler's production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

This Week: Navigating Northwest Georgia

On this week’s episode of Georgia Traveler, we’re “Navigating Northwest Georgia” on U.S. 27 from Lookout Mountain to Carrollton. The team gets great travel advice at the Visitors Information Center in Ringgold and sets off for the high-flying outdoor activity of hang gliding at Lookout Mountain Flight Park in Rising Fawn. Keely finds family fun at Zion Farms just outside Rome and a great getaway at the Hearn Academy Inn in Cave Spring. David finds food for the mind and body at the Corner Café and Horton’s Books in Carrollton and Phil uses his sacred harp while exploring the local legend of shape note singing.

Outdoor Activity: Lookout Mountain Flight Park (Rising Fawn)

They’ve been teaching folks to hang glide since 1978 out at the Lookout Mountain Flight Park in Rising Fawn, so, what better place for our hosts to take the leap? Well, actually, Keely and David we towed up by an ultralight for their tandem flights with Instructor Dan Zink. If you’re interested in a similar hang gliding experience, what we did is called the “Discovery Tandem Flight. Check out their website to find out more.

Family Fun: Zion Farms (Rome)

Zion Farms in Rome features a horseback riding summer camp for kids as well as horseback riding for mother-daughter and father-son groups. It is also popular as a getaway for families looking to build lasting memories. Join Keely as she gets a little horse crazy with Chigger, and rediscovers a favorite childhood pastime.

Zion Farms is currently closed to the public.

Getaway: Hearn Academy Inn (Cave Spring)

The historic Hearn Academy Inn in Cave Spring is just a part of what makes this lovely little town a great Getaway. Shops, restaurants and friendly folks can all be found downtown, just a few blocks from Rolater Park. Within the park, you find the namesake of Cave Spring- a natural spring within a cave! Tours only cost a dollar. The official City of Cave Spring website has more information about the spring, the Hearn Academy Inn and the history of Cave Spring.

Local Legend: Shape Note Singing (Carrollton)

Our resident Food Finder makes a fantastic find of another kind. At the Wilson Chapel in Carrollton, Phil discovers the centuries old tradition of Shape Note Singing. The folks at the Chattahoochee Sacred Harp Convention were so thrilled that Phil and Georgia Traveler were there that they invited him up to lead the singing. Watch Phil as he waves his wand and vociferously vocalizes along with 150 other Sacred Harp singers, and then visits the nearby Sacred Harp Headquarters and Museum. For information on the Convention or visiting the Museum, contact Charles Woods, Chairman of the Board, Sacred Harp Publishing Company.

Food Find: Corner Café and Horton’s Books (Carrollton)

The Corner Cafe features such exotic sandwiches as the Jelly Fish (contains no real jelly fish) and a whole lot more, as David discovers when he visits the square in Carrollton. Nearby, Horton’s Books touts its standing as the oldest bookstore in Georgia while serving as home to resident ghost, Mary Melinda, and Chloe the Cat.

Georgia Traveler 203, "Navigating Northwest Georgia," airs this Friday, April 10 at 9 PM, Saturday, April 11 at 7 PM, and Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 PM on GPB. You can also watch on Saturday, April 11 at 8 PM, and Sunday, April 12 at 8 AM on GPB Knowledge.

For more information, check out our website at:

http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Tourism Foundation.

Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multiple media educational products and services.

Watch Georgia Public Broadcasting on these nine stations across Georgia: Atlanta - WGTV/Channel 8; Albany - WABW/14, Augusta - WCES/20, Chatsworth - WNGH/18, Columbus - WJSP/28, Dawson - WACS/25, Macon - WMUM/29, Savannah - WVAN/9, Waycross - WXGA/8.