This Weekend in Georgia

Now that spring is finally here, there's lots to do outdoors in Georgia. Let's take a look!

The famous Macon Cherry Blossom Festival is back! The Cherry Blossom Festival is the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Southeast Tourism Society's Shining Example Award for the Best Festival or Event in the southeast, and is not resting on its laurels. This year's festival will feature hot air balloons, parades, historic tours, fireworks, and so much more! And don't forget what the Cherry Blossom Festival is famous for: cherry trees! The entire festival takes place under a canopy of 300,000 bloming Yoshino cherry trees, which makes for one spectacular sight! This year's festival runs from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29. For more information and directions, visit www.cherryblossom.com. Georgia Traveler Host Emeritus Gerald Bryant visited the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2006; you can watch that episode of Georgia Traveler here.


Shrimping season is getting underway, so that means it's time for a tradition that goes back decades. The Blessing of the Fleet in Darien is a spectacular way to have a great time and participate in the well-wishing of the Shrimping Fleet. A shrimp boat tour and marine animal exhibit are being held by our friends at the Department of Natural Resources, and of course, lots of food, arts and crafts, and music will be featured. The event runs from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29. Visit the Blessing of the Fleet's website for more information. Georgia Traveler host Phil Proctor visited the Blessing of the Fleet; click here to see how he lived it up on the Coast!


Coastal Georgia is known for its food, and A Taste of Glynn at the King and Prince Resort on St. Simon's Island will surely help the Coast live up to its reputation. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Amity House Women's Shelter in Brunswick, and with 25 restuarants and caterers participating, you won't go away hungry! In addittion to the great grub, three music groups will be performing, and the Platinum Silent Auction will be giving away a vacation trip and other prizes. Tickets are available by calling Amity House at 912-264-1348. A Taste of Glynn begins at 5 PM on Sunday, March 29. More information is available at http://www.atasteofglynn.com/. To see a Georgia Traveler visit to the Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee, vist the Georgia Traveler website.

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: Corridor Z

Although we're pre-empted for our membership drive and GHSA Basketball in the coming weeks, some of your favorite Georgia Traveler episodes will be airing on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. This week it's Georgia Traveler Episode 212, "Corridor Z”. Here are some more details about the places we visit in this episode, which airs at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, March 11:

On this week’s episode of Georgia Traveler, we explore Georgia 520, known as Corridor Z, from Albany to St. Simons Island. David enjoys the family fun at the Parks at Chehaw while Phil finds great food at Jimmie’s Hotdogs, both in Albany. We explore the local legend of Hogzilla in Alapaha and Keely takes Phil on a canoe ride through the Okefenokee Swamp. The whole team “coasts” to a stop and experiences fabulous luxury at The King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island.

Family Fun: The Parks at Chehaw (Albany)
While traveling down Corridor Z, our own Z Man, David Zelski, stops off to see some great wildlife at the Parks at Chehaw. Home to such exotic species as the black rhinoceros, the wild cheetah, and even the blue tongue skink, the Parks at Chehaw boasts the state’s most impressive collection of animals from all over the world. Jim Fowler of Wild Kingdom fame had a hand in the design of the zoo, and David takes a hand cleaning up W’s mess, which is followed naturally by a ride on the Wiregrass Express.
Link: http://www.parksatchehaw.org/

Food Find: Jimmie’s Hotdogs (Albany)
If you find yourself in Albany and have a hankering for some hotdogs, the best course of action is to pull over and make a stop at Jimmie’s Hotdogs. Cheese, chili, onions, whatever your heart desires on your dogs, Jimmie’s has it, along with their custom of no seats inside the restaurant. Jimmie’s has been around since 1947, and with such a long tradition in serving up wieners, they’ve got to be doing something right! Rumor has it Jimmie’s serves up to 2,000 hotdogs a day. Well, that’s before they met our Phil Proctor. Following Phil’s visit, we think that number has significantly increased.
Link: http://www.albany.ga.us/

Local Legends: Hogzilla (Alapaha)
Stories have come have through the ages of great tusked-beasts who leave nothing but a path of death and destruction in their wake. One such story was uncovered by our supernatural correspondent, David Zelski. Come with us on a journey into the macabre world of giant killer hogs! The Hogzilla legend has its birth at River Oaks Plantation and Ken’s Fish Farm in Alapaha, Georgia. Owner, Ken Holyoak says the legendary hog had 20-inch tusks, and its head weighed over 100 pounds. David tries to get to the bottom of the mystery, and in the process stumbles upon Hollywood’s own take on the tusked-terror!
Link: http://www.kens-fishfarm.com/

Outdoor Activity: Okefenokee Swamp (Fargo)
Keely and Phil hook up with Okefenokee Adventures and set out on a canoe adventure through the Okefenokee Swamp. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a four hundred thousand acre wilderness in the southeast corner of Georgia. It’s some of the wildest terrain in the United States. This is Phil’s first time through the swamp, and for a guy from the city, canoeing the six miles to Coffee Bay Shelter was some experience! After a lunch break and a little relaxation, it’s time to canoe the six miles back. In a 12-mile canoe trip, team work is important, and Keely and Phil soon find their respective places on the team! Stroke, stroke!
Links: http://www.okefenokeeadventures.com/
http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/

Getaway: The King & Prince (St. Simons)
The Traveler Trio takes a break from the daily grind of bringing you fun things to do and see, and kicks back at the King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island. Founded as a dance club in 1935, the King and Prince is on the National Registry of Historic Places. David and Phil squeeze in 18 holes at the resort’s own golf course. They find out it takes a little teamwork. Keely hangs back at the beach with her daughter, Tuesday, showing you don’t have to work yourself to death to have a good time! After spending a few days relaxing at the resort, eating amazing breakfasts in the Delegal Dining Room, playing the links, and hanging out by the pool, the guys are ready for their next set of adventures!
Link: http://www.kingandprince.com/

You can also catch this episode of Georgia Traveler on GPB Knowledge on Saturday, March 7 at 8 PM and on Sunday, March 8 at 8 AM. GPB Knowledge is available to those with digital television receivers at .3 of your local GPB transmitter, for example 20.3 in Augusta, or 8.3 in Atlanta.

This Week: Corridor Z and Metro Atlanta

On this week's episode of Georgia Traveler, we explore Georgia 520, known as Corridor Z, from Albany to St. Simons Island. David enjoys the family fun at the Parks at Chehaw, while Phil finds great food at Jimmie's Hotdogs, both in Albany. We explore the local legend of Hogzilla in Alapaha, and Keely takes Phil on a canoe ride through the Okefenokee Swamp. The whole team coasts to a stop and experiences fabulous luxury at The King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island.




Georgia Traveler Episode 212 -Corridor Z airs this Friday, November 7 at 9 PM, Saturday, November 8 at 7 PM, and Wednesday, November 12, at 7:30 PM.

And on the newly launched GPB Knowledge Channel:

On this week's episode of Georgia Traveler, we explore the Metro Atlanta area. Discover the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw. Find beauty and history at Dunaway Gardens in Newnan. Go for a bicycle ride on the Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna. Visit with the animals at the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, including famous groundhog General Beauregard Lee, and find fantastic fare in Lawrenceville at Medieval Times, and that's no joust!

Georgia Traveler 110 - Metro Atlanta airs on GPB Knowledge this Saturday, November 8 at 8 PM and Sunday, November 9 at 8 AM.

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. Check out the new Georgia Tourism website at http://www.exploregeorgia.org/

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/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.