« Big Canoe Rentals Enjoy Winter Weather | Main | Fishing in the Big Canoe Community »
Amicalola Falls State Park - Snakes Alive!
By admin | April 8, 2008
Vacationing renters staying inside of North Georgia’s Big Canoe or other nearby Gerogia mountain rentals often ask about local points of interest in the surrounding North Georgia mountains. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is a short 15 minute drive from the gates of Big Canoe - plus it’s easy to find (just off of GA 52) and a pretty drive! At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the highest cascading falls east of the Mississippi. The name Amicalola comes from the Cherokee word for “tumbling waters.” The park is also a popular starting point for intrepid hikers beginning the 2000+ mile journey along the Appalachian Trail. Entrance to the park is a very reasonable $3.00 parking pass.
Amicalola State Park also offers some outstanding public programs that are a great time for the whole family:
- Birds of Prey - one of the park’s interpretive Rangers leads a program on some of the local top predators such as the Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and Barn Owls.
- Fire Building - Demonstration of different types of fires and ways to start them. Great program for campers.
- Turtle Time - What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? Park rangers lead this program and explain the differences.
The programs listed above are just a sample of the many public programs offered by Amicalola State Park. For this article, I wanted to focus on the Snakes Alive program which as the name implies, covers many of the local species found in the North Georgia mountains. The Snakes Alive program is very popular, and judging by my kids’ reactions, children really enjoy it. The theme of the program is that snakes should not be feared, but respected and are an important part of the local ecosystem. Many snakes are brought out for the public to examine up close and personal - the Corn Snake, Black Rat Snake, and Eastern King Snake are some of the regular cast members. The program is not too long and will definitely capture your (and your children’s) attention! The Snake’s Alive program is included with the $3.00 parking pass.
Other upcoming events at Amicalola State Park are:
- Spring Wildflower Fest (Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13) - Celebrate the arrival of Spring at the park. Programs include a wildflower hike, plant crafts, medicinal and edible plant walk, and the Leave No Trace program. There will also be a demonstrating artist and native plant sale.
- Wings of Flight (Saturday-Sunday, May 10-11) - Program covering winged creatures such as bats, birds, and butterflies. Learn tips on how to attract them.
Topics: All Posts, Amenities and North Georgia Activities |