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Callaway Gardens Is Heaven On Earth

Over Thanksgiving weekend I had the pleasure of taking a trip to Callaway Gardens, Georgia. My father had been there before and said during this time they set up Christmas lights throughout the resort called “Fantasy In Lights.” I was more interested in seeing the “garden” aspect of the resort considering I’m a huge nature lover. What I didn’t expect was a little piece of heaven.

Some brief history: Callaway Gardens is the product of a bad experiment. From what I remember, the land was previously used for farming. When that failed, the owner decided to dam up a flowing creek (or river, I can’t remember) and flood the land. They built their own lakes and decided to build a park that would house nature at its finest.

Open since 1952, Callaway Gardens is the centerpiece of 13,000 acres nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachians.  Founder Cason Jewell Callaway longed for a place where man and nature could abide together for the good of both, and now more than half a century later, his retreat continues to offer solace, inspiration and discovery for all who come here.

The Callaways did a marvelous job, obviously, and their successors continue to develop the land into an oasis beyond belief. Today Callaway Gardens sports a huge resort, two golf courses, multiple lakes, butterfly nursery, a majestic lakeside chapel, numerous outdoor activities, and gardens galore. The land has become so inspiring that many people requested the ability to live there; so, inevitably, they now support a community as lovely as the land it resides on.

Now, I visited during the fall/winter season which means I wasn’t treated to the bountiful beauty of spring flowers. Believe me though, I plan on visiting again when the time is right. Still, Callaway Gardens has other areas of interest during the cold months. One such place is the butterfly garden. This unique experience takes me back to a butterfly garden I once visited in Hawaii. Since the park is located in Georgia, the weather can’t accommodate a year-round butterfly bonanza. What’s the next best thing? Build a structure which houses multiple species of beautiful butterflies in a climate-controlled area.

You'll find multiple species of butterflies at Callaway Gardens

There were exotic flowering plants, a 10-foot tall waterfall with koi fish, and a swirling pathway to explore. They also had a nursery where you could watch butterflies hatch. Luckily for us, we were there when one such butterfly was hatching. A crowd of 30 stood around the glass enclosure to watch nature at work. It was really breathtaking.

Another cold-repellent exhibit was the Sibley Horticultural Center. This is where the park shines (at least for me). They built this enormous (and I mean enormous) green house that holds such a huge variety of plants. From palms, to creeping Charlie, they had it all. I was also impressed by their festive Christmas tree made of pink and white poinsettias. It was truly a sight to see.

Callaway Gardens Horticultural Center During The Holidays

There are so many activities at Callway Gardens that I can’t list them all. It was a unique experience that I plan on enjoying again and again. If you ever get the chance, I would totally recommend it — even if it’s just for the Fantasy In Lights (their take on a classic “ride through the woods” type of entertainment). Speaking of Fantasy In Lights, if you go during the winter, make sure you wear some warm clothes. The attraction lasts around an hour and I ended up using my scarf as a face-warmer. Seriously! Just take a look.

Tags: attractions, butterflies, callaway gardens, christmas lights, flowers, georgia, horticulture, plants, unique places to visit

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