What would you like to do first?

What’s on your wish list?  Watch an eagle take flight, meet a 78-million year old dinosaur. Stop to smell the roses (and azaleas and camelias) in our garden or have a family day at our water park.  And if you can’t fit it all in, we’ll be glad to see you come back again.

Blind Willie McTell Trail
Who was Blind Willie and why does he have trail in Statesboro? Ever hear the Allman Brothers Band song “Statesboro Blues”? Willie is the blues great who wrote it. His namesake trail, though, is anything but blue.  You’ll ramble or cycle through a mile – and 7,415 square yards — of architecturally designed park, quirky art, and cobra lighting throughout that connects the Georgia Southern University campus to Downtown Statesboro.  Bike racks, picnic tables and quirky art benches invite you to stop and enjoy lunch or the beautiful day.

Address: Beginning at Fair Road’s Memorial Park and ending at Downtown’s Triangle Park
Phone: 912-489-1869 or 1-800-568-3301
Website: N/A
Hours: Any time
Fees? None

Georgia Southern Botanical Garden
It’s a lush garden, it’s a historical site, it’s a cultural heritage center.  The botanical garden is an 11-acre site centered on an early 20th century farmstead that’s lush with beautiful azaleas, camellias, native plants and endangered species. You can watch history in bloom through a restored historic farmhouse, barn and the Oak Grove one-room schoolhouse filled with authentic relics of long-ago life in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.  The garden also hosts dozens of events year-round, from the Whirligig Festival to Lunch and Learn presentations, so check their website calendar.

• Walking Woodland Trails
• Bland Cottage Visitor Center and Gift Shop
• Oak Grove one-room schoolhouse
• Heritage Garden with Rose Arbor
• Children’s Learning Garden
• Camellia Garden
• Native Plant Landscape Garden
• Native Azalea Collection and Bog Garden

Address:  1505 Bland Avenue off Fair Road (Hwy. 67).
Phone: 912-871-1149
Website: http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/garden
Hours: Garden gate and grounds — Monday through Friday, 9:30 am-7 pm; Sunday, 1 pm-4 pm; Saturday, closed.
Bland Cottage, Heritage Pavilion and Weather Vane Barn — Monday through Friday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; Sunday 1 pm-4pm; Saturday, closed
Fees: Free

 

Georgia Southern University Museum
The best of the old – say, 78 million years old – meets with ever-new and changing exhibits at this exhibit-packed museum.  In the Hall of Natural History, meet the Mosasaur, who roamed the earth in the Mesozoic Era, the Vogtle Whale, and 80 million years of natural history.  Bring the children – there are lots of interactive exhibits.

Now step into Gallery 2, where there’s always something new – special and national traveling exhibits.  You might find the archeology of Camp Lawton, the recently discovered Civil War prisoner of war camp.  Or an exploration of satellites and geochaching.  Or maybe something on World War II, model trains, or a mad scientist’s laboratory for kids.

• 78- million year old, 26-foot long, fossil skeleton of a Mosasaur
• Georgiacetus Vogtlensis, at 42 million years young, the oldest whale skeleton in North America
• Kids’ interactive area: Be a Paleontologist
• Skeletons from modern vertebrates, including shark jaws, a sawfish bill, and a complete bottle-nosed dolphin
• Gallery 2 changing exhibits feature hands-on educational fun for all ages. Check the website for the latest.

Address:  2142 Southern Drive in the Rosenwald Building #0104 on the campus of Georgia Southern University
Phone:  912-478-5444
Website: http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/museum/
Hours:  Tuesday through Friday 9 am-5 pm; Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m;
Closed Mondays
Fees: $2 per person, children 3 and under free.

Georgia Southern University Wildlife Education Center and the Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center

Watch the eagles take flight, touch our lime-green friend, Monty the Burmese Python, get up close and personal with raptors, reptiles, amphibians, waterfowl and mammals. With more than five acres featuring diverse habitats and species, an amphitheater and an indoor classroom, get ready to take a walk on the wild side! Check the schedule of daily programs, too, from herpetology to flights by birds of prey.

• Numerous resident species of birds of prey including eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, kestrels, vultures and more
• Exhibits of reptiles and amphibians, including a gator tank, turtle petting pen, and Red-eyed Tree frogs and 23 other amphibians on exhibit
• Self-guided nature walks
• A Children’s Discovery Trail
• A newly remodeled Lecture Hall Classroom
• An Ecology Pavilion
• A 120-seat amphitheater
• 12-acre Wetland Preserve

Address:  On Georgia Southern University campus, directly off Hwy. 301.
Phone:  912-478-0831
Website: http://welcome.georgiasouthern.edu/wildlife/index.htm
Hours:  Monday through Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday 1pm – 5pm (closed Saturdays in June, July, & August); Sunday–closed.
Fees:  Adults: $2.00, Children (3-11): $1.00, Children under 3: Free

Mainstreet Statesboro Farmers Market

New York has one.  Dallas has one.  Seattle has one.  And well ahead of cities nationwide, Statesboro has one.  We’re talking about farmers markets – the tasty centerpiece in the growing farm-to-table movement.  Thousands (yes, thousands) make their way to ours on Saturdays, April through November, for fresh, locally grown produce, including conventionally grown and organic products. There’s also meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, honey and jams, and crafts.   And leave room in your shopping bag for fun.  You’ll find live music, cooking demos, a wellness tent, children’s activities and more.   Hungry yet?

Address:  Downtown Sea Island Bank Parking Lot, East Main Street
Phone:  912-764-7227
Website: http://www.mainstreetstatesborofarmersmarket.com/index.html
Hours:  9 am-12:30 pm, Saturdays, April through November
Fees:  Free

Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery
Whether you want to see the winemaker’s art or just enjoy a glass and the view, Meinhardt Vineyards is a vintage

experience. Nestled in the countryside just beyond the city limits, it bottles scenic views, sunsets, and award-winning wines. Take a tour, enjoy a free tasting, and cheers! Mark your calendar for their annual Grape Stomp and Muscadine Festival, too, where you can crush grapes yourselfand see how muscadine wine is made.

• Free Wine Tastings
• Gift Shop
• Weddings and Receptions, Retreats and Private Parties
• Catering
• Hayrides

Address:  305 Kennedy Pond Rd. off of Hwy. 46.
Phone:  912-839-2458
Website: www.meinhardtvineyards.com
Hours:  Tuesday through Thursday 11 am-8 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am-10 p.m.; Sunday and Monday, closed.
Fees:  Free

Mill Creek Regional Park
Ready to play?  This is your place. Mill Creek Regional Park is 155 acres of fun for team sports, family fun and outdoor pleasure.  The sports fields?  State-of-the-art and unmatched in the

Southeast.  The activity areas?  Playgrounds and a walking trail, picnic areas and plenty of wide open spaces.  And the surroundings? A picturesque lake, beautifully landscaped withover 300 hardwood trees.

The Park is also home to Splash in the Boro Family Waterpark, separate admission required. • 155 Acres of parkland, including a picturesque lake
• 15 Lighted Baseball/Softball Fields (12 Lighted) • 7 Soccer/Football Fields (4 Lighted)
• 2 Playgrounds
• 1.25 Mile paved and lit Walking Trail with exercise stations
• 9 Picnic Pavilions
• 8 Public Restrooms
Address:  1388 Hwy 24 East, Statesboro, GA 30458, at Hwy 24 and the 301 Bypass
Phone:  (912) 764-5637
Website: http://www.bullochrec.com. Hours:  Daily, from sunrise to sunset.
Fees:  Free

Splash in the Boro Family Waterpark
Is it any wonder people from all over dive into Statesboro for Splash’s 768,000 gallons of fun? Let’s start with boogie boarding on the Dual Flow Rider, the only one in Georgia. Then swim on over to the 5-lane mat racers and three waterslides.  The little splashers love the Play Pool. And who doesn’t love to go with the flow on the Lazy River?  Stay all day – there are two concessions stands, a gift shop and plenty of picnicking in Mill Creek Regional Park where Splash is located.

• Play Pool has a zero-depth entry with low-level water, designed for all ages. Tunnels, slides and a water bucket that pours 600 gallons of water onto the play area every three minutes
• 800-ft. Lazy River that encircles the play and leisure pools
• Spray Ground includes a 15″ wading pool, slides and interactive spray-and-play features for all ages
• 25-meter lane pool
• 24,000-sq.-ft. heated therapy pool
• Pools open year-round under a portable dome structure
• Two concession stands with seating area
• 25 trained lifeguards on duty at all times
• Men’s/Women’s restrooms with family change area and lockers
• Gift shop and more

Address:  1388 Hwy 24 East, Statesboro, GA 30458, at Hwy 24 and the 301 Bypass
Phone:  912-489-3000
Website: www.splashintheboro.com.
Hours:  Seasonal, mid-May through Labor Day. Check website.
Fees:  Daily: Under 48” tall – $10; Over 48” tall – $12. Specials and discounts – see website.