Browse the Callaway Gardens website and make a mental note of the things you'd like to do. The place has a lot to offer and you may not be able to cover it all in a day. For example, you could choose one or of their many hiking trails, or rent a bike for the day, spend a few hours on Robin Lake Beach and allocate some time to visit the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center or Mr. Cason's Vegetable garden. So pick out the activities and spots that might be of interest to you and your family. This gives you an idea of when to start and how much time you will need. Callaway Gardens is located off Highway 18, about 85 miles south-west of Atlanta.
Start early. Callaway Gardens open at 9 am. So, be there as early as you can to make the most of your day trip. Head to the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center for brochures and information about the gardens. You can catch an informative video or talk to one of the garden's agents at the desk. The bike rentals are right behind this building. So, if you plan to rent bicycles, this would be your first stop anyway. Enjoy a walk on the deck and the Birds of Prey show. Grab a map of the gardens and chart your course.
Get going. You could hike or ride a bike through one of the many trails in the park, enjoying the view. Most of the trails are easy or moderate and vary in length from 0.5 miles to 1.5 miles. Callaway Brothers Azelea Bowl Trail, Mountain Creek Lake Trail and Whipoorwill Lake Trail are some of the popular hiking trails. The Discovery Bicycle trail is 10 miles long giving you the opportunity to stop and enjoy all major garden attractions.
Visit the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center where you can see over 1000 tropical butterflies belonging to over 50 species fluttering by freely in a glass-enclosed conservatory. Exotic birds and plants are also part of this attraction. Your next stop could be the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center which houses native and exotic plants, a sculpture garden, a 22-foot indoor waterfall among other attractions. Visit Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden to catch a glimpse of several varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Grab a bite for lunch at The Plant Room, Country Kitchen, Discovery Cafe or one of the many other dining options available on Callaway Gardens. Or, if you've brought along a picnic basket, choose a good spot to enjoy your meal, either by Robin Lake Beach or one of the many trails in the garden.
Drive up to Robin Lake Beach and cool off. It has water slides and inflatable play areas, a one mile stretch of sandy beach, shallow waters ideal for little children. The Iceberg Island Water Playground is a big hit as well. You can also enjoy circus shows, swimming, sunbathing, mini golf, table tennis and other recreational activities, all located very close to Robin Lake Beach. Get onto a pedal boat near Lake Robin Beach and pedal away. There is no extra fee or time limit to use the boats. So enjoy the ride.
Visit the gift shops in each of the attractions to find unique collectibles and memorabilia. The Day Butterfly Center Gift Shop, Sibley Horticultural Center Gift Shop, Callaway Gardens Country Store, Sand Bucket Souvenir Shop are some of the stores worth visiting if you are looking for mementos or other items.
Callaway Gardens features several other recreational avenues such as golf courses, tennis courts and fishing opportunities. Explore the ones that you enjoy the most and plan your trip to Callaway Gardens accordingly.
