Coordinates: 32.86467° N, -84.85477° E
Distance from Baton Rouge to Callaway Resort and Gardens: 462 miles
Driving Time: 7 hours, 4 minutes
Flying Time: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Why Callaway Resort and Gardens? This is an idyllic vacation spot where your family can rest and relax, hike, bike, play in the water, and laze on a white sand beach. This beautiful resort, located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, was founded by Cason Callaway and his wife Virginia Hand Callaway in 1952 as a way to share their love of nature with friends and family. New for 2020: Mega Bugs–a permanent exhibit featuring gigantic insects, and debuting in September, the Pumpkin Festival showcases fun, animated pumpkins.
Where to Stay
Glamping is all the rage, so we recommend the Cottages at Callaway. This home-away-from-home is set in an inviting neighborhood atmosphere that is perfect for your getaway. For larger parties, there are two bedroom cottages with four queen beds, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and fireplace; and for small parties, they have one bedroom cabins with a master bedroom that includes two queen beds and all of the amenities.
Where to Eat
The Gardens Restaurant
The Gardens Restaurant, located near Mountain Creek Lake, serves delicious dishes that incorporate locally-grown foods. Seared halibut, pan-roasted lamb chops, and marinated New York strip steak are just a few of the entrees on the menu. Complete your dinner with a warm apple tart or sweet potato and maple cheesecake.
Country Kitchen
For a more casual and relaxed dining option, check out the Country Kitchen inside the Callaway Gardens Country Store. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available, offering hearty meals that will keep your energy up for a day of outdoor activities. Buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash or biscuits and gravy are a great way to start the day, or choose a fried green tomato sandwich for lunch, and end your day with a bountiful plate of shrimp and grits.
Piedmont Dining Room
The Piedmont Dining Room also offers up breakfast, lunch and dinner, but they’re known for their specialty dining as well. The Friday night Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet is from 5-9 p.m., allowing guests to indulge in cut-to-order prime rib, crab legs, shrimp, and oysters on the half shell. On Saturday evenings, dig into their Flavors of the South Buffet offering great eats that incorporate regional favorites from the Heart of Texas to the Georgia Low Country.
What to Do
Immerse yourself in a garden blooming with beautiful butterflies! The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is a glass-enclosed conservatory that allows you to get up close and personal with 1,000s of these delicate winged creatures. Enhance your experience by becoming a Butterfly Keeper for a Day where you learn how to care for butterflies, identify butterflies, and help release newly-emerged butterflies into their new home.
Callaway is a beautiful place to learn about the world, especially about nature’s feathered friends. Join experts in the Discovery Amphitheater as they share their knowledge at the Birds of Prey Show. Several birds are present at each show, demonstrating their strength and speed.
If your family is looking for a sky-high adventure, head over to the TreeTop Adventure and Zip Lines Course. Zoom along at 70 feet above the forest floor, with more than 3,000 feet of horizontal courses, zip lines, and other challenges that include ladders, wires, logs, discs and netting, along with other suspended surfaces.
Let’s swim and splash the day away at Aqua Island at Robin Lake Beach, available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Inflatables include large mountains, monkey bars and trampolines, and they make this the best "waterpark" for miles around. Challenge yourself on The Glacier, their newest attraction, which tests your balance and agility.
Let’s go ride a bike! The Discovery Bike Trail is a 10-mile paved bike path that winds through property with stops at all attractions and gardens. This is a great way for guests of all ages to get some exercise and explore the resort’s 2,500 acres.
Start planning for the Summer Family Adventure 2020s–a camp for everyone. Members of the Florida State University Flying High Circus lead children in a variety of great day camp activities, while the grownups split off to participate in fun of their own.
