Dads, help make Mother’s Day memorable: Family time together is the best Mother’s Day gift

Pssst, husbands! In past years, you’ve probably helped make Mother’s Day memorable by taking the little ones to pick out gifts for the special woman in your life. This year, skip the shopping and bring your family together for a gift of sunshine, time and a day making a memory. Each of Georgia’s 63 state parks and historic sites offer a perfect place for families to gather for a picnic, a nature walk or take a trip back in history.

To make the day even better, give Mom a day off from cooking by packing a picnic basket with her favorite snacks. All state parks and most state historic sites have scenic picnic tables and covered shelters that provide a place to rest and relax for a meal. One particularly pretty spot is at Watson Mill Bridge State Park northeast of Athens. Georgia’s longest covered bridge spans a narrow, green river, providing a beautiful backdrop for a day in the sun. Another pretty picnic area is found at Sprewell Bluff State Park near Thomaston. Kids can play in the Flint River while watching birds soar overhead near dusk.

If restaurants are more Mom’s style, visit one of seven state park lodges where diners are treated to good food and picturesque views. These scenic dining rooms are found at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Red Top Mountain State Park on Lake Allatoona, Unicoi State Park in Helen, Little Ocmulgee State Park in McRae and George T. Bagby State Park on Lake Walter F. George. Turn Mother’s Day into a weekend getaway by reserving one of the hotel-style rooms.

Are Mom and kids more into crafts? High Falls State Park near Jackson offers peace and quiet just off I-75. At 1 p.m. on May 11, a park ranger will help kids make Mother’s Day crafts to take home. Afterward, explore nature trails that follow along a rushing river to an old mill race and power house ruins.

Bird lovers may want to spend Mother’s Day at Skidaway Island State Park near Savannah. At 1 p.m. on May 11, visitors can watch a lively birds of prey show, then head out to the marsh’s observation platform. Nearby is beautiful Wormsloe Historic Site, remnants of a colonial estate found at the end of a mile-long drive lined with ancient Live Oaks.

If the kids can’t resist wrapping up a gift for Mom, consider an Annual ParkPass that allows access to all of Georgia’s state parks without paying the daily $3 - $4 parking fee. The ParkPass will help your family slow down a bit more, explore more, and spend more time together in the great outdoors. Or upgrade your gift with an annual membership to Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, which includes even more benefits and discounts.

To learn more about Georgia’s state parks and historic sites, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org or call 1-800-864-7275. A full year of events is listed on the website’s calendar.

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