Best Places in the Southeast for Eco Tourism

Cumberland Island, Georgia

For a state with a population pushing 10 million Georgia has one the least developed coast lines in the country, which means it is a great place to take in the great outdoors. And upon this coast there is no better place to do that than Cumberland Island. Accessible only by boat, Cumberland Island has absolutely no access to power whatsoever-- unless you can afford to stay at the ultra-exclusive Greyfield Inn-- and is a former getaway for New York elites such as the Carnegie family, and current home to a large number of wild horses. 

Lower Chattooga River Canoe Trail (Part 2)

Lower Chattooga River Canoe Trail

After my father picked my comrade and I up at Lyerly-Dam road, and our gear was loaded in the back of his truck he took us to where my SUV was and where our wallets were as well. He dropped us off there and went to his house and my comrade and I both agreed that food was the first order of business. We went to our favorite barbecue joint initially and, despite what its hours-of-operation sign says on the door, it was closed. We opted for a Mexican spot on Main Street in Summerville and it was just what the doctor ordered - cheap, tasty and extremely filling.

After eating and going to my father's house for a bit to rest up, hydrate and retrieve our gear we were off again to start gathering what we needed for another 16 or more hours on the river. We bought more chicken liver, beer, snacks and hooks at the Pay-N-Tote and were off to where we were picked up earlier in the day to restart our journey and end up another 6 or so hours down stream at Holland-Chattoogaville road.

Lyerly, GA - Lower Chattooga River Canoe Trail (Part 1)

Lower Chattooga River Canoe Trail

There are actually 2 Chattooga rivers in Georgia. The more famous one, of course, is the white water destination that tumbles and rumbles out of North Carolina and into Northeast Georgia that was the setting for the book and movie Deliverance that ends up at Lake Tugalo in Habersham and Rabun counties, along with the Tallulah river. The other which starts somewhere just north of LaFayette, GA bares no resemblance to the former. By all accounts it is very much a lazy river winding its way through LaFayette, Trion, Summerville and Lyerly and over into Alabama and beyond.