I love the springtime in the South. The dark days of winter become just a memory, and warm weather signals an opportunity to get outside and enjoy an abundance of natural, unique and historical sites. Dogwoods are blossoming; the redbuds are sporting their pinkish-purple blooms. Crawfish and crab boils, fish fries and music festivals are springing-up in every southern state from Arkansas to West Virginia.
But, there may be nothing more inviting on a perfect spring day than a tour through a southern city's beautiful downtown historic district.
I recently came across a unique walking tour in one of the South’s classic beauties, Milledgeville, Georgia. What makes Milledgeville distinct is that it actually served as the capital of Georgia during the Civil War; obviously, history envelops this town as much as the natives' Georgia drawl.
Heck, the city is even in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only city in the world to require trains to stop at a red light. Can you get anymore unique than that?
In Milledgeville, you can venture back in time with driving and trolley tours of the city's historic district and witness such landmarks such as the original Governor's Mansion, the Old Georgia State Capitol, the Flannery O'Connor Room and the Baldwin County Courthouse, which dates back to 1887.
If driving or riding the trolley is not your thing, a new audio walking tour will be right up your alley. Complete with a map, Mp3 player and guided audio featuring narration, music, sound effects and dramatizations, it just might be the most interactive tour this side of the Mason-Dixon Line.
The audio tour perfect for the tech-savvy traveler and adds that extra element of entertainment for friends and family who tag along. And unlike the trolley tours, the audio tour can be taken anytime of the day and at your own pace, not just on scheduled starting times and stops, leaving plenty of time for shopping and a lot of good eatin.'
For more information on Milledgeville or the walking tours, please call 478-452-4687 or visit www.milledgevillecvb.com and request a visitor's guide.