One of my most favorite places in the entire southeast is located in Folkston, Georgia. Tucked away on the outskirts of the town that has an alligator painted on its water tower, and the famous Folkston Funnel, is a magical place that I love dearly. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a must see and must do if you ever visit southern Georgia.

Okefenokee Adventures is the official concession inside of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. They offer 90 minute guided boat tours, canoe rentals, an excellent Camp Cornelia Cafe, and a well stocked gift shop. I highly suggest for everybody to take the guided boat tour at least once in your life.

All of the guides on the boat tours are very knowledgeable about the Okefenokee. You can hear the passion they have for the place while they lead you deeper and deeper into the “Land of the Trembling Earth”. Each guide has something different to tell, but they are all focused on making sure you have a memorable experience while you are out on the water. They all point out the alligators that are living their best life there, the birds that are in the trees, the turtles that are sunning on logs, and the occasional dragonfly that will come visit while you are gliding through the water. Sometimes the tour ends way too soon, especially on the days when the wildlife is being very active.

If you don’t want to take the guided boat tour, and you are adventurous, you can launch a canoe or kayak out into the water and paddle yourself down the canal. I believe every time I have ever been, we have passed many groups that choose to see the Okefenokee from that point of view. If I knew how to swim and could kayak, I’d be right out there joining everyone else that chooses to see the Okefenokee that way. It really looks like a lot of fun.

After you get back in from exploring the Okefenokee by water, you probably would want to have lunch at the Camp Cornelia Cafe. They serve a variety of salads, sandwiches, and hamburgers, along with french fries and onion rings, plus the best sweet tea I have ever had. I always joke that I don’t know if they make the tea out of the water in the swamp, but it is definitely some great tea. You can either dine in, sit in their outdoor dining area, or get it to go and either eat in your car, or eat at one of the many picnic tables that are available outside.

The gift shop inside Okefenokee Adventures offers a variety of T-shirt’s, toys, books, and jewelry to make sure you remember your time in the Okefenokee. A lot of alligator themed merchandise is available for purchase. You can also pick up some drinks and snacks to continue your journey through the Okefenokee if you decided not to eat in the cafe.

After you leave from the main parking lot, you can get on Swamp Island Drive and continue your visit. You will pass by a small pond that usually has baby alligators out in it. The pond also offers an excellent photography experience because of all the trees that are growing around it provide the perfect reflection back into the water. You will often see people parked at the pond snapping pictures.

The Chesser Island Homestead that I previously blogged about is another interesting place to stop. It offers a look back into the past and how the people that called the Okefenokee home lived. I don’t always make a stop at the homestead because I am interested in what comes next.

The boardwalk into the Okefenokee is probably my most favorite thing to do while I am visiting other than the boat tour. The boardwalk takes you out into the Okefenokee before it ends at a 40 foot tower that provides amazing views of what you came to see. Oftentimes when you are on the boardwalk you can look down and see alligators just chilling out in the grass or water. Lately a bobcat has been known to be hanging out on the boardwalk while visitors are there. I personally haven’t seen it yet, but the photographs do exist that proves it is there.

As you are driving back out of Swamp Island Drive, look in the ditches on the side of the road for alligators. Over the years I have seen many of all different sizes sunning themselves. If you are a water lily lover, they are also very prominent in the water. I could sit for hours and just take pictures of everything. Please be mindful of the speed limit and watch out for the animals that are crossing the road. While we are just visitors that are visiting, this special place is their home.

Before you leave, make sure you take a picture with the alligator sculpture that is out near the boats. It is a safe way to take a selfie with a gator, and live to tell about it. Plus, you can head back in to the cafe to get another cup of that sweet, sweet tea to take on the road.

Okefenokee Adventures is located inside of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge located at 4159 Suwannee Canal Road in Folkston, Georgia. They are typically open everyday of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most days they are open half an hour before sunrise until 7:30 pm during daylight savings time, during standard time the hours change until 5:30 pm. There is a fee to take the guided boat tour, but I feel that it is worth the money. If you are ever in the area make sure to check it out.

Published by travelingthesoutheast

My name is Donna. At an early age I had a love for photography. There was nothing more fun than taking film to a store and then having to wait several days to get the photographs back, sometimes only to find out that none of the pictures turned out the way I wanted them to. Quite a few years ago digital came out, and the rest is history. I can always be found with a camera around my neck, on my arm, or in my hand. I have always had a love for telling stories and sharing them with others. My imagination has always been a little on the wild side. About ten years ago, I decided one day that I wanted to start traveling, and I have never looked back. There is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than traveling and taking photographs. View all posts by travelingthesoutheast