Georgia

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Changes:

STATEWIDE: GEORGIA STATE PARKS http://gastateparks.org have changed hours and admissions for many parks in the system. Some park fees have raised one dollar per person and/or changed their hours to: Thursday-Saturday only.

NW – Locust Grove. NOAH’S ARK ANIMAL REHAB CENTER (pg.136). Hello, I love your book. I had a good laugh this morning when I called ‘Noah’s Ark Animal Rehabilitation Center’ and asked about their exotic animals. The man on the other end of the line told me I had called a trucking company. Laughter is great medicine, so it was actually a welcome error. The number in your book is one digit off. It should be 770-957-0888. Thanks, Rebekah

Additions:

NE - Lula. NORTH GEORGIA CANOPY TOURS. 5290 Harris Road, 30554. www.northgeorgiacanopytours.com. $69-$89 (kids/military and group discounts also). Experience a heightened perspective on life at North Georgia Canopy Tours! Both Eco-Tour Adventures begin “low and slow,” but you’ll soon find yourself zipping at greater heights and speeds through the lush canopy. Enjoy a birds-eye view of the North Oconee River, ravines, ponds, pastures, and wildlife. Soar through the air attached to a steel cable—which will soon disappear from your consciousness. While you are zipping along, enjoy a birds-eye view of the North Oconee River, ravines, ponds, pastures and wildlife. The guides say the best time to see wildlife is in the early morning or late evening. Two certified eco-trained guides lead up to eight participants on both Tours, which include ziplines, sky bridges, moderate hikes through a naturally beautiful area, and a dual zip over a pond in front of our Tour Observation Deck. In the summer, folks on the ground can bring their super soakers and try to hit the zip liners. Conveniently located less than one hour from downtown Atlanta up the I-85 / I-985 corridor, North Georgia Canopy Tours is a refreshing experience of environment, culture, history, and wildlife. Bring your own picnic to the Registration Center and Tour Observation Deck, and enjoy the excitement generated by those daring to try this new and invigorating adventure. Designed for the enjoyment of all generations, the Tour welcomes kids 10 years of age or older and weighing a minimum of 70 pounds. And yes, moms zip along just fine. I like the fact that this tour company offers so many options vs. just one long tour.

NE – Helen. GOATS ON THE ROOF. www.goats-on-the-roof.com An "Out of This World" experience is coming to Helen in April 2010! GOATS On THE ROOF a unique, fun place for all the family will be opening it's doors to the local people of White and surrounding counties as well as visitors to the north Georgia mountains. The store in Helen will be the 2nd Goats On The Roof store to open in less than two years. The first store located in Tiger (Rabun County), Georgia opened in 2007 and quickly became a popular stop for tourists and visitors to the mountains. A retail store and gift shop, and entertainment center, Goats On The Roof is a unique, out of the ordinary experience for everyone. Goats On The Roof is definitely "Kid Friendly". You can be assured of a clean, happy environment along with the opportunity for the children to feed the goats, roast marshmallows over an open pit fire, mine for gemstones , a miner's hat is available for purchase. Or how about a delicious ice cream cone or some homemade fudge. You may even see Conway Twitty, our proud and colorful rooster strutting his stuff around the yard and parking lot. And keep an eye out for some of our free roaming bunnies as they graze on the fresh green grass in the yard. The owners and staff of Goats On The Roof love to have guests drop in. So stop in to see our new store in Helen. We'll have the gates open for you!

NE – Madison. MICRO CAR MUSEUM (http://microcarmuseum.com) A customer recently emailed us suggesting this place as a new listing. They were at nearby HARD LABOR CREEK STATE PARK (pg. 83) and the nice weather forcasted turned to rain…Thanks, Debbie (homeschooling mom to 3 kids who love to travel!). The microcar, a vehicle born out of need, was a child of its time and became the symbol of a people's spirit. World War II came to an end in 1945 and Europe lay in ruins. A shell-shocked population came out of the bomb shelters and faced an unimaginable scene of devastation and ruin. As if the seemingly endless task of clearing away the rubble wasn't enough, there were crippling shortages of food, raw materials, electricity and gas. Value and worth were measured in Chesterfield cigarettes. The population collectively rolled up its sleeves and went to work. The astonishing rebuilding of an entire continent over a period of ten years was accomplished through a unity of spirit and purpose unimaginable today. Bright, talented engineers, many out of the former aircraft industry, put their minds to the problems of mobilizing the population under adverse conditions. It's said that the true master reveals himself within limitations and so this focusing of energy and talent resulted in an enormous variety of small vehicles; some successful, others less so - but all of them interesting! The Museum Collection is primarily focused on Microcars in the late 1940's- pre-1964 range with Engine sizes of 700cc or less (many are 250cc and 50cc) and 2 doors or less. Aren’t they cute? Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Thursday 1:00-4:00pm. Additional Info: Be advised that you should contact the Madison-Morgan Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800.709.7406 to ensure the Microcar Museum is open. The Museum is usually closed entirely June through July. The $5.00 admission fee is actually a suggested donation that goes to the Morgan County Humane Society.

Additional Information:

NE – BABYLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL (pg. 60). Cleveland, Georgia. The completion of the new BabyLand General Hospital is the fulfillment of a dream that began in 1978, when Xavier first opened the doors of his little hospital in the mountain community of Cleveland, Georgia. The new 70,000 square foot facility is beautifully situated on 650 acres of land, allowing the ‘Kids plenty of room to play and grow. Admission is free. Mountain views are available from 72 windows from all sides of the house. The new “Fathers’ Waiting Room” contains historical archives showcasing some highly collectible Originals, independently valued at $15,000 to $30,000 or more. Polished floors lead up to simple double doors, recreating a sense of a former turn of the century medical clinic. Nurseries are lined with cribs filled with hand-sculpted Preemies and Lullabye Babies. One-of-a-kind displays include a spectacular Cabbage Patch under the Magic Crystal Tree with real crystals and geodes imbedded in the “ground”. This is the only place in the world to witness the “live” delivery of a Cabbage Patch Kid! Hundreds of ‘Kids are playing throughout the hospital in the Fantasy Forest and Clubhouse tree house. BabyLand offers a birthday party room for youngsters. It is the perfect place to relax in a porch rocker and enjoy a cooling mountain breeze or have protection from the unexpected summer shower.