Tanks for the Memories: Azaleas in Valdosta
- Lindsay Britts
- Nov 9, 2017
- 3 min read
Getting inspired to do a little cruisin’ of your own? Ready to hit the road for a weekend ride to a place you’ve never been before? We can show you the best trips in your neck of the woods and you won’t even have to stop to fuel up. Each week, we pick a starting city and plan a getaway to some of the most charming, energetic, and just plain fun places that you’ll only need one tank of gas to reach. When it’s all over, you’ll be able to say… TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
Starting City: Jacksonville, FL
Destination: Valdosta, GA
Distance: about 120 miles
Well, Cruisers, I hope that the end of Daylight Savings Time left everyone a little more relaxed than last weekend, even if now you’re eating dinner in the dark. This week we’re headed to a Southern town that’s bound to make your life a little lighter: Valdosta, Georgia.
Source: Jadvii on Wikipedia
Valdosta is known as The Azalea City. It was founded in 1860 and the railroad was built nearby to bolster growth of the town. It sits on Georgia’s Coastal Plain, which means the land is flat for miles around the town; one of the railroads that connected Valdosta with the town of Waycross was once named the most flat, straightest railway in the world. Valdosta’s economy was agricultural but turned industrial at the turn of the 20th century. In 1897 the second Coca Cola bottling plant was opened there. The highway system in the 1950s helped the area by establishing a rest stop for those traveling to Florida from the north. In 2010 Valdosta was named one of the "Best Small Places For Business And Careers" by Forbes.
One of the town’s major amusements is just that: a park named Wild Adventures. There are rides and attractions for all ages, including roller coasters, water slalom rides, and several rides that spin. There are also animals of every feather and scale, as well as a petting zoo and butterfly garden. Some parts of the movie Zombieland were shot at the park and in the city. If you feel like a zombie after a full day at the park, there are some charming restaurants that will perk you right up, like some pulled pork at Smokin’ Pig BBQ or some shrimp ‘n’ grits at Steel Magnolias.
Source: Wikipedia
Even though the year is almost over, there is still a farmers’ market held downtown on Saturdays through November. And right after Thanksgiving, the Christmas tree lighting is on December 1st, when the tree in front of Valdosta City Hall is brought to light. The next day the community Christmas parade is held; there are prizes for the best float, so take notes on your favorites! Historic Downtown Valdosta also holds a 12 Days of Christmas celebration on different days in December, with the whole town getting into the spirit of the season.
The temperate weather, beautiful blooms, and small-town charm would make Valdosta a great weekend getaway, so fill up your tank and get to cruisin’!
STRETCH YOUR LEGS: If you’d like to amp up your adrenaline and burn some calories before Thanksgiving goodies, stop by the Cable Junction Zipline Adventures in Sanderson, FL. You can camp in one of their “primitive camping” lots as well as ride through a zipline course that consists of “7 high flying zip line stations, 4 climbing elements, and 3 tree-top aerial bridges”. And in case you were worried about a prime aural experience, “crying children will not be allowed to zipline for their safety.” It’s for the best.
LEARN MORE:
http://www.valdostacity.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdosta%2C_Georgia
Comentarios