Happy Spring Break! We have fun-filled excuses to get outside and enjoy budding spring scenes. Many state parks rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and bikes to get out and explore. (Try the paved path at Panola Mountain in Stockbridge or new mountain bike trail at Cloudland Canyon in Trenton.) Free Junior Ranger books can be downloaded so that younger kids can work toward earning their own badge. Geocaching combines technology with trails, sending your family on a treasure hunt. Or try disc golf, “glamping” yurts, archery classes and more. You’ll find events, activities and accommodations on GaStateParks.org. Check out more ideas for a memorable Spring Break that's affordable and close to home. 

While posing for a portrait on April 12, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered a fatal stroke at his modest home in Warm Springs, Georgia. Today, the “Unfinished Portrait” is featured at Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic Site which showcases many exhibits, including his 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls. Join historians on April 12 for the 73rd annual commemorative ceremony with color guard and keynote speaker David Woolner of the Roosevelt Institute and author of The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace. Visitors can tour FDR’s home, which has been carefully preserved much as he left it. Just down the road is F.D. Roosevelt State Park with hiking, camping, cabins and CCC-era facilities. Be sure to see the life-size sculpture of this beloved president at Dowdell’s Knob overlook. 

A breathtaking avenue sheltered by live oaks and Spanish moss leads to the tabby ruins of Wormsloe, the colonial estate of Noble Jones (1702–1775). Jones was a humble carpenter who arrived in Georgia in 1733 with James Oglethorpe and the first group of settlers from England. Wormsloe's tabby ruin is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. This popular historic site is now open daily. Camping and cabins are nearby at Skidaway Island State Park.

Masters Week is April 2 – 8, and we have several parks within a short drive of Augusta, like Mistletoe, A.H. Stephens and Elijah Clark. If you’re inspired by the pros, visit Georgia’s State Park Golf Courses with pro shops, tournaments and golf packages. Arrowhead Pointe at Richard B. Russell State Park is surrounded by lake views with no houses. The Creek at Hard Labor is easily reached off I-20. Check GaStateParks.org to find cabins and campsites during your trip.

Looking forward to barbecues and boating over Memorial Day? Why not extend your stay for even more fun in the sun? From Monday, May 28, through Thursday, May 31, you can save 20% to 40% on camping, cottages, yurts and lodge rooms. Check GaStateParks.org/specials for promo codes, participating state parks and details. Plus, check GaStateParks.org for ranger-led programs like guided hikes, nature crafts, boat tours, astronomy outings and more.