Hike Botanical Gardens of GA & lunch in Athens

Let's check out a beautiful garden and get some exercise, too!

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a 300-acre forested preserve and public education facility in Athens, on a bend of the Oconee River just 3 miles south of the U of GA campus. It boasts about 5 miles of beautiful nature trails and is free of charge for the enjoyment of all.
   This will be my first visit—hence my designation of this outing as an "Explorer." Charlie Cottingham led a similar trip last year and really enjoyed it.
  Our plan will be to enjoy about 2 hours of easy to moderate hiking and to visit some of the formal displays of native and exotic plant species.  Be sure to bring your camera, as this will be a photography tour, too!
  Following our visit, we'll head into Athens to enjoy one of the many great restaurants this college town has to offer. 

More info:   Portions of the 5-mile trail system parallel the shoreline of the Middle Oconee River which borders the western portion of the Garden.
  Wildlife such as foxes, rabbits, raccoons, possums and numerous bird species find the Garden a natural habitat, and birding is a popular activity.  The Garden and adjoining U. of GA Whitehall Forest have been designated an "Important Bird Area" by the Audubon Society.
  Sites of archeological interest include several old home sites and rock mounds of uncertain origin.
  

TO the GARDEN, from the SPAGHETTI JUNCTION INTERCHANGE (I-85/I-285) in NE Atlanta:
 
1) Take I-85 North about 4 miles where you'll pass our optional "Indian Trail Rd" carpool meeting point at Exit #101.

2) CONTINUE on I-85 North (from Indian Trail) about 5 more miles to the Exit #106 "GA-316 East" interchange and bear Right onto GA-316 toward Lawrenceville & Athens.

3) Take GA-316 East about 40 miles  (passing Lawrenceville and Dacula en route) to the US-78 "Athens Perimeter" beltway, and bear Right off GA-316 at the "US-78 E/GA-10 Loop S" exit ramp.

4) Merge here onto US-78 East (the beltway) and follow it eastward for about 4 miles.

5) Take Exit #6 off US-78, turn Right onto Milledge Ave, and follow it southward about 0.8 mile.

6) Near the top of the hill look for a small stone sign for the "State Botanical Garden of GA," turn Right onto the Garden entrance road, and proceed about 0.5 mile into the Garden.

7) For parking, the Garden reps recommend that after we cross a metal "cattle grate" in the roadway we take the second available Right turn toward the "Callaway Building" and park in that "lower" Parking Lot.  In the unlikely event that this lot is full, we can drive instead to the larger main lot which is nearby.

8) Our entire AOC group will plan to gather at about 11:30 AM by the "circular fountain" in front of the main entrance to the large Visitor Center & Conservatory (or just inside it at the information desk if it happens to be raining).

9) If you use an onboard GPS navigation system (or would like to use "Google.com/maps," etc. to prepare a custom map or directions to the State Botanical Garden of GA from your point of departure) use this as your destination address:
   2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
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Free Event with Free Parking!