Callaway Gardens is a must-see vacation getaway. My family and I really enjoyed getting away from our busy routine daily life for a few days of relaxation in a peaceful setting at Callaway Gardens! Let me explain.
Callaway Gardens, a beautiful 2500-acre attraction resort located in Pine Mountain, Georgia offers a variety of family attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. Some of these include its magnificent gardens, nature trails, biking, hiking, golfing, water sports, butterfly center, educational shows, zip lining, amazing events throughout the year and many other leisurely activities. Callaway Gardens is the place to come to that offers something for everyone.
While at Pine Mountain, drive a few minutes and visit Wild Animal Safari! Here’s my post on Wild Animal Safari and all the animals that you will see! Then go to the nearby “Little White House” in Warm Springs. Here’s my post about the “Little White House” and Franklin D. Roosevelt the 32nd President of the United States! VISIT all of these awesome impressive destinations during your travels in Georgia!
The sprawling Callaway Gardens attracts 750,000 visitors annually and boasts of being the world’s largest azalea garden. Callaway Gardens is a premier resort destination. A trip to Callaway Gardens makes a perfect weekend getaway or vacation paradise.
The Gardens is ideal for families, couples, and solo travelers to connect with nature. For peak viewing at the Gardens, plan your trip during spring or summer to see the awesome azaleas in bloom. We missed out seeing the blooms since we went in October. But we were there when the Harvest Festival was going on! We saw some amazing scarecrows and pumpkins! It was AWESOME!!!!
Contents
- A Brief History of the Origin of Callaway Gardens
- Here are 15 Top Fun Things To See and Do at Callaway Gardens!
- 1. The Gardens
- 2. The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel
- 3. The Pioneer Log Cabin
- 4. Wildlife
- 5. Callaway Discovery Center
- 6. Discovery Amphitheater and the Birds of Prey Show
- 7. Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center
- 8. Nature Trails
- 9. Water Sports
- 10. Two Championship 18-Hole Golf Courses
- 11. The Lodge & Spa
- 12. The Cottages and Villas
- 13. Eat at Numerous Dining Options
- 14. The Country Store
- 15. Enjoy Amazing Events Throughout the Year
- FAQ’S About Callaway Gardens
- Pack your Bags and Travel to this Awesome Must-See Attraction!
A Brief History of the Origin of Callaway Gardens
In the 1950’s Cason and Virginia Hand Callaway purchased land that was used over the course of many years for cotton farming. They transformed this land into a sprawling magnificent place to relax.
Cason Callaway was a textile manufacturer and Virginia was a horticulturalist. One day during the summertime of 1930 while picnicking near their house they noticed a orange-red azalea. Virginia identified the flower as a plumleaf azalea. This azalea is native to an approximately 100-mile area in Harris County, West Georgia.
The Callaway’s became infatuated with the landscape of the nearby property and purchased 2500 acres for the purpose of having a weekend retreat. Cason Callaway retired from his textile industry in 1938 and set in motion over time to what Callaway Gardens has become today.
Through much sweat, hard work and dreams, the Callaway’s in 1952 opened to the public the Ida Cason Gardens, named after Cason Callaway’s mother. This became known as Callaway Gardens in the 1960’s. Throughout time Callaway Gardens has expanded its operation to include the many attractions it has today. The Ida Cason Callaway Foundation today owns Callaway Gardens.
Enjoy Callaway Gardens History page and timeline. 
Very interesting read!
Here are 15 Top Fun Things To See and Do at Callaway Gardens!
1. The Gardens
One of the primary attractions at Callaway Gardens is the incredible collection of gardens that span over 1,000 acres in the resort. These include the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, which features over 3,000 azaleas in an array of colors and the Overlook Azalea Garden which offers a awesome scenery of the surrounding landscape. Callaway Gardens was awarded the recognition as Best Georgia Attraction in 2018 by USA Today.
Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl is a 40-acre garden with more than 3,000 hybrid and native azaleas. Each Spring the azaleas when in bloom display an amazing palette of colors including lavender, white, red and pink. Additionally, thousands of shrubs and trees add to the majestic garden’s beauty, resulting in a beautiful mixture of foliage and blooms.
As you stroll through the walking paths across the gardens, sit and rest at the gazebo near Falls Creek Lake. It’s a great place to take a selfie of your memoirs.
Ely Reeves Callaway, Jr. funded this garden with a donation and named it in memory of his father, Ely Reeves Callaway and his uncle Fuller Callaway. Fuller’s wife was Ida Cason Callaway and Cason Callaway, was their son. Cason and Virginia Callaway founded Callaway Gardens. Ely Reeves Callaway, Jr. was the founder of Callaway Golf.
The Overlook Garden has more than 700 varieties of cultivated azaleas selected and planted years ago by Cason and Virginia Callaway. In the Spring thousands of these azaleas bloom, making an awesome sight to see.
2. The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel
The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, named in honor of Cason Callaway’s mother is situated in a peaceful setting with stunning stained-glass windows that illustrate a forest through the four seasons. The amazing thing about this chapel is that it was constructed using regional materials as fieldstone quartz, pine for its beams and slate for the roof. This Chapel makes a perfect ideal location for small weddings. Reach out to Callaway Gardens for a range of wedding packages.
3. The Pioneer Log Cabin
If you love history the Pioneer Log Cabin is a must-see. This 2 room cabin was constructed of hand-hewn longleaf pine logs around 1830. In 1959, the cabin was relocated from its origin location in neighboring Troup County to Callaway Gardens, where it reminds guests of challenges faced back in the 1800’s on a daily basis. Take your photo on the front porch or at the back at the old well. Visit the inside and you will see the household furnishings back in that time period. Great for all age groups, and especially as a educational tool for kids.
4. Wildlife
While Callaway Gardens has the world’s largest Butterfly Center and the amazing Birds of Prey Show, there are other wildlife to be spotted while enjoying the trails. Tons of native animals exist locally in the area. What you see depends on the time and season you come to Callaway Gardens.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Cardinals, Robins, and Woodpeckers are just a few birds that are seen among the azaleas. Great Blue Herons and bluegill can be seen in the lakes and ponds.
Female Water Turtles roam across drier land, trying to find a place to lay their eggs. Fox Squirrels have also been known to be seen at times.
Here’s my video on Wild Animal Safari just a few miles down the road from Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. Visit them while you are at Callaway Gardens!
5. Callaway Discovery Center
The Callaway Discovery Center, a 35,000-square-foot facility is the place you want to start your visit at the Callaway Resort & Gardens.
The main lobby’s informational area is filled with knowledgeable staff capable of answering your questions about Callaway Gardens. Interactive kiosks highlight the history and background of Callaway Gardens.
The Callaway Discovery Center is composed of an auditorium, exhibits, an education wing including a Crawleseum where you can learn about anthropods, reptiles and amphibians. Visit the Discovery Gift Shop and take home that special gift or souvenir. As you exit to the outside of the Center you will enjoy the MEGA BUGS Exhibit, TreeTop Adventure Zip Lines, Vaughn-Jordan Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden, the Discovery Café, and the Discovery Amphitheater. Kids love all these activities!
The TreeTop Adventure Zip Lines is a combination of a Zip Line and an Obstacle Course. They have several courses for different ages. The Sapling Course, (You guessed it!) is for young children; The Discovery Course is a more advanced course and the Lake Course is the most challenging course.
6. Discovery Amphitheater and the Birds of Prey Show
The Discovery Amphitheater hosts the Birds of Prey Show. Here you will see a wide variety of birds including the horned owls and red-tailed hawks.
What is so impressive about the Birds of Prey is that the birds at Callaway arrive to them injured or human imprinted. Human imprinted are birds that have never learned to survive in the wild.
The amazing Birds of Prey Show gives its guests an educational awareness of these spectacular raptors. At the show, you will learn the various bird types and watch them fly. It provides fun for all guests, especially the kids! It is a great way to experience nature, and to gain valuable knowledge of conservation efforts.
The Birds of Prey Show is held several times daily. These educational shows usually last an hour and provide tremendous entertainment for its audience.
7. Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center
Watch 1,000 plus beautiful colorful butterflies representing over 50 species flutter around freely at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, a glass-enclosed conservatory structure lined with abundant beautiful plants.
We enjoyed seeing butterflies of various colors and sizes! I will never forget my experience there! It was my first time ever to visit a Butterfly Center and to learn about them. It was amazing! Just to sit on a bench and watch a massive number of butterflies flying around is an incredible sight. The Butterfly Center not only is educational, but it also makes for a great photo opportunity!
A little history about the name of the Butterfly Center. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is named after the founder of Days Inn of America, Inc. It is reported that startup funding for the butterfly center came from Mrs. Deen Day Sanders, wife of Cecil Day.
The butterfly conservatory is kept at approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a 74% relative humidity, so its kind of hot but not too unpleasant!
Another remarkable thing that I learned is that butterflies are considered to be invasive species. In order to keep them inside the conservatory, they have a machine at each door entry that shoots out inward blasts of air to contain the butterflies and to keep them from escaping.
8. Nature Trails
Callaway Gardens provides miles and miles of winding trails for you to take advantage of in your own special way. There are eight trails that allow you to enjoy seeing the beautiful grounds of Callaway. Trails are open from 9 am until dusk. There are options available for both the experienced and casual hikers and bikers.
Explore the Overlook Azalea Trail for a sublime view of azaleas when in full bloom. This 1.6-mile trail meanders its way through the Overlook Azalea Garden, where you will view gorgeous azaleas with amazing Spring colors and other plants adding their own beauty throughout the year.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail is a 6-mile Wildflower Trail, with many native plants of Georgia.
The Robin Lake Beach Trail is a popular trail among Callaway Gardens guests as it winds its way around Robin Lake. It’s an easy trail to hike and is especially favorable for families with small kids.
The Pine Mountain Trail is a more strenuous and challenging adventure. This trail is almost 23 miles long and can be hiked as a day trip or broken up by backpacking overnight.
Here are some of the biking trails to select from.
The Mountain Creek Bike Trail seems to be a popular choice for more experienced mountain bikers. It offers a more challenging ride through its wooded terrain. It is approximately 9 miles long.
Bikers who prefer a less strenuous and more leisurely ride should consider riding the Discovery Bicycle Trail. It is approximately 10 miles and meanders its way through the gardens and woodlands of Callaway Gardens.
Rent a bike suitable for you. Rental rates vary depending on the type of bike and how long you want to keep it. Locks and helmets are also available for you to rent. An alternative to renting a bike, bring your own and explore the biking trails at your own pace.
Have adequate footwear and clothing when hiking and biking. Have sunscreen and insect repellent. Have with you plenty of water.
9. Water Sports
Callaway Gardens has an abundance of options for water sports. Robin Lake Beach, the world’s largest manmade, white sand beach is a very popular swimming spot. The resort has a selection of paddle boats, kayaks and other watercraft available for rent. Robin Lake Beach has picnic tables, kids’ playground, miniature golf course and much more. Play on Aqua Island, a gigantic floating playground at Robin Lake Beach. Kids love it!
The nearby Mountain Creek Lake is also an awesome spot for boating and fishing. Consult their website for more information on boating and fishing availability.
Here’s a SHORT video on some more water attractions in Destin, Florida! Take a look!
10. Two Championship 18-Hole Golf Courses
I don’t golf but if I did, I would spend most of my morning time at the 18-hole championship courses at Callaway Garden’s Golf Resort. The Mountain View Course is set against the backdrop view of the Appalachian Mountains. The Lake View Course offers a magnificent view of Robin Lake.
11. The Lodge & Spa
We booked our accommodation and stayed at the Lodge. It was everything we imagined and more! The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens is the perfect retreat to unwind amongst the towering pine trees. Boasting 150 guest rooms and suites, the Lodge provides abundant amenities to enjoy. The Lodge gives a high level of service and style and creates a luxury tone that’s truly one-of-a kind.
Overnight guests are entitled to complimentary admission to Callaway Gardens. Golf carts and bicycles are available for rent to create an even more enjoyable experience.
12. The Cottages and Villas
The Cottages and Villas offers more personal accommodation space and privacy for the guest who desires the peaceful serenity of Callaway Gardens.
13. Eat at Numerous Dining Options
Callaway Gardens offers several dining options. Guests can visit the Piedmont Dining Room, which offers a finer dining experience, or The Country Kitchen positioned inside the Country Store offers Southern style cooking. Discovery Café also offers informal dining with a view of Mountain Creek Lake as scenery. The Champions Grille inside the Mountain View Golf Clubhouse, and several quick-service dining and snack options are also available options.
14. The Country Store
Browse the Country Store and enjoy many signature items promoting Callaway Gardens that you can take home as a keepsake. Food items, unique gifts, outdoor gear and golf apparel plus many more specialty items are some of the shopping adventures you will love to browse and experience.
15. Enjoy Amazing Events Throughout the Year
Callaway Gardens schedules multiple events throughout the year which include the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament, and the Hot Air Balloon Labor Day celebration. During Winter plan your trip to observe their annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Fantasy in Lights holiday light display. Seasonal events like Pumpkins at Callaway in the Fall and Blue Morpho Butterfly Month held annually in September are exciting events for any age group but especially for kids. Attend the Butterfly Festival at the Cecil B. Day Tropical Butterfly Conservatory. Visitors from all over come to enjoy and experience the butterflies of Callaway Gardens.
FAQ’S About Callaway Gardens
| FAQ | Answers |
|---|---|
| What is the address of Callaway Gardens? | 17617 US-27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 |
| What is Callaway Gardens phone number? | 1-800-225-5292 |
| What is Callaway Gardens website? | www.callawaygardens.com |
| How much are tickets to Callaway Gardens? | Reach out to their website for current admission prices |
| What are the normal office hours for Callaway Gardens? | 9 am – 5 pm |
| What time is check-in at the front desk? | Guest check-in starts at 4 pm. (Remember Callaway Gardens is on the Eastern Time Zone) |
| What time is check-out at the front desk? | Guests are to check-out by 11 am. (Remember Callaway Gardens is on the Eastern Time Zone) |
| I’m planning my wedding. Does Callaway Gardens have wedding packages? | Yes! Reach out to Callaway’s Wedding Specialist to request more information about their packages. |
| Does Callaway Gardens have packages for social events? | Yes! Callaway Gardens has many venue packages available. Reach out to them for more information. |
| Does Callaway Gardens have special price rates for vacation packages? | Yes! Callaway Gardens has many vacation packages available at special rates! Reach out to them for more information. |
| Does Callaway Gardens have packages for educational events? | Yes! Callaway Gardens offers several educational venue packages. Reach out to them for further information on prices. |
| How far is Callaway Gardens from Atlanta? | Callaway Gardens is about an hour drive going southwest from Atlanta. |
| What are the nearest airports to Callaway Gardens? | Harris County Airport (Private, Business and Recreational aircraft) Cal (706) 663-2281. Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport 60 minutes southwest and Columbus Airport in Columbus, Georgia approximately 34 miles. |
Pack your Bags and Travel to this Awesome Must-See Attraction!
Callaway Gardens is a must-see attraction for anyone looking for a relaxing vacation or weekend getaway. Its stunning natural beauty and amazement, wide range of activities and grand accommodations offers something for everyone. If you are searching for outdoor adventures, nature and wildlife, relaxation in a quiet serene setting, Callaway Gardens is the perfect place to spend some fun time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Callaway Gardens awaits your arrival!
Now don’t forget to check out the two other awesome adventures while enjoying Callaway Gardens! The Wild Animal Safari and the “Little White House” in Warm Springs. VISIT all of these awesome impressive destinations during your travels in Pine Mountain and Warm Springs, Georgia!
As always enjoy yourself and have tons of FUN but most of be safe!
