Fantasy in Lights | Callaway Gardens, Ga

Even though we chose not to do any decorating ourselves, I still really enjoy and appreciate when other people put forth the effort to do so. And just because I didn't spend the time to festively decorate our home for the holidays doesn't mean that I'm a scrooge. In fact, I love Christmas!

I fondly remember riding around as a kid through the neighborhoods that went all-out with the decorative holiday light displays. There was a street where all the houses donned lights, it was my favorite because no dwelling was left undecorated. As a kid, seeing those lights were magical. 

I'd be lying if I said that it still didn't give me the same giddy feeling now that it did back then. It's the one holiday tradition - if you can call it that – that has stuck with me throughout the years.  It's sort of a guilty pleasure of mine because, as an adult, I know that it's an impractical use of power and that it's a waste of electricity (depending on who you ask). But I can't help it; I blame the fact that I'm such a sucker for sparklies on my childhood.

There isn't one place that I return to annually for my Christmas light show fix because it loosely depends on where we are and when we'll have time. A couple of weekends ago we attempted to make plans with some of our friends to visit McAdenville (Christmastown USA) to tour their illuminated town. However, the weather conditions prevented us from actually doing so, which was a bummer - maybe next year.

Last year, Cody and I decided to go stay at Callaway Gardens after spending Christmas in Georgia with his family. We opted for a holiday package that included an overnight stay at the Mountain Creek Inn with admission to the gardens and two tickets for the Fantasy in Lights show they put on at night during the holiday season. Oh, yeah, and we can't forget the free buffet breakfast :D

We arrived in the evening with a little extra time to relax in our comfy room before heading over to see Callaway Gardens covered in lights. It was a good thing that we waited to go later, too, because the bumper-to-bumper traffic we saw clogging up the entrance earlier was gone by the time we got there. Parking, on the other hand, was an utter disaster but we found an open spot despite the confusion from parking attendants.

There were a couple of ways that you could work your way through the 5 mile long light and sound show. You could drive your own vehicle, which would be nowhere near as fun if you're the driver, or you could hitch a ride on one of the open-air trolleys with the other guests. Despite the cold temperature, the latter was a lot more appealing to me because I didn't want to get stuck driving. I planned on rubbernecking and I didn't want to be responsible for a collision! Needless to say, hopping on the trolley was a wise decision.

Fantasy in Lights debuted in 1992, and in its 18th year it still continues to mesmerize thousands of children (and adults) with more than 8 million twinkling lights illuminating Callaway Gardens' wooded landscape. An already idyllic setting is transformed into a holiday light and sound show extravaganza by nightfall for a visual experience that will infuse you with an extra dose of holiday spirit.

Popular Christmas carols were broadcasted over speakers that matched the theme of the larger-than-life lighted scenes displayed throughout. Although I was hesitant to do so at first, I found myself singing along with the other riders before I realized what happened. You know how infectious those holiday songs can be. Plus, I'm a dork for sing-a-longs with large groups of people :D

There were times, though, when the amazement could be heard over the music in the form of oohs and ahhs. The most spectacular displays were just simple tunnels of lights with sparkling strings hanging above head, like Snowflake Valley and the Enchanted Rainbow Forest.

I feel slightly fruity admitting that those were my favorites, but they were magnificent. However, not all the displays were the most well-designed or exciting. Some of them were kind of lame, actually, but they were still entertaining. If anything, it was a fun way to spend time with the people you love during the holidays that is out of the ordinary.

I'm really hoping that there is still time to experience another Fantasy in Lights display of some sort before the holidays are behind us. With all the festive light shows around us in NC, we shouldn't have any trouble accomplishing that. But there isn't much time left, though, so I better get on the ball!

What tradition will your family be continuing during the holiday season? 

Related Links:

•  A Hint of Spring in the Dead on Winter (Previous Callaway Gardens Post)
• Callaway Gardens Website - www.callawaygardens.com
• Find WW on Facebook!

A Hint of Spring in the Dead of Winter

I'm sitting here staring out my dining room windows to see a scene engulfed by white-out conditions. The tree-lined road and our closest neighbor have all seemed to vanish, the wind gusts of up to 70mph are rocking this rickety cottage to its core. But, it's beautiful. And for once, I can say that I've endured a "real" winter! Even though I feel like we're in the home stretch, I know that this is far from being behind us though.

Since I have this unexpected snow day, I figured that I would share with you the last real outing that Cody and I have been on. You'd think that I would have more time to blog about things since we really haven't been anywhere lately, but I can't seem to fit it in when I have free time. Truth be told, it's really because I haven't made time for it, that if I really wanted to, I'd find a way to make it happen, right?!?!

Nonetheless, I have enjoyed this extra snowy winter, although at times I have still found myself dreaming about that first taste of spring. Oh, how sweet it will be! Until then, I have to satiate this longing with scenes and things that only resemble what is just out of reach. The fastest and easiest way to trick my brain is to start digging in my archives to find samplings of whatever escape is on my mind. That's what prompted me to tell you about the most recent trip Cody and I took to Callaway Gardens in Georgia.



Now, the last place you'd think to go in the dead of winter would be a garden, but I'll tell you right now that you may be pleasantly surprised at what some of them may still have to offer during these cold, hard months. At other times of the year, Callaway Gardens is a place where you can almost endlessly explore the natural environment by doing hikes and such because it's so huge, but the winter months are an ideal time for visiting more of the indoor attractions. And since we only had a limited amount of time there (just one day) we chose to hit those popular targets first.



Naturally, we ventured to the "Discovery Center" first, which is the equivalent of a visitor center - they just wanted to give it a fancy name. From this very busy epicenter you can easily find an overview of everything you can do during your day at the gardens. I found the staff to be extremely pleasant and helpful. They even offered a suggestion that led us to the first attraction of the day. But to kill some time before the suggested show, we walked around the lake and checked out the exhibits currently on display.

After puttering around we made our way to the amphitheater to see the upcoming Birds of Prey show. We witnessed the typical feathery creatures that most people can easily identify, such as an eagle, falcon and an owl. Fascinating stuff, those birds. I've been to a falconry show before, but this one was different in that these birds were flying from the front to the back while swooping down closely overhead. I couldn't help but wonder if a sharp talon has ever snagged an unsuspecting spectator; this thought caused a slight amount of concern. It was sort of scary, but mostly awesome :D



The next stop was the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, which for obvious reasons made me the most excited. I mean, come on, butterflies contained in a space where pictures could 'easily' be taken! Woot! The thought of a glass-encased conservatory with over 1,000 butterflies fluttering freely thrills me to no end. One thing I didn't expect, though, was how stiflingly hot it would be once inside the structure. It was seriously like stepping into a sauna.

I quickly stripped my jacket and left it near the front doors, so that I could walk around unencumbered. I was also surprised that I wasn't immediately swarmed by the many residents said to be housed inside. It appears as though that number doesn't look nearly as impressive when there are so many nooks and crannies for these sneaky little buggers to be hiding. They were super skilled at eluding the camera wielding crazies cluttering the walkways.



At times, you'd have to almost wait in line to take a shot or two. And you were lucky if it was still even sitting there by the time it was your turn. It's safe to say that the people to visible butterfly ratio was severely imbalanced. I walked around the conservatory at least 3 times in hopes that I would find one perfectly perched upon one of the many tropical blooms, but this didn't really happen as often as I envisioned. Oh well, the sweat sacrificed was worth the few glimpses we did encounter.



Dying to cool down, I really wanted to bathe in the cold air once we finally made it back outside -- that place was ridiculously hot! The last attraction of the day was way less likely to induce a heatstroke as it was somewhat open to the outdoors. The John A. Sibley Horticultural Center consisted of many different areas that spans over five acres. Amongst the greenhouses were a wide variety of both native and exotic species of plants.



As you explore, you will find many grand displays housed within the walls of this structure. The most eye-catching of these is the 22 foot waterfall towering above head. The seasonal poinsettia display was also one of oversized proportions as the extremely colorful and larger-than-life Christmas tree dwarfed anyone who went near it. Apparently, things change in there at least 8 times a year, so you might get to see some other equally opulent display depending on when you go.



These indoor, wintertime-friendly attractions are only a small sampling of all that Callaway Gardens has to offer. I hope that we can go back during the spring or fall one of these days to experience more of the outdoor landscape, because it is truly a beautiful place.

Alright, I know that not all of us are fantasizing about spring, ready to bid winter farewell, but those of you who are, I'm wondering if you've seen any early signs of spring yet? Or, is there anything exciting on the horizon when the first inkling of spring decides to show? Please share :D

Currently, I am eagerly anticipating an upcoming trip to the island of Puerto Rico - I know, it's more summery than springy, but still! 9 days to go...

~Callaway Gardens Website