Southern Camping Trip 2024 / Day 12

 St. Mary's KOA Campground

St. Mary's, Georgia

February 11, 2024

Look who welcomed me to Georgia.

A new friend in Georgia.

Marc- Today was a major travel day from the northern end of South Carolina to the Southern end of Georgia.  We followed the 2 hour driving shifts and neither of us were tired out upon arrival.  The KOA campground is ok.  St. Mary's is a beautiful small town with classic Southern architecture from Sea Captain homes, plantation owners homes and colonial styled shops.  The village waterfront Parks are impressive with working fountains, bandstand, gazebos and playgrounds. 

We checked into the National Park Visitor's Center to verify our crossing and tour of Cumberland Island for tomorrow.  The Ranger suggested that we see the National Park Museum in town as a preview to the Island.  The Museum did not disappoint with displays of native peoples, the various colonial peoples and finally the Carnegie Family and the present inhabitants.  Our last visit of the day involved the nearby Crooked River State Park.  It became immediately clear that this State Park (on the Crooked River) was a much better deal than the KOA (adjacent to Route 95).  There are excellent campsites among the pines as well as hiking trails, cabins, a launching ramp and even a miniature golf.

Who better to welcome us to St. Mary's than St. Mary.

Beautiful waterfront Park on the St. Mary's River.

Even a tide clock.

Colonial home with orange trees.

Newly completed public marina.

We will be visiting this shop for sure.

And then there was the Superbowl.

Proof that we are in Georgia.