Supported by a local Friends chapter, this southeast Georgia park is a favorite for picnicking, family reunions and golf. Picnic tables and shelters surround a small lake where visitors can rent pedal boats and fishing boats during warmer months. Docks are available for anglers, and children will enjoy looking for beaver dams from the observation deck. Five rental cottages face the golf course, all with screened porches, fireplaces and televisions. Gordonia-Alatamaha’s unusual name comes from the rare Gordonia tree – a member of the bay family that once grew in the park – and the original spelling of the nearby Altamaha River. The park’s Brazell’s Creek Golf Course offers a pro shop and junior/senior discounts. The course was expanded to18-holes a few years ago, making it a challenging yet fun test of golf. The Par 71 layout plays to just under 7,000 yards from the tips, boasting five sets of tees. The signature 15th hole is a 207-yard Par 3, which plays over scenic wetlands to a large island green. A 1,500-yard winding bridge connects the original holes with the back nine.
