Tag: nature

Under the Sea

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the ocean. It has more moods than most humans and although it is eons old, it can drown you with vigor.

This is why I spent my recent birthday (December 21st) at the Georgia Aquarium. Admission is free on your birthday, and while I didn’t attend any shows, I did see several denizens of the deep, including the Aquarium’s most famous resident, a whale shark that has resided in Atlanta for 18 years.

(Shark swimming, photo by me)

(seals)

Whale sharks are the largest extant fish species and, fittingly, the Georgia Aquarium is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere with over 11 million gallons of fresh and salt water tanks and over 500 species of fish and aquatic mammals, including hammerhead sharks, beluga whales, and manta rays.

(Japanese sea nettle)

(reef fishes near a fake shipwreck)

The Aquarium is located near Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, near the World of Coca-Cola. Its main purpose is to encourage marine literacy (if that’s a thing) and conservation efforts. It’s also open 365 days a year.

(Whale shark in the background)

The views here remind me of Captain Nemo’s words in the 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: “See how peaceful it is here.”

(Leopard shark)

There are presentations involving sea lions (see picture above) and bottlenose dolphins in addition to a touch tank with quiet, gliding stingrays that feel like velvet when you pet them.

(bottlenose dolphin)

(beluga whale watching)

Admission is normally $59 and parking nearby is around $20, but spending the afternoon in the company of such beautiful creatures is priceless. 


Ellijay Apple Festival

If you’re heading to Ellijay this weekend or the next for the annual Georgia Apple Festival, here are a couple of things you should know.

The traffic situation can be ungodly. Ellijay and Gilmer County as a whole have grown so much, but the roads haven’t kept up the pace. The main roads you’ll need to get to the festival are Highway 52, Highway 515, and Big Creek. These are the main roads to and from Ellijay and out to the more rural areas and apple houses.

While you’re there support Ellijay’s local businesses. The historical district is known to the locals as “the square”. There is a wonderful cigar lounge that has great staff, a winery, a rooftop restaurant that has pet-friendly outdoor dining, a chocolate store, and an antique shop.  Check them out when you’re done in the orchards. Past the public safety building and schools, you’ll find Mr. P’s, a nice restaurant famous for its custard. If you want to head out, there’s a nearby mushroom farm (you’ll want to use GPS). 

You should also enjoy a visit to Green Willow Soap Shop if you’re into self-care. Everything is made in the store and it smells heavenly.

The actual festival is only held on Saturday and Sunday, but the orchards are open during the week. If you go, stay safe and have a beautiful day!

(Photo courtesy of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce)

St. Simon’s Island – a beautiful place to spend a weekend

It’s summer and everyone, it seems, is headed to the beach.

Make your reservations at Ocean Inn & Suites, where you’ll be about half a block from the beach. Pack plenty of sunscreen, a towel, and a calm attitude. You’ll also be close to the pier, the lighthouse, and all the tourist-y areas they encompass.

Massengale Park also has a nice beach.  If you do choose to climb the lighthouse, there is a combination ticket you can buy for the WWII Homefront Museum.  You can also tour Fort Frederica.  The Avenue of the Oaks makes for a beautiful photo setting.   If you don’t want to drive much (and who does, on vacation?), you can rent bikes and ride all over the island.  There’s even a trolley tour of the island. 

For meals, check out Southern Soul BBQ and Frosty’s Griddle & Shake. Also check out Barbara Jean’s. East Beach (Coast Guard station) has a concession stand.  Look for the carts from Sunset Slush when on the beach.  Brogen’s (by the pier) is also good.  Mullet Bay is a good seaford choice with plenty of outdoor seating.

(Some of the menu selections at Barbara Jean’s)

Jekyll Island is nearby with beautiful large pieces of driftwood that make for a magical photo op.

On your way back home, stop in Brunswick at Silver Bluff Brewery for beers before heading to Reid’s Apothecary for a good meal.

The healing power of trees

The Lorax famously spoke for the trees, and I wanted to share some information from a fascinating book I’m reading entitled “Forest Bathing: The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku” by Dr. Qing Li.

For centuries people have found restfulness and a sense of oneness with the universe from being in nature.  Poems and songs have been written, and the entire foundation of some companies like REI is to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. 

Stress inhibits immune function and, because of this, we tend to fall ill frequently if we cannot get away from our stressors (work, school, other people, etc.) One of the ways the health of the immune system is tested is by looking at the activity of natural killer (NK) cells.  They are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that can attack and kill unwanted cells, which they do with the assistance of some proteins such as perforin, granulysin, and granzymes.  People with higher NK activity show lower incidence rates of cancer and other diseases.

Dr. Li discovered that after only three days and two nights in a forest, NK cell activity improved from 17.3% to 26.5%; NK cell numbers went up from 440 to 661 (a 50% increase!).  Dr. Li also writes that “the results showed that natural killer activity and the number of natural killer cells were significantly increased after forest bathing and that this effect lasted not just for seven days but for as long as thirty days.”

I’ve posted on this blog about hikes in and around Georgia, and I wanted to also share areas for forest bathing in and around the metro Atlanta area:

  • Check out the trails off Clifton Road at Emory University and Lullwater Preserve when studying for finals or just needing some time away from the office.  
  • There’s also Hundred Acre Farm in Madison, GA as well as multiple state parks including those near lakes or waterfalls.  
  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest has miles of trails and wooded areas to explore and enjoy.

Renewal by Nature can set up a private or group walk for you and your friends and family.