(Photo) Collage of images from Callaway Gardens.

Piece 1: Callaway Gardens. Callaway Gardens is beautiful 2500-acre resort property nestled within the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Pine Mountain GA. It was founded by Cason Callaway, a successful textile magnate from LaGrange GA, and his wife Virginia in 1952 as a way to share their love of nature with friends and family.

The property features a diverse collection of trees, including over 700 varieties of azalea. There is also a significant display of pines, some of which have been part of the landscape since the 1950s.

Visitors to Callaway will find an impressive network of paved trails that wind through scenic areas. The gentle grades of the pathways make them appropriate for leisurely biking and walking, and accessible to those with mobility challenges.

Overnight guests have a variety of options at Callaway, and we recommend the Southern Pine Cottages, which are available in one and two-bedroom layouts and include a living room fireplace.

A highlight of any trip to Callaway Gardens is the Birds of Prey raptor show at the Discovery Amphitheater. This exciting and educational experience features hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures in a free flight program.

During the holiday season, Callaway visitors can drive through a seven-mile display of lights and decorations. There is also a walkthrough Christmas Village adventure.

View inside the Day Butterfly Center

Piece 2: Cecil B. Day Butterfly House. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly House, one of North America’s largest tropical butterfly conservatories, is a popular attraction located within Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain GA.

A paved pedestrian pathway winds through the glass-enclosed habitat, where visitors encounter 1,000 or more butterflies representing dozens of species from around the world; including Monarchs, Swallowtails, Blue Morphos, and Glasswings.

The butterfly house is also home to several hundred varieties of tropical plants, which are sources of nourishment for the colorful winged insects residing inside.

Cecil B. Day visitors can take advantage of guided tours through the facility, educational programming on the lifecycle of butterflies, and gardening tips to attract more butterflies and pollinators to their own properties.

View of Roosevelt’s Little White House

Piece 3: Roosevelt’s Little White House. In 1921, prominent political figure Franklin Delano Roosevelt (commonly known as FDR) was diagnosed with infantile paralysis (or polio). At that time, polio had no known cure and often resulted in full or partial paralysis and the progressive erosion of one’s motor skills.

FDR learned that the little resort town of Warm Springs GA had naturally hot mineral springs, and began going there in 1924 for therapeutic baths to treat his condition. In 1932, he began building a vacation cottage in Warm Springs as he started his campaign for the presidency of the United States. After he won the election, his Warm Springs home became known as “The Little White House.”

The Little White House provided FDR a relaxing alternative to his Washington D.C. office and a therapeutic retreat to help preserve his strength and mobility. FDR died at his beloved Warm Springs cottage in April of 1945, at the age of 63, and the property was opened to the public as a museum in 1948.

The rooms of the Little White House are meticulously preserved and adorned with period furniture and decor. Visitors can see FDR’s bedroom, where he often labored over important speeches and decisions that shaped U.S. history.

The state of Georgia has committed resources and expertise toward the preservation of the Little White House and its associated facilities (such as the therapeutic bathing pools), with a focus on maintaining historical accuracy and enhancing the visitor experience.

CLICK on the Facebook logo below to visit the 3 Piece Trips Facebook Page now!