Autumn Trails and Wagging Tails: My Fall Trip to Kingsland
Last October, my Georgia road adventure led me to a little town in Southeast Georgia called Kingsland. It had been recommended to me as a chill, scenic place with plenty of nature, and pretty dog-friendly (to Roxy’s delight). Roxy has been enjoying an autumn adventure too, so I loaded her up and we headed out with some ideas of activities to check out, while keeping plans flexible. In my experience, the locals always know the best spots, and chatting with them is a great way to get to know a place and what’s really worth spending time and money on. Kingsland ended up being a real hidden gem and perfect for exploring in cooler weather!
Where to start? There’s a lot of pet-friendly hotels in the area, so finding a good spot was no problem. We set up home at a pet-friendly hotel that is pretty centrally located, and I could use my military discount for an even better deal. I was going to get an early start but went ahead and got into town just in time for check-in so we could get settled and then adventure out in the evening.
I’m a bit of a foodie, and I was really fortunate to find some local spots that were dog-friendly so that Roxy wouldn’t have to wait at the hotel or car. She’s probably more social than me, so she loves getting pets (and fries)! In the mornings we stopped by Blue Ridge Coffee for cold brew and a lox bagel or egg bites to get the day started. We also visited The Espresso Base, a cute and cozy spot for breakfast and lunch, where I picked up a customized iced energy drink and sandwich while Roxy sniffed around and visited with the sweet owner and team.Â
Depending on the day, I’d either dine in or pick up something to park and eat or take back to the hotel. One of my new favorites is Outerbanks Bar & Grill (OBX), a local dive bar with a great relaxed feel and good food. I tried to try different things each time I went, but ended up getting their frips (fried chips covered in a blue cheese sauce, bacon, chives, and balsamic reduction drizzle) to start every time.
We meandered over to Historic Downtown Kingsland for an evening stroll to get a feel for the place and some recs on activities. It was absolutely dreamy, with red brick sidewalks and antique streetlights lighting up the storefronts and roads. There were some really cute stores and plenty of antiquing spots that I was definitely going to check out before the end of my stay.
There was so much to explore that I considered extending my visit! I would definitely suggest planning to be in and around Kingsland for at least 3-5 days to really be able to at least scratch the surface; if not a whole week, like for an extended Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday, or summer vacation.Â
Within Kingsland, some of my favorite spots ended up being Veterans Memorial Park and Gum Branch Nature Preserve, which were excellent options for getting some nature without even leaving the town. I like to ease into new places, so those are great options if you do, too. Once we were confident (and well-fed), Roxy and I headed to more adventurous recommendations.
Nearby Crooked River State Park is absolutely breathtaking, with trails that snake through marsh and forest as well as access to the River. After exploring on land for a bit, I got my canoe down from the car and we took to the crisp water of the river. Roxy is nearly as much of a paddling pro as me, and with lifejackets on, we set out and had the most refreshing adventure with picture-perfect views, including spotting wildlife like ospreys and wood storks, and I even got a look of a deer peeking out of the trees on the shore as we paddled by its spot. Fiddler crabs scurried away when I unloaded and loaded my canoe, probably hoping I wasn’t one of the local egrets looking for a meal. Fortunately, Roxy kept her nose away from their quick pincers, more interested in small birds hopping around nearby and chirping up a storm.
Over in St. Marys, we lunched on the patio at The Firefly Taco Cantina, where I filled up on tacos and margaritas, until I thought I might burst. Of course, I managed to save some room somehow for a sweet treat I finished while Roxy made friends with some fellow visitors who had RV’d all the way down from Canada to enjoy more comfortable weather for winter. And it definitely was comfortable–perfect for keeping both me and Roxy cool while exploring trails and paddling the rivers, as well as taking breaks to rest in the car with the windows down, listening to wildlife and the wind in the autumnal trees.
Along with Crooked River, another must-visit while in the area is Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It’s one of the largest refuges in America, so you’ll definitely need plenty of time to explore its trails and waterways. Here I just kept Roxy on trails, trekking through the beautiful swamp island drive and spotting wildlife like a curious raccoon, turtles resting on logs, and bird species even I didn’t know the names of but knew they were stunning.
I planned a guided tour on the water with Okfenenokee Adventures for myself and came back for that the next day so that I could experience the Swamp from another angle. The boat tour was led by an experienced and enjoyable guide who knew so much about the swamp, its history, and animals. It was definitely worth it to carve out the time for a guided tour, and much easier to get good pictures than from the a kayak, or have to worry about dropping my camera in the water. The skiff was a smooth ride, and I was able to fully enjoy and experience the sights and sounds of the swamp, like playful otters and red-shouldered hawks. I didn’t see any deer on that trip, but it is common to see them amongst the trees. I was told that sometimes even bears, bobcats, or entire groups of gators can be spotted with luck! Gators aren’t as active as usual in the winter, so I’ll definitely be back to check them out in the spring or summer.
It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Kingsland and start planning my next visit before I even left! Full of small-town charm and gorgeous nature, I really enjoyed my autumn visit, and will be back to experience the town and nature in warmer months when flowers are blooming and even more wildlife is emerging. It’s definitely a great place to escape the frigid north during fall and winter, cozying up with warm hot chocolate and fresh dishes at local restaurants, then getting your temperature up exploring trails and canoeing or kayaking. Until next season, Kingsland!
