Plan to take part in The Leukemia Cup “Run for Jane,” a 5K Run/Walk and FREE Kids Run held in conjunction with the 2012 St. Joseph’s/Candler Leukemia Cup Regatta Weekend of Events.

This run is the only Savannah run that takes place in a National Park.

It is named in honor of Dr. Jane Philbrick, who is well described by Mr. Paul Hinchey as being a, “very well known educator here in Savannah and a strong community supporter. She was a remarkable person, a consummate professional and had a heart of gold.” The Leukemia Cup is a community coming together through a series of sporting events to help fight leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers, coordinated by the members of the Savannah Yacht Club. The Leukemia Cup Includes: 5K Run / Walk, golf, junior fishing, in-shore fishing, tennis, sailing,  black-tie dinner & auction and a Luau for Leukemia. In 1997,The Leukemia Cup began as a Sailing Regatta and has since emerged as a premier series of sporting events benefiting the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Leukemia Cup Run for Jane 5K & Fun Walk
Fort Pulaski
8:30 AM Saturday September 1
Kid’s Run at 8:15 AM
Register at Fleet Feet
Please Make Checks Payable to: LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
Registration Fees
$28 until August 1
$32 until August 31st
$35 Race Day – September 1st
Kiddie Run – FREE
Packet Pick-Up
Fleet Feet Sports Savannah
Friday August 31st
10am – 6pm

Savannah’s Rails to Trails  – a 6 mile biking/walking/jogging trail along the Savannah River – is eroding. The west end is so bad that it is almost impassable in some areas.

If you want this trail to be there in the future for your kids to enjoy, please like Save our Rails to Trails Savannah Facebook page here to find out how you can help. The mission of Save our Rails to Trails Savannah Facebook pg is to bring awareness to the deteriorating conditions of Rails to Trails & get it restored.

Rails to Trails is along Hwy 80 East on your way to Tybee. The main entrance is just past the Bull River Bridge coming off the islands (Whitemarsh, Talahi & Wilmington). Rails To Trails is known on maps as “McQueen’s Trail” & “McQueen’s Island”. The other entrance is immediately left upon turning into Fort Pulaski.

Volunteers working to save Rails to Trails plan to have workdays once a month. Stay updated about the clean-ups & other ways to help (fundraising, etc) by liking their page here.

“First Day Hikes” Help Start the New Year with a Healthy Heart

Georgia’s State Parks host 12 New Year’s Day Hikes across the state, inviting families and friends to start the New Year with a “First Day Hike” and a commitment to healthy living.

In Georgia, a dozen state parks have planned guided hikes where people can connect with nature and even re-connect with each other. The nationwide event is sponsored by America’s State Parks, with New Year’s Day hikes being led in all 50 states.

Kicking off the New Year with an invigorating hike fits into the mission of the Georgia State Parks Tons of Fun Initiative: to encourage citizens to lead healthier lifestyles through outdoor recreation. The TonsofFun.org website includes exercise ideas, healthy recipes, nutritionist and personal trainer advice, and more.

A list of all ranger-led hikes on New Year’s Day can be found here, and the entire calendar of events can be found at GeorgiaStateParks.org/Events. Families may want to call ahead to make sure hikes are suitable for the youngest family members.

To see the various First-Day Hikes in Georgia’s State Parks held on New Year’s Day 2012, click here.

Fall means time to explore Georgia State Parks.

Start planning your leaves-changing getaway by checking out  got all September & October 2011 events happening at state parks and historic spots across the state. The events are listed on the SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page here.

Gorge hikes, group hayrides, outdoor music festivals, full moon hikes & more.

To find out state park event details, visit the new SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking here.

Free kid-friendly structured activities are regularly held at the park. For a complete listing of September 2011 Free Skidaway Island State Park Kid-Friendly Events, visit our new Skidaway State Park children’s activities page by clicking here.

The park’s Interpretive Center (i.e. Nature Center) is surrounded by easy hiking trails including the 1-mile Avian Loop Trail, 1-mile Sandpiper Trail Loop, and the 3-mile Big Ferry Trail Loop.

The Interpretive Center includes a display of the Giant Ground Sloth replica (pictured here); wildlife exhibits; live reptiles including a terrapin turtle; and birding station.

Interpretive Center hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 AM-5 PM at Skidaway Island State Park. Cost: $5 for parking.
52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, 31411, 912-598-2300, http://www.gastateparks.org/SkidawayIsland

The hot weather will subside someday. We promise.

And when it does, you want to be ready to explore Georgia State Parks. We’ve got all the info on September events happening a state parks and historic spots across the state. Gorge hikes, group hayrides, outdoor music festivals, full moon hikes, Labor Day festivities, butterfly safari, fishing rodeos, even a couple of special days when you can actually swim in the waters at Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic Site in Warm Springs, Ga. (which are normally kept empty for preservation).

To find out details about all that and more, visit the new SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking here. You can also find it listed as Georgia State Park Events on our home page left sidebar under Pages.