Why Okefenokee Swamp Should Be on Your Family’s Travel Itinerary

A swamp may not be the first place you think of when planning your family’s next vacation itinerary, but if that swamp is Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, then it definitely should be.

The refuge, nominated for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage site, spans more than 400,000 acres in southeastern Georgia and is home to beautiful landscapes and a great family-friendly wildlife program. Threatened and endangered species like the wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker and indigo snake call the area home, along with sandhill cranes, red-shouldered hawks, gopher tortoises and Florida softshell turtles.

The Okefenokee NWR was originally established as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds, but it is also home to an impressive amphibian population, especially important because the health of the amphibious creatures living in this delicate ecosystem are considered a bio-indicator of global health.

This gives parents the chance to teach kids about ecotourism at both a local and global level, all while exploring Georgia’s beautiful wilderness. It is also a great place to see one of America’s most iconic wildlife species, the American alligator. Okefenokee is home to approximately 15,000 of these formidable creatures, and viewing them from a safe distance in their natural habitat can be life changing, especially for children and teens who live in big cities and don’t have experience with these types of wildlife species.

Family’s visiting the refuge shouldn’t miss Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, where they can not only learn about the park’s ecosystem and how it works together, but also how it reflects the larger world around us. At the visitor center, you can also learn what recreational opportunities are available to participate in during your visit, how to stay safe while exploring the refuge, and how to make sure your visit leaves no trace on the land and animals that call it home.

It isn’t just wildlife that captivates visitors to this beautiful refuge, it is also the cultural history of the area. A visit to Okefenokee is a great way to teach kids about the history of our country and the peoples who settled it, especially those who once made their home in the swap and depended on it for survival.

The refuge is open daily from just before sun up until 7:30 p.m. during the summer (5:30 p.m. during the winter), and the Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children, teens and parents can choose how to spend their time, whether hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, taking a guided boat tour or simply enjoying the opportunity to view the local wildlife. The lessons learned from a visit to Okefenokee Swamp will last as long as the memories made from exploring it as a family.