The Best Place EVER For Giraffe Lovers!

The very best place I have ever found to see giraffes up close and personal, and to feed them, is the Wild Adventures Water and Theme Park located at 3766 Old Clyattville Road, in Valdosta, Georgia. We went to Valdosta in May of 2006 for two reasons, one was to see this beautiful theme park - I had heard great things about the animal experiences you could have there. And the second reason was to see Alan Jackson, he was playing a concert at the amphitheater there.

Wild Adventures theme park is a 170 acre theme park located in Valdosta, Georgia, which is just a few miles from the Florida state line. In addition to the animal attractions, there are a lot of water rides, as well as an abundance of roller coasters! Since Grandma doesn't DO roller coasters, oh wait... I wasn't a Grandma back then, but I still don't do roller coasters! The animals were one of the biggest attractions there for me. There is a VERY nice train that you can ride around the park, and while we were waiting in line to ride this train, I spoke to one of the nicest ladies I had ever met who proceeded to tell me the history of Georgia, starting back in the plantation days... it was a fascinating experience in every way! And WOW, did the wait in line for that train ever go fast!

Now there is NO way I'm going to try to say which was more fun that day - seeing the Giraffes or seeing Alan Jackson... but I will say that the experience of getting up close and being able to feed these beautiful giraffes was an absolutely wonderful experience! When you feed them there, you are given handfuls of carrots which brings the giraffes right over to you. The tall one is named Bongo, and I cannot recall the little ones name but he was absolutely adorable as well. Friendly, cute and VERY tall (Bongo, I was told, is over 16 1/2 FEET tall!)

But then, ALAN Jackson is also friendly, cute and very tall! Oh, don't make me choose which was more fun! We thoroughly enjoyed our day at this park. It is well worth checking out if you are ever going to be near Valdosta, Georgia. Kids as well as adults will enjoy the water attractions, as well as the animal exhibits and rides. A fun way to spend a summer day!

On our way back to Atlanta, we went through some very small Georgia towns, and we happened to get just in front of a CONVOY of soldiers from the 108^th Calvary who were returning home from Iraq! Just to be going through these very small towns and seeing all the people who came out wearing red, white and blue, waving flags, and sitting in lawn chairs waiting for the soldiers to drive by… holding signs that said “Welcome Home” and “THANK YOU”… that was so uplifting and special. Small town Georgia is filled with history, patriotism, and just good country people.