Life on Paws and Wheels

Simba and I visited the Smallest Church in America in Townsend, Georgia , a tiny roadside chapel tucked among the trees along U.S. Highway 17. Officially known as Christ’s Chapel in Memory Park , the little church measures only about 10 feet by 15 feet, yet it has welcomed travelers searching for a quiet place to rest, reflect, and pray for generations. What makes this roadside landmark especially interesting isn't simply its miniature size. The chapel was created by a local woman who wanted travelers of every denomination to have a peaceful place of worship, reportedly deeded the property to Jesus Christ, and inspired a community to rebuild the church after an arsonist destroyed the original structure more than six decades later. ⛪ A Tiny Church Along U.S. Highway 17 Driving along coastal Georgia's U.S. Highway 17, it would be easy to pass the Smallest Church in America without realizing what's hidden among the trees. From the road, the white chapel looks almost like a min...

Simba and I visited the Ruins of Sir Goony's Golf Castle in Hinesville, Georgia , where the crumbling remains of a bizarre 1970s miniature golf course are slowly disappearing beneath trees, vines, weeds, and decades of decay. What was once designed as a colorful fantasy attraction filled with whimsical obstacles now resembles a tiny abandoned kingdom being reclaimed by the woods. There's something especially strange about abandoned amusement attractions. Castles, oversized characters, windmills, and other structures were originally created for one purpose — to be fun. Once the crowds disappear and nature begins taking over, those same cheerful creations can become surprisingly eerie. The remains of Sir Goony's Golf Castle are a perfect example. ⛳ The Era of Elaborate Miniature Golf Miniature golf had been popular in America for decades before Sir Goony Golf appeared, but the roadside entertainment boom of the mid-20th century took the concept in increasingly elaborate direc...

Simba and I visited the McIntosh Sugar Mill Tabby Ruins in Saint Marys, Georgia , where enormous oyster-shell-filled walls are all that remain of an early 19th-century sugar-processing complex at New Canaan Plantation. Hidden among the trees, the towering ruins are both an impressive example of historic coastal construction and a surviving reminder of the plantation economy that once operated here. At first glance, the structure looks ancient enough to be the remains of a Spanish colonial building. In fact, that mistaken identity followed the ruins for years. Archaeological research eventually established their true history as part of a massive sugarworks constructed during the 1820s by plantation owner John Houstoun McIntosh. 🌾 New Canaan Plantation John Houstoun McIntosh established New Canaan Plantation in Camden County and began cultivating sugar cane during the 1820s. Sugar was a potentially lucrative crop, but turning harvested cane into usable sugar required specialized equipm...

Simba and I visited the USS George Bancroft (SSBN-643) Sail Exhibit in Saint Marys, Georgia — an incredible Cold War memorial built around an actual surviving piece of one of the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. At first glance, it looks like a submarine is literally surfacing through the grass . A long black hull rises from the ground with a genuine submarine sail standing in the center. But beneath the simulated hull isn't a complete submarine. The sail is the real thing. It once stood atop the USS George Bancroft , a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine that spent more than 27 years helping maintain America's sea-based nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. ⚓ USS George Bancroft SSBN-643 USS George Bancroft was constructed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Her keel was laid in 1963, she was launched in 1965, and the submarine officially entered service on January 22, 1966 . At approximately 425 feet long, ...

Simba and I visited and walked the Tilden L. Norris Marshwalk and Shelter in Saint Marys, Georgia — a peaceful wooden walkway that carries visitors directly into the expansive salt marshes that define so much of Georgia’s beautiful southern coastline. Located just outside historic downtown St. Marys, the marshwalk offers a completely different experience from the nearby historic streets and busy waterfront. Instead of buildings, boats, and shops, you're surrounded by marsh grasses, tidal wetlands, coastal wildlife, and wide-open views. It's a simple attraction, but that's exactly what makes it special. 🌾 Walking Directly Into the Marsh Many coastal overlooks allow you to see a salt marsh from a distance. The Tilden L. Norris Marshwalk lets you actually walk into one. The elevated wooden walkway stretches above the marsh grasses and wetlands, providing an up-close perspective of an ecosystem that would otherwise be difficult to explore on foot. As Simba and I made our way ...