Peak of Azaleas has Arrived!‏

Spread the word! The azaleas are blooming! Perfect timing for most families to enjoy during Spring Break!


Don't miss this amazing display of color that happens only a few weeks each year. The Overlook Azalea Garden is expected to be at peak bloom this weekend and into next week! The Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl is quickly progressing toward its peak.


In addition, native azaleas, dogwoods, silverbells, sweetshrub, red buckeye, early spring wildflowers and more are in bloom as well.


Celebrate Spring! is now through April 29, 2011. Special event admission is $25 per adult; $12.50 per child age six to 12; children five and under are admitted for free. Callaway Gardens Annual Passholders are admitted for free. Military (active and retired with valid ID) are admitted for half-price during Celebrate Spring!

The Gardens are open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overnight packages are available. Weekends are filled with fun, family activities.

For more information, contact Callaway Gardens at 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.callawaygardens.com.

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Wonders of Nature Take Center Stage at Callaway Gardens’ “Celebrate Spring!”

Looking to celebrate the arrival of Spring…look no further than Callaway Gardens,® which offers a seemingly endless array of choices to celebrate the beauty of the season.

During Spring, Callaway Gardens’ world-famous azalea displays move front and center. Home of the world’s largest azalea garden, the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, Callaway Gardens a site to behold during Springtime. Wondering how the azaleas are progressing? Be sure to visit the 2011 “Azalea Watch” at www.callawaygardens.com.

Celebrate Spring! themed weekends, beginning March 26 and running through April 29, feature a series of family activities, workshops, seminars, events and unparalleled family fun…all set against the backdrop of one of the most gorgeous natural settings in America.

Gardening earns the spotlight from March 24 through March 27 when Gardening in the Gardens highlights the Callaway Gardens Annual Plant Fair and Sale, which has free admission to Plant Fair and separate admission for Gardens. This popular annual event features select nurserymen from around the Southeast showcasing their specialty plants and vendors selling unique garden-themed items beginning on Thursday (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) through the weekend (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Friday marks the return of the Callaway Gardening School, featuring author and TV personality Erica Glasener offering the latest and greatest tips for full-bloom gardening success.

Sounds of the Gardens will be the feature April 2 and 3, where guests can explore the Gardens searching for the natural sounds of birds, water and more. Music wafting through the trees will add to the experience of visiting on a beautiful Spring day.

The first “Vegetable Gardening from A to Z” with Walter Reeves and David Chambers will be on April 8th. Then, April 9th and 10th will be the weekend for Flavors of the Gardens. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample Callaway Gardens’ signature items as well as a few surprises.

Colors of the Gardens takes center stage April 16 and 17 as the second annual Plein Air Paint Out, Art Show and Sale finishes up with an exhibit available to guests. Thirty-three juried artists from throughout the United States will be on hand painting the beauty of Spring. Throughout the weekend, guests will be able to view and purchase these works so new that the paint may still be “wet.” For more details on Plein Air, visit www.callawaygardens.com/pleinair.

Easter is always a perfect time for Renewal in the Gardens, especially at Callaway and this year is certainly no exception. Easter Weekend, April 23 and 24, join the Easter Bunny for a fun-filled holiday showcasing a variety of activities highlighted by the annual Easter Egg Hunts on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (don’t forget to bring your Easter basket). Easter floral displays at the Sibley Horticultural Center always add to the beauty. The traditional topiary exhibit includes chicks, bunnies, eggs and more. Guests will be awed by one of the nation’s largest display of Easter Lilies. On Sunday morning, celebrate the meaning of the day with a moving lakeside sunrise service starting at 7:30 a.m. free of charge until 8 a.m.. Following the service, attendees may want to enjoy a traditional Easter brunch featuring a variety of delicious options from Callaway Gardens’ culinary team. To make reservations, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) ext. 6832 or 706-663-6832. For details, visit www.callawaygardens.com/easter.

And, returning for the fourth year, Symphony on the Sand featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will wrap up Spring on Friday, April 29, with a concert under the stars on Robin Lake Beach. Tables of eight are available for reservation. General admission tickets will be available at the gate. More information is available at www.callawaygardens.com/aso.

In addition, guests can enjoy the year-round attraction favorites including the acclaimed Birds of Prey shows, butterflies in free flight at the Day Butterfly Center, touring the Gardens on the 10-mile Discovery Bicycle Trail, newly planted gardens in Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden, quiet moments at the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel and more.

Callaway Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Callaway Gardens special event admission for Celebrate Spring! is $25/adult; $12.50/child (ages 6-12); and children five and under are admitted for free. Tax is included. Most activities occur from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. A small fee may be charged for some activities. An Annual Pass is a great way to enjoy Callaway Gardens’ many events and seasons. For more information, visit www.callawaygardens.com/annualpass.

Make your reservations for Callaway Gardens’ Celebrate Spring! Weekends by calling 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292). Overnight lodging is available for those interested in a quick getaway. For more information, visit www.callawaygardens.com. For news, special offers and more, click “like” at www.facebook.com/callawaygardens.com.

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Vision Airlines' Sensational Spring Break Seat Sale Ends Saturday

/PRNewswire/ -- Vision Airlines' Sensational Spring Break Seat Sale, featuring fantastic $59* Florida fares, ends Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM (ET).

The spring break sale concludes just six days before Vision Airlines' maiden voyage flights start taking-off on March 25 to six Florida destinations from 16 southern U.S. cities and the new Niagara Falls International Airport, New York. It is near Buffalo and Toronto, Canada.

"The $59 spring break seat sale began on February 21, 2011," says Vision Airlines' spokesman Bryan Glazer. "Due to customer demand for these discounted one-way fares, Vision Airlines added more specially-priced seats—ensuring first-time passengers an affordable and enjoyable experience."

The $59 fares are only available on non-stop Florida flights from March 25, 2011 through September 10, 2011, according to Glazer.

"The majority of Vision Airlines' $59 seats are on non-stop flights to and from Northwest Florida Regional Airport, located in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, also known as The Emerald Coast," says Glazer.

These specially-priced $59 seats are also available on non-stop flights from Louisville, KY to Fort Lauderdale, FL, according to Glazer.

"However, these one-way fares are not available on Vision Airlines' flights from our 17 focus departure cities to Miami, Punta Gorda/Fort Myers and Sanford/Orlando," says the company's Chief Operating Officer David Meers. "All of those flights stop at our hub at Northwest Florida Regional Airport before continuing to their final destinations."

Meers urges, "Consumers should understand that these specially-priced fares do not apply to what are known as direct or through flights to other Florida cities. Nonetheless, these are still fantastic fares, whether you are flying from out-of-state or within the state."

Vision Airlines' one-way fares, on most flights, average around $89* each way, according to Meers.

Spring Break 2011

Most American families with school-aged children take their spring break vacations in Florida starting in late March and early April.

While most colleges and universities are now wrapping-up spring break, many fraternities, sororities and other social organizations schedule spring beach weekend getaways in April and May, prior to final exams and graduation.

Florida's Emerald Coast

"Florida's Emerald Coast is America's number one domestic spring break destination," says Mark Bellinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

The Emerald Coast stretches from Panama City, FL to Pensacola, FL.

"Northwest Florida Regional Airport is at the epicenter of the Emerald Coast," says Greg Donovan, Executive Director of Northwest Florida Regional Airport. "It is minutes from the sugary-white shores and clear emerald waters of Destin and Ft. Walton Beaches."

Donovan also points-out, "The airport is a 65 mile drive to Panama City Beach to the east and a 45 mile drive to Pensacola Beach to the west."

Vision Airlines is the nation's only big jet, low-cost carrier that provides non-stop flights to Florida's Emerald Coast, according to COO David Meers.

"Our airline is committed to helping revitalize the Emerald Coast tourism economy, which was damaged by last year's gulf coast oil spill," says Meers.

While there were some tar balls on the beaches, there were no offshore oil-slicks or petroleum-scented sea breezes, according to Donovan. "It wasn't pollution that crippled our local economy, it was the wave of negative publicity that warded-off tourists from visiting the gulf coast altogether."

The CVB's Bellinger adds, "The Destin-Fort Walton Beach area is one of the most popular seaside resorts along the U.S. gulf coast."

He says, "Each year, millions of people from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina drive to the Emerald Coast for spring break and summer vacation. Yet, less than 3 percent of our visitors fly here because airfares have traditionally been very expensive."

Conversely, this year, Bellinger forecasts significant increases in airport passenger traffic. "With the advent of Vision Airlines, this is the first time that we've been able to offer affordable, non-stop flights just in time for spring break."

Vision Airlines will also likely bolster the Emerald Coast's weekend tourist business, according to Bellinger. "People, who might not otherwise drive several hours to the Emerald Coast for two or three days on the beach can now fly here in about an hour for a price comparable to the cost of driving."

Vision Airlines Mega-Expansion

Vision Airlines currently operates twice daily service between Atlanta, GA and Louisville, KY.

The carrier also flies Fridays and Sundays between Niagara Falls International Airport, NY and Northwest Florida Regional Airport and Miami International Airport.

The company started flight service to and from these airports in December 2010.

Sixteen years ago, Vision Airlines began as a small tour operator with flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. It later grew to become one of the world's most-respected charter carriers. Its clients have included presidential candidates, entertainers, some of the world's best-known resorts and the federal government.

On January 18, 2011, Vision Airlines announced its mega-expansion into regularly-scheduled commercial passenger service and started selling seats on flights from some of the nation's most-seriously underserved southern U.S. cities to some of the most-desirable destinations in Florida.

Vision Airlines Cities

Starting on March 25, Vision Airlines begins flying to and from the following cities.

- Asheville, NC - Atlanta, GA - Baton Rouge, LA - Birmingham, AL - Chattanooga, TN

- Columbia, SC - Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, FL - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

- Greenville/Spartanburg, SC - Gulfport/Biloxi, MS - Houston, TX - Huntsville, AL

- Knoxville, TN - Little Rock, AR - Louisville, KY - Macon, GA - Miami, FL

- Niagara Falls/Buffalo, NY/Toronto, Canada - Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers, FL

- Sanford/Orlando, FL - Savannah, GA - Shreveport, LA

- St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa, FL

FINE PRINT


* All fares are per person, one-way and non-refundable. A $50 fee per person applies to any change or cancellation made after purchase of SAVER and ADVANTAGE fares, plus any applicable increase in fare. Fares do not include airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18, September 11th Security Fees of up to $10 and U.S. Segment Fee of $3.70 per passenger, per segment. A segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $15 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $20 each way if purchased more than 24 hours prior to departure. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $20 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $30 each way if purchased less than 24 hours prior to departure. All reservations must be completed by 11:59PM on March 19, 2011. Valid for travel on March 25th through September 10 for nonstop flights to/from VPS and to/from FLL. Fares are limited and may not be available on all flights and are subject to availability at the time of purchase. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice. 

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Atlanta Dogwood Festival Marks 75th Anniversary and Remains the South's Favorite Springtime Tradition

/PRNewswire/ -- Forget Paris - Atlanta is beautiful in the spring. The Southern destination is also home to one of the country's oldest fine arts festivals, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2011. The Atlanta Dogwood Festival offers enough fun for the entire weekend, and local hotels are on-board with special room rates in celebration of the festival's diamond anniversary.

It's an event 75 years in the making, and the 2011 Atlanta Dogwood Festival promises more excitement than ever under the blooming of the city's most beautiful trees.

AT A GLANCE

The 75th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place in Atlanta's beautiful Piedmont Park on April 15, 16 and 17, 2011. Festival attendance is free, although a few of the areas are ticketed. http://www.dogwood.org

TRAVEL

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival has teamed up with Hotel Palomar in Midtown to offer a festival weekend special that includes extra benefits for the arts. Guests can enjoy special pricing on a one-night or weekend stay in a City View Room. http://www.hotelpalomar-atlantamidtown.com

Additional hotel packages will be available at great local hotels. Details will be available on the festival website: http://www.dogwood.org.

ARTS

The 2011 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Artist Market welcomes fine artists from throughout the country and features all types of art from oil painting to jewelry to sculpture and textiles. There is plenty to tempt any collector!

Again this year, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is particularly proud of its Atlanta High School Art Exhibition (AHSAE), which is held in the Community Center at the park during the festival and highlights the variety and breadth of young Atlanta artistic talent.

GLOBAL

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival kicked off the International Village two years ago to recognize and celebrate the city's diverse international communities. With the International Stage, edutainment booths, decorated mobile art golf carts and a Friday night La Fete, the International Village has quickly become a favorite feature of the festival.

SPECTATORS

Each year, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival offers entertainment throughout the weekend including two live music stages, a popular live disc dog show, theater productions and kid-friendly street performances.

FOR FOODIES

The "Friends of Dogwood Pavilion" is a ticketed event that has become a popular feature of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival and pairs fare from top local restaurants with wines and beers in a comfortable, private setting. Tickets to Friends of Dogwood can be purchased in advance beginning in the spring at http://www.dogwood.org.

KIDS

Designed just for the younger festival visitors, the Kid's Village has become an Atlanta Dogwood Festival favorite for families. This interactive zone comes complete with hands-on art projects, special kid-friendly displays and hours of entertainment for children.

ENTRANCE

Just as it has been for the past 74 years, the 75th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is free!

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Spring Travel Fun! 74-Year-Old Atlanta Dogwood Festival Focuses on New Features

/PRNewswire/ -- No question - 2009 was good to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. With a homecoming to Piedmont Park, successful new features like the International Stage, Friday Night Comedy Show and Friends of Dogwood Pavilion, the city's oldest festival seemed shiny and new. As a result, the Dogwood Festival was honored with a variety of awards this fall including Readers' Pick award for Best Annual Event (Creative Loafing), Readers' Pick for Favorite Festival (Atlanta Magazine), Best Annual Event (Georgia Magazine) and a Silver Award for Best Community Outreach Program for the International Stage from the International Festivals and Events Association's Pinnacle Awards.

LOCATION: The 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place in Atlanta's beautiful Piedmont Park. On April 16, 17 and 18, 2010, attendees will enjoy fine art, live entertainment ranging from music to comedy, a variety of food offerings and the fantastic Atlanta spring weather. http://www.dogwood.org/

ARTS: The 2010 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Artist Market participants have been selected from the largest number of exhibitor applications in Dogwood history. The Artist Market welcomes fine artists from throughout the country and will include a special section featuring Georgia artists.

The Dogwood Festival is particularly proud of its High School Art Exhibit, a community-oriented special feature of the festival, which presents the best works created by high school art students.

GLOBAL: Last year, Dogwood went international! The International Stage and decorated golf carts were such hits, that the festival is bringing them back and then some. Look for more exciting and maybe unusual performances on the International Stage, visit the International Village and get a picture next to the golf cart representing your favorite foreign holiday destination without even having to leave town. Each golf cart will be decorated by a local international organization or consulate to bring the world to Atlanta!

SPECTATORS: Each year, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival offers entertainment throughout the weekend. As always, the Main Stage at the 2010 festival will include performers from a variety of musical genres. Dogwood attendees can also enjoy the popular live dog show on the lawn or hit the Friday Night Comedy show at the Lake Clara Meer stage; last year's inaugural event sold out, so get tickets early.

FOR FOODIES: The "Friends of Dogwood Pavilion," a ticketed event that has become a popular feature of the Dogwood Festival, will be open Saturday and Sunday. The Pavilion pairs fare from top local restaurants with wines and beers to show the upscale side of the city's longest-running outdoor festival. Tickets to Friends of Dogwood can be purchased in advance at http://www.dogwood.org/ or at the door.

KIDS: Designed just for the younger festival visitors, the Kid's Village has become a Dogwood favorite for families. This interactive zone comes complete with hands-on art projects, special kid-friendly displays and hours of entertainment for children. Spider Jump, anyone?

ENTRANCE: Just as it has been for the past 73 years, the 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is free!

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The 9th Annual Savannah Garden Exposition April 17-19

Celebrate Savannah’s unique heritage and garden history at the 9th Annual Savannah Garden Exposition. The Exposition begins Friday, April 17th and will run through Sunday, April 19th, 2009, Rain or Shine, at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum at 601 West Harris Street. Hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Sunday.

This year’s theme is “Our Square Roots” in honor of Savannah’s distinctive city planning and garden designs. Full-size exhibition gardens, lectures, informative demonstrations given by experts, children’s activities, and an open-air market with growers and garden-related merchandise are just a few of the featured events. Ingenuity reigns as competitors interpret the theme "Our Square Roots" by planting containers with their own distinct styles and personalities. Visitors will be able to bid to purchase the container gardens in a silent auction held throughout the weekend.

Competing in several categories, exhibition garden designers are limited only by their imaginations as they interpret our theme and design gardens that will delight the senses and showcase their talents. These gardens will inspire you whether you're an amateur gardener or an experienced gardening enthusiast!

PREVIEW PARTY
Thursday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
$100 HSF & DH members; $145 *Non-members
Join patrons and supporters of the Savannah Garden Exposition for an evening of food, fun and horticulture. Be the first to experience "Our Square Roots" and the transformation of the historic Roundhouse Railroad Museum into an extravaganza worthy of General James Edward Oglethorpe. This festive evening combines the distinctive historical site and the incredible beauty of the Exposition with the extraordinary food and talent of many of Savannah's top chefs. Don't miss this year's Silent Auction which will include rare and unusual plants, fine art, parties, trips, garden ornaments and more.

Carolyn Ross McDonald Lecture Series: Featuring well known author and speaker Tovah Martin; Vince Dooley, well loved UGA coach and Master Gardener; local entertainment expert, Bethany Hewitt; and Buddy Lee, the inventor of the Encore Azalea®.

Friday, April 17
Tovah Martin – Bringing Nature Indoors: Houseplants, Terrariums & You - 11 a.m. Free Lecture
Tovah is the author of the recent book, The New Terrarium, published in February, 2009. Tovah has authored numerous gardening books including Tasha Tudor's Garden and View from a Sketchbook: Nature through the Eyes of Marjolein Bastin. Her articles can be found in many magazines, including Country Home, Horticulture and Country Living. She has been a featured speaker aboard the QE2. Tovah is a frequent guest on the PBS series "Cultivating Life". In May, 2008, The Garden Club of America awarded her the Sarah Chapman Francis Medal for "outstanding literary achievement."

Friday, April 17
Vince Dooley - Diggin in the Dirt with the Dawg - 12:30 p.m. Free Lecture
$15 Box Lunch, advance purchase required, pick up at noon.
There may be a no more decorated director of athletics and former head coach in the country than Georgia's Vince Dooley, who served as head football coach at UGA from 1963 to 1988, and as Director of Athletics from 1979 to 2004. Mr. Dooley, a Master Gardener, was instrumental in the University's campus being designated as an arboretum and was presented with the Georgia Urban Forest Council's 2001 Individual Achievement Award for significant accomplishments in promoting urban forestry in Georgia.

Saturday, April 18
Bethany Hewitt – Entertaining with Grace
11 a.m. Free Lecture & Demonstration
Presented by locally known caterer Bethany Hewitt of Southern Graces Indulgent Catering & Delicious Design, a custom design and catering company. Bethany, a talented chef and designer will share her refreshing perspective to events and food, combining southern classics with french country and a dash of whimsy, creating an end result that is nothing short of "Sophisticated Grace." Bethany will demonstrate creative ways to use fresh herbs and flowers in recipes with fabulous presentations! She will showcase some of the latest trends in cocktails, savories, and tablescapes that will include numerous items from the garden for a delightful twist on the classics.

Saturday, April 18
Buddy Lee – Evergreen Azaleas: Backbone of the Southern Garden
12:30 p.m. Free Lecture
$15 Box Lunch, advance purchase required, pick up at noon.
Robert (Buddy) Lee, the inventor of Encore Azalea®, the only azalea to bloom in spring, summer and fall, has more than 30 years experience in nursery management, breeding, propagation, and new plant development. Past president of The Azalea Society of America and past president of the Louisiana Nurseryman's Association Region III, his current role is Director of Plant Innovations at PDSI (Plant Development Services Inc.) in Loxley, Alabama specializing in bringing new innovative plants to market. He is responsible for both Encore Azalea® and the new Southern Living™ Plant Collection.

The Garden Exposition Workshops
Friday, April 17
Tovah Martin – Terrarium Workshop
2:30 p.m.
($25 for materials - advance tickets purchased by April 11).
Join us for this exciting and unique "make-it-and-take-it" workshop. Work alongside acclaimed gardener and author, Tovah Martin, as she guides you in creating your very own terrarium inspired by her book The New Terrarium published in February 2009. Tovah will inspire you with wonderful ideas for containers, plant material, color and design and take the mystery out of creating terrariums. Her delightful and easy personality will make you feel as if you are spending the afternoon with a dear friend.

Saturday, April 18
Gaye Drummond – Hand-Tied Bouquet & Table Arrangement Workshop
2 p.m.
$50 for materials (advance tickets purchased by April 11).
Gaye hails from England where she began her career selling her own floral designs on London's vibrant Portobello Road Market. Gaye's work has been the subject of features in Southern Living magazine and her floral displays have graced such events and venues as the Telfair Ball, the Savannah Yacht Club, Bray's Island Plantation and many homes throughout Savannah. The hallmark of her work is vibrancy, quality and freshness, and her inspiration remains the English country garden. Come learn how to make a hand-tied bouquet and a table center arrangement to take home and enjoy.

OPEN-AIR MARKET & GARDEN CAFÉS
Experience the bustling marketplace filled with some of the most acclaimed specialty nurseries, garden-related merchants and more. Local, regional and national retailers carefully select their most distinctive items for sale at the Savannah Garden Exposition. These dealers will offer visitors a special opportunity to purchase products not usually available. Items for sale will include high quality plants of all types, garden ornaments and furniture, gardening tools and accessories, books, botanical jewelry, unique gift items and much more! Relax and take in the garden atmosphere while enjoying coffee, lunch or a glass of wine from one of our specialty food vendors amidst the simulated ambience of Savannah's squares.

WALKING TOURS
$45 three-day NOGS* tour
Friday, April 17 & Saturday, April 18 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, April 17 & Saturday, April 18 - 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harper Fowlkes House.
Sunday, April 19 - A forty minute guided tour beginning every 20 minutes from 1 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.

Savannah in the spring delights the senses. As light filters through the Live Oak branches, the eyes are filled with the soft palette of azaleas and spring flowers. Sweet smells fill the air and the warm temperatures tempt us to spend the day outside. This is the best time of the year to tour the private and public gardens that have made Savannah famous. This year's tour will be a three-day event ticket allowing ticket holders to tour at their leisure 12 gardens on Friday and Saturday. Sunday afternoon features a special tour of Forsyth Park given by The Savannah Tree Foundation. The ticket also includes a Southern Tea: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. on your choice of Friday or Saturday with iced tea, cookies and sandwiches in the garden of the Harper Fowlkes House.

Fully detailed Walking Tour Maps are provided with Walking Tour tickets. $5 per ticket discount for groups of 10 or more. Transportation is not provided.

COMPLIMENTARY CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
While you shop, your children and grandchildren will be entertained with fun and educational horticulturally inspired crafts. Volunteers will closely supervise the activities with your children. You may stay and participate, or you may leave them as you enjoy the Exposition.

WINE TASTING GARDEN TOUR & FINE WINE AUCTION
Saturday, April 18, 6 p.m.
A truly memorable evening on beautiful Monterey Square. Wine lovers will enjoy sampling two different wines in each of three private gardens. Light hors d'oeuvres by Local 11Ten Restaurant will be served. After guests have toured the gardens, the evening will culminate in a fine wine auction in a private residence. Dr. Robert Tomhave has carefully selected only exceptional wines for this occasion. Due to space considerations, tickets are limited. Tickets are $100.

PICNIC LUNCH IN THE GARDEN
Sunday, April 19, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
You and your family are invited to bring a blanket to the beautiful restored Worker’s Garden in the Roundhouse to enjoy a Sunday afternoon picnic. Bring your own, or purchase lunch from any of our vendors for a relaxing and fun afternoon. Surprises and children’s activities will make this a special occasion.
Daily general admission tickets are $10, with group discounts available. A 3-day pass is available for $20. Children under the age of 12 are free when accompanied by a paid adult.
All proceeds benefit the Isaiah Davenport House Museum and the Historic Savannah Foundation.

For tickets and a complete list of events, dates, times and prices, please visit www.savannahgardenexpo.com or call 912.236.4795.

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Save Up to 60% on MSC Cruises' Eastbound Transatlantic Sailings

/PRNewswire/ -- MSC Cruises is offering special savings of up to 60 percent off retail prices on eastbound transatlantic sailings of MSC Lirica and MSC Orchestra this spring.

MSC Orchestra departs Fort Lauderdale on May 2 on an 18-night sailing to Copenhagen. Its first stop, after two days at sea, will be the cruise line's first call in New York City, overnighting from May 5 to 6. The ship will then resume its itinerary, calling at Ponta Delgada, Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; La Coruna, Spain; and Dover, England, with seven more days in the Atlantic and a day cruising the North Sea before arriving in Denmark.

Cruise-only per person, per night rates begin at $56 for an interior stateroom, $73 for an oceanview, $84 for a balcony and $144 for a balcony suite. Rates are based on double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

MSC Lirica departs Fort Lauderdale on April 23 on a 16-night voyage to Dover. The ship will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fort de France, Martinique; Funchal, Portugal; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; and Le Havre, France. Guests will be able to enjoy MSC Cruises' European-style experience, during nine days at sea.

Cruise-only per person, per night rates for MSC Lirica's transatlantic crossing begin at $44 for an inside stateroom, $60 for an oceanview, and $125 for a balcony suite. Rates are based on double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

As always, children 17 and younger sail free when traveling in same stateroom with two full-fare-paying guests.

These special rates expire on March 15.

During each sailing, guests can enjoy MSC Cruises' elegant European ambiance, acclaimed international entertainment, nightly regional Italian specialties on the menus, superb spa facilities and much more.

For more information about MSC Cruises and its special eastbound transatlantic rates, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional.

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Quality Winter Crappie in Deep, Cool Waters

T2F Note: Don't you have some great memories of fishing with your dad or grandpa? Spending time together is always a favorite sport and what better way is there than fishing? This week's coveted "Fayette Front Page Day Tripper Award" proudly is presented to all streams in Georgia and the wonderful memories you'll make while fishing with your kids. Spend some time with your family fishing in Georgia.

Springtime is not the only ideal time for crappie fishing in Georgia. The brief winter season also produces excellent results, and several reservoirs across the state offer rewards for anglers willing to brave the bitter cold temperatures.

“Fishing for crappie in the winter can be very rewarding if anglers concentrate on cold weather hot spots,” says John Biagi, chief of Fisheries Management for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. “Also, because there is a lot of action involved when crappie fishing, it is an excellent time to engage the entire family and/or to introduce someone new to the fun aspect of the sport.”

Now through mid-February crappie tend to congregate in deeper water, generally 15-30 feet deep, near the mouths of major tributaries and in the main lake. Large schools are easily located with sonar electronics.

As the water warms in late February, crappie will move to more shallow water toward the middle and back of major tributaries, preferring to congregate around woody cover such as stumps, logs, downed trees, fish attractors and creek ledges. Minnows and small jigs are favored bait, and light spinning tackle spooled with 6 or 8-pound test line is recommended.

Cool weather hot spots

In northwest Georgia, visit Lake Allatoona and look for the marked manmade fish attractors, especially near the Kellogg Creek area. Maps of fish attractor locations are available at www.gofishgeorgia.com . Also look to the Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area, located 16 miles north of Rome, where good slabs are predicted this year and hot spots include fishing off of riprap dams. The Coosa River, which begins in the city of Rome and flows roughly 30 miles west-southwest before entering Lake Weiss, is another area to target; concentrate below the lock and dam area, especially near Brush Branch.

Northeast Georgia offers three different reservoirs for targeting crappie. Metro area anglers should look to Lake Lanier, located just 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The upper part of the reservoir, especially the Chattahoochee River arm, Wahoo Creek and Little River are considered hot spots. Anglers should also consider the upper part of Lake Hartwell, located on the Georgia-South Carolina border near Franklin and Hart counties. The Eastanollee Creek area is considered a crappie haven. The manmade fish attractors around the upper half of Lake Nottely rank as another active location.

Several east-central area lakes offer prime crappie habitat, including Clarks Hill Lake where excellent fishing is predicted for the year, especially at Soap, Fishing, Grays and Newford creeks, and the Little River arm. On Lake Oconee, Beaverdam, Sandy, Rocky, Richland and Sugar creeks and Appalachee River arm are good target areas. At Lake Russell anglers should concentrate at Rocky River, Beaverdam, Coldwater and Allen creeks. Lakes Blalock and J.W. Smith in Clayton County offer good bank fishing opportunities near boat ramps. Areas of standing timber are key targets at Lake Blalock while J.W. Smith offers good boat fishing around the Panhandle Road Bridge, the overflow structure near the dam and the submerged pond and dam on the south side of the lake. Anglers can count on Lake Varner for good numbers of crappie and Randy Poynter Lake for larger crappie.

Wildlife Resources Division biologists recommend five areas in the west-central area of the state for crappie fishing - West Point Lake in Troup County, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Big Lazer Public Fishing Area in Talbot County, Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area in Bleckley County and Lake Sinclair just north of Milledgeville. At West Point, concentrate around fish attractors and deep water areas. Visit Fox, Shepherd or Margery Lake at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and look for deep water and flooded timber or fish attractors. At Lake Sinclair, Beaverdam Creek provides good opportunities for early spawning due to the warm water discharge from the steam plant. When temperatures warm, anglers should target larger islands such as Optimist, Budweister and Goat. Sinclair bank anglers should concentrate on the riprap along Highway 441 at Little River, Beaverdam and Rooty Creek. Additionally, the riprap at Twin Bridges and Potato Creek along Highway 212 also provide good bank access. Big Lazer and Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area anglers should seek flooded timber near the creek channels and deep water.

Southwest Georgia also offers key areas for crappie. Lake Walter F. George, located on the Georgia-Alabama state line between Columbus and Ft. Gaines, provides good fishing at the mouths of Pataula Creek, Sandy Branch Creek and Sandy Creek. On Lake Seminole, in the southwest corner of the state, anglers should fish the main river channels around Ford Scott Island, the Chattahoochee River mouth between river miles three and four, the mouth of Spring Creek and the old river channels and submersed structures.

For more information on crappie fishing in Georgia, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com or call a Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management office.

Take Me Fishing! ™ According to a recent national survey, 87 percent of Americans believe fishing and boating have a positive effect on family relationships.

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