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Vanderford's
Travels
Vidalia offers much more than
legendary onions
Since I was a child growing up in the southern part
of Georgia, I have known and tasted the sweetness of world-famous
Vidalia Onions in many different culinary creations. Until recently,
however, I knew very little about the area or the people of this
Peach State gem. Thanks to a gracious invitation from Elizabeth
Harvill of the Vidalia Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, I decided
to make the less than three-hour drive to Sweet Onion Country.
 Boy
. . . was it worth the effort! Within minutes of arriving at the
immaculately restored farm house, known as the The Cotton Patch Inn
(912-583-2519), I was warmly greeted by innkeeper and owner, Martha
Staples. Following a tour of all the rooms, I was seated in the
gorgeous dining area for wine, cheese, and great conversation.
During our talk, I discovered that despite having a doctorate in
home economics and having worked throughout Georgia in the
educational field, Martha was born and raised in this very farm
house. In recent years, however, she has completely restored the
house and grounds as a bed and breakfast. Though I drove the short
distance into Vidalia for dinner, when I returned, Martha was
waiting with hot tea and homemade pecan pie that would tempt an
angel. The fabulous dessert led me to a very restful night in a big
four-poster bed filled with visions of a more simple era of Southern
hospitality.
 After
a gourmet breakfast that Martha prepared, I was off through the
rustic countryside on winding two-lane roads to meet Scott Taylor,
owner of Three Rivers Expeditions (www.explorethreerivers.com,
912-594-8379), for a guided tour on the Altamaha River in a canoe.
Other writers and their guests joined us to meander down this
picturesque river at our leisure. The three-hour paddle passed many
beautiful natural areas as well as a few inhabited places.
At the end of the trip, we were treated to lunch at Benton Lee’s
Steakhouse (912-594-6931), which is right on the river. During the
feast, we all traded stories of the birds and wildlife we had
observed, the gorgeous white sandbars that were passed, and a few
entertaining tales of canoe mishaps along the way. With our stomachs
full and our muscles exercised, it was time to do something less
strenuous and more visual. So, Elizabeth took us all to a unique and
extremely interesting farm that is inhabited with rare deer, goats,
and birds from all over the world.
 Buckhorn
Creek Ranch is a 250-acre exotic animal farm where even small
children are allowed to hand feed the deer. One can observe many
seldom seen animals, including the only camel in the Southeast, from
atop a tractor-pulled platform that is perfect for taking photos.
Though a very seriously-run wildlife preserve, Buckhorn Creek Ranch
is not a commercial operation. It is family-run, very friendly, and
caters to every guest’s personal preferences as to what they want to
do and see. Every family can enjoy a natural, wildlife-focused
outing that is fun and educational for the entire family. For more
information visit
www.buckhorncreekranch.net or call ahead for reservations at
912-583-2737.
Since I’m always an angler, I finished the day by
catching more than 40 bass and bream from a fertile farm pond that
was less than a mile from the Cotton Patch Inn. More tea and
fantastic homemade dessert sent me into dreamland again in the big
four-poster bed. Martha was up early preparing another unique
breakfast before sending me on my way back to the reality of metro
Atlanta and work. For me, it was a short, but very unforgettable
trip that any couple or family would thoroughly enjoy. Truly a taste
of what the Old South was really like!
For more information about all of the other
possibilities in Vidalia, contact Elizabeth Harvill at
(912-538-8687) or go to their website at:
www.vidaliaarea.com
Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his
writing and photography, and has been inducted into the National
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide. He is a member
of SATW, NATJA, OWAA, SEOPA and GOWA.
He can be reached at 770-289-1543,
JFish51@aol.com or visit:
www.fishinglanier.com.
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