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Description: Named after songwriter Stephen Foster, this remote park is a primary entrance to the famed Okefenokee Swamp and is one of the most intriguing areas in Georgia. Moss-laced cypress trees reflect off the black swamp waters, providing breathtaking scenery. Visitors can look for alligators, turtles, raccoon, black bear, deer, birds and numerous other creatures while on the park's elevated boardwalk trail or on a guided boat trip. More adventurous visitors may wish to rent motorized boats or canoes for further exploration of the swamp, including a trip to historic Billy's Island. The park office sells drinks, snacks, ice, books and t-shirts. Because the park is located within a National Wildlife Refuge, gates are locked at closing time and an entrance fee is charged.
At the new Suwannee River Visitor Center, visitors learn not only about alligators and cypress trees, but also how buildings can be made from recycled car parts and plastics. Located off Hwy. 441 at the Suwannee River bridge, the center mixes environmental education with engineering showmanship. Inside, visitors learn that tannic acid produced by decaying vegetation is what gives the river its tea color, and that unlike other reptiles, mother alligators actively care for their babies. A third of the building materials was made from recycled content, including decking made from plastics, insulation made from newspaper, and a retaining wall made from old dashboards and electrical cables.
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