Okefenokee Swamp Park, Waycross

Unlike navigators of yore, visitors to Okefenokee Swamp Park won't need machetes and iron wills to make it through the lush blackwater swamps along the Georgia–Florida border. The park's boardwalk trails and waterway tours provide a convenient entry point to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, where endless flora and fauna make their home in over 400,000 acres of pristine wilderness.

• The Animals: Sunbathing alligators, playful otters, and majestic sandhill cranes thrive in the swamp's aquatic environment.
• The Plants: Swamp grasses and lilies speckle the watery tree-lined trails, as do exotic plants such as the carnivorous bladderwort.
• The Landmarks: Atop the 90-foot observation tower, visitors can take in sweeping views of the park and view the diverse ecosystem as a whole. On Pioneer Island, amateur historians can tour a recreation of an rustic swamp homestead.