Erosion in motion
Long live the Georgia Queen
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON AND KENDALL FLETCHER
EVENTS , EXPERIENCES , EXHIBITS , ETC .
BLACKHILLSBADLANDS . COM
Erosion in motion
Badlands National Park consists of colorful pinnacles , buttes and gorges , as well as one of the largest areas of mixed grass prairie in the United States . During a visit to the 244,000-acre park , located an hour east of Rapid City , South Dakota , travelers can see the beautiful and bizarre results of thousands of years of erosion that have left behind vivid orange , red , purple , yellow and white sedimentary layers .
The site is renowned for its countless fossil beds , which date back to the Oligocene Epoch of the Age of Mammals . Skeleton remains of species ranging from horses and camels to saber-tooth cats and creatures resembling rhinos have been unearthed in the park .
The typical starting place for exploration is the Ben Reifel Visitor Center . Groups can see exhibits covering the area ’ s human history , paleontology , geology , wildlife and prairie ecosystem , and watch the 20-minute introductory film , “ Land of Stone and Light ,” in the theater .
The summer months are when a majority of the ranger-led programs take place and are when the Fossil Prep Lab — where visitors can watch as paleontologists work with fossils — is open . Other popular activities include wildlife viewing , driving tours , nature walks and night-sky programs .
For more information , visit nps . gov / badl or call + 1.605.433-5361 . — P . H .
GEORGIA QUEEN
Long live the Georgia Queen
Savannah Riverboat Cruises recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and added another ship to its fleet , the Georgia Queen . The largest riverboat of its kind in the United States , the vessel was once a luxury floating casino on the Mississippi River . It received a $ 4 million makeover and traveled 2,800 miles to its new home port in southeastern Georgia .
At 230 feet long and 68 feet tall , the Georgia Queen has a 5,000 square-foot open-air top deck and three grand ballrooms that each accommodate up to 250 guests . The ship features a full-service gourmet kitchen , allowing for extended menus on themed meal cruises .
The 1,000-passenger boat is one of the company ’ s two vessels that are used for sightseeing cruises . Groups can hop on board for lunch and dinner harbor tours , sunset excursions or holiday-themed cruises .
“ Until you ’ ve ( seen ) a city from the water , you haven ’ t really ( seen ) the city , and it ’ s such a different perspective seeing Savannah aboard the ship ,” says Jonathan Claughton , the company ’ s president and CEO . “ We love our motorcoach groups and tour groups in Savannah . We hope to see them aboard the new Georgia Queen .”
To find out more , go to savannahriverboat . com or call + 1.912.232.6404 . — K . F .
18 April / May 2017