Bike Ride the Callaway Fantasy in Lights! - Sun, Dec 30 2012

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed by the trip leader(s) and NOT the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for payment details and instructions.



Bike Ride the Callaway Fantasy in Lights!


The Basics:
Event Type:Bike
Event Location: Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA   Bike: Bike Ride the Callaway Fantasy in Lights!  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sun, Dec 30 2012  2:00 pm >> Sun, Dec 30 2012 9:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 12:30 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Sun, Dec 16 2012 9:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Dec 28 2012 5:00 pm
Event Duration:7 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate (Exploratory)
Distance:5 Miles
Pace:Leisurely
Trip Leader(s):
Bobby Marie
Charlie Cottingham
Sharon H
Thomas W.
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:$17.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:20
Minimum Group Size:6
Number Registered So Far: 13 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

You who have enjoyed taking the jolly trolley or driving through the Fantasy in Lights display at Callaway Gardens mark your calendars for Dec. 30 if you want a fun, physical experience on your bicycle! This ride is good for any type of bicycle: road, mountain, hybrid, whatever you like best! It is also a ride for all levels of experience. There are no rentals available. Bring your own or a borrowed bike from home. 

The first ever Final Night Bicycle Ride is scheduled the evening of Dec. 30th for the 5-mile journey through the Fantasy in Lights attraction that includes Enchanted Rainbow Forest, Firefly Cove and Snowflake Valley.

The plan will be for those of us who wish to carpool to meet at 12:30 pm at I-85 Exit #64 (about 8 miles SW of the Atlanta Airport exit - see Carpool directions below).  Others in the group are free to drive down independently.  We carpoolers will rendezvous with you others at the Callaway Gardens Discovery Center at 2:00 pm to enjoy a look around and get acquainted. (Meet initially at the interior info desk.)  Let's target 2:30 for an "early AOC bike ride" (meeting at the bike racks in front of the Discovery Ctr) to visit the Butterfly Center, etc.

Then at 4:30 pm we will gather there again at the Discovery Ctr to get ready for the main "public-at-large" group bike ride through the beautiful lights.  
The departure time cutoff for beginning this main twilight & after-dark ride is 5:15 p.m.

Cost is $16 for adults plus a $1.00 processing fee on the ticketing website. A helmet is recommended for everyone by Callaway Gardens, however, it is REQUIRED by your trip leader.

The bicycle ride is an inaugural special event this year and we can participate in the very FIRST bike ride of the Fantasy in Lights! National Geographic Traveler’s has rated the Callaway Gardens attraction among the nation’s top 10 places to take in holiday lights.

For this event, YOU WILL NOT PAY THE AOC. PLEASE GO ONLINE OR CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBER TO GET YOUR TICKET TO RIDE. When you have your ticket, register for the AOC event as usual.

For tickets to the bicycle ride, visit http://www.showclix.com/event/3736053/listing or call 1-800-225-5292. Cost for each adult is $16.00. There is a $1.00 processing fee on the ticketing website. No pets or children are allowed for this AOC event, though there will be young ones allowed on the ride by the Gardens...

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• The ride will begin and end at the Callaway Discovery Center. Cyclists should arrive at this location, with their own bicycles, by 4:30 p.m.
• No cyclists will be permitted to start the ride after 5:15 p.m.
• Following the ride, automobile traffic will be directed onto Discovery Parkway to exit the Gardens. Guests are invited to visit Robin Lake Beach, home to two special light-and-sound shows, The Nativity and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas; great shopping opportunities in the Christmas Village and the Snow Globe; and a wide variety of dining options.

After you have obtained your "e-ticket" online from Callaway, register for the event or vice versa. Please be advised that you are responsible for obtaining your own ticket for the ride. The trip leader cannot make a last minute arrangement after we get there to guarantee your access to the the light ride. Please be registered and have your ticket for the ride on your arrival at the carpool or the event.

For much more information on the Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens, please see http://www.callawaygardens.com/events/signature/fantasy-in-lights. There is info on the scenes we'll see and the Christmas Village and more.

The evening ride will be in twilight and after dark (ON PURPOSE!!) so have a forward pointing light (bike light or headlamp) and a red rear facing light or reflector. As I get my questions answered as to the route etc. I will send info out to all registered for the event as I get it.

 

This place is magical and will be more so out in the open so we can see and hear it all! Let's go take part in the first bike ride in the lights EVER!

 

 

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/12/16/2314397/callaway-gardens-offering-opportunity.html#wgt=rcntnews#storylink=cpy

Required Items to Bring:

Bicycle that has been looked over and is in good working order.

White forward facing light or headlamp. Red backward facing light/reflector or headlamp.

Helmet. Water Bottle and other hydration supplies. Clothing appropriate for the evening temperatures.

Your special "Final Night Bicydle Ride Ticket" purchased directly via the above Callaway Gardens e-ticketing link.

Cash for shared Carpooling Expenses, etc.

A sense of fun and wonderment!

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Snacks if you eat frequently on ride events.

Cameras/Videos!

 


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

LOCATION: Callaway Gardens is in Pine Mountain, Georgia, 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and 30 minutes north of Columbus.

If you wish to use an online mapping service or GPS unit in conjunction with the directions below, enter as your destination the following Lat/Lon Coordinates of the Callaway "Garden Entrance" or the main address of the Gardens.  The "Garden Entrance (at intersection of GA-18 and GA-354 is the preferred entrance/exit for this event.

Lat/Lon Coordinates for GPS, etc: 32.85220,-84.86716

Main Callaway Gardens address:  17800 U.S. Hwy. 27 Pine Mountain, GA 31822

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From Atlanta (70 miles)

1. Take Interstate I-85 South and merge onto I-185 South (at I-85 Exit #21).
2. Take I-185 South about 7 miles and exit at US-27 (Exit #42).
3. Turn Left onto US-27 and go about 8 miles to the town of Pine Mountain.
4. Turn Right onto GA-18 (W Harris St) and go about 0.7 mile to intersection with GA-354.
5. Continue on GA-18 straight across GA-354 to the Ca
llaway Gardens’ "Garden Entrance" booth where you'll present your pre-purchased ticket.  (Suggestion:  Ask for a Callaway Bike Trail Map.)
6. Proceed to the Discovery Center (about 2 miles) where we'll gather initially at the interior info desk at 2:00 PM, and again at 4:30 for the main ride.

From Macon, GA (80 miles) Take U.S. Hwy. 80 West to Ga. Hwy. 208 West to U.S. Hwy. 27 North. Proceed through Hamilton and past the Callaway Gardens Country Store. Continue approximately one mile to Original Callaway Gardens entrance on left.

 From Columbus, GA (30 miles) Take Interstate 185 North to Ga. Hwy. 18 East (Exit 34). Turn right and follow Hwy. 18 to the main entrance of Callaway Gardens on the right.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):65Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 12:30 pm
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $26.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Member Cost:$17.00/Person
Cost Includes:

Ride Ticket plus a $1.00 processing fee on the website.

Pay directly to Callaway for the Bike ride through Fantasy in Lights using above info.

Make a Payment:Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the AOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

No ticket refunds for Cancellation or "No Show."