plantation

The largest natural springs in Georgia are found just outside of Albany. The waters, which are consistently 68 degrees, contain traces of radium, and the site was dubbed Radium Springs. A casino was built overlooking the springs in the 1920s, and the area experienced a tourism heyday as a spa and resort. Flooding of the Flint River in 1994 and 1998 severely damaged the casino, and it was ultimately demolished in 2003.

It's the name of a delicious dish that can help you stretch a small catch of fish, but Swamp Gravy is also the name of the official folk life play of Georgia. The good folks of Colquitt, Georgia put on a darn good show, and it's a true community effort. Also a local must-see are the murals that decorate numerous walls around town.

Just 15 miles outside Albany, Phil found some fantastic catfish at Nothin' Fancy. In keeping with their name, they don't have a fancy website, but you can call them at 229-792-6420. And if you're looking for an exact address, look no further, it's 4269 GA Highway 234, Leary, Georgia 39862.

Only about 200 people call the city of Calvary home, but during the first weekend in November, Calvary's population grows to 60,000 to 90,000 – and that count does not include mules. The Lions Club sponsors the annual Mule Day event, and as David Zelski discovered, there's lots to see and do.

Just off of interstate 75, exit 63B to be exact, you'll find Georgia's Museum of Agriculture and historic village. The Agrirama is a site to be experienced. Walk through a traditional farm community of the 1870s, a progressive farmstead of the 1890s and a rural town. There is much to do and experience, including a ride on a logging train!

It's touted as that town where the country reunited after the Civil War. Founded in 1895, Fitzgerald beckoned "all good people" to make their home here together – yankee and reb alike. You can explore this truly unique town in Ben Hill County through their website. There are links to the Blue-Gray Museum and the Jefferson Davis Capture site just nine miles away.

Stories have come have through the ages of great tusked-beasts who leave nothing but a path of death and destruction in their wake. One such story was uncovered by our supernatural correspondent, David Zelski. Come with us on a journey into the macabre world of giant killer hogs! The Hogzilla legend has its birth at River Oaks Plantation and Ken’s Fish Farm in Alapaha, Georgia. Owner, Ken Holyoak says the legendary hog had 20-inch tusks, and its head weighed over 100 pounds. David tries to get to the bottom of the mystery, and in the process stumbles upon Hollywood’s own take on the tusked-terror! www.kens-fishfarm.com

If you find yourself in Albany and have a hankering for some hotdogs, the best course of action is to pull over and make a stop at Jimmie’s Hotdogs. Cheese, chili, onions, whatever your heart desires on your dogs, Jimmie’s has it, along with their custom of no seats inside the restaurant. Jimmie’s has been around since 1947, and with such a long tradition in serving up wieners, they’ve got to be doing something right! Rumor has it Jimmie’s serves up to 2,000 hotdogs a day. Well, that’s before they met our Phil Proctor. Following Phil’s visit, we think that number has significantly increased. www.albany.ga.us

While traveling down Corridor Z, our own Z Man, David Zelski, stops off to see some great wildlife at the Parks at Chehaw. Home to such exotic species as the black rhinoceros, the wild cheetah, and even the blue tongue skink, the Parks at Chehaw boasts the state’s most impressive collection of animals from all over the world. Jim Fowler of Wild Kingdom fame had a hand in the design of the zoo, and David takes a hand cleaning up W’s mess, which is followed naturally by a ride on the Wiregrass Express.

"You can eat it with butter, you can eat it with cheese, you can eat it any time with any old thing you please. As long as it’s grits, baby!" Every year in Warwick, the Grits Capital of the World, grits lovers from all over come down to take part in the Grits Festival. Our David Zelski meets up with such local notables as Granny Grits, Mike McDaniel, who came in first place in the Grits Eating Contest, and even the Grits Queen. By the end of the day, David finds himself submerged in a vat of grits. The only things that were missing were the butter and cheese! www.gritsfest.com