The Traveling Four

A Lifestyle Blog

Strawberry Fun at Southern Belle Farms

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Southern Belle Farms has come a long way since we started frequenting five years ago. The family-oriented activities that they have added are awesome! Each year we have noticed that they have added something new, fun and exciting for kids of all ages. There are plenty of activities to keep your little ones busy like slides, pedal karts, see saws, jumping pillows, train rides, a petting zoo and yeah, of course the strawberry picking.

The strawberries are what drove our little group to start coming to Southern Belle in the first place. We wanted to do something that all of our kids would enjoy, since there is a small age difference between them, as well as the adults. Picking strawberries straight off the vines is a great way to throw in a little educational moment about agriculture and food waste for the kids. Something about the sweet smell of those fresh, ripened strawberries that we couldn’t resist. The strawberries at this farm can grow as big as your hand. They do a great job of keeping the farm clean. The aisle are clear and very easy for you to navigate through without having to worry about falling all over the place. These very delectable berries are easy to spot and pull. You can find some real gems in between the leaves, so don’t be scared to get in there.

If picking strawberries are not your thing than Southern Belle offers a pre-picked gallon of strawberries for purchase inside their country store. When you walk through the door you are immediately greeted by some high-spirited and lively employees who are very friendly and helpful. The charming and rustic farmhouse decor suits this farms motif precisely. The country store offers a wide variety of ready-made items like jams, ciders, salsas, honies, candies, and so much more. They also have a good assortment of souvenirs and keepsake for you to take home from your trip. Before you leave don’t forget to stop and get a slice of their homemade strawberry shortcake or ice cream made from the very strawberries that they grow and harvest from the farm. If you want to make the day last just a little bit longer have a seat out front of the store in one of their many wooden rocking chairs.

Southern Belle Farm is very organized in the way that they conduct their business. The activities are spaced out enough for your kids to run around and not bump into people. Southern Belle also offers blueberry, blackberry, and peach picking throughout the year. If you are interested in planning your trip please visit their website www.southernbellefarm.com . Our group has already made this a yearly spring tradition to do with our families and once you visit for the first time, you will too!

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Natural Remedy for Sore Throat

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*Natural and vegan

I have been doing this natural sore throat remedy to help relieve the pain and uncomfortable feeling of a sore throat and minor cough for years. This has helped me significantly, and I hope that it will help you too! The good thing about this simple remedy is that it is all natural and vegan. You can also tweak this recipe a little to fit your taste by adding just a teaspoon or two of agave nectar to help sweeten the mixture. You don’t want to add too much though, because you want the acid to do it’s job as it coats your throat. 🤧

**As always, please check with your doctor for any concerns, and/or medical emergencies.**

Here’s what you will need:

  • 1 tbsp Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar with ‘Mother’
  • 3 Fresh Mint Leaves
  • 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice

Step 1

Pour the apple cider vinegar into a teacup.

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Step 2

Smash the mint leaves into the apple cider vinegar. This step is done to release the essential oils and natural essence of the mint.

Smash in 3 mint leaves

Step 3

Add in the lemon juice and you’re done!

Sip slowly to relieve sore throat pain.

Benefits and Advantages

Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid in it which is useful for killing many types of harmful bacteria.

Mint is used to help relieve cold and flu like symptoms. The menthol which is found in peppermint oil, is used in many cold and flu medicines. Menthol is also used to alleviate pain and congestion.

The acid in lemon juice acts as an antiseptic for killing bacteria and germs. It is also loaded with anti-inflammatory enzymes.

Lemon, mint tea. Sip and enjoy!

For an added benefit to relieve your sore throat pain, add a cup of hot water and enjoy it as lemon mint tea.

I hope this helps. Get well soon!😁

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Saint Simon’s Island – A Quick Getaway

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With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there’s nothing like a quick girl’s trip to get your mind right…

Near the pier on St. Simon’s Island

We were all looking for a quick getaway (overnight trip), one that would give us a much-needed break from our daily routines. It was the end of September, and out of all the places we could have gone, we chose the beach. To me, the beach, and the sounds of the water have a way of rejuvenating you before sending you back to face the world, renewed. And because we live in Atlanta, Georgia, the closest beaches to us are about a four-hour drive away, on the Georgia coast.

Driving to Saint Simon’s Island.

Georgia’s coast is home to several barrier islands, plus Savannah. Honestly, I think that Savannah and Tybee Island are probably the first choices for most people when thinking about vacationing on the Georgia coast. And while I LOVE Savannah, because it is so rich in history, it is also more touristy. For this trip, we wanted fewer people and limited hustle and bustle. Saint Simon’s Island gave us that, and since it was a beach trip in September, there weren’t very many people out and about.

Once we settled on a destination, we found a hotel that was within a 10-minute drive to the beach. Because this was a girl’s trip, and all of our families were at home, we split the costs of a single room, which made this trip very affordable (side note- breaking-up the room cost is always a perfect way to travel on a budget). 

Driving on the bridge to Saint Simon’s Island

The drive to Saint Simon’s Island, from Metro Atlanta, was about 4.5 hours give or take, including our pit-stop at Zaxby’s for lunch lol. On the way down, it started raining cats and dogs, and we thought our trip was ruined but, about 30 minutes out, the sky cleared up and the sun came out. I always enjoy driving over the bridge headed onto Saint Simon’s Island because the view is so beautiful.

Okay, so, once we arrived at our hotel room and unpacked the car, we immediately changed clothes and headed to the beach. We tried to maximize our beach time and didn’t want anything to get in the way of that. And, when we arrived, the beach was absolutely everything that we wanted and needed it to be. I assumed I would be able to take a book, lay out my towel, and read but, the wind had other plans so, I opted to sit and reflect on the majesty of the ocean.

  • The beach
  • Sunset on the beach

We stayed on the beach until the sun decided it wanted to go to sleep. After that, we went back to our hotel, Sharaine and Dee Dee checked out the heated pool, which was great because there was a little chill in the air. Our Saturday night ended with dinner at Bonefish Grill, and I think it might have been one of the only restaurants still open on the island outside of fast food options.

One of the majestic oaks on Saint Simon’s Island.

On Sunday morning, we ate breakfast at the hotel (they provided free breakfast) and before we left to go home, we did a little sightseeing. One thing I have to make sure I mention about this lovely island is the oak trees that are everywhere. These trees are massive but also majestic. Our short exploration of the island led us to venture onto the pier. Saint Simon’s Island ‘Pier Village’ is where their beautiful lighthouse is located, along with several shopping stores, and some very picturesque views. If you visit this island, make sure to make your way to ‘Pier Village.’

The lighthouse on Saint Simon’s Island

Overall, we loved our little getaway to Saint Simon’s Island. It was quiet and serene, and if you’re looking for the same thing, then I highly recommend checking it out too.

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