On December 6, 2025, we continued our eastward journey toward North Carolina to see family. We pulled up stakes at Tishomingo State Park and rolled into Indian Springs State Park in Georgia. We arrived late in the afternoon and settled into site 5. The campsites here are cozy and close together, but this time of year, it was practically our own private park—just us and a few squirrels judging our parking skills.
Sunday morning found us at the Jackson, Georgia Ward for the 10 am service. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, genuinely excited that their branch had recently grown into a full-fledged ward. It’s always inspiring to see a community of saints grow and prosper.
In the afternoon, we wandered the quaint “downtown” area of Indian Springs and toured an old hotel and church. Back in the 1800s, people flocked here to enjoy the mineral-rich spring waters—think 19th-century spa day meets stagecoach traffic jam. The town even had a train running up and down Main Street. We were the only visitors that day, which made our hosts almost giddy to talk about the history and the local genealogy. I introduced them to FamilySearch, which they seemed to find quite fascinating. The church itself was small but charming, with beautiful stained-glass windows that glowed in the afternoon sun.
Jackson, Georgia, has a surprising claim to fame: it was a major filming location for the hit series Stranger Things. Naturally, we had to investigate. On Monday, we made the short 15-minute drive to Jackson—aka Hawkins. There’s something entertaining about a quiet small town suddenly embracing its moment in Hollywood, complete with themed signs and quirky souvenirs.
At Hawkins Headquarters, we met our tour guides and a small group of fellow enthusiasts: a family from northern Georgia and a couple from London. The London gent wore shorts despite the low 40s temperatures, claiming it was warm compared to home.
The tour was delightfully immersive. We were each handed a ViewMaster and given “image updates” during the walk, letting us compare scenes from the show to the actual town. Seeing the familiar streets, props, and signs made the series come alive again, and it was amusing to see the local residents playing along with the Stranger Things mystique. The ViewMaster was a nice touch, bringing back memories of things we’ve both used and purchased for our older children.
Highlights included artwork of the main characters, props like the iconic Radio Shack sign—ah, the 1980s, when Radio Shack ruled electronics—and a stroll through the Hawkins Library. We capped things off with pizza from the Surfer Dude and a trivia game. Afterward, we poked around the gift shop, tried out the vintage video arcade, and reluctantly departed.
Feeling energized, we next sought some real-world nature and headed 20 minutes to High Falls State Park. The trail from the south side of the river was smooth crushed stone, easy walking—practically a nature sidewalk. Crossing the bridge to the north side, the trail became more adventurous, with stairs, rocks, and the ever-present wet, slippery roots that keep hikers humble. The waterfalls were spectacular, the sun was setting, and we pressed on, delighted to eventually loop back and return to the truck just before dark.
Tuesday morning brought packing and hooking up for the final leg. By afternoon, we reached the Atlantic Ocean, tantalizingly close to our North Carolina destination, ready for more family visits and coastal views.
| Nights | Total Nights | Miles | Total Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 320 | 342 | 30105 |