By Michele Alperin
Georgia is not the place to go if your goal is to see a few landmarks and go home. The state's rich history and culture, diverse topography, and unique cities and towns deserve an in-depth exploration.
History
The past is present everywhere you look, but make time to see such ancient remnants as the Etowah Indian Mounds in Cartersville; the nearly 300-year-old Fort Frederica National Monument at St. Simons Island; and Martin Luther King's church in Atlanta.
Geography
Georgia is a topographical feast, and visitors can enjoy the views of the southern Appalachians in the north, breathless canyons at Cloudland Canyon and Tallulah Gorge State Parks, the Okefenokee swamp in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean and miles of beach and barrier islands in the east.
Atlanta
Known to many only as the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta is a city that combines Southern charm with aggressive modernism and growth. Tour Underground Atlanta, where early buildings still stand; take in the skyscrapers of downtown and Midtown; visit renovated city neighborhoods at Highland-Virginia and Little Five Points; explore the new aquarium, the zoo and the High Museum of Art; or make reservations for a play or concert.
The Old South
Scarlett O'Hara's homestead Tara in "Gone with the Wind" offers an idealized view of the Old South, but more historically accurate remnants remain. Possibilities include the home of A.H. Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy; the Hofwyl-Broadfield rice plantation and Jarrell cotton plantation; the earthworks at Kennesaw Mountain; and the Swan House and Tullie Smith farm at the Atlanta History Center.
Uniquely Georgia
Flying into Atlanta, the large outcropping of granite known as Stone Mountain is often visible, but other, less obvious Georgia landmarks are equally worthwhile. Tour the apartment of Margaret Mitchell, the author of "Gone with the Wind"; explore the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site; the National Prisoner of War Museum at the site of the Andersonville Prison used during the Civil War; or enjoy the first headquarters of the Girl Scouts of America , founded by Juliette Low.
Resources
About the Author:
Michele Alperin is a freelance writer with more than 10 years' experience. She specializes in business, arts and Judaism, and her work has appeared in a variety of print and online publications, including MyJewishLearning.com, "U.S.1," "Princeton Packet," "Jewish State" and "Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles." She has master's degrees in business and Jewish education.
