By Blake Guthrie
Things to Do in Georgia on Vacation
From the barrier islands of the coast, where wild horses still run free, to the Appalachian Mountains in the north, Georgia has ample things to do for vacationers. An entire trip could be spent in either region, but why not hit the
Atlanta area in between? If you're flying in, chances are it will be to the Atlanta airport, so plan a day or two checking out the local sights. There's a reason Hollywood likes to film so many movies in Georgia: It's beautiful, it's filled with history and the natives are friendly.
Atlanta
Atlanta, like any major metropolitan area, is filled with historical sites and modern attractions. Though the area is rampant with development, visitors often remark on the abundance of trees and greenery for such a large city. From the top of Stone Mountain Park, east of the city, the skyline seems to be the crest of a rolling wave of trees. The two major parks within the city limits are Centennial Olympic Park and Piedmont Park. Centennial Olympic Park is home to the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke, two of the most visited attractions in Atlanta. Piedmont Park is the green lung of the city, akin to New York's Central Park. It is the place to spend hours strolling, picnicking, throwing Frisbees, rollerblading or just sitting by the edge of the lake relaxing and watching others do all these things. To really get your bearings in Atlanta, head to the Westin Peachtree Plaza downtown and take the express elevator to the observation area at the top. Here, on a clear day, one can get an unrivaled view of the city, complete with markers that describe the major sights below and in the distance.
Stone Mountain Park
U.S. Highway 78 E., Exit 8
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087
(770) 498-5690 or 1-800-401-2407
Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker St.
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
(404) 581-4000
The World of Coke Museum
121 Baker St. N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30313-1807
(404) 676-5151 or (800) 676-COKE (2653)
Westin Peachtree Plaza
210 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 589-7506
Coastal Georgia
Coastal Georgia is made up of a series of barrier islands--developed and undeveloped--that provide a multitude of vacation experiences. For those more interested in nature, Cumberland Island is a protected wilderness area where wild horses still run free on the beaches and dunes. Arrangements must be made beforehand to visit the island, where an abundance of hiking, camping and wildlife viewing opportunities exist. On Jekyll Island, visitors will find many seaside hotels and golf resorts, as well as the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which has a facility open to tourists. The center has a variety of tours, education programs and events for kids; you can even schedule a birthday party with sea turtles for kids ages 5 to 12.
Tybee Island is the most popular Georgia island for local day-trippers and weekenders, due to its accessibility and closeness to the city of Savannah. Tybee Island has many hotels and restaurants on and near the beach, as well as its historic lighthouse, which is open to visitors and contains a museum and a observation platform at the top.
Cumberland Island Ferry
St Marys St.
St. Marys, Georgia 31558
(912) 882-4335 or (877) 860-6787
Georgia Sea Turtle Center
214 Stable Road
Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527
(912) 635-4444
Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum
30 Meddin Ave.
Tybee Island, Georgia 31328
(912) 786-5801
North Georgia Mountains
North Georgia is where the foothills of the Appalachian range turn into full-blown mountains. It is here, on Springer Mountain, where you will find the trail head for the 2,175-mile-long Appalachian Trail. The trail crosses Blood Mountain, the highest point for the trail in Georgia, which provides spectacular views and is accessible to day hikers from the nearby Blood Mountain Cabins & Country Store. The old mining town of Dahlonega is filled with antiques shops, restaurants and a surprisingly vibrant nightlife. At the center of town (literally, inside the old courthouse in the town square) is the Dahlonega Gold Museum, which chronicles America's first gold rush, which happened here in 1829. Late October is when the North Georgia mountains are the most crowded with tourists, who flock here to see the vibrant changing colors on the trees that blanket the mountains. Expect occasional traffic jams on the winding mountain roads if you visit the area at this time.
Blood Mountain Cabins & Country Store
9894 Gainesville Highway (U.S. Highway 19 & 129)
Neel's Gap, Blairsville, Georgia 30512
(706) 745-9454 or (800) 284-6866
Dahlonega Courthouse Gold Museum
Public Square
Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
(706) 864-2257
About the Author:
Blake Guthrie has been a professional journalist since 1996. His articles have been featured in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Creative Loafing" and on Travels.com. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Auburn University.
Photo Credits:
Linda N.
