By The Backseat View
Hey Y’all! Welcome to Georgia!
Georgia blends Southern tradition with striking natural diversity and modern energy. From the Appalachian mountain foothills in the north to the Atlantic beach coastline in the east, the Peach State offers historic cities, scenic landscapes, and a rich sense of hospitality. Georgia’s past is woven into its present through preserved architecture and food, creating a destination that feels both deeply rooted and constantly evolving.
Whether you’re chasing waterfalls in North Georgia, spotting wild horses on Cumberland Island, exploring Savannah’s historic streets, or relaxing on Jekyll Island’s beaches, this Georgia Travel Guide highlights the very best places to visit and experiences you will remember for a lifetime.
Georgia Travel Guide
Georgia’s Top Things to Do
Living on the Alabama-Georgia line means I know Georgia, so let me show you around. Let’s start with the most famous places to visit.
Georgia’s Iconic Attractions
Savannah, GA
- Savannah Historic District – Cobblestone streets, moss-draped oak trees, and elegant antebellum architecture. Savannah has a history, and its food and dining are worth the trip alone. Combined with Savannah’s beach, Tybee Island, and you have a perfect weekend getaway. The Savannah Weekend Getaway Guide is filled with pirate history, culinary delights, and the best places to shop. Tybee Island Travel Guide for discovering a peaceful family beach vacation. If you are dreaming of uncrowded beaches, Tybee delivers.
Atlanta
- Atlanta – The state’s capital and entertainment hub, home to museums, theatres, and historic landmarks. The Braves baseball games and the Georgia Aquarium are the top attractions. Just understand, it takes an hour to get to Atlanta from Atlanta with the traffic and 71 streets named Peachtree. If you are new to the south, you might think 71 streets with the same name is an exaggeration, but it’s not. Traffic laws are folklore with NASCAR drivers going 95. If you think Google Maps can save you, wait until you reach the I-75/I-85 Connector, where you have 0.5 seconds to choose a lane for Buckhead, Macon, Midtown, start a new life in Marietta, or have a nervous breakdown. Atlanta is an adventure all in itself. Local’s Guide to Atlanta’s 35 attractions for an entertainment-filled week.
Jekyll Island
- Jekyll Island– Driftwood Beach, combined with the 250-acre Historic Landmark District, that’s like a trip to Bridgerton, and over 20+ miles of bike trails, with 10 miles of beach, makes Jekyll one of my favorite places in the world. Jekyll Island’s Top 9 Attractions allow you to step back in history and vacation with the powerful families of the Gilded Age on Jekyll Island.
Stone Mountain
- Stone Mountain – A massive granite monolith rising 650 feet above the plateau with scenic views and outdoor activities.
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park – Preserving the legacy of one of America’s most influential leaders.
- Georgia Aquarium – One of the largest aquariums in the world.
Georgia’s Hidden Gems
Georgia is known for having seven natural wonders, and most of those are in this section.
Providence Canyon
- Providence Canyon – Often called Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon,” featuring colorful gullies. The red, yellow, purple, white, and orange are stunning at sunset. Providence Canyon is 2.5 hours south of Atlanta near Columbus.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
- Cloudland Canyon State Park– has breathtaking long-range views at overlooks in the Southeast. This is a scenic 3,500-acre mountain escape renowned for its 1,000-foot-deep gorge. It’s located in the north-west corner of Georgia, only 30 minutes from Chattanooga, TN.
St. Simons
- St. Simons is the largest island in Georgia with moss-draped oaks, historic landmarks, and sandy beaches. It’s an upscale beach environment with top-tier restaurants and golf mixed with mystery tree spirits. Saint Simons Island is a classy beach and golfing town, a little off the beaten path.
Cumberland Island
- Cumberland Island – A wild barrier island known for pristine beaches and free-roaming horses.
- Tallulah Gorge State Park – A dramatic 1,000-foot-deep canyon with waterfalls and hiking trails. It’s on the Tennessee state line, around two hours north of Atlanta. It’s an easy stop to add if you are headed to Gatlinburg.
Callaway Gardens
- Callaway Gardens – 2,500 acres of seasonal floral displays and tranquil walking paths. Callaway hosts Fantasy in Lights, one of the biggest Christmas light displays in the U.S. The lodge also has a world-class spa. Callaway is near Warm Springs which is famous for President Roosevelt. Pine Mountain & Warm Springs deliver Callaway Gardens, a safari, and the Little White House, filled with history.
- Radium Springs– offers bright blue spring water and peaceful scenery. The spring’s surreal turquoise glow comes from the deep limestone caves. Radium Springs is in southern Georgia, near Albany, about three hours south of Atlanta.
Georgia’s Best City to Visit
Savannah, GA
- Savannah’s graceful beauty, historic squares, and coastal charm make it Georgia’s most captivating city. Its walkable layout, thriving arts scene, and deep-rooted history create an atmosphere that feels both elegant and welcoming. Walking beneath Spanish moss in Savannah’s historic squares is the coolest experience. Leopold’s is the stop for ice cream from recipes over 100 years old. The selection of fine dining elevates Savannah for repeat visits. The Savannah Weekend Getaway Guide is filled with history, culinary delights, and shopping.
Georgia’s Best Small Towns
There are so many small towns I love in Georgia, making it tough to narrow my list down to just three more. We have already discussed St. Simons and Jekyll Island and Blue Ridge is coming up.
Madison, GA
Madison is one of Georgia’s prettiest small towns with historic antebellum homes, boutiques, a French bakery, and a safari. Whether you’re searching for a romantic weekend, a girls’ trip, a family safari, or a relaxing, history-filled Southern retreat, this Madison Ga Travel Guide has everything you need.
Covington, GA
Covington is near Madison and is known as “The Hollywood of the South” among fans of The Vampire Diaries and Sweet Magnolias. It’s the classic town with antebellum homes, a pretty town square, and boutique shopping. Top 10 Activities in Covington or Mystic Falls. Tour the Hollywood of the South for the Perfect Girl’s Trip.
Helen, GA
A charming, Bavarian-themed tourist town in the North Georgia mountains along the Chattahoochee River. It has an Old-World Alpine village feel with cobblestone streets and colorful architecture, German culture, river tubing, and hiking. I love grabbing a giant pretzel and strolling Main Street for fudge, especially at Christmas with all the lights. This Helen Travel Guide has everything you need to step into this Hansel and Gretel fairytale.
Georgia’s Best Nature Experience
Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge, Georgia, offers rolling mountains, waterfalls, and forested trails. Whether hiking to scenic overlooks, driving winding mountain roads, or enjoying fall foliage, this area showcases Georgia’s most dramatic natural landscapes. When you put a charming town in the middle of the mountains with fantastic dining options, it’s the perfect weekend escape.
Blue Ridge is the best fall trip with apple orchards, hiking, apple cider donuts, and upscale boutique shopping. Open the Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide for an upscale town with low crowds and delicious meals. The quiet hikes through the spectacular mountains are perfectly balanced with small-town charm.
Georgia’s Best Animal Encounters
- The Georgia Aquarium is a world-class destination with whale sharks and high-energy dolphin shows. Local’s Guide to Atlanta’s 35 attractions for an entertainment-filled week.
- Atlanta Zoo is world-renowned for its gorilla population being the largest in North America. The zoo has an innovative reptile complex and is home to over 1,000 animals. The Giant Pandas are officially returning to the zoo any day. It’s one of the best zoos in America.
- The Georgia Safari Conservation Park is a 530-acre park with rhinos, giraffes, and zebras toured through safari trucks in Madison. They also have several critically endangered species. Madison is one of the prettiest towns in the South, too.
- Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, near Callaway Gardens, lets you feed herds of animals from your car. There’s a 3-mile drive-through and then a walk-through zoo. This is literally crazy and hilarious with buffalo drooling on you. Tip: Buy several bags of food, and everyone gets a bag or two.
- North Georgia Wildlife Park and Safari is near Helen, GA, with an interactive feeding drive-thru safari and a regular zoo. This park is famous for its hands-on animal encounters with kangaroos, sloths, and otters.
Georgia’s Unique Experiences
- Exploring the Okefenokee Swamp by boat or boardwalk. The swamp is 400,000 acres and is America’s only blackwater swamp. Your boat ride navigates alligators, herons, and carnivorous plants.
- World of Coca-Cola is a sprawling museum dedicated to the pop culture and history of Coke all over the world. There’s a tasting room with over 100 sodas from around the world.
Best Time to Visit Georgia
- March to May and September to November offer pleasant temperatures and beautiful scenery.
- Spring brings Callaway’s blooming gardens, while fall delivers colorful foliage and comfortable weather.
- Summers are HOT and humid, especially in the south, so head to the beaches.
- Fall is the best time for apple picking in Ellijay and Blue Ridge, with Oktoberfest in Helen. Fall reservations in the mountains book up fast.
- Winter brings people to Callaway Gardens for Fantasy in Lights.
Best Southern Foods to Try in Georgia
Local Tip: Stay out of the chain restaurants, pull into gravel parking lots with a handwritten pie menu.
- Fried Green tomatoes
- Chicken and Waffles
- Peach Cobbler
- Pimento cheese
- Shrimp & grits
- Boiled peanuts
- Sweet tea
- Homemade ice cream- any flavor
Georgia Itinerary (6 Days)
Day 1: Atlanta
Visit the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coke, or catch a Braves baseball game. Local’s Guide to Atlanta’s 35 attractions for an entertainment-filled week.
Day 2: Atlanta to Savannah
Spend half a day shopping, at the Atlanta Zoo, or at the Botanical Gardens, then drive five hours to Savannah for dinner.
Day 3: Savannah
Stroll through historic squares, sit in Forsyth Park, tour preserved homes, enjoy riverfront views and fudge on River Street, and take a ghost tour. Leopold’s is over a hundred years old for an ice cream stop. I would invest in culinary experiences starting at the Olde Pink House (reservations book up over eight weeks out). Then, Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, or Vic’s on the River, or maybe The Pirate’s House, which has great parking options.
Tybee is only 20 minutes away, so this is two nights at the same hotel, either historic or beachfront. The Savannah Weekend Getaway Guide is filled with history, culinary delights, and shopping.
Tybee Island
Tybee Island Travel Guide for discovering a peaceful family beach vacation. If you are dreaming of uncrowded beaches, Tybee delivers.
Day 4: Tybee Island
Relax on the beach, bike the island, and visit the lighthouse. Head into Savannah for dinner.
Day 5: Jekyll Island
Drive the two hours to Jekyll Island. Have a biking exploration of the historic district, Driftwood Beach, and the Turtle Center. Jekyll Island is only 30 minutes away from St. Simons, so you don’t have to move hotels, just pick an island. Jekyll Island’s Top 9 Attractions allow you to step back in history and vacation with the powerful families of the Gilded Age on Jekyll Island.
Day 6: St. Simons
Find Tree Spirits, enjoy East Beach, visit the Avenue of the Oaks, or visit a museum. Finish the day in Pier Village with reservations at The Georgia Sea Grill. Saint Simons Island is a beach town filled with mystery, charm, and tree spirits.
Day 6: Madison
Option 1- Head back to Atlanta and stop at Madison for antebellum homes, the Patissière on Main, and a safari. Covington is along the same road and is known as the Hollywood of the South, being a picture-perfect town. Sweet Magnolias and Vampire Diary friends should spend the day walking the town. This Madison Ga Travel Guide has everything you need.
Option 2– Cumberland Island is a two-hour drive. Then, take a ferry to the island and experience its wild horses and untouched beauty.
Until our next Georgia Adventure,
Georgia has a way of making visitors feel right at home. Whether you’re sipping sweet tea on a Savannah porch, chasing waterfalls in the mountains, spotting wild horses on the coast, or finding a hidden small town café with the best biscuits, Georgia leaves a lasting impression. The best trips in Georgia usually aren’t rushed. They’re the kind where you pull over for roadside peaches, stay a little longer at the beach sunset, and leave planning a return trip.
Thanks for the slow-porch-swing conversation while strolling through Georgia! If you are in Georgia, come on over for the best of Alabama.
The Ultimate Guide to Alabama Beaches explores Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, and Perdido Key. The 15 Best Kept Travel Secrets in Alabama explores caves, beaches, forests, canyons, and historical towns for an Alabama Adventure off the beaten path.
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