Top 10 Places to Visit in Georgia
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#1 Savannah
Known as historic old city, the city of Savannah was the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia. Today, Savannah is one of the popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors. Savannah has number of historic homes, cemeteries, forts, and houses of worship. The historic downtown area includes Savannah Historic District, the Savannah Victorian Historic District, and 22 parklike squares landmarks. Tybee Island located 18 miles from downtown is the closet beach on the southern Atlantic coast. Popular places to visit and things to do in Savannah include Savannah Historic District, Forsyth Park, Squares of Savannah, Bonaventure Cemetery, Owens-Thomas House, and Riverfront.
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#2 Atlanta
Atlanta is the most popular city of Georgia located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Downtown Atlanta is known for many top tourist attractions including Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN's global headquarters, Children's Museum of Atlanta, Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. The Georgia State Capitol building is also located in downtown. Atlanta is home to many historical museums and sites, including the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, College Football Hall of Fame, and National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
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#3 Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is a popular tourist destination island known for its white sand beaches and historic district. The 5,500-acre island is home to 10 miles of shoreline and variety of recreational activities. It is one of the four Golden Isles of Georgia barrier islands. Driftwood beach located on the north end of Jekyll Island is known for beautiful shores and and its iconic driftwood. Places to visit and attractions on the island include Landmark Historic District, Summer Waves water park, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and wildlife viewing.
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#4 Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Located in northern Georgia, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest includes Oconee National Forest in eastern Georgia and the Chattahoochee National Forest in the North Georgia Mountains. Chattahoochee National Forest is known for its mountains such as Johns Mountain, Little Sand Mountain, and Taylor Ridge. The forest is known for its wildernesses and it is home of many wildlife species. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is popular for outdoor recreation opportunities on Chattooga River and miles of hiking trails.
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#5 Athens
Athens is a college town known as the home to the University of Georgia and Georgia Bulldogs football team. The city is also well known for its popular music and bands like R.E.M. and the B-52s. Athens offers plenty to things to do and attractions. The Georgia Museum of Art located at the University of Georgia is the official state art museum. Best Places to visit and outdoor activities include State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Sandy Creek Park, and Bear Hollow Zoo.
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#6 Tybee Island
Tybee Island is a barrier island located 18 miles east of downtown Savannah. The small island is a popular vacation spot for local residents and tourists. Tybee Island has sandy beach on its eastern shore and a tidal salt marsh on its western shore. North Beach is home to large part of the island and historic attractions. Tybee Lighthouse located on the island is a famous tourist attraction and historically site. South Beach is the downtown district of the island and popular for shopping and dining.
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#7 Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a popular tourist attraction known for surrounding Tallulah Gorge. The 1,000 foot deep gorge with Tallulah River creates scenic vista. There are six waterfalls in the park known as the Tallulah Falls. Recreational activities include kayaking and whitewater rafting in April and November when more water is released and the river flows above the natural flow. The park also includes 63 Acre Lake with sand beach, 20 miles of trails, Campsites, and Picnic Shelter. Park activities and things to do include hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and rock climbing.
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#8 Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
There are 3 main entrances to visit the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: East Entrance located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, West Entrance located 17 miles east of Fargo, and North Entrance located 8 miles south of Waycross. It is one of the most visited refuge with its largest and unique ecosystem. Okefenokee Swamp protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. It is one of the world's largest intact freshwater ecosystems with number of islands and lakes. The forest is home to variety of plants and animals species. Recreational activities include hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing, boating, photography and wildlife viewing.
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#9 Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island is the largest and southernmost barrier island of Georgia's Golden Isles. The island is only accessible by boat and ferry services available from St. Marys. The ferry ride takes approximately 45 minutes. Visitors cannot bring vehicles on the ferry, and there are no paved roads or trails. Cumberland Island National Seashore preserves undeveloped beaches and wide marshes. The seashore is popular for its beaches and dunes, marshes, and freshwater lakes. Visitor Center and Museum are located in the town of St. Marys. Camping is allowed on the on Cumberland Island.
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