15 Vacation Spots in Georgia (State)

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Tanya Byelova
March 21, 2022

Georgia has a lot more to offer than huge cities, famous small villages, stunning mountains, and a location on the Atlantic Ocean. To help you decide which Georgia attractions are worth your time and money, U.S. News considered the diversity and distinctiveness of activities, the availability of lodgings, and the views of ordinary visitors to choose the finest locations to visit in Georgia.

This list of the greatest vacation spots in Georgia is based on our personal experience and the recommendations of a few of our fellow travel writers. You'll have a fantastic time touring this section of the United States South.

1. Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia's capital, is a bustling, buzzing, contemporary city that is also extremely Southern. It is a huge, contemporary metropolis with three metropolitan skylines rising from rolling hills, pine forests, gorgeous old oak trees, and attractive magnolia and peach trees.

Start your journey with the Atlanta History Center, which is a huge part of what makes Atlanta what it is. Visit Martin Luther King Jr.'s former house, which is now a National Historic Site. Visit the Georgia Aquarium and the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park. You may also take the kids to Six Flags White Water and the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, and the Margaret Mitchell House, which is a lovely example of Southern architecture and culture.

On a hot day, take a stroll around the Atlanta Botanic Gardens to cool down while admiring the lush, verdant world of plants. The CNN Center and World of Coca-Cola are among the city's prominent attractions.

In the evening, go to Atlanta's upscale Buckhead and Westside areas to sample the city's burgeoning restaurant scene and lively nightlife.

You can be interested in: 9 best places to visit in Atlanta

2. Savannah

Savannah, Georgia's oldest city, is situated on Georgia's Atlantic Coast in eastern Georgia and is rich in history, hospitality, and natural beauty.

A tour of Savannah's Historic District, which encompasses about a square mile and preserves the historic city as it was during the Civil War, is the greatest way to view the city. It is one of the most lovely urban environments in the world, with its gorgeous shaded squares bordered by majestic mansions and stone-paved streets dotted with trees draped in exquisite Spanish moss. In addition to the historic environment, the Historic District is alive with art, culture, museums, and palaces to explore.

The riverside runs along the north end, while Forsyth Park runs along the south. Although the entire region is famed for its numerous lovely parks and squares, Forsyth Park is the largest and best example of a well-designed mid-nineteenth-century Southern park. An elegant fountain is a focal point, and the strolling paths are covered by wonderful ancient trees draping over them.

Visit City Market for excitement both day and night, and wander down Savannah River Street to see galleries, cafés, restaurants, and wonderful river views. There will be a festival to bring locals and visitors alike out on the streets no matter what time of year you visit.

3. Providence Canyon State Park

Providence Canyon State Park is a 1,003-acre park in southwest Georgia near Lumpkin. Providence Canyon, also known as Georgia's "Little Grand Canyon" and one of Georgia's Natural Wonders, lies at the heart of this exciting park. The steep gullies that drop down 150 feet were formed by soil erosion caused by poor 19th-century farming techniques, which is strange given that the Canyon is not natural.

On the other hand, the Canyon's beautiful orange, pink, red, and purple colors provide beautiful photographs and paintings. The rare indigenous plum leaf azalea in full flower in July and August, making the Canyon even more attractive. Hiking along the Canyon's rim provides breathtaking vistas, and rock climbers frequent several of the gullies.

4. Toccoa Falls

You can enjoy The Toccoa Falls Waterfall in the picturesque North Georgia Mountains, not far from Toccoa. It is located on the Toccoa Falls College campus. Toccoa Falls is made up of a college campus and a spectacular waterfall. Visitors must walk through the campus and enter through Gate Cottage, which houses Toccoa Falls Books & Gifts, to get to the falls.

A lovely trail leads from the cottage to the natural canyon, where the falls may be seen. The Toccoa Falls cascade is one of the highest single-drop waterfalls in this section of the country, at 186 feet high - roughly nineteen feet higher than Niagara Falls. The falling water streams through the magnificent forested college campus, forming a stream. On Sundays, the Gate Cottage Restaurant, which has a magnificent view of Toccoa Creek, is available to the general public for lunch.

5. Amicalola Falls

Amicalola Falls is Georgia's highest waterfall (222 meters). It is located near Dawsonville, Georgia, between Ellijay and Dahlonega, and is part of the Amicalola Falls State Park.

There are additional locations for archery, zip line, GPS scavenger hunts, survival games, and various hiking paths, including tourist favorites like the East Ridge Trail and the Base of the Falls Trail. The campsite, cottages, and a hilltop lodge are all available for visitors to stay in.

The Maple Restaurant in the park is noted for its breathtaking views and Sunday brunch buffet. A 5-mile journey leads to the Len Foote Hike Inn, Georgia's only wilderness resort, for those seeking adventure.

Amicalola Falls State Park is opened: 7:00-22:00

6. Tybee Island

Tybee Island is Savannah's coastal tropical paradise with five miles of sandy public beach and historic dunes. The Island is perfect for everybody. There are a lot of activities: sunbathing, fishing, sailing, boating, hiking, riding, dining, drinking...

Take a dolphin-watching cruise, learn to surf at North Beach, paddleboard through the wildlife-rich salt marshes of Little Tybee Island, kayak around the tiny Cockspur Island Lighthouse, and climb to the top of historic Tybee Island Lighthouse for panoramic views of the Island.

Don't miss the historic Fort Screven area, including the picturesque Tybee Lighthouse. You can learn about island history at the Tybee Museum or take the kids to Fort Pulaski to learn about the country's turbulent past. Enjoy wonderful restaurants, beach bars, cafes, and breathtaking sunsets.

7. Lookout Mountain

Lookout Mountain, located on the Georgia-Tennessee line, was the site of a Civil War fight but is best known today for the natural park that runs along its rocky crest. The park was opened in 1932. It is famous for over 900 barn signage in 19 states. There is an adventure pathway through beautiful rock formations and across a swinging bridge to Lookout Point.

Points in seven states may be seen from the summit of the vertical cliff on particularly clear days. Walking through rocks, you can enjoy gardens, stone bridges, tight tunnels between gigantic rock faces, art installations, a mushroom-shaped balancing rock, etc. Christmas lights and a Halloween celebration featuring a corn maze are seasonal festivals and activities.

8. Tallulah Gorge State Park

Tallulah Gorge State Park is a great place to visit to see some incredible natural beauty. Tallulah Gorge, which is 2 miles long and approximately 1,000 feet deep, is located just west of the Georgia-South Carolina line in the state's northern region. The area's major attraction is six Tallulah Falls.

Hiking routes with fantastic views are available on the gorge's rim, but visitors must get permission to hike on the canyon floor.

Tallulah Gorge State Park also has a suspension bridge with spectacular views of the park's six waterfalls and over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails.

The Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center tells visitors about the area's history, geography, and delicate environment.

9. Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

Arabia Mountain, with three lakes and over 2,000 acres, provides lots of options for adventure near Atlanta. The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is known for its spectacular vistas. What appears to be a lifeless, barren landscape is really home to particularly adapted plants that flourish in the mountain's severe climate, including uncommon black-spored quillwort and amianthus.

The Arabia Mountain Top Trail is a beautiful hike that takes you over giant exposed granite boulders and fields mixed with tiny basins stocked with unique vegetation before going to the crater-spotted peak for breathtaking vistas.

There are various streams excellent for throwing a line for people who like fishing. But keep in mind that fishing in Georgia necessitates the purchase of a Georgia fishing license.

10. Panther Creek Falls

A hidden gem awaits hikers in Georgia's Cohutta Mountains, near the southern extremity of the Smoky Mountains. The famous 5.8-mile Panther Creek Trail, located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, passes through a succession of beautiful waterfalls on North Georgia's Panther Creek. A row of large waterfalls cascades into a deep clear pool of water in numerous layers.

There are several campsites before and after the falls, and they are usually occupied because this is one of Georgia's most popular hikes. Another route to get to the waterfalls from the trailhead near Yonah Dam is shorter but considerably more difficult.

11. Vogel State Park

Vogel State Park is a popular state park located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is one of the best tourist attractions and instagrammable spots. This wonderful park provides something for everyone, with miles of easy hiking trails, a 22-acre lake, a mountain-view beach, cottages, campsites, and primitive backpacking sites. The trip from the south across Neel Gap is lovely in the fall.

This mountain pass offers visitors a stunning view of the Appalachian Mountains' changing foliage. The park also has a museum that chronicles the park's and the surrounding area's rich history.

12. Red Top Mountain State Park

Red Top Mountain was originally an important mining location, named after the soil's deep red hue produced by high iron-ore concentration. The famous Red Top Mountain State Park is now located in this location. The park's 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona serves as a playground for watersports enthusiasts of all types.

Visitors can hire boats of the marinas or bring their own ones to explore the lake. Hikers may enjoy almost 15 miles of path, including the 4-mile Iron Hill Trail, which is available to both hikers and bikers. There are rental cottages available, as well as a campsite.

13. Driftwood Beach

Driftwood Beach is located on Jekyll Island's north between the Villas By The Sea Resort and Clam Creek Picnic Area. It's a bizarre setting unlike anything you've ever seen and an incredible photo opportunity. The beach is a tree graveyard with kilometers of wonderfully formed dead trees and fallen branches that have been beaten and bleached by the storms and waves.

Driftwood Beach is a terrific area for a quiet stroll, and it's a photographer's dream because it's generally deserted. The beach has some of the most beautiful sunsets.

14. Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain, an 863-foot-high granite outcrop with a bald dome that stands out dramatically from the surrounding area, is virtually devoid of trees or plant life. The bas-relief on the mountain's north face is the world's largest. It has a sculpture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson called the Confederate Memorial Carving.

The top of the building stands 825 feet (251 meters) above the surrounding surroundings, providing a stunning perspective of Atlanta. A 1940s locomotive transports visitors through the park on a five-mile track, and a land-and-water tour aboard a 1940s Army DUKW highlights local history.

The Antebellum Plantation and Farmyard, an open-air museum with farm animals that guests may pet and 19 historic structures that mimic a pre-Civil War plantation, is also worth visiting. The dinosaur park, which has 20 life-size ancient monsters that move and roar, is popular with families.

15. Atlanta Botanical Garden

In the heart of Midtown Atlanta, the 30-acre botanical garden adjacent to Piedmont Park is a delightful surprise. It is divided into wonderful parts. There is a Japanese garden, a rose garden, wooded areas, and a children's garden.

The Japanese Garden has a teahouse, waterfall, pond, bamboo, miniature Japanese maples, and a Moon Gate.

The Rose Garden is amazing in late spring and late summer, and the Hydrangea Collection and the collection of water plants are among the best in the Southeast.

The indoor Fuqua Conservatory, which houses a variety of tropical, desert, and subtropical plants and animals, is one of the botanical garden's primary attractions.

The Fuqua Orchid Center exhibits orchids of many forms and hues and tropical birds, turtles, and poison dart frogs.