When people ask me where they should go in Georgia, I'm a little biased. I always want to plan another trip to Georgia's sandy beaches, waterfalls and lakes. But just as mazing are Georgia's cities! That's why I want to tell you about Atlanta and Savannah first, before diving into smaller towns and parks. These top places to visit in Georgia offer unforgettable experiences for every kind of explorer.
Best Places to Visit in Georgia, USA:
Admire historic homes in Savannah
“Let’s walk a little farther,” I said, even though we hadn’t planned to. The squares kept pulling us in—moss-draped oaks overhead, wrought iron fences, fountains that shimmered in the early light. Savannah didn’t rush us. It unfolded slowly, like a story told with long pauses and knowing glances.
We stopped into Foxy Loxy Café for coffee and kolaches. The courtyard was shaded and warm with laughter and conversation. I ordered a lavender latte and a spicy egg and cheese kolache. The latte was floral and silky, the pastry soft with a touch of peppery heat. I could’ve stayed in that patio all morning, watching the city wake up through filtered sun.
Later in the day, we joined the Savannah Taste Experience food tour. Each stop was a bite-sized story—from shrimp and grits served in a tucked-away tavern to honey samples from a local shop that felt like stepping into someone’s kitchen. We walked, we tasted, we laughed with strangers. “This city feeds you in more ways than one,” I thought.
The next morning, I took a hands-on class at Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table. We learned to make biscuits and gravy, fried green tomatoes, and hand-whisked peach cobbler. The kitchen smelled like butter and spice. I pulled my tray from the oven and thought, “I made that,” and I felt just a little more connected to the place.
Plan your visit to Savannah:
- Drive Time from Atlanta: ~3.5 to 4 hours southeast
- Vibe: Romantic, historic, graceful
- Highlights: Foxy Loxy Café, Savannah Taste Experience, Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table, Forsyth Park, Historic District
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and early fall for mild weather and fewer crowds
- Cost: Café items ~$5–10; food tour ~$60/person; cooking class ~$100–125
- Hours: Cafés 8am–5pm; tours 11am–2pm; classes scheduled weekly
Tybee Island
We reached Tybee just as the sky began to open up—soft blues, streaks of cloud, gulls wheeling overhead. The island felt casual. We parked near the north beach access point and walked straight to the water. The sand was warm, the breeze steady. “This is all I need today,” I thought, watching a single pelican slice low across the waves.
We climbed the steps of the Tybee Island Light Station, pausing now and then to catch our breath and look back.
Lunch was at The Crab Shack, where we sat under palm fronds and string lights, picnic tables weathered smooth from years of salt air. “No need to rush,” I told myself.
Tybee Island Inn was perfect for a romantic stay.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Savannah: ~30 minutes east
- Vibe: Laid-back, beachy, sun-worn
- Highlights: Tybee Island Light Station, North Beach, The Crab Shack, marine center
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or early fall for warm weather without peak-season crowds
- Cost: Beach access free; lighthouse ~$10; lunch ~$15–25/person
- Hours: Beaches open daily; lighthouse 9am–4:30pm
Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island
We arrived just after the tide had begun to pull back. The sky was pale and overcast, the kind of gray that softens everything. Driftwood Beach was quiet. Bleached trees leaned at odd angles, their roots splayed like open hands. I walked slowly, touching bark worn smooth by salt and time. “This doesn’t feel like a beach,” I whispered. “It feels like a place to listen.”
The air smelled like wet pine and sea. A couple had set up folding chairs in the distance. They were reading side by side.
Later, we ate at Fuse near the island’s historic district. I had a grilled chicken sandwich with pepper jack and mango chutney on ciabatta. It was sweet and spicy.
I stayed overnight at The Westin Jekyll Island Beach Resort.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Savannah: ~1.5 hours south
- Vibe: Quiet, surreal, windswept
- Highlights: Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island Historic District, picnic areas, Fuse restaurant
- Best Time to Visit: Low tide for best beach access; spring or fall for mild weather
- Cost: Island access ~$8/vehicle; lunch ~$15–20/person
- Hours: Beach open daily; most restaurants 11am–8pm
Cumberland Island
We took the ferry from St. Marys just after sunrise, the water still and silver. Cumberland felt untamed from the moment we arrived—no cars, no shops, just a canopy of oaks and miles of trails. It smelled like salt and earth and sun-warmed bark. I adjusted my backpack, pulled my hat low, and followed the path into the woods.
The first time we saw the wild horses, they were standing near the Dungeness Ruins, still and patient among the stone remains. “We don’t belong here,” I whispered—not in fear, but in respect. It felt like their island, not ours. We kept walking, past marshes and palmettos, until the trail opened onto a beach so wide and empty it looked untouched. The sand was soft and pale, the waves low and rolling.
We’d packed lunch—just a sandwich and fruit—but I remember the way it tasted after hours of walking. Warm bread, crisp apple, the tang of cheddar. I ate sitting cross-legged on a piece of driftwood, wind tugging at my sleeves, thinking, “This is what it feels like to get away.”
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Savannah to St. Marys: ~2 hours south, then ferry
- Vibe: Wild, peaceful, remote
- Highlights: Wild horses, Dungeness Ruins, beach hiking, maritime forest
- Best Time to Visit: Fall or spring for pleasant hiking weather
- Cost: Ferry ~$45/person; entrance ~$10; bring your own food
- Hours: Ferry departs 9am; returns mid-afternoon; no overnight stays without permit
Atlanta Layers & Porchlight Calm
“There’s art tucked into everything here—walls, food, sidewalks, voices.” That thought came while walking through the Festival on Ponce, surrounded by paintings, pottery, and trees just beginning to leaf out in spring.
Atlanta moved in rhythms—sometimes fast, sometimes like a front porch swing. I started my morning at the Swan Coach House Gallery. The white columns and quiet halls held contemporary art that felt alive but anchored. Outside, the garden smelled of honeysuckle and pine mulch. I stayed longer than I expected.
What I Loved Most: How the city gave space for both stillness and spark—art and movement, but also pause.
My highlights? Lunch at Folk Art Restaurant: chicken and waffles, crisp and golden, with maple syrup pooling into spicy butter. The plate arrived hot, sweet-salty steam rising, and I thought, “This is joy dressed up in crunch and comfort.”
Later, I stopped at Wagaya for a mid-afternoon bite—their spicy tuna roll was fresh and clean, with just the right heat—and wandered the sidewalks of Inman Park before ending my day at Le Petit Marché. I sat by the window with a warm slice of quiche and a glass of sweet tea, listening to the quiet murmur of conversations and cutlery. The sun dipped, and everything felt folded in just right.
Plan your Atlanta day trip:
- Drive Time from: Centrally located; easy to reach from most neighborhoods
- Vibe: Creative, cozy, layered with art and community
- Highlights: Festival on Ponce (spring and fall), Swan Coach House Gallery, Folk Art Restaurant, Wagaya, Le Petit Marché
- Best Time: April and October for festival weather; year-round for dining and gallery visits
- Cost: Meals ~$12–25; galleries often free; festival entry free, with items for sale
Callaway Botanical Gardens
“Let’s not rush,” I said as we stepped onto the path into the Day Butterfly Center. It was warm and quiet inside—lush with green, with delicate wings brushing past my shoulder. A blue morpho landed on a nearby flower and sat still. For a moment, so did we.
Outside, the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl was in bloom—petals soft and pink, colors layered like watercolor. The scent of fresh pine mingled with faint florals, and the sunlight filtered through tall trees just enough to keep us cool. Every trail invited us to keep wandering. I remember thinking, “This is a place that asks you to slow down.”
We stopped for lunch at the on-site café and shared a roasted veggie wrap with herb cream cheese and a side of potato salad with dill. The wrap was warm, earthy, and bright from the carrots and squash. The tea was unsweetened but fragrant with lemon. We ate outside, quiet but content, watching dragonflies dart across the lawn.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Atlanta: ~1.5 hours southwest
- Vibe: Tranquil, floral, restorative
- Highlights: Butterfly Center, Azalea Bowl, walking trails, Robin Lake Beach (seasonal)
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for peak blooms; fall for cooler walks
- Cost: General admission ~$25/person; lunch ~$10–15/person
- Hours: 9am–6pm daily (seasonal hours may vary)
Alpharetta
“It’s livelier than I expected,” I said as we stepped into Avalon, where string lights crisscrossed overhead and shop windows glowed warm in the late afternoon. Kids played on the green while couples sipped coffee on shaded benches. Everything felt thoughtfully placed, like someone had designed it to be exactly this comfortable.
We browsed bookstores and home goods, then wandered a few blocks to the historic downtown—charming with its brick sidewalks and small galleries. The vibe shifted slightly, from polished to personal. It felt good to move between the two.
We ate at South Main Kitchen, where I had seared salmon over stone-ground grits with roasted tomatoes and a lemon beurre blanc. The fish flaked apart with a touch of my fork, the grits buttery and soft, the tomatoes just sweet enough to brighten every bite. I sat back, took a sip of iced tea, and said, “They know what they’re doing here.”
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Atlanta: ~40 minutes north
- Vibe: Upscale, friendly, relaxed
- Highlights: Avalon, Downtown Alpharetta, food scene, local shops
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for patio dining and town festivals
- Cost: Shopping varies; lunch ~$20–30/person
- Hours: Shops and restaurants generally 10am–9pm
Marietta, Georgia
We arrived just as the courthouse clock chimed noon. Around Glover Park, kids chased pigeons near the fountain, and shop doors stood open to let in the breeze. It felt like a town that lived in the present but kept its past nearby—comfortable in its own rhythm.
We wandered through the Marietta History Center, where railroad exhibits and heirloom quilts painted a portrait of everyday lives through time. Just outside, brick sidewalks led us past antiques, bakeries, and boutiques. Murals bloomed along alleyways, and I caught myself thinking, “This place knows who it is.”
Lunch was at Stockyard Burgers and Bones, just off the square. I ordered the pimento cheese burger with house-cut fries. The bun was pillowy and warm, the burger charred at the edges and juicy inside, with sharp pimento cheese melting into the corners. The fries were still sizzling, dusted with rosemary and sea salt. The whole place smelled like spice and sizzling cast iron, and I didn’t rush a single bite.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Atlanta: ~30 minutes northwest
- Vibe: Charming, historic, community-focused
- Highlights: Marietta Square, Marietta History Center, Glover Park, Strand Theatre
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for markets and outdoor events
- Cost: History Center ~$10; lunch ~$10–20/person
- Hours: Most attractions 10am–5pm; restaurants open later
Blue Ridge
“Let’s take the scenic way,” I said before we even got there. The road curved through hills and tall trees, opening now and then to wide mountain views. In Blue Ridge, time stretched out. We wandered through the downtown art galleries and antique stores.
We took the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway for a short ride along the Toccoa River, windows open to the breeze.
Lunch was at Harvest on Main, where I ordered the trout BLT—crispy bacon, fresh tomato, and flaky grilled trout on toasted sourdough. It came with rosemary roasted potatoes and a slice of house-made pickle that added just the right bite. The restaurant smelled like herbs and wood smoke, and everything about it felt warm. I looked out at the quiet town and thought, “We don’t have to be anywhere else today.”
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Atlanta: ~2 hours north
- Vibe: Peaceful, scenic, tucked away
- Highlights: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Downtown shops, hiking trails, Harvest on Main
- Best Time to Visit: Fall for color; spring for blooming trails
- Cost: Railway ~$50/person; lunch ~$15–25/person
- Hours: Shops 10am–6pm; train schedule varies by season
Augusta, Georgia
We started our day near the river, where the sidewalks were quiet and the air smelled faintly like damp brick and magnolia. Augusta felt older than its buildings—grounded, measured. We walked slowly through the historic district, past porches with white columns and hanging ferns, until we reached the Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson.
Inside, the air was cool and still. Each room held just enough furniture to feel lived-in without feeling staged. The guide spoke softly, pointing out details like the fireplace where young “Tommy” would have warmed his hands during cold winters. I stood by the study window, looking out, and thought, “This is where a future president watched the world begin.”
For lunch, we headed to Hildebrandt’s, a family-run deli just a few blocks away. I ordered the German roast beef sandwich on rye, with a side of warm potato salad spiced with mustard and onion. The sandwich was simple but generous—layers of tender meat, tangy pickles, and a toasted crunch that hit just right. The sweet tea came in a mason jar, ice clinking gently, and I sat back in the wood-paneled dining room feeling like we’d found one of Augusta’s best-kept secrets.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time from Atlanta: ~2.5 hours east
- Vibe: Historic, reflective, Southern-paced
- Highlights: Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson, Augusta Riverwalk, downtown shops and cafés
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall for garden blooms and mild weather
- Cost: Museum tour ~$5–7; lunch ~$10–15/person
- Hours: Wilson home open Wed–Sat, 10am–4pm; restaurants typically 11am–3pm
Conclusion: Why Georgia Stays With You
We went looking for places. What we found were feelings. A quiet path on Jekyll Island where driftwood rose like sculpture. A biscuit in Savannah that made us sit still and just chew. A train ride through the mountains with nothing to do but watch the world pass by. Georgia didn’t just fill our itinerary—it filled the space between.
There was variety here, yes—coast and forest, city and square, waterfalls and wide porches. But more than that, there was rhythm. A sense of time moving gently. People who took pride in where they lived. Meals that tasted like memory. I kept thinking, “This is what travel’s supposed to feel like.”
And as we drove home—crumbs still on the dashboard, maps folded on the seat beside us—we were already planning where to return first.
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