Georgia doesn’t just tell stories—it invites you to walk right into them. Between Spanish moss and street murals, courthouse squares and neon-lit skylines, I found a state stitched together with history, food, and texture. I wandered cobblestone lanes that whispered secrets, stood inside Civil War fortresses, watched whale sharks glide in silent blue, and ate biscuits that left me speechless. From the coast to the hills, Georgia moved slow in the best way—letting every moment linger just long enough to matter.
Best Things to Do in Georgia
Stepping back in time in the Savannah Historic District
The Savannah Historic District didn’t feel like a place you visit—it felt like a place you return to, even if it’s your first time. I walked beneath live oaks draped in Spanish moss, the sun dappling through branches like the light was remembering something. Wrought-iron balconies and cobblestone streets wrapped around squares that felt more like sanctuaries than intersections. Somewhere between Monterey Square and the cathedral bells ringing faintly in the distance, I thought, "This city doesn’t just hold its past—it breathes it."
I wandered through antique shops and quiet art galleries, let the scent of gardenia guide me down hidden alleyways, and paused at every square like it was a chapter break. Time moved differently here. I didn’t rush. I let the rhythm of horse-drawn carriages and café jazz lead the way.
For dinner, I stopped at The Grey—a restored 1938 Greyhound bus terminal turned restaurant with a James Beard pedigree. I ordered the duck confit and braised greens, with cornbread so rich it felt like dessert. Everything on the plate was rooted in Southern tradition but elevated with intention—like Savannah itself.
Where I Stayed: I booked a room at The Marshall House, a historic hotel with creaky floors, tall windows, and a balcony that let me watch the city breathe at night. That evening, the past felt close—and somehow comforting.
Savannah Historic District At a Glance
- Location: Savannah, GA 31401
- Vibe: Elegant, storied, atmospheric
- Highlights: Forsyth Park, 22 historic squares, River Street, museums, architecture
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for azaleas and cooler air; fall for thinner crowds
- Cost: Free to explore; some home and museum tours $10–$20
- Hours: Always open, best explored during daylight
- Tip: Wear good shoes and take your time—the magic is in the slow meandering
Finding the modern West in the South at Booth Western Art Museum
The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville took me by surprise. Tucked into north Georgia, it promised cowboy hats and bronzes—but delivered something deeper. As I stepped inside the sweeping lobby and saw the enormous canvases of open plains and restless skies, I realized this wasn’t kitsch—it was reverence. Somewhere between a Frederic Remington bronze and a portrait of a Lakota elder, I paused and thought, “This isn’t about the past—it’s about how we carry it forward.”
The museum was sprawling and thoughtful. It told the story of the American West through fine art, Native voices, presidential letters, and contemporary pieces that wrestled with mythology and identity. I lingered in the Warhol-meets-Wyatt exhibit and stood still before a stormy Georgia O’Keeffe horizon. Even in the hushed galleries, the space felt wide open—like it had been built to echo.
For lunch, I walked to Appalachian Grill, just a few blocks away. I ordered the trout amandine with a pecan crust and sweet potato mash, and it tasted like something the South and West might’ve made together if they ever sat down for dinner. Warm, rustic, and unexpected.
Where I Stayed: I spent the night at the Courtyard by Marriott Cartersville, modern and close enough that I could return the next morning for another quiet hour among the canyons and cowboys.
Booth Western Art Museum At a Glance
- Location: 501 N Museum Dr, Cartersville, GA 30120
- Vibe: Expansive, thoughtful, unexpectedly moving
- Highlights: Western landscapes, presidential gallery, Native American art, rotating modern exhibits
- Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings for quieter galleries
- Cost: $13 adults; $11 seniors; $10 youth; free under 12
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm
- Tip: Don’t skip the letters and artifacts in the lower level—they add quiet emotional weight to the art upstairs
Feeling the pull of the deep at Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta didn’t feel like a building—it felt like an ocean cracked open. I stepped into the Ocean Voyager gallery and found myself nose-to-glass with a whale shark, its gentle bulk gliding overhead like a living planet. Surrounded by the shimmer of thousands of fish, I stood still and thought, “This is the sound of wonder—quiet and wide.”
I wandered slowly through the galleries: belugas curling through cold water, jellyfish glowing like pulses of light, sea otters twisting with impossible grace. In the Cold Water Quest exhibit, I watched a giant Pacific octopus shift shape behind glass and felt, oddly, like I was the one being studied. The entire place felt deeply alive—not just for kids, but for anyone who needed reminding of how big and strange our planet really is.
After a few hours under water (at least in spirit), I walked to Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria nearby and ordered a margherita pizza with a glass of peach iced tea. It was warm, grounding, and just what I needed after floating for so long among fish and thought.
Where I Stayed: I checked into the Glenn Hotel, a historic boutique stay just a short walk away. The rooftop bar gave me a view of the city’s pulse after a day spent underwater—and somehow, both felt equally full of life.
Georgia Aquarium At a Glance
- Location: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
- Vibe: Majestic, immersive, awe-inducing
- Highlights: Ocean Voyager tunnel, whale sharks, beluga whales, sea otters
- Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for smaller crowds
- Cost: $47.99+ general admission; timed-entry required
- Hours: Daily, 9am–6pm (varies by day and season)
- Tip: Book online ahead of time and plan for at least 2–3 hours—you’ll want to linger
Walking through echoes at Fort Pulaski National Monument
Fort Pulaski stands on Cockspur Island like a scar that tells its story gently. As I crossed the wooden bridge and stepped through the drawbridge tunnel, the thick brick walls swallowed the sounds of the outside world. Cannons sat silent. Courtyards bloomed with weeds. And somewhere near the moat’s edge, I thought, “This is history held in the stillness.”
The fort was built in the 1800s, captured by Union forces during the Civil War, and now kept with care by the National Park Service. Inside, I walked through long vaulted chambers, stared up at artillery pockmarks in the walls, and read about how rifled cannon fire changed the future of warfare right here. But outside was just as stirring—breezes from the Savannah River, birds overhead, marsh grass bending in every direction.
After exploring the fort and walking a short nature trail along the island’s edge, I drove back toward Tybee and stopped at Coco’s Sunset Grille for lunch. I ordered blackened shrimp tacos and a side of hush puppies, then sat on the patio watching boats drift by in the slow tide. It felt like the perfect way to return to the present—salty, bright, and unhurried.
Where I Stayed: I stayed in nearby Savannah at The Gastonian, a historic inn full of creaky charm and morning biscuits delivered straight to the door. It matched the spirit of Fort Pulaski—graceful, grounded, and full of stories.
Fort Pulaski National Monument At a Glance
- Location: US-80, Savannah, GA 31410 (near Tybee Island)
- Vibe: Historic, windswept, contemplative
- Highlights: Civil War-era fort, drawbridges, cannon-lined ramparts, marsh trails
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall; mornings are breezier and less crowded
- Cost: $10 per adult; valid for 7 consecutive days
- Hours: Daily, 9am–5pm
- Tip: Bring water and bug spray—especially if you're walking the longer trails
Wandering through wonder at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Botanical Garden felt like stepping into a secret world blooming right above the city. Tucked alongside Piedmont Park, it rose in layers—canopies of orchids, living sculptures, and bridges suspended through green. I walked slowly through the tropical conservatory, the air thick with humidity and perfume, and somewhere near the Chihuly glass installation glinting in the light, I thought, "This isn’t just a garden—it’s a gallery of living art."
Outside, I strolled through the edible garden, the Japanese maple walk, and the children’s garden that felt like a storybook brought to life. My favorite moment came along the Kendeda Canopy Walk, where I floated high above the forest floor, held only by a gently swaying steel suspension. All around me: birdsong, rustling leaves, and the hum of Atlanta just barely audible beyond the trees. It was nature—curated but not tamed.
Afterward, I walked to nearby Lure in Midtown for lunch. I ordered the wood-grilled swordfish with lemon-herb butter and charred broccolini. It tasted clean and elegant, like something grown just a few feet from sunlight and shade.
Where I Stayed: I stayed at the Hotel Clermont, a bold boutique stay with rooftop views and midcentury-meets-quirky charm. After a day of botanical beauty, the garden suite room felt like the perfect thematic echo.
Atlanta Botanical Garden At a Glance
- Location: 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
- Vibe: Lush, curated, dreamlike
- Highlights: Orchid house, canopy walk, living sculptures, seasonal displays
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for blooming color; holidays for Garden Lights
- Cost: $25–$30 adults; discounts for children and seniors
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9am–5pm; extended hours for seasonal events
- Tip: Visit during a weekday morning for space to roam and light perfect for photos
Tasting stories on the streets with Taste of Thomasville Food Tours
Taste of Thomasville wasn’t just a food tour—it was a walking conversation with a place. As I followed our guide down red-brick sidewalks and past century-old storefronts, I didn’t feel like a tourist—I felt like a guest. We tasted our way through local gems: bacon-topped deviled eggs, fresh Gulf shrimp, house-made flatbreads, and a lemon square that I’m still thinking about. Somewhere near a mural tucked down a quiet alley, I thought, “This is what it means to really meet a town—bite by bite.”
The stops weren’t just delicious—they were personal. Restaurant owners came out to greet us, shared their recipes, their stories, even the quirks of their historic buildings. Between bites, I learned about Thomasville’s Victorian architecture, its agricultural roots, and the people who pour soul into this little Southern town. The pacing was perfect. Nothing felt rushed. Every stop felt earned.
After the tour, I stayed a while at Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop, where I ordered a charcuterie board with a glass of crisp white wine and watched the afternoon drift by. The cheese was local. The wine was light. The moment, like the tour, lingered.
Where I Stayed: I checked into the Thomasville Bed and Breakfast, a lovingly restored inn with four-poster beds and magnolia trees brushing the windows. That night, I didn’t need a TV or playlist—just the taste memory of the day.
Taste of Thomasville Food Tours At a Glance
- Location: Downtown Thomasville, GA 31792
- Vibe: Flavorful, friendly, storytelling-forward
- Highlights: Five restaurant stops, local bites, guided history walk
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall for pleasant walking weather
- Cost: $47 per person (subject to change)
- Hours: Tours typically run Thursday–Saturday, 10:45am–1:30pm
- Tip: Come hungry and wear comfy shoes—you’ll leave full in every way
Closing Thoughts
Georgia stayed with me. In every bite, bloom, brushstroke, and brick, I felt the state’s rhythm—slow where it counts, alive where it matters. I touched Civil War ruins and glass jellyfish, strolled under moss-draped oaks and beside neon-lit aquariums. Whether I was eating shrimp in Thomasville or standing beside a cannon in a coastal fort, it all felt connected—history, hospitality, and heart braided into something deeply Southern and uniquely Georgian. And I left not just fed, but filled.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Stepping back in time in the Savannah Historic District
- • Finding the modern West in the South at Booth Western Art Museum
- • Feeling the pull of the deep at Georgia Aquarium
- • Walking through echoes at Fort Pulaski National Monument
- • Wandering through wonder at Atlanta Botanical Garden
- • Tasting stories on the streets with Taste of Thomasville Food Tours