The 18 Most Beautiful Places In Georgia, According To A Born-And-Raised Local
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the breezy barrier islands, the Peach State is full of surprises.
Growing up somewhere, it can be easy to become immune to its unique virtues. Georgia is home to sweeping farmlands and soaring mountain ranges, lush pine forests and breezy barrier islands, and even bustling cities and charming small towns. With no shortage of topographies and landmarks to explore, the Peach State won’t leave any visitor wondering about its natural appeal.
As a born-and-raised Georgia native, I’ve explored the state and its varying locales, having spent days wandering the cobblestone streets of Savannah, climbing up the Blue Ridge Mountains, touring Atlanta museums, and biking on a beach cruiser in many a coastal town. While there’d be no way to round up every special place in the state, I’m happy to list some favorites. Here are the 18 most beautiful places in Georgia, according to a local.
Related: The 27 Most Beautiful Places In Texas, According To A Local
Jekyll Island
This Georgia barrier island on the Atlantic Coast—between Jacksonville and Savannah—offers more than 20 miles of bike trails and walking routes that meander through marshes and hover atop wooden boardwalks. Seasonal ranger walks allow you to experience the area's scenic wonders, and travelers with binoculars flock to walking trails for self-guided nature tours and afternoons spent spotting birds beneath the trees.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
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Along the border between Georgia and South Carolina sits Tallulah Falls, a small town abounding in natural blessings. The biggest draw in the area is Tallulah Gorge State Park, the centerpiece of which is the namesake gorge that has been dubbed one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia." It stretches two miles long and drops almost 1,000 feet deep, carved out over centuries by the Tallulah River. The Tallulah Gorge Rim Trail is one of the best ways to see the gorge and take in the beauty of the landscape.
Cumberland Island
Steeped in history, this enchanting Georgia barrier island feels suspended in time. Today, Cumberland Island is mostly protected land under the classification of National Seashore. The 17-mile-long strip of land remains largely in its natural state, populated by dense maritime forest of live oaks, saw palmetto, sabal palms, and pines. Explore the many historic ruins and natural wonders scattered across the island.
Little Grand Canyon
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Also claimed as one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia," Providence Canyon State Park is a 2,706-acre recreation area with unique geological formations you wouldn't necessarily expect to see in the Peach State. Arizona, Enjoy views of the canyons from the Rim Trail or get a little more adventurous by hiking to the bottom of the deepest canyons. One of the most popular hikes, the 5-mile Canyon Loop Trail, circles nine of the canyons.
Explore the Little Grand Canyon
Helen
With less than 1,000 residents, this charming Bavarian town centered on around 2 square miles is undoubtedly tiny—and feels like you're far away from Georgia. The steeply pitched roofs, quaint cross-gables, and colorful half-timbering exude fairytale charm, and Helen being so close to the mountains of Georgia offers unmatched outdoor recreation. Its annual Oktoberfest brings visitors flocking in the fall for revelry.
Rock City Gardens
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Right near the border of northwest Georgia and Tennessee, you'll find a true natural marvel of massive ancient rock formations, panoramic views, and beautiful gardens with over 400 native plant species. Rock City Gardens rests atop Lookout Mountain, and offers many ways to explore, including the 4,100-foot Enchanted Trail that highlights caves, rock formations, and more.
St. Simons Island
Georgia’s largest barrier island, which is known for its moss-hung oak trees, feels like a true escape. Beyond the quiet beaches and breezy outdoor activities, the walkable village on St. Simons Island has you feeling like a main character in a novel. Make sure to check out the scenic Christ Church Frederica, which is one of the oldest churches in the state.
Forsyth Park
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While you can freely take a walk through any one of Savannah's many city squares and parks—which pop up every few blocks, ensuring you're never too far from a green space to wander—the biggest and perhaps most beautiful in the historic district is the 30-acre Forsyth Park, which neighbors The Savannah College of Art and Design and has a majestic fountain and lots of paths winding beneath moss-draped oak trees.
Downtown Thomasville
Robbie Caponetto
On a sunny day, there's no better place to be than walking around the cobblestone streets of downtown Thomasville—a small town in southwest Georgia—which has shops and restaurants aplenty and captures a charming town-square feeling that is hard to come by nowadays. While the town is surrounded by its signature (and utterly gorgeous) farmlands and hunting camps, you'll not need to stray far from the downtown blocks. Make sure to stop into local boutiques for wares to bring home.
Callaway Resort & Gardens
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Sprawled over 2,500 acres, Callaway Resort & Gardens is located within the town of Pine Mountain and brings visitors year-round for seasonal events, outdoor recreation, and blooming floral displays, particularly in the spring. There are miles of trails and gardens to keep you busy all day, including the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, which is surrounded by gardens and filled with fluttering butterflies.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is one of Georgia's most lush and verdant gems that stretches for 867,000 mountainous and wooded acres. On a clear day, you can see four states from Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center, which is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level. Expect sweeping 360-degree views after a curvy, scenic drive and a short, paved path to the peak.
Explore the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site
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About three hours from Macon, you'll find a truly unique 54-acre site—the Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site—that happens to be the most intact Native American Mississippian culture site in the Southeast, featuring six earthen mounds, as well as a plaza, village site, and more. You can walk a nature trail along the Etowah River and check out artifacts of how early civilizations lived off the land and the forest.
Macon Cherry Blossom Festival
Robbie Caponetto
In March, around 350,000 Yoshino flowering cherry trees paint this small town pink. (Washington, D.C., by comparison, has only around 3,800 of them.) During the 10-day International Cherry Blossom Festival, thousands of people fill the streets of Macon to ring in spring with a parade, concerts, food and drink specials, and a giant fair.
Atlanta History Center
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Encompassing 33 acres of gardens, historic homes, and art and culture exhibitions, the Atlanta History Center is as much as breathtaking visit for the site alone as it is for the many attractions. Run by the Atlanta Historical Society, it was founded in 1926 to preserve and study Atlanta history.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
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The largest wetland in the South and another of the state's "Seven Natural Wonders," Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a 402,000-acre refuge for turtles, raccoons, black bears, deer, numerous birds, and more. It is also estimated that 12,000 alligators live within the refuge, too. Visitors can rent canoes or opt for guided boat tours to take in the swamp and its many critters.
Dahlonega
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Tucked in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this charming small town offers sweeping views and plenty to do, with hiking trails for the adventurous, an impressive collection of North Georgia wineries for weekend tours and tastings, and a historic town square with worn brick facades centered around a courthouse, which dates back to the state's early 19th-century gold rush. Plus, it gets decked out for Christmas, if you're ever looking for a Hallmark movie-worthy setting.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Alison Miksch
Founded in 1976, the Atlanta Botanical Garden spreads over 30 acres adjacent to the grassy sprawl of Piedmont Park, and its footprint includes many lush gardens, walkways, and art installations. As you explore, don’t miss the Fuqua Orchid Center, where you can see one of the most diverse collections of these plants in the world (it contains over 2,000 species of the delicate blooms). Additionally, it puts on an incredibly festive display during the holiday season.
Lake Lanier
Just around 45 minutes from Atlanta, man-made Lake Lanier is as pretty as it is expansive, stretching 38,000 acres. A favorite summer destination for Georgia natives, there are plenty of activities to partake in, from enjoying a boat day or kayaking the lake's many bays and isles. Sunsets here are the epitome of the beauty of Southern lake days.
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