Georgia – Always on My Mind
The Peach state has so many nicknames and popular cultural references it’s hard to know if you’ll be in a booming metropolis, a charming historic small town, or a darling southern state with a lot of taste and sass – spoiler – it is all of that and much, much more!
Play Hard – Time flies when you are having fun!
Atlanta is the booming metropolis of Georgia and still one of the most devoutly Southern-bread places you will find. With a deep and rich history real and from the movies – Gone with the Wind anyone- the choices for any activity whim are endless. Some things should be seen simply for their historical impact, then others for the aforementioned and because it’s amazing, and Centennial Olympic Park is one of those places. In 1996, Altana was the host of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games and left a 22-acre greenspace as a gift when it left. And as always when visiting an Olympic site, the biggest and best photo opportunity are the rings – here they just happen to be a fountain – the Fountain of Rings can cool anyone off on a hot Atlanta day.
The World of Coca-Cola is a 20-acre complex dedicated to the fun and iconic memory of one of the world’s favorite brands. Located in downtown Atlanta, one of the more famous and favorite things to do on the property is taste-test different products. There are things for those of all ages, meet the Coca-Cola Polar Bear or watch the bottling process, it's all there!
The historic SAM Shortline Railroad in Cordele is an actual rolling state park! The vintage train cars roll through southwest Georgia touring three different towns. Two private luxury cars can be booked for a group or special outing. The Railroad depot in Plains- one of the stops – was reopened in 1975 as Jimmy Carter's Presidential Campaign headquarters. A fun or romantic late 1940s feel a day playing along the rail will have everyone shouting "all aboard!"
The Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, home to Xavier Roberts creator of the Cabbage Patch doll. Visit and watch LPNs- or Licensed Patch Nurses- attend to the babies. All visitors can adopt a doll on-site and have a full adoption experience. The grandeous white mansion is impressive with Warhol's hanging in multiple rooms its hard to miss the effect on pop culture the dolls had – it's fun for those of all ages wanting to be a part of toy history.
For those wanting a bit of kitsch, fun, and some pop culture in Cherry Log is Expedition Big Foot: The Sasquatch Museum. The country's largest collection of genuine artifacts and the only Bigfoot Research and Tech Vehicle. A self-guided museum, they are not only full of memorabilia, but they are also a research and reporting center. They love to have visitors of all types: skeptics, believers, and "knowers" are all welcome.
Stay and put your feet up– The options are endless, too bad the time for travel is not.
Choosing a place to stay in Georgia cannot be done without including a stay in the gorgeous Savannah. The Hamilton-Turner Inn is one of the state's most historic hotels. Simply stunning from the inside out, the 17-room historic mansion is what daydreams of homes from the past are made of complete with period-specific furniture and modern southern charm to make it perfect.
The Burke Mansion is the Bed and Breakfast in Macon every other should be modeled after. All of the rooms are set with their own décor and some have 11-foot ceilings and others claw foot tubs. A nice change of pace from a normal and trendy hotel, the service is a priority and falls in line with the historic ambiance of the Mansion.
The spectacular Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris is set in the mountains of Georgia and is a bit like stepping out of the South and into the West. Inspired by the local Cherokee culture the focus of the Resort are health, wellness, balance, and spiritual health. All of this is accomplished by activities like world-class golfing and horseback riding. Perfect for a rejuvenating weekend of cabin chic luxury.
In Clayton, you will stumble across the most exceptional inn, The White Birch Inn is simply the best. With daily wine and cheese hours, turndown service, and a lovely breakfast as part of each stay, indulgence, and relaxation is the name of the game. With only about half a dozen rooms, every whim is catered to; the service and stay are superb.
A little change of pass at the Historic Banning Mills, treehouses are an option! They have modern convinces, a king bed, gas log fireplace, hot tub, and a covered porch overlooking the Gorge. There are actually in the trees and are accessed by a "sky bridge.". Beautiful views and a unique and very well-equipped place to reconnect.
Out for Adventure- The best adventures are those you seemingly tumble upon.
Almost like a best-kept secret most travelers immediately think of other states when trying to hit the beach, but Georgia is home to some of the most wonderful islands on the Atlantic. The islands are so lovely that they have been given the moniker the Golden Isles. A set of four barrier islands – which allow for beautiful natural changes to the sandy topography and lend to a plethora of tidal pools, marshes, and other sea-level benefits. St Simon Island is the largest of the island and has a history dating back prior to 1742. Rampant with plantation ruins the history of the island is combined with dining, shopping, and outdoor activities to occupy the entire year. After a day of hanging out at the beach or searching the centuries-old oak trees for the “tree spirits” – a beloved tractions of finding carved faces in the live trees – it’s time to relax.
Sometimes the best things are tucked right in plain sight. The Allman Brother Band Museum in Macon is one of those things. Known as "The Big House" it was home to the original members and their family and friends in the early 1970s. There are rooms where the band would originally rehearse, bedrooms for band members, and even the pool table Cher and Gregg owned. A different kind of adventure, a trip through the museum is impressive.
Milledgeville is a beautiful town with history and depth that begs exploration. One of the most facilitating places in the historic town is Andalusia Farms which was home to the infamous Flannery O'Conner for almost 15 years, including the entirety of the 1950s. The town was the capital of Georgia at one point including during the Civil War. Close to Lake Sinclair and Oconee River, there is plenty of history and outdoors to explore.
The Savannah College of Art and Design – or SCAD as most lovingly call it- has a phenomenal museum of art the SCAD Museum of Art. Relatively new – at least for an art museum- the amount of exploration in the facility is unparalleled. It contains thousands of pieces of art, including what the museum calls "works of haute couture." With educational pieces, exhibits, and interactive spaces, a day spent roaming and uncovering magnificent works is a day well-spent.
Georgia is much, much more than the peaches it’s known for, though don’t forget to pick some home to bring home!
Links:
Cabbagepatchkids.com
Samshortline.com
Worldofcocacola.com
Gwcca.org
Hamiltonturnerinn.com
Brasstownvalley.com
Burkemansionmacom.com
Whitebirchinn.net
Historicbanningmills.com
Thebighousemuseum.com
Goldenisles.com
Andalusiafarms.com
Scadmoa.org
