Top Places to Visit in Georgia

Georgia offers an exceptional range of experiences — from one of the great American cities to wild barrier islands, Civil War history, and mountain wilderness.

Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in America. Its Historic District, laid out in 1733 on a grid of 22 green squares (21 survive), is a National Historic Landmark District. Spanish moss hangs from live oaks over wide brick streets; antebellum mansions and historic churches line the squares. The waterfront River Street, Forsyth Park, and Bonaventure Cemetery are highlights. Savannah is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the US.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is the largest and most southerly of Georgia's barrier islands, accessible only by ferry from St. Marys. It's one of the most remarkable wilderness experiences in the eastern US: miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach, ancient maritime forest, wild horses that roam freely, and the ruins of the Carnegie family's Dungeness mansion. Visitor numbers are strictly limited to preserve the wilderness character.

Appalachian Trail — Springer Mountain to Amicalola Falls — Georgia has 78 miles of the AT, beginning at Springer Mountain. The southern terminus is accessible from Amicalola Falls State Park, where the 2,190-mile trail begins its journey to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Thousands of "thru-hikers" start each spring.

Atlanta's Civil Rights Sites — The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood preserves Dr. King's birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, and his tomb. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights downtown is one of the most powerful museum experiences in the South.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the largest blackwater swamp in North America — 438,000 acres of cypress swamps, prairies, and hammock islands. Canoeing through the swamp, surrounded by alligators, sandhill cranes, and pitcher plants, is an unforgettable experience.

Stone Mountain Park — the massive exposed granite dome east of Atlanta is the largest exposed piece of granite in the world. A large Confederate memorial is carved on its face — the park contains a cable car, hiking trail to the summit, and extensive recreational facilities.