The Newcomer

By steve

May 28, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

I would tell them Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee. I would tell them to rent a boat and within minutes you will feel like you are a million miles away from Atlanta, not just 2 hours away.

By Harold

May 28, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Tattletales of course!

By Jimmy

May 28, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

I would send you straight into the heart of intown Atlanta. First, you could try and navigate the crumbling sidewalks of Midtown.A challenge not for the faint of heart. Later that night, you could witness the Robocop spray vagrants and panhandlers outside a popular downtown bar. After that, if you needed some adult entertainment Atlanta delivers. There are many adult venues in the city that allow you to express yourself.It could be one on the strip bars or sexual merchadise stores located along the Chesire Bridge corridor. Granted, action packed excitement would like this would hinge on the fact you did not get snarled in one of Atlanta’s infamous traffic jams. The metro offers something for everyone.

By tucansam

May 28, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Come to the Georgia Peach Festival in Peach County Georgia between June 13 and 21st for a great time. Come see why we have bragging rights. There are hotels, bed & breakfasts and lots of stuff to do. And don’t forget to come and get a picture and a taste of the World’s Largest Peach Cobbler! For info, visit us at georgiapeachfestival.com …yum!

By GAnaturebuff

May 28, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

There are so many things to do outdoors here.
My favorite is the zipline canopy tour in historic Banning Mills http://historicbanningmills.com/canopy.html. Also in Helen there is some great hiking and lovely views, Ravens Cliff Falls and Dukes Creek Falls are both gorgeous.
Tallulah Gorge is breathtaking and it only 2 hours north of Atlanta, deepest gorge in east of the mississippi. Near Atlanta is sweetwater creek that has some fantastic ruins from the civil war era. These are just a couple but GA is full of some wonderful things to do just around Atlanta…

By Jeff

May 28, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Jamie:

I’m going to skip over the major things in ATL, as most people know about those or can find them relatively easily.

Instead, here’s what I suggest:

Cloudland Canyon State Park. On the western rim of Lookout Mountain, one of the more secluded (re: two lane roads for quite a while to get there) state parks, and some AMAZING views and waterfalls.

Vogel State Park: Good, quiet times up in the mountains. Nice lake for fishing and swimming, secluded camping area, and miles of trails.

Amicalola State Park: Also in the mountains, this park offers much, including the Len Foote Hike Inn - a rustic in with no electronic devices allowed, and a 5 mile hike from the closest parking lot.

New Echota site near Calhoun is great for those who want to learn about the Cherokee, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries up to and including the Trail of Tears. The Etowah Indian Mounds in Cartersville offers some history on pre-Cherokee indian civilizations in the area.

Also in Cartersville, you have the Booth Western Art Museum, Red Top Mountain State Park, and Lake Allatoona. All worthy visits.

While in the Cartersville area - in the spring and summer - drop by Rome to check out the Rome Braves. Not only are they a minor league team affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, but it is frequently possible to check out actual Atlanta Braves stars getting back in shape to come back from the DL.

The last site north of Atlanta I will mention is Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield. The loss of this mountain played greatly into Sherman’s sack of Atlanta and his March to the Sea, and on a clear day one can easily see downtown Atlanta.

South of Atlanta, we have the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, as well as nearby Callaway Gardens and the Pine Mountain Animal Safari. Also in the area here - though something I’ve never actually gone to - is FDR State Park.

Further south, we get into the Plains/Americus/Albany area, and there is a remarkable amount of things to do here, about an hour from the nearest interstate. Plains has many things related to its most famous son, former President Jimmy Carter. Also in Sumter County, we have Americus, home of Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village. There is also the infamous Andersonville Confederate Prison nearby, which housed captured Yankees in the Civil War.

In Albany, we have arena football, more minor league baseball, and the Flint Riverquarium.

Traveling around in South GA, there are multiple hunting lodges, wineries, and fully restored antebellum plantations. Getting back to the indians, there is also the Kolomoki Indian Mounds in Early County.

Throughout the state in the fall we have High School Football every Friday night in nearly every town. To those from Virginia and Texas, trust me when I say not even you have witnessed the religion that is High School Football in the state of Georgia.

In Athens, GA, the fall comes alive with the sound of 96,000 screaming members of the Bulldog Nation pack into Sanford Stadium to cheer on their Beloved Dawgs. Almost that many pack into the parking lots and bars surrounding campus for some good old fashioned tail gating and beer drinking. I just wouldn’t suggest sporting a Florida, Georgia Tech, or Barack Obama t-shirt when in this area, as all are about equally hated, and you will be made to feel VERY uncomfortable at the least.

East GA also has many great things, but this West GA native doesn’t really have any experience with them, so I encourage you to get over there, explore, and let me know!

As you can see, GA isn’t a vacation - it is a way of life!

By jgumbrecht_0508aa

May 28, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

This is fascinating. I’ve never even HEARD of most of this stuff. I’ll take people over pamphlets any time…

By Damon

May 28, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Just don’t depend on such publications or websites of any Atlanta provider. They seriously lack the intelligence to print or update information for planning anything. Well unless its coverage of hip/hop rap music artists…er No thanks. I’ll check elsewhere than accessatlanta , ajc.com or creative loafing!!!

By Kat

May 28, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Thanks a million, GAnaturebuff! I thought I knew all of the cool outdoor things to do in GA, but the zip line in Banning Mills is news to me! I am totally gonna do that!

By andthensome

May 28, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

Thanks y’all. I was thinking about not taking a vacation. With gas prices so high, it pays to visit places in the state. Can’t wait to see what else appears on this site.

By Jeff

May 28, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

andthensome:

Single best resource for things to do throughout the state is GeorgiaParks.org

Not only do they list every state park in the state, they also list many things that are close by to the parks - such as Callaway Gardens, the Pine Mountain Animal Safari, Warm Springs, and Columbus on the FD Roosevelt State Park page.

I tend to go to that site, open up the map full screen, close my eyes and point, then go to one of the state parks in the area I’ve pointed to. There is LITERALLY not a single resident of this state outside of a 100 mile radius from a State Park, at least as the crow flies.

By One

May 28, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

I’m going to Athens soon, and I’ll be wearing my “Barack in 08” t-shirt, wearing my GT hat, and I DARE a muther&%^$# to try me!!! I double-dog dare ‘em!!!!!

By Jeff

May 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

One:

Won’t be bad in summer. Hardly anybody there. Those that ARE there are probably either the local rednecks or yuppies trying to get through school faster. I’d stay closer to the yuppies if I were you.

FALL is when it is bad, and even then mostly just on game days. That is when - by some reports I’ve heard - Athens has a bigger population than many of the state’s Regional Cities.

By AAdawg

May 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Try coastal Georgia for a different type of beach. While our beaches aren’t pure white sugar sand, they are wide enough with firm sand to make great walking and bike riding. Skip Tybee Island, it’s getting crowded and try Jekyll Island to the south. I recommend staying at the Beachview Club on Jekyll, but the Days Inn will do if you’re on a budget. In addition to the beaches, biking, fishing and golf, there’s a neat historic area on the back side of the island. It’s the old winter colony of the wealthy 19th and 20th century industrialists and such (think Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, Gould, etc.)

If you need a little more nightlife and excitement, you can stay on nearby St. Simon’s Island. Brunch at the 4th of May or Barbara Jean’s (just beware of the waiting time).

And there’s always day trips to Cumberland Island or Sapelo Island, but you must sign up for these in advance.

By One

May 28, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Jeff, doesn’t matter, I’ll be going back in the fall, same attire, with my friends Smith & Wesson as accessories!!!!

By marvin

May 28, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this

@One: pointless gun violence aside…

@jeff: you make great suggestions. new echota is maybe my favorite georgia historical site; and vogel/blood mountain combine to be my favorite camping/backpacking chorus. you seemed to have covered the majority of the state…however, there are many wonderful places along georgia’s northwest i-75 corridor between calhoun and chattanooga. to name a few…. the cohutta wilderness in particular jack’s river falls, praters mill…when something is happening, fort mountain, chickamauga park…nice park and a somewhat interesting history lesson for what it is.

and yes, though not in georgia, chattanooga is a great place retreat for the evening and another day of fun stuff (if you don’t feel like coming back to atlanta).

By Jeff

May 29, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

marvin:

I knew about Fort Mountain, and I’ve been there, but other than the view of the surrounding countryside, I didn’t really enjoy it as much.

Chickamauga is another civil war battlefield worthy of a mention, so I’m glad you did, as I have never been there.

I’ve never gotten out into the Cohutta Wilderness, so I’m glad you mentioned it as well.

One other place that I’ve found pretty cool and is up in the general Dalton area: Carter’s Lake. Very relaxing out there, nowhere NEAR the crowds of Lanier or Allatoona.