Georgia travel guide
GEORGIA TRAVEL
Adairsville
History
Once a small Cherokee Indian village, Adairsville was named after Walter John S. Adair, a Scottish settler who fell in love and was married to a Cherokee Indian woman. This, of course, was before the forced removal of the Cherokee people in 1838.
Located in the Oothcalooga Valley in Bartow County, this northwestern Georgia destination was the first in the state to have their entire town listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today tourists flock to this quaint little town for antiquing and shopping at many of the unique boutiques in the town’s central business and retail district.
Tourism didn’t really come to Adairsville until 1991 when the 160-year-old Barnsley Gardens opened to the public.
Adairsville’s involvement in the Civil War stands out as a pivotal moment in the town’s history. What became known as the Great Locomotive Chase took place on April 12, 1862, when a group of Union spies stole a locomotive in Kennesaw and drove it north through Adairsville to Ringgold, where it was recovered. The incident was made into a feature file in 1956 by Walt Disney Studios. Every year come fall, the Great Locomotive Chase Festival, a three-day celebration, is held in remembrance of the event during the first weekend in October.
Tourists visiting Adairsville can still see the original depot that witnessed the pursuit of the steam locomotive General. The 1847 Railroad Depot is home to the Adairsville Welcome Center, which introduces visitors to the heritage of one of Georgia's most historic cities.
Why You Should Go
Adairsville provides the urban vacationer an opportunity to escape the heady rat race in a small town environment that still exhibits a great deal of 19th century charm. Rich with history, Adairsville, Cartersville and the surrounding Bartow County area offer home style and gourmet dining, museums, golf and resort relaxation opportunities
Main Attractions
How to Get There
Adairsville's location – 65 miles north of Atlanta – makes for a convenient overnight getaway. Three motels at I-75 Exit 306 offer comfortable accommodations at reasonable prices. RV campers are welcome at the Harvest Moon RV Park and Leisure Time RV Park.
Links of Interest
Blairsville
History
Union County was named after the Union Party, who strongly supported President Andrew Jackson for his policy of Indian removal. On Dec. 26, 1835, the Georgia General Assembly designated Union’s county seat in an act that read, “lot No. 273 of the ninth district and first section of, originally Cherokee, now Union county, and at a place now known by the name of Blairsville.” Reportedly the town’s namesake is Francis P. Blair, a prominent and influential man and a strong supporter of – you guessed it – the Union Party. Adjacent towns and counties in the area have similar ties to the Union Party that help to support this connection.
Why You Should Go
There’s a multitude of reasons to explore Blairsville and Union County. Deep in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest and Blue Ridge Mountains you can have an experience like no other: hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Lakes Winfield Scott and Nottely offer plenty of opportunities for water sport activities. Just a short distance south of Blairsville, tourists can explore eight spectacular waterfalls and examine petroglyphs left by ancient natives in the soapstone at the Trackrock Archeological Area.
Main Attractions
- Brasstown Bald: The highest mountain peak in Georgia, Brasstown Bald has a park with a picnic area. A small observation tower near the peak offers a short documentary that explores the change of seasons and the impact of pollution on the mountain. The peak may be reached by bus or by walking from a point halfway to the top. Private vehicles are not allowed beyond this point. Ngeogia.com/ang/Brasstown_Bald.
How to Get There
Take I-75 North to Canton Exit 268, and continue north on Ga. 5, which turns into U.S. 76 East. Turn right at U.S. 129 and you'll be in the heart of Blairsville. The drive is 116 miles and takes about two hours from Atlanta.
Links of Interest
Chickamauga Battlefield
History
The scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, Chickamauga was fought Sept. 18-20, 1863, along the Chickamauga Creek in North Georgia. The Union Army of the Cumberland fought to gain control of the Chattanooga region, the "Gateway to the Deep South," from the Confederate Army of Tennessee. The numerically superior Union forces had forced the Confederates to abandon Chattanooga. The arrival of Confederate reinforcements emboldened the Gen. Braxton Bragg to strike at the Federals before they could consolidate their army on Chattanooga. The Battle of Chickamauga resulted. Union Gen. William Rosecrans parried the thrust throughout the first two days of action, but on Sept. 20, having slept little in the week before the battle, issued ill-considered orders relative to a reported gap in his line and actually created a hole. The heaviest Confederate attack of the battle struck the Union line at that point. The right half of the Union line on the battlefield collapsed, and the Union army withdrew before dark on the 20th, allowing the Confederates to claim the victory. The Union forces withdrew to Chattanooga, and after reorganization and the receipt of reinforcements, in November attacked and drove Confederates off Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The "Gateway to the Deep South" was firmly in Union hands. Thirty-four thousand of the 124,000 soldiers engaged at Chickamauga had been killed, wounded or captured.
Why you should go
Five thousand acres of the Chickamauga Battlefield have been preserved, and a museum with exhibits and audio-visual programs will help prepare you to tour the battlefield and see some of the 1,000 monuments, markers, tablets and cannon that mark the lines as the troops fought in the woods. The battle in September was the last major victory for the Confederacy. The spring after the battle at Chickamauga, Gen. William T. Sherman launched the campaign from Chattanooga that led him to Atlanta and his infamous "March to the Sea" through Georgia.
Main attractions
- Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park: The oldest and largest of America's Civil War parks spans the borders of Georgia and Tennessee, with major units at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Orchard Knob, Signal Point and Moccasin Bend. The battlefield features a 7-mile self-guiding auto tour, monuments, historical tablets, hiking trails and horse trails. http://www.nps.gov/chch/
- Chattanooga: The nearby city is nestled in a bend of the Tennessee River and surrounded by mountains and lakes. Attractions include the Riverwalk (http://www.traillink.com/trail/chattanooga-riverwalk.aspx), and Point Park, site of the the battle of Lookout Mountain (http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/pointpark.html).
How to get there
From Interstate 75: It's about 110 miles and takes 1 hour, 50 minutes from downtown Atlanta.
Links of interest
- Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce: www.chattanooga-chamber.com/
- http://ngeorgia.com/history/chickam.html
- http://www.chattanoogafun.com
Jekyll Island
History
The island was purchased from John Eugene duBignon in 1886 for $125,000 as a hunting resort by some of the wealthiest men in America, including J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, Marshall Field, Everett Macy, William Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Jekyll Island was prized for its "splendid isolation." The club members commissioned a 60-room clubhouse, finished in 1887. The owners would usually spend a couple of winter months at Jekyll Island, arriving by yacht from New York. The Jekyll Wharf where they tied their yachts remains in use. Although Jekyll was a hunting resort, it was built by the richest men in the world. Between 1886 and 1928, the owners built "cottages" -- the largest is almost 8,000 square feet -- along the marsh side of the island where they would be protected from the ocean. Many of these beautiful houses have been restored or are currently a work in progress. The Jekyll Island Clubhouse is now a Victorian hotel. The first golf course was laid out in 1898.
During the Great Depression, the members became disenchanted with the island, which was sold to the State of Georgia in 1947. In 1978, the 240-acre club district was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1985, work began to restore the Clubhouse and surrounding grounds into a world-class hotel and resort named the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. It is once again a showcase and is available for everyone to enjoy. Today the 240-acre National Historic Landmark is often called "Millionaire's Village."
Why you should go
Outside of the Historic District, Jekyll Island is an easy-going, affordable destination set amid live oaks, Spanish moss, palmetto trees and beautiful beaches. Criss-crossing the Island are more than 20 miles of cycling and walking paths. A sizable portion of the Island is undeveloped.
Main attractions
- Jekyll Island Club Hotel: This building is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Inside, the public rooms are reminiscent of the best of the old. Two of the cottages, Crane and Cherokee, have been beautifully renovated at a cost of $5.5 million. Learn about the Jekyll Island Club's more than 100 years of rich history, including stories passed down through time, when the hotel's concierge conducts a fabulous tour of the Club and Cottages, Monday through Thursday at 2 p.m., year round. www.jekyllclub.com
- Horton House: Major William Horton was granted Jekyll Island by the Trustees of the colony of Georgia in 1738, and he constructed this home in 1743. Horton was one of General James Oglethorpe's top military aids. He farmed the island, producing crops to aid with supplying Ft. Frederica. They included hops and barley to produce Georgia's first beer. Eventually, Horton added a warehouse to the site, of which remains still exist. http://www.nps.gov/history/goldcres/sites/horton.htm
How to get there
The drive is about 322 miles and takes approximately 5 hours, 10 minutes. Flights are available to Brunswick Golden Isles Airport.
Links of interest
- www.jekyllisland.com
- http://www.goldenislesinfo.com/attractions.html
The North Georgia Mountains
History
North Georgia Mountains refers not to a mountain range but a region where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Appalachian Mountains along the state’s northern border with North Carolina and Tennessee. Much of the region makes up the 750,000-acre Chattahoochee National Forest, home to more than 500 wildlife species, and a popular recreation area with 530 miles of trails.
The North Georgia Mountains are rich with local history and culture, spanning thousands of years that predate the arrival of Europeans. When explorers came to the area now known as Rabun County in 1760, the Cherokee population was so vast that many settlers referred to the area as the Cherokee Mountains. In 1828, thousands flocked to the area when Dahlonega became the site of the first major U.S. gold rush, which lasted nearly 20 years. The town of Helen was thrived as an exporter of timber, but it fell into economic decline in the ‘60s. That was when city planners and a local artist decided to retool the town as a Bavarian Village. Their efforts were successful and today Helen is a thriving tourist destination.
Located in Pickens County, Tate was originally called Marble Works because of its role in the manufacturing of building granite and marble. In 1880 it was renamed after Georgia Marble Co. president Samuel Tate.
Why You Should Go
The main reason folks in Atlanta flock to the North Georgia Mountains every weekend is to find respite in the majestic beauty and cool, quiet calm found in this heavily forested landscape of peaks and valleys. Recreational activities abound, whether you’re into swimming, hiking, fishing, camping, kayaking, horseback riding or spelunking. But luxury accommodations, fine dining and antiques shopping can be found, too.
Main Attractions
- Dahlonega: If you like to explore underground then Consolidated Gold Mines, the site of the largest hard rock Gold Mine East of the Mississippi River, might just be what you're looking for. Open seven days a week, operators offer guided tours of the mine and the chance to pan for gold or mine for gems. www.consolidatedgoldmine.com
- Jasper: Here's one step back in time that's fun for the whole family! The Seventy-Four Ranch in Jasper offers an old West ranch experience featuring campfires, trail rides, cookouts, fishing, cowboys, cattle and more. Accommodations are provided in the Butler Cape House Bed and Breakfast and a Cowboy Cabin. www.seventyfourranch.com
- Helen: Weekend visitors from Atlanta often make their way to Helen, even when it's not Oktoberfest. The town hosts the event throughout the fall, as well as many other events and festivals throughout the year and the opportunity to sample delicious German cuisine year-round. www.helenga.org
- Tate: Built by Sam Tate in 1926, The Tate House is listed as the Pink Palace in the National Register of Historic Places. It was 1920 when Tate noticed the rare Etowah Pink Marble that came from the quarry on his property. He set the matching pieces aside, which eventually led to the construction of the massive marble home. The last member of the family left the house in 1955 and it sat, abandoned, until 1974, when it was purchased by Ann Laird, who spent 10 years restoring it. Today the home is available as an event facility. For private tours, call 770-735-3122. www.tatehouse.com
How to Get There
Depending on what part of the North Georgia Mountains, you’ll want to head north on I-575, I-985 or Ga. 400. From Atlanta you can get just about anywhere in the region within two hours.
Links of interest
- Tourist Board: www.ngeorgia.com/travel/
- Hotel/Motel: www.georgiagetaway.com/motels.shtml
- Dining: www.georgiagetaway.com/restaurants.shtml
- Rabun County: www.gamountains.com
Savannah
History
On Feb. 12, 1733, General James Oglethorpe and more than 100 passengers of the good ship "Anne" landed on a bluff high along the Savannah River. Oglethorpe named the 13th and final American colony "Georgia" after England's King George II. Savannah became its first city. The plan was to offer a new start for England's working poor and to strengthen the colonies by increasing trade.
The colony of Georgia also was chartered as a buffer zone for South Carolina, protecting it from the advance of the Spanish in Florida. Savannah is known as America's first planned city. Oglethorpe laid the city out in a series of grids that allowed for wide-open streets intertwined with shady public squares and parks that served as town meeting places and centers of business. Savannah had 24 original squares; 22 remain today. Savannah's Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It is one of the largest historic landmarks in the country.
Why you should go
The nation's largest Urban Historic Landmark District, the 22 green squares and 1,600-plus historically and architecturally significant structures are all within a 2.5 square mile area. Wear your walking shoes and stroll the Historic District. Guide services can personalize your walk to a specific interest. And there are all the places where "Forrest Gump" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" were filmed.
Main attractions
- The Historic District: The Historic District of Savannah is the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with cobblestone streets, manicured gardens and oak-shaded parks with silvery Spanish Moss. The vacation destination for all ages, which encompasses art, culture, festivals, concerts, live theater, outdoor cafes, gourmet restaurants and true Southern hospitality. Savannah contains more than 22 city squares filled with museums, monuments, antebellum mansions, magnificent churches, and famous forts of the Revolutionary & Civil War eras, including Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Juliette Gordon Low birthplace -- now owned and operated by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. as a memorial to their founder -- and Forsyth Park. http://www.savannah.com/HistoricDistrict/HistoricDistrict1.aspx
- Tybee Island Lighthouse: Tybee Island stands at the mouth of the Savannah River, and in 1736 a 90-foot wooden tower was built to aid navigation. After it was washed away by a storm in 1741, a wood and stone tower was completed the following year. This second tower met the same fate as the first. It was replaced in 1773 -- a 100-foot brick tower with a wooden interior staircase. www.tybeelighthouse.org or http://tybeeisland.com/attractions/tybee-island-lighthouse/
How to get there
It's about 250 miles and takes about four hours from downtown Atlanta. Regular flights are available at to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
Links of interest
- http://visitsavannah.com/
- http://www.officialsavannahguide.com/
- http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/SavannahGaGOV.nsf
- Savannah Chamber of Commerce: www.savannahchamber.com Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.savannahchamber.com/board-cvb.php
St. Simon's Island
History
The first Europeans likely were French and Spanish explorers. Spanish missionaries were active in the area, with three missions on St. Simons, but by 1687 the Spanish had withdrawn all of their missions north of St. Augustine. The first permanent English settlement on St. Simons came in 1736, shortly after the founding of Savannah. James Oglethorpe had begun a colony in Georgia "for the settling of the poor persons of London in Savannah" and as a buffer against the Spanish. Oglethorpe founded the fortified town of Frederica on the north end of St. Simons Island. A road was built southward and a battery that was built was named Fort St. Simons. In 1742 a Spanish fleet with 3,000 men from St. Augustine attacked St. Simons from the south. Oglethorpe withdrew his men from the battery back to Frederica. The Spanish were led into an ambush. So many Spaniards were slain that the battle became known as the Battle of Bloody Marsh. Through Oglethorpe's strategic maneuvers, some trickery and the fortuitous appearance of three English ships, the Spanish withdrew, thinking they had been surrounded by a superior force. It was the end of the Spanish presence north of Florida. It meant that the territory of Georgia and northward would be English; the language, the customs, the traditions English, not Spanish.
Why you should go
It's a beautiful beach and golf resort with history, oak-lined lanes dripping with Spanish moss, with excellent restaurants and a world-class resort at nearby Sea Island. There is plenty to see and do, all amid typical barrier island scenery.
Main attractions
- Fort Frederica: Built in 1736 by General Oglethorpe as an outpost and a defense of Savannah. Georgia's fate was decided in 1742 when Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island. Fort Frederica's troops defeated the Spanish, ensuring Georgia's future as a British colony. It is now a National Monument. http://www.nps.gov/fofr/
- Bloody Marsh Battle Site: The site of a decisive battle between British and Spanish forces. This battle proved to be the turning point in the Spanish influence in Georgia. http://www.nps.gov/fofr/planyourvisit/bloodymarshunit.htm
- The Lighthouse: The first lighthouse was built in 1810, but it was destroyed in 1862 by evacuating Confederate troops. A replacement was built in 1872, a104-foot tower, which has a 129-step cast iron spiral staircase and an adjacent keeper's house. The lighthouse offers spectacular views of the island and surrounding area. http://www.saintsimonslighthouse.org/lighthouse.html
- Neptune Park Fun Zone: For the kid in all of us, The new recreational complex features a walk-in, multi-purpose pool; children's water park area; miniature golf course, and a brand new playground area as well as a bath house and concession stand. (Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.) http:/www.glynncounty.org/index.aspx?nid=997
How to get there
It takes a little more than five hours for the 315-mile drive. Flights are available to Brunswick Golden Isles airport.
Links of interest
- http://www.goldenislesinfo.com/attractions.html
- www.explorestsimonsisland.com
- www.stsimonsguide.com
- Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau: http://www.comecoastawhile.com/static/index.cfm?action=group&contentID=16
