Georgia

From northernmost Tybee, situated less than 20 miles east of Savannah, to Cumberland, a breath away from Florida, Georgia’s isles offer visitors a wide variety of vacation options.

Tybee Island: Visitors can spend a day riding bikes along miles of coastline, stopping along the way to visit popular attractions such as the Tybee Light Station, Georgia’s tallest and oldest lighthouse, built in 1773. And there’s the Tybee Pier and Pavilion on the south end of the island, which makes a perfect pit stop to catch a musical event or to spend a few hours fishing. Overnighters will find plenty of oceanfront cottages or condos to rent.

www.visittybee.com

St. Simons: Slightly more upscale, but still family-friendly, St. Simons Island is the largest of the Golden Isles on Georgia’s Atlantic coast. Here, you’ll find golf resorts, lush hotels and cozy bed-and-breakfasts. Fresh local seafood is the order of the day. If you like to shop, you can spend a long afternoon meandering in and out of the island’s many shops. Along with water sports, fishing and dolphin-watching tours, St. Simons also offers guests some serious pampering at its spas.

www.explorestsimonsisland.com

Jekyll Island: Once an isolated winter retreat for the super-rich with names like Firestone, Vanderbilt and Pulitzer, Jekyll Island boasted the Jekyll Island Club, once called “the richest, most inaccessible club in the world.” Today, visitors can explore the historic district and its landmarks, which include some of the millionaires’ cottages as well as the Horton House, one of the oldest buildings in Georgia.

One of the most popular attractions is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which rehabilitates and treats turtles while educating visitors. And the annual shrimp and grits festival each September gets visitors’ mouths watering. The raucous three-day celebration pays homage to the prime local seafood product teamed with its perfect Southern match — grits.

www.goldenisles.com

Cumberland Island: Spare Cumberland entices with the promise of a paradise in its natural state. Not accessible by car, the island is reached by ferry from nearby St. Marys.

A landscape made up of dunes and salt marshes, the island supports herds of wild horses that roam among the jumble of marsh grasses, sea oats and maritime forests.

Considered a wilderness island, Cumberland is a protected National Seashore that’s largely undeveloped. Naturalists and eco tourists can hike, camp and take in nearly deserted beaches.

Note that only a limited number of visitors are allowed on the island each day. And there’s only one hotel. Greyfield Inn was built in 1900 by Thomas Carnegie for his daughter. This elegant plantation-style hotel is still family-owned and operated.

1-904-261-6408, www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm, www.greyfieldinn.com

2.Apple Orchard Alley, Georgia Apple Festival

Gilmer County makes for a pleasant visit any time of the year, but it really sparkles during apple-picking time in autumn. That’s when Ga. 52 morphs into Apple Orchard Alley — named for the string of apple houses and orchards that line both sides of the road.

In addition to the large tubs filled with dozens of varieties of apples, fans also come for the many apple permutations, ranging from cider and cakes to apple butter and legendary fried pies.

During weekends in September, several of the apple houses hold special events, including hayrides, petting zoos and barbecues. The festivities really get going during the first two weekends in October in Ellijay, when

locals and visitors celebrate the annual Georgia Apple Festival arts and crafts show.

When you’ve had your fill of all things apple, you can stroll through Ellijay’s many gift and antique shops; spend the night in a local bed-and-breakfast; or opt to rent one of the many rustic cabins in the area. And a weekend in Ellijay wouldn’t be complete without time spent fishing, kayaking or tubing down the nearby Cartecay and Ellijay rivers.

1-706-636-4500, www.georgiaapplefestival.org

3.Savannah

Music Festival

Each year for nearly three weeks in March and April, spring makes its grand entrance in this historic city with the sounds of music bound by neither time nor borders. The Savannah Music Festival, with more than 100 concerts, is considered the largest musical event in Georgia, offering an unusual and distinctive mix of music that runs the gamut from classical, country and jazz to blues, flamenco and zydeco.

In addition to its musical diversity, the festival ups the ante by using historic venues in which to showcase the talent. For instance, the Johnny Mercer Theater at the Savannah Civic Center seats more than 2,500, and is ideal for large orchestras as well as major bands.

On the other hand, the rich acoustics found in the elegant Trinity United Methodist Church are perfect for showing off classical music.

Tickets for the 2014 festival go on sale when the lineup is announced on Nov. 7. Prices range from $15 to $85.

1-912-525-5050, www.savannahmusicfestival.org

4.Georgia Museum of Art

Located on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, the Georgia Museum of Art has been the state’s official art museum since 1982.

Boasting a permanent collection that includes Italian Renaissance paintings, Southern decorative arts, and American paintings showcasing works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Winslow Homer and Stuart Davis, GMOA also is considered an academic museum through its affiliation with the university.

It offers eclectic temporary shows, such as the upcoming “Cercle et Carre and the International Spirit of Abstract Art,” the first major exhibition in the United States devoted to the art and activities of a group that staged a landmark exhibition in Paris in 1930. The show will run Oct. 12 through Jan. 5.

The museum also offers a selection of programs for families with children. The gift shop stocks books, posters, reproduction jewelry, music and textiles.

90 Carlton St., Athens, 1-706-542-4662, georgiamuseum.org

5.River City Rush

There are very few places where you can ride natural whitewater rapids in full view of a city skyline. That’s what River City Rush is all about.

Located in the center of downtown Columbus, this new and ambitious whitewater rafting and kayaking course runs over two miles of the Chattahoochee River, and was made possible after two dams were obliterated, returning the river to its original flow.

The course, which snakes along the Alabama border, boasts Class 3 rapids when water release is low, then ramps up to Class 4, with a water level that shoots up to 9,000 cubic feet per second. This isn’t wimpy whitewater action.

And when you’ve had your fill of bouncing around in a raft or kayak, you can bike along the 15-mile Riverwalk, or saunter to one of the many bars and restaurants to take in the lively uptown scene.

On Saturdays from April to November, a few blocks of nearby Broadway become an outdoor market featuring organic produce, jewelry and handmade soaps. Rafting excursions are booked and handled through Whitewater Express in Decatur.

Whitewater Express, 1549 Clairmont Road, Suite 201, Decatur, 1-800-676-7238, www.whitewaterexpress.com

6.Dillard House

When you’re done tramping through the lush woods of Black Rock Mountain State Park, catching your limit at nearby Lake Burton, or enjoying one of the Southeast’s most dramatic views in Tallulah Gorge State Park, then it’s time to head to the Dillard House for a taste of bona fide Southern hospitality.

Touted by the likes of Alton Brown, this award-winning, family-owned restaurant, which includes charming overnight accommodations, serves up family-style meals of heroic proportions.

While the Dillard family’s history in Georgia dates back to the late 1700s, it wasn’t until 1917 that the current Dillard House was established. Since then, thousands of visitors, from politicians and celebrities to sport legends and inventors, have placed their feet beneath tables creaking under the weight of house-cured country ham, fried pork chops with gravy, fried chicken, acorn squash soufflé and peach cobbler.

Steeped in tradition and served with a generous hand, breakfast, lunch and dinner at Dillard House is the stuff of which Southern culinary legends are made.

158 Franklin St., Dillard, 1-706-746-5348, www.dillardhouse.com

7.Barnsley

Resort

If peace, serenity and a dose of romance is what you’re seeking, look no further than the lush, European-style setting of Barnsley Resort (formerly Barnsley Gardens), just over an hour’s drive north of Atlanta.

Originally built by Godfrey Barnsley as a love letter to his wife in the form of a grand estate, the property is now home to one of the area’s premier resorts.

Boasting a Grecian-style swimming pool, a pair of clay tennis courts, horseback-riding facilities, a dozen miles of hiking trails, and a museum, Barnsley offers its guests plenty to do while they’re soaking up the Georgia foothill ambience.

And choices abound when it comes to accommodations, which are situated within a European-inspired village. Stately guest rooms and suites as well as cozy and multi-room cottages are available for guests and their pets. That’s right, Barnsley goes beyond being pet-friendly by offering special treats for dogs along with pet-sitting and dog-walking services.

The resort features a Jim Fazio-designed golf course named as one of the top courses in the Southeast three years running by Conde Nast Traveler. And Conde Nast recently named Barnsley Resort to the Gold List World’s Best Places to Stay for a third time.

Dining options range from the elegant and upscale Woodlands Grill and Rice House restaurants to casual festivities in the beer garden.

597 Barnsley Gardens Road, Adairsville, 770-773-7480, 1-877-773-2447, www.barnsleyresort.com

8.Cloudland

Canyon State Park

It’s hardly breaking news that Georgia has just about all of the hiking and camping outlets any outdoor fan could want. But for those who aren’t so fond of a bare floor and the bare necessities, there’s glamping in a yurt.

Cloudland Canyon, atop Lookout Mountain, recently set up a village along the West Rim Trail featuring 10 yurts, which are circular dwellings that have the properties of a tent combined with a basic cabin.

They’re not new; nomadic tribes have used them for thousands of years. But for those who want glamorous camping, the elevated yurts at Cloudland are weather-tight, built with wood flooring, and designed to ensure that wildlife stays outside.

Inside, the yurts are outfitted with futons, bunk beds, electrical outlets (think curling iron, a must for glamping) and doors that lock. Outdoor amenities include a deck, water spigot and a fire ring that doubles as a grill.

The yurt village offers a bathhouse, playground and picnic area. The yurt’s amenities will come in handy if you give in to your sense of adventure and take a trip led by Georgia Girl Guides, an on-site outfitter offering cave tours for the whole family. Getting up close with Cloudland Canyon’s limestone caves makes for an unforgettable, wet and muddy adventure.

122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, 1-706-657-4050, www.gastateparks.org

Georgia Girl Guides, 1-706-913-7170, www.georgiagirlguides.com

9.Amicalola Falls

State Park

Amicalola Falls is a mere 80 miles north of Atlanta in Dawsonville. At 729 feet, it’s billed as the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast, aptly named after the Cherokee word for “tumbling waters.”

Swirled with 12 miles of looped trails that take hikers from the top of the falls to the southern end of the arduous Appalachian Trail, Amicalola Falls State Park is more than a hiker’s paradise. Sprawling over 800 acres, the park offers visitors plenty of options, from rambling among hardwood forests and trekking up and down staircases in view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to participating in educational programs and fishing.

While the hardy hiker can opt to fall in line with the Canyon Climbers Club, those who prefer a more low-key visit can meander to the Amicalola Falls Lodge and take in panoramic views from the comfort of the restaurant. Along with the lodge, this family-friendly park offers tent and RV campsites as well as rustic cottages, some of which allow dogs.

But for an unforgettable stay, try the five-mile hike that begins at the top of the falls and takes you through the North Georgia mountains, where you’ll end up at the Hike Inn — spartan, eco-friendly, bunkhouse-style lodging.

418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville, 1-706-265-4703, www.gastateparks.org

10.Brasstown Valley

Resort

and Spa

Boredom is not allowed at this swanky resort folded into the Blue Ridge Mountains in the shadow of Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia.

Golfers won’t be disappointed with a course ranked as one of the state’s best. The scenic golf course makes its way through trout streams, ponds and wildlife preserves. Designed to accommodate the duffer as well as the pro, Brasstown Valley Golf Course offers five sets of tees, full practice facilities, a pro shop, and lessons and golf clinics from a PGA pro.

Equestrians will find beautifully appointed stables and five miles of trails that take them through the rolling hills of the resort. Brasstown Valley offers custom excursions as well as catered rides and hayrides. Younger children can enjoy the horses with gentle hand-held tours.

Anyone seeking some serious down time will find that and more at the Equani Spa, which provides a tranquil respite with a wide array of massages and treatments that run the gamut from scented sugar exfoliations to mud baths. Guests at the mountain retreat can select from accommodations in the lodge plus private cottages and an exclusive spa suite decked out with a large jetted tub and a fireplace.

While there are plenty of activities at Brasstown Valley Resort, a short drive away lies the quaint and quirky Alpine village of Helen, where Oktoberfest begins in September, tubing the Hooch in bubblegum pink inner tubes is a must, and Elvis lives on at the Helen Theatre. ZipNTime offers zip-line adventures that allow visitors to glide through the trees in Nacoochee Valley for panoramic views that speak to the history of the area once inhabited by the Cherokees, gold miners and moonshiners.

6321 Highway 76, Young Harris, 706-379-9900, www.brasstown

valley.com, www.helenga.org

Hidden gem: Blessing of the Fleet in Darien

Darien, Georgia’s second oldest city, is home to the reconstructed Fort King George and was founded by Scottish Highlanders. It sits on the mouth of the Altamaha River, about 50 miles south of Savannah.

The town was destroyed during the Civil War, and its once- thriving port was used to ship out lumber until the timber was depleted.

It then became a fishing village, with shrimp as the main catch. Each April for the past 45 years Darien has celebrated its fishing heritage by hosting the Blessing of the Fleet.

This three-day event promises a grand time along the waterfront for visitors of all ages. Along with a street parade, Art in the Park and musical events, the Blessing of the Fleet offers shrimp fanatics unlimited amounts of their favorite seafood.

Kids can take part in a fishing rodeo while adults can wander through vendor booths, and the whole family can take in the open car show.

On Sunday, the festival offers gospel singing on the Waterfront Stage, followed by the main event: the Shrimp Boat Blessing Marine Parade.

1-912-437-4837, www.blessing

ofthefleet.com