Located within Gwinnett County, it began life as New London, after the settlement of two native Londoners who crossed the Atlantic from Great Britain.

At some point around the 1880s New London became known as Snellville after one of the two men, Thomas Snell. The store they ran existed right up to 1960, when it was sadly destroyed by fire.

In the interim, Snellville received its city charter in 1923. Since then, it has developed into a comfortable suburban city within easy reach of a whole array of attractions.

These are the 15 best things to do in and around Snellville, Georgia.

1. Masterpiece Mixers Paint and Party Studio

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Masterpiece Mixers is welcoming to all-comers, whether you’re a regular artist or a newcomer looking to try out a different skill.

Their evening events provide all the materials you’ll need to discover if you’re the next Picasso or not. This means you need arrive with nothing more than enthusiasm.

Led by a knowledgeable teacher, each session takes the creation of an artwork step by step. Emphasizing the importance of fun, this is a laid-back way to spend a couple of hours.

What’s more, this can be a great way of getting chatting with residents of the city and finding out why they love living here so much.

2. Veterans Memorial

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The Veterans Memorial forms a small complex of important structures in central Snellville. It sits just a few feet away from the blend of red brick and white Neoclassical stone that is City Hall.

Backed by a horseshoe-shaped wall of names, this simple memorial is dedicated to all those who have lost their lives serving the United States.

A focal point for the residents of Snellville to gather around on important occasions, it sits on Towne Green.

It replaces an earlier eternal flame constructed to mark America’s role in the Vietnam War.

3. Snellville Historical Cemetery

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Behind the Veterans Memorial is Snellville Historical Cemetery. It is overlooked by the elegant white spire of the city’s First Baptist Church.

The cemetery is a spacious and open one, and can provide some insight into the city’s most important families in times gone by.

Among the most important people interred here is James Sawyer, the Briton who founded Snellville alongside Thomas Snell.

He is buried in a mausoleum he constructed himself, having lived a long life and dying at the age of 91 in 1948.

4. Stone Mountain Park

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Stone Mountain Park lies around 11 miles west of Snellville and can create a serious diversion for anyone heading to Atlanta with an interest in natural and man-made history.

It is one of a number of mountains that appear on the horizon as if out of nowhere, without an accompanying mountain range.

One of the highest points in the Atlanta region at more than 1,600 feet above sea level, its park is the perfect introduction to northern Georgia’s flora and fauna.

It is crisscrossed with a series of well-marked hiking trails, leading around and up the mountain to its summit.

5. Snellville Farmers Market

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Located right at the heart of downtown Snellville in the City Hall parking lot, Snellville Farmers Market is a thriving place for the community to come together.

A huge range of vendors provide plenty of choice, not only from traditional produce you might find in markets such as fruit and vegetables, but also a great array of artisan items and potential gifts.

Handcrafted pottery and locally-made soaps from small scale producers can be found between them. There are plenty of stalls to stop by for a bite to eat too, with made-to-order pizzas a particular favorite.

6. Tribble Mill Park

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Although not within the bounds of Snellville itself, Tribble Mill Park is one of the largest in the area and well worth the 20-minute drive.

It covers around 700 acres, with roughly a quarter of this area being taken up by the surface waters of two attractive lakes. Together they stretch for almost the entire length of the park.

Their size makes them popular with anglers, although the multitude of trails totaling around four miles mean Tribble Mill Park is also good for anyone looking to get a little outdoor exercise.

7. Gwinnett History Museum

Source: The Society for Georgia Archaeology / Facebook

Snellville is yet to have its own history museum, but the Gwinnett History Museum in the nearby city of Lawrenceville is no further than Tribble Mill Park when it comes to distance.

Covering the history of all of Gwinnett County, the museum is located in a building constructed in the 1830s as a seminary. It then became a finishing school for the county’s upper class young women.

For a local museum, the Gwinnett History Museum has an excellent collection of artifacts, covering all the most important moments from the past.

They include items relating to the region’s farming industry, as well as various homemade quilts and textiles that are a long-held tradition in this part of the United States.

8. Creekwater Alpaca Farm

Source: Dave Cornelius / shutterstock

Alpacas might not be native to Georgia – they originate from South America – but they certainly make a great addition to the Snellville landscape.

These sociable and inquisitive creatures are weakly related to camels, but are a whole lot more friendly.

Farmed primarily for the hair, which is one of the softest natural fibers in the world, they have also been found to be great for lifting the mood of hospital and care home residents.

Head to Creekwater Alpaca Farm, and you’ll soon discover why. Tours of the farm also take in goats, ducks and geese. There is a shop selling items made from the alpaca’s hair too.

9. State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is situated within the city of Athens, 45 miles drive east of Snellville.

Part of the University of Georgia, the gardens are able to boast an area of 300 acres along the banks of the Middle Oconee River. They are split into 11 specific zones.

These zones are connected together by roughly five miles of walking trails. The zones range from the fountains of the formal gardens loved by European monarchs in the 1800s, to the Heritage Garden.

Here visitors will find plants important to Georgia’s past, including tobacco and cotton plants. A hummingbird trail lets you get up close to creatures who’s wings beat 600 times a minute, and greenhouses protect some of the gardens’ most delicate inhabitants.

10. High Museum of Art

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Atlanta is home to its fair share of major attractions. One which doesn’t get the publicity it deserves is the High Museum of Art in the Midtown arts district.

Known to almost everyone simply as ‘the High’, the museum has a collection that began more than a hundred years ago and is now spread over 300,000 square feet of gallery space.

Its 17,000 works of art sit within a building designed by some of the world’s most influential architects – Renzo Piano and Richard Meier.

They include paintings by European masters such as Monet and Singer Sargent, while Rodin’s sculpture The Shade stands immediately outside.

11. Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

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Roughly an hour and 20 minutes from Snellville lies the main bulk of Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, some 115,000 acres in size.

The main attraction is the chance for uninterrupted hikes far from the hustle of central Athens or Atlanta. Many miles of hiking trails cut through the area, alongside bridal ways for those on horseback and a trail for dirt and quadbike riders.

A largely untouched region of indigenous woodland, lucky (or perhaps unlucky) walkers might catch sight of American black bears, in addition to coyote, beavers and bobcats.

Relatively flat with gently-rolling hills, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is one of the best places in the state for wildlife viewing.

12. Southeastern Railway Museum

Source: Darryl Brooks / shutterstock

Half an hour northwest of Snellville is Duluth. Another suburban city in the Atlanta metropolitan area, it is best known as the home of the Southeastern Railway Museum.

Georgia’s official transportation museum, this site has one of the finest collections of transport memorabilia anywhere in the southeast of the United States.

The museum includes items of road transport within its collection, although its name demonstrates that its main focus has been Georgia’s railways.

In this context, the star of the show has to be the 90 pieces of rail equipment, including President Warren G Harding’s private rail carriage.

13. Zoo Atlanta

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A short distance from the historic street scenes of downtown Atlanta is Grant Park, where you’ll also find Zoo Atlanta.

One of the oldest zoos anywhere within the United States, Zoo Atlanta has become one of the world’s leading centers for the breeding of endangered species.

In all, the zoo’s spacious enclosures are home to some 1,500 individual animals belonging to 200 different species.

The Ford African Rain Forest is home to lemurs, colobus monkeys and extremely rare western lowland gorillas, while Asian Forest contains another king of the jungle – the orangutan.

Elsewhere, the giant pandas shouldn’t be missed, nor the 450-strong reptile house.

14. Centennial Olympic Park

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Much of Atlanta’s recent success and redevelopment is the result of the Summer Olympic Games, which the city hosted in 1996 – one hundred years after the first modern games in Athens, Greece.

The park that celebrates this fact is found right at the center of downtown Atlanta, a short distance from a number of alternative attractions, including the SkyView Ferris wheel and World of Coca-Cola.

Of the many points of interest among its 22 acres, the one not to miss is perhaps the Fountain of Rings. This is made up of 251 jets of water individually controlled by computer to jump and move to music multiple times a day.

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It was built on land cleared of its native American population and largely constructed using slave labor. This perhaps explains why it was stripped of its status as state capital in 1868 during the post-civil war Reconstruction period.

Although temporarily occupied by General Sherman during the civil war, the 200-year-old city survived largely unscathed.

With a motto of ‘capitols, columns and culture,’ you know you can expect plenty of historic southern-style architecture and a great array of attractions, from museums to hiking trails.

Here are the 15 best things to do in and around Milledgeville, Georgia.

1. Milledgeville Historic District

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Milledgeville Historic District roughly equates to the area laid out during the founding of the city in the early 1800s.

Its streets cover an area of approximately 3,200 acres, with a large number of homes and other structures demonstrating the traditional southern architectural styles favored before the American Civil War.

Listed on the United States’ National Register of Historic Places, the classical Greek Revival style is particularly prominent here. Atkinson Hall at the heart of the Georgia College campus is just one example of around 40 historic structures worth exploring.

2. Old Governor’s Mansion

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With an appearance not unlike a peach-colored version of the White House in Washington DC, the Old Governor’s Mansion is hard to miss.

The official residence of the state governor for most of the 64 years that Milledgeville was the Georgia capital, today this mansion has been converted into a historic house museum.

Tours lead through the restored original rooms, which have also born witness to General Sherman. He headquartered himself here in 1864 during the Union army’s March to the Sea.

Its interiors help tell the story of all Georgia’s residents, from the governor down to its enslaved population.

3. Lockerly Arboretum

Source: Lockerly Arboretum / Facebook

Dating to 1852, the similarly grand structure of Rose Hill at Lockerly Arboretum is another important Milledgeville structure worth checking out.

Inside, original features include its hardwood floors, plaster walls and marble fireplaces. Externally, the house is surrounded by around 50 acres of garden.

Perfectly symmetrical ponds immediately in front of Rose Hill spread out into a landscape of rhododendrons, camellias, shrubs and trees that make the perfect spot for a summer picnic.

More recent additions include several greenhouses able to house species that otherwise wouldn’t survive the Georgia climate, including around 60 different types of orchid.

4. Lake Sinclair

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Around 10 miles north of downtown Milledgeville is Lake Sinclair, a body of water with three thin main fingers that work their way through the Georgia countryside.

Edged by native trees, Lake Sinclair was created in 1953 by the damming of the Oconee River. Its more than 15,000 acres of area allow a huge number of leisure activities to take place along its shores and on its surface.

Those who enjoy more tranquil pastimes will relish the chance to relax amid extraordinary vistas, perhaps with a fishing rod in hand. But the adrenaline seekers don’t have to miss out. Boats can be rented from Sinclair marina, and jet skis are also available.

5. William P Wall Museum of Natural History

Source: William P. Wall Museum of Natural History at Georgia College / Facebook

First opening its doors to the public in 2004, the William P Wall Museum of Natural History soon made a name for itself as one of the best museums in the middle Georgia region.

Part of Georgia College, its 2,500 square foot exhibition area covers the long history of life on Earth. Besides more unusual geology specimens are also a diverse range of fossils from mammoth bones to early mammal species.

Next door, visitors will also find a state-of-the-art planetarium, which expands the museum’s remit to the creation of the universe itself.

6. St Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Source: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Milledgeville, GA / Facebook

Not only was St Stephen’s Episcopal Church built during the heyday of Milledgeville as the Georgia state capital, but it also plays a central part in the city’s civil war history.

Located in Statehouse Square, the church was constructed in 1843 in the Rural Gothic style, meaning it is rich with woodwork inside and out. It also contains some beautiful stained glass put in place after the civil war.

Had it been in place beforehand, it probably wouldn’t have survived. The church was used as a stable for General Sherman’s horses, while its pews were broken up for firewood. In another deliberate act, its organ pipes were damaged with molasses.

7. Oconee River

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The Oconee River flows along the eastern edge of Milledgeville. It offers a great escape just a few minutes from the city’s downtown districts.

One of the best ways to discover its riverine landscape is by taking advantage of the Oconee River Greenway.

Running for around three miles, the greenway is made up of a combination of wide paths, narrower nature trails and wooden boardwalks.

And if strolling or cycling through the dappled shade of the river banks isn’t enough, the river also provides a playground for kayakers, as well as anglers.

8. Old State Capitol

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The Georgia state legislature first met in the Old State Capitol building in Milledgeville in 1807, when the building was still incomplete.

Once finished, it took the form of one of the best examples of Gothic architecture anywhere in the United States, with details recognizable from Europe’s medieval castles and cathedrals.

When the state capital was moved to Atlanta, the building became a court house, before becoming a part of Georgia College. Visitors are able to stroll its grounds, as well as enter a building that has had more than $10 million spent on its renovation.

9. John Marlor Arts Center

Source: Milledgeville Georgia / Facebook

Part of the Allied Arts Center, the John Marlor occupies one of Milledgeville’s oldest buildings, which dates back to the 1830s.

It lies within a part of town once known as the Strip, which was the focal point for Milledgeville’s African-American community as recently as the 1980s.

Step inside, and you’ll find a small gallery space with a regularly rotating series of exhibitions and artworks which changes every couple of months.

The three buildings that make up the Allied Arts Center also host a long list of workshops and seminars open to all.

10. Memory Hill Cemetery

Source: Milledgeville Georgia / Facebook

Part of Milledgeville Historic District, Memory Hill Cemetery is filled with impressive Victorian memorials from the grand dames of the city’s past.

Within its 20-acre landscaping are some of the city’s most important names, including the author Flannery O’Connor, enslaved African-Americans from the pre-war period, and soldiers who died fighting that same war.

This burial place is of such significance that its self-guided walking tour counts 47 different points of interest, and is recommended to last at least an hour.

However, even the shortest stop to Memory Hill Cemetery as part of a larger sightseeing visit to historic Milledgeville will be a worthwhile experience for first-time visitors to the city.

11. Andalusia Farm

Source: Stephen Matthew Milligan / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

This relatively simple structure was the home of Flannery O’Connor for more than a decade, from 1951 to 1964.

Dating back to around 1814, the farm began life as a cotton plantation, worked by slaves. The author moved here after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Lupus.

Despite this, it was during her thirteen years at Andalusia Farm that O’Connor wrote the major of her work, with the farm clearly playing at part in her literary world.

Now a museum, the farmhouse helps to tell O’Connor’s life story, including that of her two novels. The first, Wise Blood, was adapted into a movie directed by John Huston.

12. Brown-Stetson-Sanford House

Source: Ken Lund / Flickr | CC BY-SA

This woodboard structure is typical of the Milledgeville Federal style of architecture. It was constructed in 1825, and was designed by local architect John Marlor, after whom the arts center is named.

Retaining much of its original look in spite of the passage of almost 200 years, its main staircase is particularly majestic, and considered a tell-tale sign of Marlor’s work. In the parlor, visitors can also see the original hand-worked wood.

Brown-Stetson-Sanford House makes an excellent addition to the city’s historic trolley tours, which make use of a vintage trolleybus known by the name of Milly in exploring the likes of Rose Hill, the Old State Capitol and Sallie-Ellis Davis House.

13. Bartram Forest

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On the southern edge of the city about five miles from Statehouse Square, Bartram Forest contains several looping trails for anyone eager to get out on a bike.

Its routes range from beginner friendly 5.5 mile trails to a trickier 10.3 mile track that should only be tackled by those with some experience on a mountain bike.

Two wheels is a great way of discovering all Georgia’s native habitats, including the remains of a vast sea that covered the area around 100 million years ago. The forest also has a plethora of local species of wildlife, while the forest was considered native American territory right up until 1794.

14. Tubman Museum

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This museum in Macon is named after prominent African-American Harriet Tubman. Born into slavery, she became a key figure in the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape the southern states. She will soon be honored with a portrait on the new $20 bill.

Forty minutes northwest of Milledgeville, the museum is perfectly named, as it is one of Georgia’s major gallery spaces for African-American art and culture.

Its collection of artifacts range from historic objects to stunningly contemporary pieces of sculpture. Its displays aim to highlight the role of African-Americans in the development of the United States, such as the work of agricultural scientist George Washington Carver.

15. Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge

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A similar distance due west is the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. It has provided a space for Georgia’s native species since at least 1939, when it was first declared a protected area.

A region of forest interspersed with shallow streams, its ridges are dominated by pines while its beaver-inhabited creeks provide the perfect base for a variety of hardwoods.

Among its rarer species, visitors should look out for the red-cockaded woodpecker, among 200 other bird species and around 50 different types of mammal including the bobcat.

An orientation video can be enjoyed at the visitor center before you head out along the various trails that make the refuge such a delight.

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An independent city with its own ambience and charm, Griffin is the county seat of Spalding County.

Founded in 1840, Griffin became a boomtown with the coming of the railroad just two years later.

Surviving the American Civil War, it has become an attractive getaway strong on historic sights and other exciting things to do.

These are the 15 best things to do in and around Griffin, Georgia.

1. Griffin Commercial Historical District

Source: Downtown Griffin / Facebook

This downtown district at the heart of Griffin spans 11 hectares approximately encompassed by Central Alley, Sixth, Taylor, and Eighth Streets.

Roughly equivalent to eight city blocks, 100 or so buildings were added to the United States National Register of Historic Places because of their role in the development of the city and the region.

Among its sites are the historic red brick Griffin City Hall built in around 1910, the U-shaped Griffin Hotel built in the same time, and the Opera House.

Also known as Odd Fellows Hall, this structure was built in 1892. Rising three storeys, it has a Romanesque appearance counting the simpler structure of City Hall.

2. Griffin Regional Welcome Center

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Although called a welcome centre, this similarly attractive building in downtown Griffin is far more that a tourist information centre.

Behind its brown bricks and large windows visitors will find the History of Griffin Museum, as well as the Griffin Art Gallery.

Built in 1899 and once a grocery distribution warehouse, it was one of the first in the region with long-term cold storage facilities.

Its museum displays a variety of artifacts from Griffin’s relatively long history as a city, while its gallery is dedicated to displaying the works of artists local to the region.

3. Bailey-Tebault House

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Another important historic structure, Bailey-Tebault House was constructed just as the American Civil War began in the early 1860s.

In fact, its completion was delayed because of the Union blockade on the states of the Confederate south.

An excellent example of Greek Revival architecture, the building has some similarities to the White House in Washington DC, because of its front portico supported by two-storey Greek columns.

Inside, you’ll find beautiful plaster cast mouldings on its ceilings and walls, as well as fine furniture. Much of which survived a period as the city’s first hospital in the 1900s, and then its time as a funeral home.

4. UGA Research and Education Garden

Source: UGA Research and Education Garden Events / Facebook

The Research and Education Garden is a 26-hectare botanic gardens routinely open to the public despite its association with the University of Georgia’s Griffin Campus.

Its mix of brick and gravel paths, together with a shady arboretum, allows visitors to explore plants native to the southern United States within the most tranquil of settings.

The presence of a picnic area and shelter demonstrate that this garden is definitely a welcoming space for all.

A further symbol of this is the regular series of events and classes that take place within its walls, including star-gazing sessions and art exhibitions.

5. Walker Hill Museum

Source: Walker Hill / Facebook

This museum is the result of decades of collecting by the Walker family, who have lived in the house it occupies on South Hill Street since 1905.

The family’s interests seem to have known no limit, and the result is an eclectic range of items, some of which date back two full centuries.

An intriguing look into southern lifestyles at the beginning of the twentieth century, the museum includes some really rare objects.

These range from full-sized carousels with their original horses, to early record players. But tours of the site also include the historic homestead built in 1867, an old dairy barn, and an outhouse.

6. Heads Creek Reservoir

Source: Griffin Environmental Council / Facebook

Heads Creek Reservoir is one of several reservoirs and man-made lakes created in the region to ensure a steady water supply for the metropolitan Atlanta region.

More than 120 hectares in area, the reservoir is a haven for anyone who enjoys getting into the countryside, if only for a few hours.

Its size means the reservoir rarely gets crowded, while its ban on motor boats ensures its waters are generally very calm.

Home to beavers, turtles, fish and various bird and duck species, it’s possible to enjoy the lake’s surrounds for its shoreline, or canoe or kayak around it to get closer to its small uninhabited island.

Heads Creek Reservoir is approximately 12 km west of Griffin.

7. Film Tours

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A huge number of films and television series have been filmed in and around Griffin, with The Walking Dead production crew a particular fan of the area.

While it’s great to stumble on to recognisable locations by accident, for the best chance of seeing the backdrops to scenes from your favourite screen entertainment a film tour could be the thing for you.

Southern Hollywood Film Tours is based in nearby Peachtree City, and combines footage with real locations as they take in scenes from The Walking Dead and several movies from the Marvel universe including Spider Man and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Peachtree City is just over 30 minutes by road from Griffin.

8. Hill-Kurtz House

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Hill-Kurtz House is another Griffin addition to the National Register of Historic Places. It was constructed in 1860 for a man called Benjamin J Milner.

He is known for helping to form a local cavalry unit during the American Civil War. Sold just six years later to a printing magnate, the house is recorded as a fine example of what is called the Exotic Revival style.

If you decide to explore the suburban streets with wide lawns and mature tree cover in search of Hill-Kurtz House, also keep a look out for other historic private homes, such as Hunt House. This property was purchased by a Confederate army officer turned Griffin merchant.

9. Stonewall Cemetery

Source: Tony Pilgrim / Facebook

Set out on the founding of the city, Stonewall Cemetery is best known as the location of graves resulting from the Battle of Atlanta during the American Civil War.

Within a plot with cannonballs at each of its four corners are the final resting places of several hundred Confederate troops as well as a single Union soldier. They either died in the fighting or from wounds afterwards.

There are several memorials and statues worth looking at, and a memorial park opposite which contains an eternal flame for those who have died in every war involving US troops since.

10. Museum of Aviation

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The military connections don’t end at Stonewall Cemetery. The city of Warner Robins lies around 100 km southeast of Griffin. It is well worth the 1.5-hour journey because here you’ll find one of the country’s largest aviation museums.

On the edge of a US Air Force base, the Museum of Aviation receives more visitors each year than any other Georgia attraction outside of downtown Atlanta.

Its exhibition space covers an impressive 21 hectares, and contains 85 aircraft. These include tiny biplanes and giant bombers from the Second World War onwards, such as a B-52 bomber.

There is also the unusual chance to get up close to a U-2 spy plane, and a Blackbird, which flies on the edge of space.

11. Candler Field Museum

Source: IdRatherBeFlying / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

A little closer to Griffin, at just 15 minutes away, is another aeronautical wonder. Williamson’s Candler Field Museum can be found at Peach State Airport, and has worked hard to recreate what Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport would have looked like in the 1920s and 1930s.

Its lobby echoes a check-in desk from the period, and in addition to archive photographs and other items linked to powered flight, the museum boasts a number of aircraft.

Focussing on civilian rather than military aircraft, the earliest dates from 1917, just 14 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Other attractions include working Ford Model A and Model T cars.

12. Griffin Golf Course

Source: Mikael Damkier / shutterstock

Open from 7.30 in the morning until dark, the Griffin Golf Course is an 18-hole 72-par course. It features rolling fairways edged with trees typical of this part of the United States.

There is also a 12-station driving range, and practice green for seasoned golfers to improve their swing. Open since 1932, the course has had plenty of time to adapt, with new facilities added frequently.

Alternatively, check out The Club at Shoal Creek. A secluded course around a large lake, it has been partially reconstructed in recent years to improve its playability. However, the owners have worked hard to ensure the deer and other wildlife that live here continue to feel at home.

13. Griffin Area Concert Association

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Its name might not be the most inspiring around, but you’ll find few who will argue against the GACA as a gig and concert destination.

The association deliberately tries to invite in acts of as many genres as possible. So while there’s the chance to catch a country act, it’s equally possible you’ll be in town at the same time as a symphony orchestra or up-and-coming rock group are playing.

Its regular performances include everyone from talented locals to performers with national and even international reputations. So, if you somehow find yourself at a loose end one evening, be sure to check out the Griffin Area Concert Association.

14. Atlanta

Source: Sean Pavone / shutterstock

We’ve resisted the allure of Atlanta up until now, but it would be hard to complete a list of the best things to do in Griffin, Georgia without mentioning the state’s capital.

Only 50 minutes north of Griffin by road, Atlanta has a long list of attractions which makes it easy for any visitor to Griffin to spend a day there.

Families with younger children will probably want to head straight for Grant Park’s Zoo Atlanta, one of the oldest in the United States and an important centre of conservation.

Within walking distance are the buildings of the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park, the street art of the Krog Street Tunnel, and several attractions relating to Gone with the Wind including a museum.

15. Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays

Source: Cherokee Rose / Facebook

America’s Second Amendment famously gives its citizens the right to bear arms, and this right is particularly associated with the southern states of the union including Georgia.

To uncover this culture in safety visitors should head to Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays, which provides a space to target moving clay discs in beautiful surroundings.

There is not one but two clay shooting courses here. One is a five stand, while the other is a Helice ring.

Welcoming of beginners as well as experts, the centre consists of 50 hectares of open ground, gorges, water, and rolling hills.

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Established in 1829, the city was named after Charles Carroll, the last living signatory to America’s Declaration of Independence.

Small enough to have avoided the troubles of the American Civil War a generation later, Carrollton would become rich off the back of the textiles industry.

Still largely surrounded by rural farming communities, today Carrollton is a well-administered college town within easy reach of attractions in two states.

These are the 15 best things to do in and around Carrollton, Georgia.

1. Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum

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Quilting – the hand sewing of intricately decorated bed covers – is a fundamental part of the culture of the southern United States.

Since it opened in 2012, the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum has displayed a range of new and historic quilts and textiles on both permanent display and as part of a series of temporary exhibitions.

Fittingly housed within a converted cotton warehouse, the exterior is decorated with two ‘metal quilts’ by the nationally-important sculptor Gordon Chandler.

The museum sits just a short stroll from the centre of historic Carrollton at Adamson Square.

2. Carrollton Center for the Arts

Source: Carrollton Center for the Arts / Facebook

This state-of-the-art centre was created to act as a permanent arts hub within Carrollton, and hasn’t failed to achieve this distinction during its relatively short life.

With no expense spared, the Carrollton Center for the Arts was completed to a budget of $5.2 million. Within its walls stands a 300-seat theatre, which hosts performances that range from contemporary dance to comedy dramas.

The centre is also able to boast a 185 square metre exhibition space for hanging art, in addition to a permanent galleria.

Elsewhere in Carrollton, the Maurice K Townsend Center for the Performing Arts is another space dedicated to music and theatre.

3. Little Tallapoosa River

Source: Jacob Lund / shutterstock

A tributary of the Alabama River, the Little Tallapoosa runs for 156 km from Georgia’s Piedmont mountains and across the state border into Alabama.

Its clear waters wind their way through Carrollton in a series of bends, and are a perfect demonstration of some of Georgia’s most picturesque landscapes.

Largely navigable, there are numerous points at which it’s possible to launch a boat, kayak or canoe. The presence of three types of black bass make the river popular with anglers too.

The lawns of East Carrollton Park enjoy views not only of the river, but also of Lake Carroll, a favourite with holiday home owners.

4. Road to Tara Museum

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock

With the city mentioned in Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the Wind, the Road to Tara Museum in Jonesboro is a great addition to any list of the best things to do in Carrollton.

It combines objects used in the Oscar-winning film of the same name with artifacts from the Civil War. It therefore shows the real events on which Mitchell based her bestselling book, while separating fact from fiction.

Specific displays also focus on the actors Hattie McDaniel (who played Mammy) and Butterfly McQueen (who played Prissy). As African-Americans, they weren’t even able to attend the film’s premier as it was held in a segregated whites-only theatre.

Jonesboro is roughly an hour east of Carrollton.

5. Carrollton Greenbelt

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At close to 30 km in length, Carrollton Greenbelt is the largest conservation project city officials have ever attempted. It is also the largest paved loop trail to be found anywhere in the state of Georgia.

Forming a continuous linear park, the greenbelt provides an alternative method to getting about many of the city’s distinct neighbourhoods, parks, and malls, rather than relying on motor vehicle.

But more than that, it is in itself an important habitat for the area’s wildlife species.

As a loop you can join the Carrollton Greenbelt at various locations. The easiest are perhaps the designated trail heads that can be found at East Carrollton Park, Lakeshore Park, and Hobbs Farm Park.

6. Historic Banning Mills

Source: eschipul / Flickr | CC BY-SA

Matching a historic mill location with thrills more usually found at a theme park is this unusual attraction in the city of Newnan 30 minutes southeast of Carrollton.

That’s because at Historic Banning Mills a range of adrenaline-fueled adventures await. These include trekking and horse riding through the surrounding woodland, kayaking on natural streams, and tackling the climbing walls.

The highlight of the mills must be the Screaming Eagle zipline, recognised by Guinness as the world’s longest. However, some visitors might instead enjoy the more relaxing surrounds of the onsite spa.

7. West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail

Source: Jana Bishop / Facebook

As any visitor to the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum will already have realised, the textile industry has played a huge part in creating the Carrollton we know and love.

This heritage can be explored in greater detail thanks to the creation of the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail.

Stretching from Dalton to Columbus, its central region includes Carrollton. Here, several mills were built to convert raw cotton fibres into clothing, since the railroad made transport of the finished products across the country all the easier.

The Maryon Hosiery Mill building is one of the points on this trail, while other privately-owned structures include the Mandeville Mill built in 1899.

8. Hills and Dales Estate

Source: Visit LaGrange / Facebook

Built using a fortune generated through the Callaway family’s textile empire, the Hills and Dales Estate consists of a stunning house and gardens with an Italianate feel.

Completed at the height of the region’s textile industry in 1916, the landscaped gardens that surround the European-style villa were first laid out in the late 1800s by Sarah Ferrell. They are therefore some of the best-preserved nineteenth-century planting schemes in the country.

The villa itself – house is too small a word – covers three floors, which visitors are able to explore for themselves. They are also able to enjoy a 15-minute documentary which details much more of the estate’s astounding history.

The estate lies in LaGrange, roughly 70 km south of Carrollton.

9. Talladega National Forest

Source: Jason Patrick Ross / shutterstock

Cross the nearby border into Alabama, and you can swap the manicured gardens of the Hills and Dales Estate for the wilds of Talladega National Forest.

Incorporating 1,500 square kilometres of the Appalachian Mountains, the forest also protects a number of wilderness areas.

For instance, Cheaha Wilderness has some of the best areas of unspoilt nature within its bounds. At the same time, Dugger Mountain Wilderness seeks to ensure the continued success of species around Alabama’s second-highest peak.

Head here, and there’s a chance you’ll catch sight of some of the south’s most evocative wildlife species, including black bears, coyotes, and raccoons.

It will take you roughly 45 minutes to reach the forest from Carrollton by road.

10. Historic City Cemetery

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Laid out across two hills, the city’s historic cemetery is another spot in which to take in Carrollton’s first two centuries.

In fact, the cemetery’s Park Street area contains the graves of various founders and early settlers of the city. The earliest readable birth dates on the stones are in the 1700s.

As time went on the grave markings became more elaborate, with the angel standing guard over Georgia Price particularly poignant. She was the first freed African-American slave to become a business owner in the city.

Other graves include those that link directly to the Civil War, such as that of the confederate colonel William E Curtis.

11. John Tanner State Park

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The pleasant surrounds of John Tanner State Park include two lakes and the largest sand beach of any Georgia state park within its 56 hectares.

Ten kilometres west of Carrollton, the lakes are well-known for their pedal-boats and fishing opportunities. Its lawns are a much-loved outdoor space to enjoy time with friends and family.

Around them are walking and nature trails, as well as a bunk house and campsite for anyone looking to stay overnight.

The park is named after a local businessman who created it as his own private escape between 1954 and 1971.

12. Sewell Mill Textile Exhibit

Source: Sewell Mill Events Facility & Community Center / Facebook

Delve into Sewell Mill and you’ll also be delving into the history of the all-important textile industry that kept this part of Georgia prosperous for so many years.

The museum inside is filled with extraordinary survivors from this period, including archive photographs and a time clock which checked when workers entered and left the factory each day.

If you clock in for yourself, you’ll then be guided through the information displays to what it took to create the clothing worn throughout the country a hundred years ago.

Bremen lies 20 minutes north of Carrollton.

13. West Georgia Museum

Source: Rose Owens / Facebook

A further 15 minutes east of Bremen lies Tallapoosa. Though smaller than Carrollton and Bremen, Tallapoosa is home to the West Georgia Museum.

Its eclectic mix of exhibits ensures there are displays that will interest all visitors whatever their age. Its entrance is dominated by a replica T-Rex more than nine metres high, which towers over even the other dinosaurs on display here.

Stepping beyond, visitors will find artifacts stretching all the way back to the 1800s, such as a range of vintage vehicles. These include a horse-drawn buggy from before the advent of the internal combustion engine, and a Ford from 1923.

Other attractions here include the reconstruction of various old storefronts.

14. McIntosh Reserve Park

Source: Sherrie Bennett / Facebook

The McIntosh Reserve sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. It was named in honour of William McIntosh Jr, who was of mixed native American and Scottish ancestry and became an important Creek Indian leader.

The two-storey log house in which he lived has been recreated within the reserve. However, the role of McIntosh as a leader did not end well. He was the signatory of a treaty selling Creek land to the federal government, which lead to him being sentenced to death by his own tribe.

His grave can be found on the opposite side of the road to his home, approximately 30 km south of Carrollton.

15. Six Flags Over Georgia

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Around half the size of McIntosh Reserve Park but still impressive in size is the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park.

Six Flags has 11 rollercoasters, two of which – Goliath and Mind Bender – are highly-rated not just regionally but nationally. In all there are over 30 different individual attractions and amusements here, including a water park called Hurricane Harbor.

Superhero fans should note that many of the rides are based on characters from the Marvel and DC universes, including the Superman: Ultimate Flight ride.

Six Flags Over Georgia is located on the western outskirts of Atlanta, around 45 minutes from Carrollton.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Carrollton (GA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

While having a population of less than 20,000 residents, the city is known for its rich history and fine antebellum and Victorian architecture.

Called the ‘metropolis of Southwest Georgia’, this small city boasts a series of firsts, from the first electric street car system in the state to being the location of Charles Lindbergh’s first solo flight.

Awash with curiosities, these are the 15 best things to do in and around Americus, Georgia.

1. Americus Historic District

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The historic important of Americus was officially recognized on a countrywide status in 1976 when the streets of central Americus became listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Americus Historic District.

A haven for architectural styles as diverse as Classic Revival and Romanesque, a stroll around its pleasant streets will open up a whole range of possibilities.

Built in 1892, the Windsor Hotel is one of the most dramatic structures, built in a Queen Anne style complete with corner turret. Its long history has seen both Vice-President Thomas Marshall and Franklin D Roosevelt (as New York Governor) walk its hallowed halls.

Elsewhere, Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King Jr was temporarily imprisoned in the county jail here in 1961 during the Civil Rights struggle.

2. SAM Shortline Excursion Train

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An excellent way of getting out of Americus without having to make use of the road network is to hop aboard the vintage cars of the SAM Shortline Excursion Train.

Based in Cordele, roughly 30 miles east, this historic train set makes regular journeys to Americus, and on towards other interesting points of note.

Its vintage passenger carriages date from the late 1940s, when the railroad remained the primary means of traveling between towns, and makes for a unique way to explore this part of Georgia.

Stops served by the SAM Shortline Excursion Train include Plains, the home city of former President Jimmy Carter, and Leslie, known for its Rural Telephone Museum. There’s more on both later.

3. Lindbergh Memorial

Source: Jim Morehead / Facebook

It may not be much more than a well-tended field today, but fans of aviation will still want to pay homage to the achievements of Charles Lindbergh at the site in Americus where he made his first solo flight in 1923.

Standing at Souther Field, one of the earliest airfields in the US and now Jimmy Carter Regional Airport, the fine statue reminds visitors just how daring Lindbergh was.

Before even taking to an aircraft cockpit, Lindbergh parachuted and wing-walked. He of course went on to complete the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. And he did this just four years after learning to fly right here in Americus.

4. Rylander Theater

Source: gavideoguy / Flickr | Public Domain Mark

Dating back to another period of the history of Americus is the Rylander Theater. Relatively plain in a neoclassical way to its exterior, its interior has been restored to its former art deco glory.

When it first opened, the Rylander was a vaudeville theater, which encompasses performances of song, dance and comedy.

Step inside for yourself and you’ll soon realize why this performance space has survived for one hundred years. Its thick red velvet curtains decorated with gold brocade are really only just the start.

Moving on from its vaudeville days, today ticket holders can enjoy performances of its rare original 1928 Moller Theater Pipe Organ, drama, and musicals.

5. Jimmy Carter National Historic Site

Source: Nagel Photography / shutterstock

This site in nearby Plains was created to preserve and protect a number of buildings connected to the life and politics of President Jimmy Carter.

Among its buildings are the president’s home, the school he attended as a child, and the railroad depot that acted as his campaign headquarters during his successful 1976 run for the presidency.

Moving back to Plains after he left the White House in 1981, Carter began to work on fighting poverty. It earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. The medal can be seen on display at Plains High School, which is now a museum and visitor center.

Plains is 10 miles west of Americus.

6. Koinonia Farm

Source: gresei / shutterstock

A similar distance south of downtown Americus you’ll find Koinonia Farm. Using an ancient Greek term meaning ‘fellowship,’ the farm was created as a multiracial settlement in 1942 long before the end of segregation in the southern states.

Facing boycotts and threats of violence during the era of the Civil Rights Movement from white supremacists, its stance received national attention and helped the farm to remain a viable enterprise right to the present day.

An inspiration for the Habitat for Humanity charity and the off-Broadway musical The Cotton Patch Bible, a visit to the farm is a humbling experience filled with the scent of baked goods.

7. Wolf Creek Plantation

Source: Wolf Creek Plantation / Facebook

An alternative type for farming takes place at Wolf Creek Plantation, one of Georgia’s growing number of vineyards.

Visitors are welcome to examine the all-important vines, which are being expanded to cover twenty acres once home to the holes and bunkers of a golf course.

The onsite fermentation tanks can also be seen, as they turn the juice of ten different grape varieties into finished bottles of wine.

Anyone interested in the finished product is welcome to sample the latest vintages in the tasting room, which is also found on the plantation five miles west of Americus.

8. Rural Telephone Museum

Source: H.J. Herrera / shutterstock

This quirky attraction in nearby Leslie is thought to be one of the largest telephone museums in the world.

Largely the work of just one man, the unstoppable Tommy C Smith, it was founded in 1995 and has attracted something of a cult following since.

Attractively set within a cotton mill dating from the turn of the twentieth century, there are estimated to be 2,000 items on display relating to the telephone industry.

They date right back to the earliest days of the science in the 1880s, and cover the entire history of a technology that can truly be said to have changed the world.

Leslie is approximately 12 miles southeast of Americus.

9. Georgia Veterans State Park

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Georgia Veterans State Park lies on the eastern shoreline of Lake Blackshear, a long thin reservoir about 30 minutes from Americus. It separates the city from Cordele.

There are not one but two reasons to visit the state park. The first is to enjoy and experience an unspoiled part of Georgia woodland, home to all manner of species.

Allied to this are the charming waters of Lake Blackshear, which at more than 8,000 acres occupy an area almost eight times the size of the park itself.

But an added attraction is the museum featuring large scale military equipment and artifacts from the American Revolutionary War onwards.

10. Andersonville National Historic Site

Source: Nagel Photography / shutterstock

This attraction 13 miles north of Americus might be better named Camp Sumter. Sumter was used as a prisoner of war camp for captured Union troops for more than a year at the end of the American Civil War.

Filled to four times its capacity, nearly 13,000 of the 45,000 soldiers held here died, leading to the camp commander being executed for war crimes at the end of hostilities.

Liberated in 1845, those who died within its confines are buried in long lines in the National Cemetery. The story of these men and the camp is told in the museum.

The museum also tells the story of all American prisoners of war, including the likes of Senator John McCain, who was tortured by North Vietnamese forces during 5.5 years of imprisonment.

11. Thirteenth Colony Distillery

Source: 13th Colony Distilleries, LLC / Facebook

Georgia’s very first craft distillery, Thirteenth Colony Distillery grew out of a passing conversation between four Americus friends.

Using water that comes from Georgia’s largest and deepest natural aquifer after being filtered over years through limestone and dolomite, the purity of its starting material is guaranteed.

On top of this, each of the spirits produced here are made in small batches for that handcrafted quality.

In addition to various forms of whiskey – bourbon, rye, and corn whiskey – small quantities of vodka and gin are also distilled here.

12. Billy Carter Service Station & Museum

Source: Nagel Photography / shutterstock

Georgia has its fair share of out-there attractions, and the Billy Carter Service Station & Museum is certainly one of them since it opened in 2008.

The brother of Jimmy Carter, Billy had a collection of mementos from his brother’s presidency like almost no other.

Its display cases, shelves, and specially-prepared drawer displays are filled with documents related to the rather turbulent life of this member of the Carter family.

Like the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, the service station is located in Plains.

13. Windsor Hotel Tours

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

As well as continuing to offer guest accommodation in its 53 rooms, the Windsor Hotel in downtown Americus also offers behind the scenes tours of its historic structure.

Heading to parts of the hotel not normally seen by the general public, guides amuse tour members with a plethora of tales from the many decades the hotel has had its doors open.

Tours allow those not lucky enough to be staying within its individually decorated rooms a chance to admire the interiors, which excel in their grandeur.

Chandeliers hang from the ceilings of the lobby just as they did when they were first fitted in the 1890s, while some other items date to before the Civil War.

14. Pasaquan

Source: Marcus O. Bst / Flickr | CC BY-ND

Covering seven acres, Pasaquan is another of Georgia’s unique attractions. It is located roughly 30 miles northwest of Americus outside the town of Buena Vista.

The brainchild of folk artist Eddie Owens Martin (who liked to go by the name Saint EOM) the site contains six major structures that were redesigned as examples of Martin’s unique artistic style.

These include a farmhouse originally dated from 1885 and a total of four acres of masonry all painted in bright colors and designs that took their influence from right around the world.

15. Providence Canyon State Park

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Sometimes known as the Little Grand Canyon, Providence Canyon State Park makes for a great alternative to the real thing.

Hailed a wonder of the natural world, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, the park also contains more unexpected attractions than the endless canyon vistas. These include an abandoned homestead complete with slowly rusting 1950s vehicles.

Another point to take in is Providence Methodist Church, while the floor of the canyon, which can be up to 150 feet beneath the surrounding cliffs, provides a spectacular place to begin a hike of any length.

The park entrance is situated 45 miles west of Americus.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Americus (GA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The county seat for Tift County, Tifton was founded in 1872 by sawmill owner Henry H Tift. Incorporated as a city eight years later, it has now been the county seat for more than one hundred years.

Tifton boasts a range of cultural and historic attractions within its limits, while an even larger number of points of interest are located within an hour’s driving time.

Here are the 15 best things to do in and around Tifton, Georgia.

1. Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage

Source: Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage / Facebook

The Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage can be found within a beautiful Romanesque red brick church built more than 110 years ago.

Originally the city’s First Methodist Church, the interior is decorated with large stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings and beautifully-finished doorways.

Built by the city’s founder, these days visitors to the structure will discover a regularly rotating series of art exhibitions.

They range from traditional paintings to porcelain and wooden sculpture, while the center is also a popular destination for arts workshops.

2. Coastal Plain Research Arboretum

Source: Scenic Southwest Georgia / Facebook

Although several hundred miles from Georgia’s Atlantic coast, the geographic coastal plain stretches all the way to Tifton. This fact has led to the creation of the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus.

For visitors, the arboretum provides one of the best places in the state to see the coastal plain’s species of native flora.

Its 38 acres provide a home for somewhere in the region of 280 native species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, including many now in danger of becoming extinct in their natural habitats.

Established in 1987, the arboretum has matured into wonderful gardens encompassing pine woods, gently-running streams and indigenous wetlands.

3. Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village

Source: kellyv / Flickr | CC BY-ND

This outdoor museum of historic structures has been created by carefully moving more than 35 important buildings to the site to create a nineteenth century southern Georgia town.

Actors dressed in authentic recreations of clothing from the era are on hand to provide greater insight into life during this time

Visitors are able to walk up Main Street to explore the produce available in the variety of small stores, or jump aboard the Vulcan Iron Works Steam Locomotive.

But rather than be a static museum, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village has a constant range of activities taking place, from regular farming duties to quilt making.

4. Fulwood Park

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

This quaint park in the center of Tifton has been part of the city’s community since it was first created in 1916.

Named after another early settler to the city, the park can be reached via dramatic 1930s gateways, from where a whole series of pathways run around areas of lawn and beneath shady trees.

There’s a small children’s playground for younger visitors within its 28 acres, as well as basic facilities that include restrooms and picnic pavilions.

Covering a couple of city blocks, Fulwood Park is a great escape at the heart of downtown Tifton, and busy throughout the day with picnickers, joggers and dog walkers.

5. Tifton Residential Historic District

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One part of a city which tourists often miss off their itineraries are its residential areas, since they tend to lack major attractions, and hotels are generally located around downtown areas.

Despite this, visitors to Tifton should make an effort to discover the Tifton Residential Historic District, which can be easily explored on foot.

Its quiet streets are the location for a variety of intriguing private homes, many of which date back to the turn of the twentieth century.

These include the blue-gray Queen Anne style of William Cobb House, constructed in 1905, and the cream exterior of the 1892 Pope House-Lankford Manor. During the 1930s, this was a favorite restaurant and boarding house for those heading south towards Florida.

6. Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts

Source: Brandi Lyon Photography / shutterstock

The architectural glories of downtown Tifton don’t end at the turn of the century as you’ll uncover for yourself if you take a trip to the Tift Theatre.

First opened in 1937, the structure is a fine example of the Art Deco period, with smooth curving lines drawing people in from far and wide.

Now diligently restored to its former glory, come nightfall its large fin-like Carrara glass façade glows with neon lighting.

The 650-seat theatre itself is the city’s premier performing space, hosting events as varied as classical music concerts, contemporary Broadway shows and Hollywood movie screenings.

7. Tifton Commercial Historic District

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

A sister to Tifton’s Residential Historic District, the Commercial Historic District is equally enthralling to visitors. Both are important enough to have made it onto the country’s National Register of Historic Places.

It was originally listed as a ten-block area brimming with warehouses and storefronts dating from the 1890s right through to the 1930s.

It was later expanded to include another four blocks, including the Masonic Lodge – the only three-story building listed.

Others worth looking out for include the Art Deco Bowen Building, as well as the Tift County Courthouse and the 1917 Bank of Tifton. Designed by Atlanta architect William Edwards, this is one of the city’s most distinct buildings, with a resemblance to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

8. Tifton Terminal Railway Museum

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

The last passenger railroad service pulled out of Tifton in the 1970s, but the era of the railroads lives on thanks to the Tifton Terminal Railway Museum.

It occupies the former passenger depot of the Atlantic Coast Line, and aims to preserve the heritage that led to the very foundation of Tifton to begin with.

A wood-built caboose passenger engine stands proudly outside, along with the Southern Railway’s Pullman sleeper called the Flint River.

Within the same structure as the museum, visitors will also find the Atlantic Coastline Artists Station, a small gallery space featuring the work of both professional and amateur southern Georgia artists.

9. Jefferson Davis State Historic Site

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The alternative name of the Jefferson Davis Capture Site gives a hint at the history behind this site 20 miles north of Tifton.

It was here that in 1865 the President of the breakaway Confederate States was captured by Union forces during the American Civil War.

A granite monument topped with a bronze bust of the president marks the exact spot of his capture, while the grounds of the 12.5-acre site also contains a small museum dedicated to retelling the story of his flight from the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

Captured after a brief gun battle, Davis was imprisoned for two years for treason, before being released. His capture marked the end of the war.

10. Rutland Farms

Source: Rutland Farms / Facebook

Owned by the Rutland family since 1916, their farm has become a major agritourism attraction in Tifton.

Compared to modern American farms many would consider Rutland Farms to be entirely insignificant. However, that ignores the introduction it provides to the agricultural history of the region.

At around 2,100 acres in size, the farm is able to grow more than twenty different crop types, with fruits that can be picked by visitors themselves and vegetables sold in the farm shop known as The Market.

11. Fitzgerald Blue and Gray Museum

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The Blue and Gray Museum in the neighboring town of Fitzgerald has brought new life to a fully-renovated railroad depot.

Its collection centers around the city’s links with the Civil War. Among its various exhibits is the Hall of Honor, which celebrates the names of those Civil War veterans who went on to found the city.

Also commemorated are other local heroes, including General Raymond Gilbert Davis, the most-highly decorated Marine anywhere in the United States.

Fitzgerald is located 28 miles northeast of Tifton, with road journeys taking around 30 minutes.

12. Flint RiverQuarium

Source: Bill Strickland / Flickr | CC BY-ND

Given its name, it probably won’t be earth shattering news that this 54,000 square feet aquarium is located on the banks of the Flint River.

Through its various tanks it seeks to tell the story of the river, covering its entire 340-mile length from source to sea.

In total, the RiverQuarium provides a home for around 100 different species. Its largest tank stands in the open air and has a depth equivalent to a two-story building.

Its 130,000 gallons were designed to create an ecosystem covering all the species that call the river their natural habitat. That said, the alligators and birds are both housed in separate enclosures – just in case.

The Flint RiverQuarium can be found in Albany, which lies roughly 40 miles west of Tifton.

13. Albany Museum of Art

Albany is also home to the excellent Museum of Art. While only founded in the middle of the 1960s, its permanent collection of artworks is large enough to require six main galleries.

This collection includes a large proportion of American artists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The impressionist Edward Henry Potthast, and pop artist Andy Warhol, both feature.

Elsewhere within the galleries there are paintings, drawing and works of sculpture from Europe, and one of the largest gatherings of African tribal art in the southeast United States.

Consisting of items from right around the African continent, displays are filled with a fine selection of masks, gold work and ceramics.

14. Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum

Source: Bubba73 / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Head south of Tifton and you’ll soon come to the city limits of Valdosta, around 50 miles away. Further on, in downtown Valdosta is the Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum, a must-see attraction.

Its displays are, of course, dedicated to Valdosta’s past. It begins on the ground floor with a round-up of the major turning points in the city’s history.

These moments are looked at in more detail on the museum’s upper floor, with a series of exhibits that are rotated through the seasons.

Outside the walls of the Carnegie Library where it is located, the museum provides a lasting place for an authentic pioneer cabin and a rail car.

15. Jimmy Carter National Historic Site

Source: Nagel Photography / shutterstock

President Jimmy Carter, the 39th man to hold this august position, is famously a child of Plains, Georgia.

Not only that, but Carter and his wife returned to Plains after their four years in the White House in Washington DC came to an end.

The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site was created to preserve a whole series of buildings connected with the president’s life, including his home, and his school.

Perhaps the most notable attraction is the museum located within the former Plains High School. Its artifacts include the medal the president was awarded in 2002 by the Nobel Peace Prize committee for his work to alleviate poverty.

Plains is 60 miles, or an hour and a half, northwest of Tifton.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Tifton (GA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Situated in the state’s southeast roughly 100 kilometres from the Atlantic seaboard, it was chartered as a city in 1803.

Founded as a trading community serving the surrounding cotton plantations, it was still so small by the middle of the nineteenth century that its courthouse doubled as a barn.

Statesboro really only began to grow after the American Civil War, when many now freed slaves chose to stay in the area. This was followed by the creation of Georgia Southern University in 1906.

The presence of the university campus ensures a youthful and creative air evades Statesboro, while the Georgia Municipal Association has recognised it as one of nine state ‘live, work, play’ cities for its all-round attractions.

These are our picks for the 15 best things to do in and around Statesboro, Georgia.

1. Georgia Southern University Museum

Source: Georgia Southern University / Facebook

It may be part of Georgia Southern University, but this museum dedicated to the natural history of the state certainly isn’t a dusty or boring place to spend a few hours.

Instead, its halls are packed full of family-friendly interactive exhibits. However, it’s the 78-million-year-old eight-metre skeleton of a Mosasaur, sometimes called the T-Rex of the Sea, which will probably hold your attention the longest.

The 42-million-year-old Vogtle whale fossil, North America’s oldest, runs it a close second. The museum also houses the complete skeleton of a Bryde’s whale, and various treasures from the deep such as sawfish bills and sharks’ teeth.

2. Georgia Southern Botanical Gardens

Source: Yasuo_2020 / shutterstock

A few blocks away from the university’s main campus are its 4.5-hectare gardens. Aiming to preserve rare and endangered plant species native to the state, it sits around Bland Cottage.

This is a slightly unfortunate name, given all the colour and natural beauty that surrounds this early-twentieth century farmstead turned visitor centre.

The gardens themselves are divided into a number of subsections, including a heritage garden, bog garden, rose collection, and several wooded walking trails dotted with benches.

A haven for nature a short stroll from downtown Statesboro, it is also home to a number of native butterfly species, birds such as the mockingbirds and red-feathered cardinals, and a healthy population of squirrels too.

3. Splash in the Boro! Water Park

Source: Jillian Cain Photography / shutterstock

For an activity that’s a little more adrenaline-fueled, look no further than Splash in the Boro! water park.

It features nine main attractions across more than 600,000 square metres, including a 240m lazy river, which meanders around the leisure pools.

Other attractions include a wave pool and Flow Rider surfing simulator, while those travelling with younger kids will be thankful for the pool play area.

Watched over by lifeguards, it combines nursery pools with child-friendly slides and other features to keep little ones entertained.

Also containing a 25m lap pool for serious swimmers, the centre can be found in Mill Creek Regional Park.

4. Averitt Center for the Arts

Source: Joe Lafoon / shutterstock

An excellent place to begin any exploration of downtown Statesboro is the Averitt Center for the Arts.

A thriving cultural hub, it comprises two separate buildings. The first is recognisable by the beautiful off-white exterior Greek-style columns and decoration which once adorned the Bank of Statesboro, before its collapse during the Great Depression.

The second building is the Georgia Theatre, known today as the Emma Kelly Theatre in honour of a local songstress. Its art deco stylings were maintained when it was renovated, ensuring visitors get a feel for what Statesboro was like in the 1930s.

Together, both buildings host a range of events right throughout the year, from art exhibitions to bluegrass jamborees.

5. Blind Willie McTell Trail

Source: Marty Nickel / Facebook

This short four-kilometre trail won’t satisfy any serious hikers among you, but it does provide a glimpse into everyday Statesboro.

Connecting up Memorial Park with Triangle Park right at the heart of the city’s downtown district, it slips through the sorts of American scenes largely ignored by television news and guidebooks.

In short, the trail is a wonderful place to enjoy an alfresco lunch when the weather is good – which is most of the year in this portion of southeast Georgia.

A plaque along the route explains its naming, after the blind composer of the song Statesboro Blues who lived in the city for much of his life.

6. Museum on Main

Source: Visit Statesboro! / Facebook

While the museum at Georgia Southern focusses on the region’s natural history, the museum on downtown’s Main Street instead helps lift the lid on the area’s cultural and human history.

Though a comparatively old city in US terms, Museum on Main looks even further back, detailing the lives of native Americans during the period before the arrival of Europeans.

Also spanning British (and Spanish) colonial exploration, it doesn’t hide away from the fact many of the surrounding cotton plantations were worked by African-American slaves.

Nor does it fail to explore the effects of the Civil War as the Confederate southern states including Georgia left the growing Union.

7. Statesboro Farmers Market

Source: Arina P Habich / shutterstock

Another attraction to be found on Main Street is Statesboro’s Farmers Market.

Each Saturday the area’s farmers descend on downtown Statesboro to provide its residents and visitors with some of the region’s best produce.

Coming largely from small-scale family farms, the stalls here display everything from beautiful cuts of meat to farm-fresh eggs.

Interspersed between these stalls you’ll also find items ready to eat and drink, with lemonade and coffee both on offer. Sip them to the sound of live music as you check out the handicrafts also on offer.

8. Centre for Wildlife Education

Source: rokopix / shutterstock

Switching from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean by way of the state’s humid middle, Georgia has an amazing array of native animals.

Many of them can be seen up close at the Centre for Wildlife Education. Here bird of prey shows demonstrate the beauty of America’s national bird, the Bald Eagle. Vivariums allow visitors to come nose to nose with the state’s snake species.

In addition, there is a small area of protected wetland, which boasts its own beaver dam and lodge.

A children’s trail and separate self-guided nature paths allow you to explore more fully. An invasive species exhibition also displays some of the non-native species that now call the region home.

9. Eagle Creek Brewing Company

Source: Eagle Creek Brewing Company / Facebook

Simply oozing the southern charm for which Georgia is known, the Eagle Creek Brewing Company in downtown Statesboro is not just a craft brewery. On the contrary, it is also a brewpub with a full restaurant menu matched to its range of beers, wines, and cocktails.

They can be enjoyed alongside regular live music events, which provide a wonderful backdrop to the likes of the brewery’s Tea Party Amber, River Street Praline American Brown Ale, and Spot Tail blends.

While some of these brews can be found elsewhere, Eagle Creek also reserves some for its brewpub taproom alone, meaning for a full craft beer experience you’ll need to visit the brewery itself.

10. The Jumping Place

Source: Eleonora Grunge / shutterstock

To get the heart pumping in a way that not even Splash in the Boro! is able to provide, you’ll need to head to The Jumping Place.

Specialising in sky dives, this company offers tandem and single aircraft jumps for beginners and experts.

Not only a fantastic thrill, but an unrivalled eagle-eyed view of Statesboro and the southeast of Georgia, this is undoubtedly an experience you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Alternatively, head to the similarly named Jumpshot. This indoor activity centre contains three paintball fields, trampolines, and a wipeout machine among many others.

11. Bulloch County Courthouse

Source: Joe Lafoon / shutterstock

As the county seat for Bulloch County, Statesboro’s downtown district is the home of Bulloch County Courthouse. Built in 1894 in a blend of the classical revival and Queen Anne styles, it was added to the US’ National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Costing 20,000 dollars at the time it was constructed, the courthouse remains one of Statesboro’s grandest structures.

Considered by many to be very centre of Statesboro, the neighbouring Courthouse Square contains monuments that help to highlight various periods of the city’s history.

Film fans might also recognise the building from the Robert Downey Jr, Kiefer Sutherland and Winona Ryder movie 1969, where it played the part of Culloch County Courthouse in several scenes.

12. Savannah

Source: Sean Pavone / shutterstock

Just shy of the Atlantic Ocean in a region of meandering rivers, islands, and wildlife refuges is the city of Savannah, 93 kilometres from Statesboro.

The oldest city in Georgia, Savannah was founded in 1733, when the United States was still the North American colonies of the British Empire. It went on to play a key role in both the War of Independence and the American Civil War.

Largely unaltered from its original city plan, Savannah’s cobblestone streets and park-like squares form one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts anywhere in the country.

Specific attractions here include various historic homes, with exterior verandas typical of the region, and the Fort Jackson Maritime Museum.

Approximately 1.2 kilometres from downtown Savannah, the nineteenth-century fort was built to protect the city from attack by sea, and was also used as city defences during the civil war.

13. S&S Greenway

Source: Morakot Kawinchan / shutterstock

The S&S Greenway is a paved walking trail that runs for 4.5 kilometres along some of the path of the former Savannah & Statesboro Railroad, which began operation in 1897.

The trail begins at Gentilly Road, before slipping under bypasses in tunnels and passing through mature tree cover on route to its end at Pretoria-Rushing and Burkhalter Roads. As further work is completed, the greenway will stretch all the way to the city of Brooklet about 13 km away.

Both ends of the trail provide parking and spots in which to relax or enjoy a picnic lunch.

14. Blackwater Preserve

Source: G-Stock Studio / shutterstock

Fifteen minutes south by road from Statesboro, Blackwater Preserve lies on the outskirts of the town of Register. Sitting within an historic property 170 hectares in size, this preserve provides access to entirely unspoilt wetlands for kayaking, canoeing, and camping adventures.

Backing onto cypress swamp, there can be no better way to explore the Georgia wetlands than from the water itself.

A great escape if you’ve overdone it a little in downtown Statesboro, the sound of running water and the dappled sunlight piercing the tree cover is really as good as it gets, before any mention of the birds and other wildlife that inhabit the preserve.

15. Tybee Island

Source: Sean Pavone / shutterstock

Back on the Atlantic Coast, Tybee Island lies some 115 km, or 1.5 hours from Statesboro, and can be combined with a trip to Savannah.

Lying on the border with South Carolina, the island is the easternmost point in Georgia. For many years the island was officially known as Savannah Beach, demonstrating one of its main attractions.

However, the island is also able to boast the black-and-white striped Tybee Island Light Station lighthouse, and the Fort Screven Historic District.

Commissioned in 1898, it served as an important coastal defence right up until 1947, with various military structures still visible, including six gun batteries and a guard house.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Statesboro (GA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Settled from 1829 onwards, Stockbridge officially became a town in 1895, but wasn’t incorporated into a city until 1920.

Now one hundred years young, the city of Stockbridge is well thought of by many in nearby Atlanta.

It manages to combine the laid-back atmosphere of a small town, while being within easy reach of the attractions of Atlanta and its wider metropolitan area.

Here are the 15 best things to do in and around Stockbridge, Georgia.

1. Aaron and Margaret Parker Jr House

Source: Tim Farley / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 4.0

Dating to the earliest days of Stockbridge, this home was built in 1830. One of the oldest structures in Rockdale County, it today stands within the area protected by Panola Mountain State Park, approximately 14km away.

It was constructed in the Plantation Plains style, of brick and clapboard wooden planks, and is one and a half stories high, but just one room deep.

An authentic farmhouse from the period, Aaron Parker and his wife farmed 1,200 hectares of land, and makes for an interesting stop for anyone planning to explore Panola Mountain State Park more widely.

2. Panola Mountain State Park

Source: whiskerhead / shutterstock

Sitting on the border between Rockdale and Henry counties, Panola Mountain rises 288m above sea level and just 80m over the surrounding Georgia woodland.

Covering 40 hectares, the mountain itself is an isolated upthrust of granite piercing the Earth’s crust. One of the most pristine mountain landscapes in the region, visitors to Panola Mountain experience a habitat unchanged since the time of the region’s native Americans.

Part of the wider Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, it has two lakes, picnic areas and a children’s playground.

When it comes to physical activity, the mountain summit can be reached by a ranger-led hike, while other attractions include geocaching, tree-climbing, and archery.

3. Martin Luther King Sr Heritage Trail

Source: Visit Henry County, GA / Facebook

The father of Martin Luther King Jr was born and raised in Stockbridge. He is honoured with a short heritage trail which follows the old railroad tracks through the centre of the city.

He regularly attended services at Floyd Chapel Baptist Church, which was recognised as a safe place for African-Americans to worship going back to the late nineteenth century.

Once ordained, King Sr also gave his first sermon at Floyd Chapel, before moving to the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

A commemorative plaque on the exterior wall of Stockbridge City Hall details the legacy of the King family here.

4. Yule Forest Christmas Tree Farm

Source: Happy Hirtzel / shutterstock

As the old saying goes, a Christmas Tree Farm is not just for Christmas, and that’s certainly true at Yule Forest.

While the full merriment of the festive period can be had during the Christmas season, Yule Forest is more than just a place to pick up a tree and enjoy some hot cider.

The farm is also well worth visiting at other times of year, and is able to boast one of the largest pumpkin patches in Georgia as just one of its additional attractions.

Elsewhere, there’s a petting zoo focussing on educating children about the realities of farm life, and a store where you can purchase locally made jams and other goodies.

5. Clayton County International Park

Source: Christopher V Jones / shutterstock

Part of the legacy of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Clayton County International Park was created to host the game’s beach volleyball competition.

As well as its beaches, the park has biking trails, football pitches and softball fields, and the possibility to enjoy a little fishing too.

However, if you visit for yourself, you won’t fail to miss the giant water slides that rise up above these other attractions from the water park here.

Clayton County International Park is located in Jonesboro, a similar distance from Stockbridge as Panola Mountain State Park.

6. Museum of Aviation

Source: HawkeyeUK / Flickr | CC BY-SA

About 1.5 hours south of Stockbridge you’ll find the Museum of Aviation, which forms part of the large air force base located in the city of Warner Robins.

The second largest aerospace museum operated by the US Air Force, it is consistently ranked as one of the most popular attractions in Georgia.

With an exhibition area of 21 hectares, the museum is split between four different buildings and contains around 85 aircraft.

Covering the full history of powered flight, its most memorial exhibits date from the Cold War, and include a U-2 spy plane, and B-29 bomber.

There is also the world’s fastest aircraft, a Blackbird, which hit just over 3,500 kilometres per hour in 1976.

7. Lake Spivey

Source: Fullpool2008 / Wikimedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

While not the largest lake in metropolitan Atlanta, Lake Spivey is one of the most striking. Its tranquil waters lie close to Jonesboro on the border between Henry and Clayton counties.

At almost 250 hectares in size, the lake is a favourite escape for local residents, who can take to the waters by boat or simply enjoy the surrounds from the lake shore.

What’s more, visitors are also able to explore the lake by jet ski, water ski, canoe, kayak, and with nothing more than a swimsuit to hand. A permanent water ski slalom course is located close to the dam which formed the lake in the 1950s.

Meanwhile, anglers might like to try their luck beating the all-time record for the largest black crappie caught in Georgia, which weighed in at almost two kilos.

8. Henry County Film Tours

Source: red mango / shutterstock

This self-guided tour takes in locations in Stockbridge and a variety of other cities and sites in Georgia’s Henry County that have been the backdrop for Hollywood movies and television series.

Starting in Stockbridge itself, the quarries on the opposite side of the rail tracks to the Martin Luther King Sr Heritage Trail were used in both Furious 7, and also for several Wakanda scenes in Black Panther.

In nearby McDonough, the Presbyterian Church, old bank building, and Memorial Cemetery were used for series one of the television series Resurrection.

Hampton is another spot in Henry Country used for several different productions, including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Smokey and the Bandit, and Spiderman: Homecoming to name just a few.

9. Newman Wetlands Center

Source: Newman Wetlands Center / Facebook

The traditional image of Georgia is one of humid wetlands of filled with alligators and other exotic native creatures.

While this image is mostly seriously outdated, there are a few places where it’s still possible to explore the state’s traditional wetlands.

One is Newman Wetlands Center. An 800m raised boardwalk and crushed stone path dotted with interpretative signs help those new to wetlands understand their importance to the overall ecology of the state. They also highlight the local wildlife you should keep your eyes open for.

Other more basic hiking trails detour away from the main path for an even more naturalistic experience. The main entrance is just 20 minutes’ drive from Stockbridge.

10. Krog Street Tunnel

Source: Jon Bilous / shutterstock

Heading into Atlanta proper, the Krog Street Tunnel should be high on the list of landmarks to check out for anyone with an interest in art.

While a road tunnel might not sound like a particularly promising place to see some of the city’s best artworks, the Krog Street Tunnel has become a haven for street artists.

The tradition of spraying graffiti over the short tunnel’s bare concrete walls is thought to have begun in the 1960s.

Now, almost all of it is covered by spray paint. What’s more, this isn’t a static artwork, but one that is constantly changing, meaning there’s always something new to see.

From Stockbridge the Krog Street Tunnel is roughly 30 minutes away, on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta.

11. Reynolds Nature Preserve

Source: atlnature / Flickr | CC BY

Reynolds Nature Preserve is located in Morrow, just half the distance from Stockbridge as the Krog Street Tunnel.

It largely consists of 59 hectares of protected forest, with five kilometres of hiking trails that take in the interpretation centre, wildlife ponds, a farm dating from the civil war period, and a wildflower meadow.

It became the property of the self-taught naturalist William Reynolds in the 1920s, and the wildlife ponds that exist today were created by him in the 1930s.

There is a newly-established butterfly trail with planting set out to lure in these wonderful insects, although the preserve is perhaps better known for its birdwatching opportunities.

12. Uptown Comedy Corner

Source: Andrey Armyagov / shutterstock

Atlanta’s Uptown Comedy Corner has been a mainstay of the urban comedy seen for many years. performances have come from everyone from Chris Rock, who went on to host the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, to Steve Harvey.

Also a great place to see the next big thing before the big ticket prices kick in, Uptown Comedy Corner continues to welcome nationally-recognisable comedians.

Audiences can be just as famous. Rappers SnoopDog and Jay Z have both made a night of it here.

Uptown Comedy Corner lies on the eastern edge of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, 24km north of Stockbridge.

13. Delta Flight Museum

Source: EQRoy / shutterstock

Just up the road from Uptown Comedy Corner is the Delta Flight Museum, the perfect partner or a great alternative to the air force’s Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins.

Instead of fighter aircraft, the Delta Flight Museum is dedicated to the long and distinguished history of Delta Airlines and the various airlines that it has bought out over the middle decades of the twentieth century.

The museum’s vintage posters hark back to the golden age of travel, while its two hangars themselves date to the 1940s.

When it comes to exhibits, you can expect to see everything from tiny six-seater aircraft to the 767 that was the airline’s flagship for decades.

14. Fairlie-Poplar District

Source: JustPixs / shutterstock

For a sense of what modern-day Atlanta is really about you have to leave the comedy clubs and museums behind.

A good place to start would be the city’s Fairlie-Poplar District, awash with buildings in a range of nineteenth- and twentieth-century architectural styles. Among them are the triangular flatiron building and the Healy building, the last major skyscraper constructed before the First World War.

The district is home to a huge and diverse number of cafes and restaurants from where you can people watch. To the north, you’ll also find the SkyView Ferris Wheel, offering views across Atlanta and Centennial Olympic Park.

15. Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Source: Travel_with_me / shutterstock

It’s rare to find an attraction or landmark specifically intended to appeal to children unless it’s a play centre, which is where the Children’s Museum of Atlanta steps in.

Targeting audiences below the age of nine, the museum hosts lots of hands-on activities, led by a group of professional actors.

Short musicals mix with temporary and permanent exhibits with include Fundamental Farming, detailing the role of farms in a fun way.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Stockbridge (GA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

It has a permanent population of less than 9,000 people, but is none the less the county seat of Georgia’s Henry County.

McDonough was founded in 1823 around a traditional town square setting as European-Americans slowly moved westward across the continent.

The town square still lies at the centre of the city, while more widely McDonough is a good base from which to explore the region’s history and enjoy a huge number of outdoor activities.

Here are the 15 best things to do in McDonough, Georgia.

1. McDonough Historic District

Source: Lee Reese / shutterstock

McDonough’s historic district encompasses more than 80 hectares at the centre of the city, and contains buildings dating right back to the city’s foundation.

One that stands out is Henry County Courthouse and historic jail, which sits on the northern side of the town square.

Mainly made of red brick, it has a white clocktower that rises above the square. It was built in 1897 in a Romanesque Revival architectural style.

Other attractive and important buildings in the district include an art deco Standard Oil petrol station that’s now a tourist information centre, and the grand Palace Theatre, known today as the Clay Plaza Building.

2. Heritage Park Veterans Museum

Source: Lee Reese / shutterstock

Small but perhaps perfectly formed, the Heritage Park Veterans Museum sits within an iron red barn. Inside, there is an impressive array of military artifacts.

The earliest go back more than one hundred years to the US involvement in the First World War, with displays continuing to the modern military of the present day.

The museum is large enough to contain several vehicles from the 1910s, in addition to a raft of uniforms, equipment, and example ration boxes.

Staffed by military veterans, it stands opposite the city’s Wall of Honor, which consists of a 25-metre-long piece of granite showing famous scenes from past military engagements.

3. Shanes Hot Shots Paintball and Airsoft

Source: Vanoa2 / shutterstock

Family-friendly, this centre is one of the largest and also one of the most advanced in the southeast United States.

The centre has all you need, from guns to safety equipment, to take on the thrill of paintball in a purpose-built facility with friends or family.

Alternatively, you could instead try out airsoft, which uses replica weapons firing small plastic pellets.

Metropolis has an indoor arena dedicated to this growing sport, which has a similar game play to paintball without the mess or pain of the balls themselves. Instead, it operates on a trust system.

4. Ghost tours

Source: Nicole Glass Photography / Shutterstock

It seems ghosts and otherworldly apparitions like McDonough as much as the living do. You can learn all about the spooky goings on in the city by joining one of several ghost tours offered in and around downtown McDonough.

These lantern-led walking tours last for around 90 minutes, and take in a variety of locations, including the town square, restaurants, and shops where ghost sightings have been reported.

One of these locations acted as a mortuary after an event known as the Camp Creek Train Wreck disaster, while another is so haunted it has appeared on several paranormal television shows and is known across the United States.

5. Southern Belle Farm

Source: Southern Belle Farm / Facebook

McDonough may be just 30 minutes’ drive time from Atlanta, Georgia’s biggest city, but it is even closer to rural communities that continue to make their income through farming.

A great example of this lifestyle in Southern Belle Farm. A working farm of more than 130 hectares, Southern Belle offers visitors an insight into exactly what it takes to run a successful agricultural business here.

These include a dairy barn exhibition, hayride tours, and the opportunity to get close to the farm’s most charming residents – its animals.

There are also a range of activities that change from season to season, from fruit picking throughout the spring and summer, to the pumpkin patch that comes into its own towards Halloween each October.

6. Martin Luther King Sr Heritage Trail

Source: Visit Henry County, GA / Facebook

The metropolitan Atlanta region is closely linked to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, which took much of its inspiration from the charismatic church pastor Martin Luther King Jr.

Arguably, the demand for equal rights was begun a generation earlier with Martin Luther King Sr. Born and brought up in nearby Stockbridge, he is remembered with a heritage trail running through the centre of the city.

Stops include the Floyd Chapel Baptist Church, which was attended by King Sr and was where he gave his first sermon once ordained.

Elsewhere, a commemorative plaque on City Hall details much of this legacy of the King family in Stockbridge, 15 minutes north of McDonough.

7. Hood Street Arts Center

Source: Hood Street Arts Center / Facebook

There can be no argument that the Hood Street Arts Center is the hub for cultural events in McDonough. Formed from a collective of different community arts organisations, the centre is based in an 1,800 square metre space.

Built in the 1930s as a hosiery mill, it provides a base for the Henry players actors, a ballet school, and an art gallery filled with natural light.

At the same time, the McDonough Arts Council and Henry Arts Alliance both host regular events, making the city an impressive destination for anyone who enjoys art and culture.

8. Heritage Park Historic Village

Source: Lee Reese / shutterstock

As well as its Veterans Museum, central Heritage Park also hosts a historic village taking visitors back to the earliest days of McDonough.

The village contains a settler’s log cabin from 1827, a two-room schoolhouse, Henry County’s first library building, and a blacksmith’s shop as some of its main attractions.

Rail enthusiasts will also be happy to hear there is a steam locomotive dating from 1934 alongside the reconstruction of a passenger depot.

Set within the park’s landscaping, there is a children’s playground, and various benches and picnic tables.

9. Stone Mountain Park

Source: Bassam Faraj / shutterstock

The most visited destination anywhere in Georgia, Stone Mountain doesn’t sit in a mountain range, but as a solitary mound of rock rising out of the surrounding landscape 45 km north of McDonough.

The mountain has a base circumference of eight kilometres, although it rises to a height of just 250 metres from its base, or slightly over 500 metres from sea level.

The hiking paths to its summit offer up a range of dramatic scenes, while it’s also possible to reach its highest point via the Skyride cable car.

However, the mountain is perhaps better known for being the home of the largest bas-relief carving in the world, which depicts three of the Confederate south’s most important leaders.

10. Camera Museum and Escape Room

Source: Camera Museum / Facebook

Just a few hundred metres from the historic heart of McDonough, the Camera Museum displays a wide variety of vintage and antique cameras.

In all, its collection includes some 1,200 cameras, accessories, and other related items such as images and old advertisements.

As a result, it is able to cover the entire history of photography, from its earliest days in the 1830s, up until the advent of digital photography 150 years later.

At night, the space turns into one giant escape room, with three different themes for those who like a challenge.

11. Clayton County International Park

Source: Christopher V Jones / shutterstock

This park roughly 30 minutes north west of McDonough towards Atlanta is a demonstration of the lasting legacies that can exist by hosting major sporting events such as the Olympic Games.

There’s no doubt that the local communities around Clayton County International Park benefit from its existence.

Constructed as the site for the 1996 Atlanta Games’ beach volleyball competition, not only does the beach remain, but there are also sports fields, biking trails and spots for anglers to try their luck in the lake’s waters.

If you’re travelling with little ones, their eyes will probably be drawn to the giant water slides, although swimming in the lake itself is a great alternative.

12. C.O. Polk Interactive Museum

Source: Lee Reese / shutterstock

This museum in downtown McDonough puts modern technology front and centre as a means of exploring 200 years of city history.

Combining physical objects with the online world, its range of physical and virtual displays stretch back to before the founding of the city, when the area was the ancestral homeland of the Creek Indian Nation.

Moving on to the first years of McDonough, drawings of the main square are blended with objects from the district’s historic buildings.

It goes on to cover some important names that have lived in the city, and the industry that helped create what stands proud today.

It also covers major historic events including the civil war, and the reason McDonough is sometimes called the Geranium City.

13. World of Coca-Cola

Source: Conchi Martinez / shutterstock

Atlanta, 30 minutes north by road, has given the world some of its most famous brands, and few of these can compete with Coca-Cola, born in the city in 1886.

The giant World of Coca-Cola tells the story of the Earth’s most famous drink from its humble beginnings to the present day.

The complex spans an amazing 81,000 square metres, and sits just a few blocks from where the formula was created by John Pemberton.

It includes a 4D movie that skilfully takes people around the secret formula, and also allows visitors to taste the 60 different versions of Coke that exist around the globe.

14. Nash Farm Battlefield

Source: Tony Pilgrim / Facebook

Found on the western edge of Henry County, Nash Farm Battlefield covers an area of 80 hectares.

Today’s parkland was in 1864 busy with military activity as the defending Confederate forces sought to push back Unionists during the civil war.

It was one of the campsites for troops belonging to the Confederate General Lee’s Army Corps, and also the location of infantry battles that eventually brought the Battle of Atlanta to an end.

Historical markers across the site provide the option of self-guided tours, covering events including Kilpatrick’s Raid.

Nash Farm Battlefield lies close to the city of Hampton, which is 20 minutes from McDonough.

15. RE-taking History Tour

Source: Korionov / shutterstock

If you’d prefer an even more local approach to the region’s history, look no further than the RE-taking History Tour of downtown McDonough.

Focussed around its historic square and the streets that run to and from it, this tour can be made by locating the 15 special markers that are found within the city’s pavements.

It is named the RE-taking history tour because the intention is that visitors can retake historic photographs before comparing them to the originals. The result is an intriguing then and now view of what has changed – and what has stayed the same.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in McDonough (GA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Woodstock was incorporated in 1897, and is believed to have taken its name from a Walter Scott novel.

It became an important trading hub with the construction of the railway. Although the last passenger service was back in 1949, Woodstock remains a vibrant place to be, while also within easy reach of all metropolitan Atlanta has to offer.

Here are the 15 best things to do in and around Woodstock, Georgia.

1. Downtown Woodstock

Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia | CC0

Woodstock’s innate and organic vibrancy can be experienced in all its glory in the city’s downtown district, which sits around the T formed by Main Street and Towne Lake Parkway.

The oldest part of the city, here lies a range of elegant brown brick buildings which date to near the city’s foundation.

Today, their lower floors are home to around 20 esteemed restaurants and almost double that number of independent stores, where you can find everything from signed books to native American jewellery.

What’s more, Woodstock’s downtown is infinitely walkable by both day and night, so whether its sightseeing or a night out you’re after, you’ll find it here.

2. Elm Street Cultural Arts Village

Source: Andrey Armyagov / shutterstock

With a commanding location in downtown Woodstock, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village is at both the geographic and cultural heart of the city.

This is no community theatre that lies empty and unused except for a few days in the year. Far from it. Instead, this ‘village’ hosts a series of events that means there’s something going on almost every day of the week.

You name it, and the village has probably got it, with its theatre hosting plays, musical performances, and concerts. Its events space includes a growing garden area, art gallery, and educational spaces too.

3. Olde Rope Mill Park

Source: Ryan Huckaby / shutterstock

On the southern bank of the Little River, Olde Rope Mill Park is named after a rope mill from the 1800s which converted cotton into rope using the river’s constant flow as its power source.

While the rope mill and its surrounding flour mills might no longer function, they do offer a spectacular outdoor space in which to explore the region’s history and natural beauty.

Jump into a canoe to discover the river itself, or join one of the mountain biking or hiking trails that stretch for 30-plus kilometres from the park. They are named in memory of Taylor Randahl, an avid mountain biker who died in a car crash at the age of 16.

4. Balloon Atlanta

Source: bullet74 / shutterstock

While Olde Rope Mill Park provides extraordinary land and river vistas from ground level, there’s nothing quite like taking in the landscape by hot air balloon.

Floating on the warm thermals as dawn breaks over northern Georgia, a hot air balloon is not just a romantic way to spend a few hours, but also an unrivalled means of witnessing the bigger picture.

Only from the air, several thousand metres up, can you understand Woodstock’s position within the state – how its links to and from Atlanta have formed over one hundred years, and how the city interacts with the other northern suburbs.

5. Dixie Speedway

Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia | CC0

About as far away from the quiet solitude of a hot air balloon as it’s possible to get are the roaring engines of the Dixie Speedway.

Trackways such as this one are a key part of the culture of the southern United States, and where you will find Woodstock residents at their most relaxed.

The track itself is nothing more than a clay oval loop, putting the trials of Formula 1 drivers to shame.

The highlight of all the events the track presents is probably the National Touring Stock Car Races, however it also welcomes motorcycle races, Monster Truck rallies, and concerts as well.

6. Reformation Brewery

Source: pxl21 / shutterstock

Woodstock’s Reformation Brewery prides itself on producing beers that have been liberated from the rules of what exactly a beer should or should not be.

Its team of passionate brewers do this from its craft brewery just off Main Street. Visitors are able to step behind the scenes on self-guided tours of the metal tanks in which the magic happens.

But, of course, the proof of the quality of what Reformation produces is in trying the beers themselves.

These include American-style pale ales, German wheat beers, Belgian tripels, as well as heavier porters.

7. Archibald Smith Plantation Home

Source: Bleak23 / Wikimedia | Public domain

Predating anything that can be found in Woodstock itself, Roswell’s Archibald Smith Plantation Home was built in the 1840s.

Now a museum, it was the home of one of the city’s founders, Archibald Smith, along with three generations of his family.

This beautiful example of southern architecture built in a traditional style with clapboard planks is therefore a wonderful survivor from the immediate period around the American Civil War.

Its spaces include several pieces of original furniture, as well as personal items belonging to the long-term residents, showing the life of a privileged white family during this time.

The grounds contain an authentic cook house and carriage house, where the family’s African-American slaves would have lived and worked. The house is just 20 minutes from Woodstock.

8. Lake Allatoona

Source: Rob Hainer / shutterstock

A similar distance in the opposite direction is Lake Allatoona. For all its natural beauty, the lake is an artificial one, constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers by the damming of the Etowah River.

Its long, thin form means construction around it has been limited. Particularly true at its northern end, the lake is another attractive location for anyone seeking out a little of the great outdoors.

The best way to get to the lake shore is by heading towards one of the seven public campgrounds and campsites still operated by the US Army, or either one of the two yacht clubs.

9. Berry Patch Farms

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While Georgia might be known as the Peach State, there’s more to the region’s agricultural offerings than one fruit. Let’s not forget that Georgia resident former President Jimmy Carter used to be a peanut farmer.

Some of America’s natural foodstuffs can be found at Berry Patch Farms, from pumpkins of all sorts in the run up to Halloween, to pick your own blueberries during the summer.

The farm takes on a festive air during the Christmas period, when families come from far and wide to pick out their Christmas tree.

Elsewhere, at Big Springs Farms, visitors are not only able to grab a pumpkin, but also take a farm tour on the back of a wagon. You’ll get to check out many of the farm’s resident animals at the same time.

10. Red Top Mountain State Park

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Covering more than 700 hectares, Red Top Mountain State Park sits on a peninsula of land surrounded on three sides by Lake Allatoona.

Twenty kilometres west of Woodstock, its lakeside location makes it popular with anglers, swimmers, and water skiers. There are also plenty of opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and pleasure boating, with vessels for rent in the park.

A sand beach makes a pleasant place to relax between swims. The more active will appreciate the more than 20 km of hiking trails to be found here.

Manmade attractions within the park’s bounds include the Allatoona Pass battlefield, and the reconstruction of an 1860s homestead.

11. Alpharetta and Old Milton County History Museum

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Although Woodstock isn’t able to boast its own museum, there are plenty within a short drive of the city that help explain the settlement and development of the area immediately north of Atlanta.

One of the best is the Alpharetta and Old Milton County History Museum in the neighbouring city of the same name.

Located in Alpharetta’s City Hall, it doesn’t hide away from the fact that this area was native American land before its tribes were forcefully removed in the Trail of Tears.

Archive photographs help to demonstrate how the city has changed since its earliest times, while its also possible to listen to 70 residents detail their experiences. Alpharetta is roughly 30 minutes east of Woodstock.

12. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

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The north of metropolitan Atlanta was a key battlefield in the American Civil War of the 1860s. To try and understand the reasons and consequences of the war, history lovers won’t want to miss Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

The battle around the mountain would last for three weeks in the summer of 1864. As opposed to the war overall, Kennesaw Mountain was the site of a victory for the Confederate south, delaying Abraham Lincoln’s General Sherman from attacking Atlanta.

The museum here contains various artifacts from the battle, and its earthwork defences still stand. They can be examined in more detail from 28 km of walking trails.

The park is 30 minutes south of Woodstock by road.

13. MadLife Stage & Studios

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Back in downtown Woodstock, music fans should reserve some time for MadLife Stage & Studios, an excellent performance space with regular live music.

Its indoor stage offers intimate gig experiences, with less than 300 tickets available for each performance. The table-studded space also gives it a laid-back bar feel.

Outside, when the weather is good (and this is Georgia remember) MadLife is also able to boast a patio stage. The onsite grill serves food throughout the day, with a menu of takes on traditional southern flavours.

Unusually for such an establishment, this is a scratch kitchen, meaning everything is made and cooked in house, with the chefs going as far as smoking their own meat.

14. Park at City Center

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Park at City Center might not be the largest green space on offer in and around Woodstock, however it is still a pleasant space for a picnic in the sun.

Its mature trees provide plenty of shade if the sunshine gets too hot, and a polygon bandstand provides an extra shady space.

A central fountain provides added interest. There is also a war memorial, and 9/11 memorial displaying track from the World Trade Center’s subway station.

The park’s lower section provides a space for the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheatre, known for its summer concert series.

15. Georgia Aquarium

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Thirty minutes south in downtown Atlanta, visitors will find one of Georgia’s most popular attractions, Georgia Aquarium.

One of the largest in the world, it is just a handful of aquaria anywhere that’s big enough to be home to whale sharks – one of the giants of the deep.

Other major attractions include its charming beluga whales, boisterous California sealions, and elegant manta rays.

However, these creatures form just a small part of the aquarium, that spans all the world’s marine environments, from the coldest to the warmest seas.

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