Top Things to do in Georgia
Top Hotels in Georgia
- 1. River Street Inn
- 2. The Candler Hotel Atlanta, Curio Collection by Hilton
- 3. Homewood Suites by Hilton Savannah Historic District / Riverfront
- 4. Hyatt Regency Savannah
- 5. The Marshall House
- 6. Best Western Central Inn
- 7. Hotel Clermont
- 8. The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
- 9. Mansion on Forsyth Park
- 10. Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Midtown
What to do and see in Georgia, Georgia: The Best Sights & Landmarks
While Atlanta is the anchor and capital of Georgia, you can aim in any direction to find distinctly different regions – from the tail of the Appalachians in the North to the rolling Piedmont hills and on down to the seaside marshes in the East. Atlanta lays claim to the state’s number one attraction – Stone Mountain State Park. They say it best - “Serious fun. Endless adventure.” Just 15 minutes from downtown, the world’s largest exposed granite dome is surrounded by 3,200 acres of natural beauty and stimulating activities for every member of the family – sky rides and hiking paths, laser shows and pedal boats along Stone Mountain Lake. Golfers tee it up, while red foxes dash across the fairways in a state where the Masters Golf Tournament creates revered green-jacket memories every year. It’s a long downhill ride down to historic Savannah, a ‘stone’s throw’ from the Atlantic and a virtual step back in time to Southern architecture and stately squares. St. Simon’s and Jekyll Islands offer barrier island beauty and a wonderful combination of outdoor activities, historic sites and artistic culture. Originally the private winter playground of wealthy northeasterners, Jekyll Island stretches along 10 miles of coastal beaches and inland marshes. Cycling and walking paths wind under moss-laden oaks, and a tour of Millionaire Village takes you back to those Cornelius Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan days. The kid-friendly Summer Waves Water Park adds man-made fun to natural water sport activities. Coastal golf courses and sophisticated St. Simon’s Island appeal to moms, dads and vacationing couples.
Restaurants in Georgia
1. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9,384 reviews
The oldest Roman Catholic church in Georgia.
Reviewed By P5560OMamym
This enormous Cathedral is in the heart of historic Savannah and is an exotically prayerful & powerful landmark for which to visit, admire, study, film and light a candle.
2. Savannah Historic District
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14,018 reviews
Savannah's picturesque historic district brings the traditional southern atmosphere to life.
Reviewed By mmwinters
The Savannah historic district will thrill those who love American history, especially colonial or civil war times; African American history; art and architecture; seafood or southern foods; trees and landscaping; fountains and sculptures. Several convenient modes of travel will help you get around - trolleys, horse-drawn carriages, Uber type services, and the free DOT bus system. Parking for cars is limited. I think it would be difficult to try to see things with your personal car. Be sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes and stay hydrated. It’s hard to recommend the “best” things to see and do. As a history lover, I wanted to see it ALL and hope to return someday to see the places I couldn’t get worked in. I think Savannah, budding and blooming in the spring, would be the most beautiful time to tour. August is very hot and humid, but bearable because the the sites are just so darned interesting and the beach is nearby!
3. Christ Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 787 reviews
The Christ Church, Frederica has docents available Tuesday through Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. The churchyard is open to the public from sunrise to sunset Tuesday through Sunday. The church and the grounds are closed to the public on Monday's for maintenance. Bus tours and group tours are available, please call or email the office to set up a group tour. From time to time, the church and churchyard are closed to accommodate funerals and weddings.
Reviewed By CissiK
I absolutely love coming here. The grounds are so peaceful and the historical cemetery behind the church is like stepping back in time. The church has the most beautiful stained glass windows and The Christmas floral decorations both inside and out were outstanding. This is a must see if you're visiting the island.
4. National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,110 reviews
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta is an engaging cultural attraction that connects The American Civil Rights Movement to today's Global Human Rights Movements. The Center features four immersive and thought-provoking exhibit spaces, including a continually rotating gallery of items from The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, where visitors can view the personal papers and items of Dr. King. The Center also provides designated event spaces and educational programs inspiring visitors to join the ongoing dialogue about contemporary movements for human rights around the world. 3/2/2020 - Closing at 3pm (Last ticket at 2pm).
Reviewed By Olde_biL - Markham, Canada
Our visit to the National Center for Human and Civil rights near Centennial Olympic Park completed our trifecta of civil rights themed museum visits during our one full day visit to Atlanta. (This was our second visit to Atlanta and our first without our children.) It proved a valuble complement to what we learned and experienced at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site. Admission to the center was more than the free for the MLK Jr. Historic site and the $8/adult for the presidential library. Nonetheless, it provides a powerful experience and the lunch counter simulation itself was worth more than the price of admission. Caution, this latter is not for the very young as cautioned by the posted signage. The simulation includes a reproduction of a lunch counter at which protesters would sit. The participant takes a stool and puts on a headset, places hands palms down on the counter, and closes their eyes. The sounds and jolting movement of the stool over about a minute and a half provide the merest taste of what young protesters must have endured. I emerged deeply affected, both marveling at the courage of the protesters and angry at the need. Most of the museum exhibits are well executed and interactive. Right from first exhibit hall is "Rolls Down Like Water", it houses the lunch counter but starts with Atlanta of the 50's, with interactive features such as the sign board upon which users choose the jurisdiction from which to display Jim Crow laws. The exhibit moves forward through time with displays covering the bus boycott, the freedom riders, notorious figures such as Bull Connor, and continuing through the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The museum isn't exclusively about the American Civil Rights movement. The "Spark of Conviction" on the 3rd floor houses a series of interactive mirrors that users can approach and select from a number of real individuals from around the world to hear their story. The objective is to allow an individual to choose someone that is like them in some way. Other exhibits work similarly and provide multi-sensory ways to interact and convey more than just facts about the struggle for civil and human rights. We spent more than two hours going through the museum. I feel better educated but also with a desire to return after doing more personal research and being better prepared to comprehend the material.
5. Build an Ark Animal Rescue
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 335 reviews
Build an Ark, TripAdvisor's #1 Thing to Do in Ellijay, is an animal rescue and hospice with residents including sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, and pigs, as well as ducks, cats, and other amazing animals. All visitors enjoy an interactive experience feeding and loving on these dear animals. * Learn about each animal, its upkeep, and the unique stories that bring each one to the Ark. * Enjoy feeding and cuddling with each one. Bring the camera to capture special moments! * Your donations support the Ark animals, and fund special needs student field trips, nursing home visits, and interactive experiences at events around Georgia. We run on donations and with volunteers. $7 each person (2yrs & under free) Animal food included. (Cash, check, venmo, paypal, cashapp) **WE MAY BE CLOSED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER.** (Please call ahead)
Reviewed By ryanmichelledr
We were staying at a nearby cabin when the kids noticed this rescue when we drove by and begged us to take them. Honestly, we weren’t expecting much but then we read the positive reviews which piqued our curiosity. Every positive review is absolutely accurate!! We had a gloriously wonderful time and the kids (ages 13&11 and animal lovers)didn’t want to leave. The owner, Ms Susanne, is such a lovely, kind person and everyone that works there is just as nice. Wish we could come visit and volunteer here everyday!! If we are ever back to this area, we will definitely come back and visit this sanctuary!!
6. Hay House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 332 reviews
Hay House is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark that is owned and operated by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Guided tours of this antebellum mansion are offered daily.
Reviewed By eagledress85 - Georgia, United States
If you love historic homes, the Hay House is a must! First, we had an excellent guide who was very personable and very informative. The architecture of this home is just amazing. This is the first home that we have ever seen curved pocket doors, unbelievable! If you have the opportunity to get the extended tour then definitely do it. Unfortunately, they weren't offering it when we went due to COVID restrictions, but we would definitely go back just to add that to the tour. It's nice to visit a historic home that actually has almost all of the original details. If you're in Macon, definitely make this one of your stops!
7. Stone Mountain Carving
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,083 reviews
A huge carving of three Confederate heroes, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, on the face of the mountain.
Reviewed By clarencebyer
We really enjoyed our day here. There is a charge for driving in and parking (I believe it was $15, but wasn't driving!) Then there is a charge for entering the park itself, normally $30 pp on up depending on age. That gets you an all attractions pass which gets you in to all exhibits and activities. We rode the tram up to the top of the mountain and saw amazing views. The tram has several bench type seats, and the rest is standing room with hang straps to hold onto. There is a snack bar up there if you are looking for something to eat. Memorial Hall was a great place to get the story on the background of the carving as well as to see some replicas of a small part of the carving which gives a nice way to see how large it really is. The train is a nice ride all the way around the mountain and gives a different view. Two members of our group did the ropes course and said it was fun (ages 35 and 62). We didn't have time to do the miniature golf course, but it looked like fun.
8. Bonaventure Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,548 reviews
Bonaventure Cemetery was developed on the historically-significant site of Bonaventure Plantation. The peaceful setting rests on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah. The site was purchased for a private cemetery in 1846 and became a public cemetery in 1907. Citizens and others can still purchase interment rights in Bonaventure. This charming site has been a world famous tourist destination for more than 150 years due to the old tree-lined roadways, the many notable persons interred, the unique cemetery sculpture and architecture, and the folklore associated with the site and the people. The entrance to the cemetery is located at 330 Bonaventure Road and is the largest of the municipal cemeteries containing nearly 100 acres. The cemetery is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. . The main office of the Department of Cemeteries is located in the Bonaventure Administrative Building at the entrance.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Established in 1846 and covering nearly 160 acres on a scenic bluff overlooking the Wilmington River, east of Savannah, Georgia, the Bonaventure Cemetery is the largest of the city's municipal cemeteries. In recent years, it has become one of Savannah's most popular tourist attractions, primarily due to its role in John Berendt's best-selling book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," which was turned into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. The cover of the book features the "Bird Girl," an evocative sculpture which used to reside in the cemetery. After going virtually unnoticed for over 50 years, it was relocated from the cemetery in 1997 for display in the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah. Many of the city's statesmen, prominent citizens and soldiers are buried in Bonaventure Cemetery in the shade of 250-year-old moss-laden oak trees, including Savannah founders Noble Wimberly Jones and Edward Telfair. Five Civil War generals and one admiral are buried there. So is singer, lyricist and composer Johnny Mercer and poet Conrad Aiken. In a cemetery of many unusual tombstones, perhaps one of the most unique is one in the shape of a piano, Mercer's grave site. The interesting tombstones and vaults and mausoleums, the colorful azaleas and camellias and the old oak, dogwood and magnolia trees have made the cemetery one of the most photographed in the country. The cemetery is open from dusk to dawn with tours available at the Bonaventure Historical Society Visitor's Center. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
9. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,430 reviews
Start at the visitor center and then work your way around the three main sites in this historic park: the home in which the leader of the Civil Rights movement in America was born, the church where he preached and the memorial site where he is buried. A major Atlanta attraction, the park draws some 500,000 visitors each year.
Reviewed By BaseballTraveler16 - Washington DC, United States
This historic site encompasses a couple city blocks that contain the birth home that you can have a guided tour of, a historic fire house, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the tomb. Start at the Visitor Center and visit what your heart desires. Walk-able from the King Memorial Marta stop but it is 1/2 mile.
10. Tybee Island Light Station And Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,564 reviews
The Tybee Island Lighthouse was built in 1773 and is the oldest Lighthouse in Georgia. An entry ticket allows you to see the Lighthouse, the Head Keepers Cottage, the 2nd Assistant Keepers Cottage, the Summer Kitchen and the Tybee Island Museum across the street. The Lighthouse is CLOSED TUESDAYS, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, St. Patrick's Day (or the day of the Savannah St. Patrick's Day parade).
Reviewed By trmdwelk - Centreville, United States
Visiting this historic and beautiful lighthouse is well worth your time. Go to the top and enjoy the 360 degree view but also take time to see the video in an outbuilding that tells the story of the light and the families who lived there. But particularly take the time to go across the street to the Span-Am War concrete fortifications that house the museum. Here you'll learn the history of Tybee Island area from prehistory (including some awesome artifacts!) to the modern age. Again, watch the well-done video to help pull it all together. Plan more time than you imagine at first glance
