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
Countries
Things to do in Georgia, Georgia: The Best Islands
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. Grover Island
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Scenic island off the coast of Georgia noted for excellent kayaking and other outdoor activities.
2. Ossabaw Island
3. Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Accessible only by boat, this island refuge includes maritime forest, marsh and beach habitats used for birdwatching and fishing.
4. Golden Isles of Georgia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Nestled along stretches of sand dunes and salt marshes, these four beautiful barrier islands – St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island – and their historic mainland city, Brunswick, offer breathtaking landscapes, vast stretches of beaches, and an inherent tranquility felt immediately upon arrival. This is perhaps the best-kept secret on the East Coast; This is the Golden Isles.
Reviewed By CRM52 - Lavonia, United States
If you haven't visited the Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island area....you are missing out completely. The beauty, history and wonderful places to eat and stay are epic. Each area/island is unique and wonderful. Go visit and enjoy. Just spent 4 days at Jekyll Island's campground...get location, park, people.
5. Barrier Islands
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Islands off the Georgia Coast that serve to block storms.
6. Hog Hammock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
An African-American community and a preserved historic village on Sapelo Island.
Reviewed By SScottTours
Read this review for the ultimate Sapelo insider's information. First & foremost, as an off-the-beaten-path type traveler, permit me to say that Lucy is The Ultimate Sapelo Information Specialist as a 26-year resident and former manager of The Reynolds Mansion. Her hubby Captain Mikeis an engaging fellow but Lucy is THE hostess with the mostess. This is priceless on an island where there isn't much direction otherwise so DO NOT underestimate the value of her as a resource. You find most AirBnB properties on Sapelo are impartial and "you're on your own" sort of places. This is a plus in some cases elsewhere but for the price, location plus Lucy's knowledge, it's really a hard value to put a price on or pass up. Lucy does a whole wonderful sit-down introduction on the apartment, safety features and goes over the island map with you. Plus, you get a CAR with the rental that generally she picks you up in at the docking hour. Mike rents most of the cars and if you want to upgrade you can do that but we had no issues with the rugged Isuzu Rodeo. We cannot emphasize enough that this is a major advantage on the island for getting one's bearings, for little trips to the store, or dock for a picnic, beaches, or just when you're tired of walking or cycling. It breaks up everything so nicely. And take note! Golf carts cannot go certain places where island vehicles can and golf carts, nor vehicles are permitted up most of the North end of the island where a lot of very cool stuff that you'll want to see is. Truth be told, in some respects, this is a "younger" person's adventure going up the North end. You'll find that you will be required to bike it and or walk it and this is NO easy task! We did nearly 50 miles of walking in 3 days both for the exercise and partly because unless you have a semi-serious mountain bike, it is very unlikely you will get to the North end on your own outside of a guided tour. For the history buff, it is well worth it, but the roads after rain are particularly prohibitive for general beach bikes (which Lucy & Mike have) and we recommend 2-3 pairs of walking shoes as some portion of the muddy areas are impassable by bike alone. We broke the North end up into 2 days on foot. Doing Raccoon Point one day, and the Western half the 2nd day that includes multiple tabby ruins sites, The Chocolate Plantation & mysterious Shell Rings. You could really justify a whole day or 2 days just to that end of the island if you wanted to track down the old duck ponds or wander off the paths as we were inclined. This is also the greater wildlife area for certain. We saw gators, otters, tons of armadillos, a wonderful pack of the elusive wild pig piglets, hawks, American Bald Eagles and sighted the wild cattle from a distance. We do recommend the day tour with JR Grovner or his father who come from the oldest descendants of the island. Sans a tour, of particular value is Lucy's library of books that range from great Sapelo history annals to those for wildlife & plant life enthusiasts. The library is part of the apartment. Lastly, let's talk about all-important cuisine. Lucy includes in her AirBnB description the phone numbers of several island cooks. There is Lula's Kitchen near Lucy & Mike's home & is worth eyeballing but is more sporadic during the offseason but if you smell her cooking, go around and knock. We were honored to have Mary Bailey cook for us and she delivered a fantastic feast of fresh flounder, shrimp & grits, biscuits, veggies, pumpkin pie, the works! Her island counterpart, Sharon (Shu-rohn) Grovner brought us meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad, homemade mini-pies, peas, bread and was amazing too. As these women work hard all day and have to go off the island for ingredients, we opted to tip more than double their asking price which was entirely worth it to us. Oh, near Lucy's is the only island store and has limited morning, early afternoon hours. They have some basics, water, canned goods, ice cream, shrimp, oils, bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, beer & wine, but lacks in other supplies. So you MUST pack for your stay. There's a simple, but dandy kitchen in Lucy's place. The island post office is also close but closes early afternoon but be sure to swing by to get their Sapelo Island stamps as a souvenir! Lastly, Lucy & Mike live below in what you realize is their take on a kind of colonial-era tabby house. They live a fairly quiet lifestyle so you don't hear them much but they're always a phone call or knock away for any needs. As we arrived on a Sunday, they invited us to church with them at The First African Church of 1866 and it was the perfect start to our visit. The choir was amazing, Pastor Banks very uplifting and it was an honor to be introduced as guests and recognized by such a historic congregation. If you're on Sapelo on a Sunday, do not miss this opportunity. They don't seem to mind photos & video but don't forget to tythe to the church. This is perhaps the greatest closing thought we can offer and what we mean is spend everywhere you can on this island and think of how you can spend with the locals while there. For all of its virtues, it is in many ways dwindling and in an hour of great cultural & economic suffering. While the world hopes this is only temporary and a cycle or long arc to a boom or new era of prosperity, Sapelo is still at risk. This is not really the message the islanders put out there but its something that becomes quickly apparent with one's advance research and also while there. But a beautiful beginning to adding your energy to the island is by landing at Lucy's Place first and foremost. We realize now being gone that her smile at the dock was like the whole island smiling to greet us too and made everything all the more indelible and endearing. We can't wait to encounter it again.
7. St. Simons Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 641 reviews
As the largest barrier island in the Golden Isles, St. Simons Island offers a unique landscape that creates the perfect backdrop for challenging golf courses, friendly inns, and luxurious resorts. Complete with a variety of charming shops and must-visit restaurants, it’s no wonder St. Simons Island earned Southern Living’s Best Vacation Spot in Every Southern State and TripAdvisor’s 17 Beautiful Small Towns to Visit.
Reviewed By BruceJoyce
We live here, and with the silence of the Coronavirus moment, are more sharply aware of why folks find it to be such a nice place to visit. The ocean has created a remarkable extension to the beaches. Our closed restaurants are of real variety, from 4 star to hamburger joints and ice cream shops. A considerable variety of hotels are complemented by heaps of houses to rent for a week or more. Cannon point provides walking and biking trails through forested inlets to marshes and the ocean. Nearby Jeckyl Island offers miles of dunes to climb and beaches and the ocean are uncrowded and some really pleasant references. Do come and sample when safe life returns.In the meantime, stay safe.
8. Lanier Islands
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 234 reviews
An expansive 1,500 acre island resort – encompassing a scenic, challenging, and award-winning 18-hole golf course, the Margaritaville family water park, marinas, an RV park, hotel and cabin rentals, meeting facilities, and more! Lanier Islands is the perfect escape from Atlanta!
Reviewed By missadrienneleigh - Atlanta, United States
I do not know about you, but I have been struggling with life during Covid. I miss life as we knew it before this happened. I miss meeting with others, traveling, spending quality time with each other without phones. I really miss seeing other's smiles, faces, and hugs. But most of all I miss downtime with my husband. I am so grateful for God allowing him to continue to work through all of this, but I wish I could get him to escape from it. This leads me to 6/29, this is our anniversary. He took the day off and I was trying my best to figure out a fun, safe, new place to explore. Well we get there, and things go from YEA to Bad. I will not go into specifics, because they will diminish what happened next. The best word to describe me at this moment...I was defeated, so I was led to the front desk of the Lanier Island Lodge. There we were blessed to meet Glenna Y. I had questions; she gave answers. Honestly, I truly understood Margaritaville's reasonings for things, but now very frustrated, I did not have a clue what to do. What I love about meeting Glenna, she saw me, she heard me, she stepped into our day and saved it. She offered ideas, she helped with where we should eat, and just cared. We went everywhere we could on the islands, thanks to her, it changed the whole day around. When we went back to say goodbye, my husband showed her pictures, shared our day with her and hopefully conveyed - She MADE our anniversary! Thank you for hiring Glenna, (Ryan - Valet, Samantha & Craig - Bullfrog's). She is using her gifts to see, care and help other's - and you CANNOT train people to do that anymore. This IS who she IS- congratulations for having a treasure like her at the front desk of the Lodge, she makes Lanier Islands more beautiful than Lanier Island itself, just because she is there. Please tell her hello from me when you go :).
9. Sapelo Island
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
