The Ultimate Georgia Vacation Guide
Taking a Georgia vacation is like visiting one of the country’s best-kept secrets. While visiting Georgia with our kids, we were able to uncover so many fun things to do! Head down to Georgia, just make sure you check out this awesome resource guide I’ve put together.
The Ultimate Georgia Vacation Guide
Where to Stay in Georgia
As a full-time traveler, I try to avoid hotels at all costs. Normally we take our RV with us and stay at campgrounds, National Parks, state parks and even camp for free every chance we get.
A few RV parks we loved:
Red Gate Farm Campground – Savannah – This is where we stayed when we visited Savannah and loved it. It's just enough out of downtown to be quiet but still close to visit. It is a small farm and we saw everything from peacocks, to chickens and horses. They have a lake on the property you can take in and the owner is super nice.
Stone Mountain Campground – Atlanta – We stayed at the Stone Mountain Campground. You did get passes to come and go from the gate when staying there and discounts for the other attractions as well.
Al Sihah Shrine Park – Macon – This park is really basic, a hook up in a large field. But you can't beat the price or location. We stayed here with our Passport America Membership.
Southern Trails RV Resort – Unadilla – We stayed here because it was part of our Coast to Coast Rv Park Membership and we were passing through the state, we wish we had stayed longer, everyone was so nice and it was so peaceful!
If you are looking for a hotel here are a few we love too:
Savannah Inn – Savannah – On the lower end of the price scale is the Savannah is the place to look at.
River Street Inn – Savannah – For a more midpriced option right on River Street on the water I suggest the historical River Street Inn. Many rooms have the exposed brick walls, beautiful hardwood floors, and not your typical beds!
The Inn at Seas Island – St Simons – While many stays here to take in the golf it's also a great place to stay to take in a few NPS sites below.
Château Élan Winery & Resort – Braselton – Located northeast of Atlanta this is a good one to get out of the city take in the mountains and some wine!
Unicoi State Park & Lodge – Helen – Helen is a small town you should add to your list while visiting!
The Georgian Terrace – Atlanta – If you are looking to stay in Atlanta The Georgian Terrace is a great place to stay
The Smith House – Dahlonega – Not too far from Helen and in the mountains, you can take in the whole area from here.
If you aren't camping I highly suggest checking out Airbnb for a place to stay first. You can generally get a place for cheaper than a hotel and it's a great way to experience the area. Your hosts will be able to direct you to the best things to do, places to eat and more. Plus you will have access to a kitchen so you don't have to eat out every night.
I just did a quick search on Airbnb for Georgia and you can rent everything, they have the traditional log cabins to even treehouses. Quite a few treehouses to be honest! I found coastal cottages, a barn silo turned into a home and many historical places too.
If you choose to sign up for Airbnb and use my link you will a $40 travel credit! As a side note, Airbnb is a great way to rent you space to make some extra money too.
Related: 20 Tips for Road Trips – That Saved Us Over $900 on Our Last Road Trip!
Home Away – They have rentals all over the world including these amazing castles you can rent in Europe!
VRBO – Stands for Vacation Rentals By Owner. The owners list the rentals instead of going through a rental agency this way. This is the Home Away umbrella.
VacationRentals.com – Also under the Home Away umbrella and another great way to find homes to rent.
Home Stay – Just like Airbnb you can rent out a home or just a room.
If a rental site just isn't for you I suggest checking out Extended Stay America you can get a mini kitchen and many more creature comforts then a regular hotel and the little extra you will spend will even out if you use the kitchen while there!
Related: Easy and Fun Weekend Getaways in Georgia
Nature, National Parks, and State Parks
Georgia can get pretty hot in the summer, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy what nature has to offer. There are tons of National Parks to check out in Georgia. It’s just a matter if you have enough time to check them out or not.
Cumberland Island National Seashore – St Marys – I love that the tagline for this park is where nature and history meet. This is a cool place to visit because it is all protected. You get a firsthand look at where slaves and natives have walked.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park – Atlanta – This is a Civil War battleground worth visiting. The history that is here will move you. Plus you can't beat the views of Atlanta and the surrounding areas from the top.
Fort Pulaski – Savannah – Just outside Savannah on the water this Civil War fort saw battle and you can see the damage done to it to this day. You can tour it and don't forget to get your Junior Ranger Badges while here too!
Fort Frederica – St Simons Island – This is a National Park sits on the water and is an old pre Revolutionary War fort. There isn't much standing but you can see the foundations of the buildings and artifacts found.
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Park – Brunswick – An old plantation house to tour and the grounds are just beautiful!
Tallulah Gorge State Park – Tallulah Falls – This park has some waterfalls you won't want to miss, or you can try your hand at the suspension bridge if you aren't afraid of heights!
Skidaway Island State Park – Savannah – Outside Savannah this park is one so many talks about and is very much for nature lovers.
Related: Top 10 List of National Parks for Your Next Camping Trip
Georgia Presidential Sites
Jimmy Carter Library & Museum – Atlanta – We love visiting presidential libraries and learning about their presidency and the change each one made in our country.
Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm – Plains – This is the home Jimmy Carter grew up in and to see where he came from, and pairing with the library above makes a great history lesson.
Georgia's Oldest Jail – Warthen – While there is a lot of history here this is also where Vice President Aaron Burr was imprisoned for a while. Get the details by downloading the Roadside America App.
Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home – Augusta – Seeing the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home is always a highlight. It’s not every day you get to see where a president grew up.
The Best Georgia Food
Southern Soul Barbeque – St Simons Island – If you stop at one BBQ joint in the state this should be it. It makes the top 10 lists for the state all the time and it's right near a lot of the stuff to do on our list!
Mama's Boy Restaurant – Athens – Not only the food but the decor gets reviews here. A chandelier made of mason jars just to name the most talked about. The food is good southern cooking just don't forget dessert!
Huc-a-Poos – Tybee Island – Located on the beach on Tybee Island this is a family place with huge pizza slices that everyone is raving about.
Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons Restaurant – Savannah – I love Food Network TV so any chance to try any of the chef's food I take!
The Grit – Athens – This is the vegetarian restaurant that the meat eaters are raving about.
Home Grown Georgia Restaurant – Atlanta – This is a small hole in the wall place and if you didn't know about it I doubt you would give it a second look but you need to! The biscuits are worth the stop alone. The make the list of Atlanta's best places to eat all the time.
Jamwich – Rome – If you like grilled cheese then you need to stop here. They are taking grilled cheese to another level but adding anything and everything to it. Including a dessert grilled cheese…
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room – Savannah – This is an old boarding house now turned restaurant. You do have to make a reservation because they only have 2-3 seating times a day. They serve everything family style while they talk about the history of the building and town.
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant – Blue Ridge – The views from this restaurant are amazing. I could spend all day here it's so peaceful! The food is pretty good too.
Related: 15 Tennessee Fun Food Challenges
Georgia Museums
When in Georgia, you have to spend some time checking out the local museums. We love museums and could spend every trip visiting them. Here are some of the most famous museums to check out in Georgia.
Atlanta Historical Sites – There is so much history in Atalanta plus a few National Park sites you need to take in this has a list including MLK's home.
Savannah Historical Sites – Savannah has even more history then Atlanta does and we shared a list of sites and National Park sites to visit.
Atlanta History Center – Atlanta – This is a little dose of the history of Atlanta. Make sure you stop here to get all the information you need on the history of Atlanta.
The Swan House at Atlanta – Atlanta – Want to see a rich historical estate in Georgia? The Swan House at Atlanta is like a home frozen in time.
The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum – Savannah – If you drive on I-95 and see the big air place this is that museum! We spent several hours here the kids had a blast!
National Infantry Museum – Columbus – This is a fun museum located in Columbus, Georgia. This museum honors all who have served or continue to serve since 911.
Hay House – Macon – This is a historic museum that you’ll want to visit, while in Georgia.
Telfair Museums – Savannah – When in doubt of which museums to see in Georgia, you need to check out the Telfair Museums. These museums are a great showcase of the history of Georgia.
SCAD Museum of Art – Savannah – is something you may have heard of before. It’s also a museum in Georgia that everyone needs to see. It’s not every day you get to see such talent.
Related: 189 Free Things to do in Tennessee
Things to do in Georgia
Half of the fun of traveling is getting to explore and see what is out there. There are lots of things to do in Georgia. We could spend a whole year here trying to fit everything in, easily. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Georgia.
Many of these places in Atlanta are on the Atlanta CityPASS where you can save up to 40% on the major attractions.
Georgia Aquarium – Atlanta – They have a huge room where you can watch their whale sharks, they have a seating there and you can even watch feeding times. They have many other hands-on exhibits as well.
Stone Mountain – Atlanta – This started with the carving in the mountain and they have so much there now from a laser show, train ride, golf, camping and more.
Rock City Gardens – Lookout Mountain – Located in the northern part of the state by the Tennessee and Georgia border near Chattanooga. This is in the same area as Ruby Falls and holds amazing views!
Related: 26 Free Things to do in Chattanooga TN
World of Coca-Cola – Atlanta – See the vault where the recipes are, many stages of how it's made and the history of this famous drink. At the end of the tour, you can taste Coca-Cola products from all over the world.
CNN Studio Tour – Atlanta – See how news and many other shows are made. We got to see many shows live during our tour.
Savannah Historic District – I suggest parking at Visitor Center and starting your day off there with a trolley ride. You get a tour of downtown and learn the history and then you can hop on and off the trolley all day as you explore.
Six Flags White Water – Marietta – I might be an amusement park junkie so Six Flags makes the list for that reason, plus it's a great way to spend a day!
Tybee Island – This beach town is so relaxed and laid back. The beach is amazing they have the lighthouse and buildings and history there and some amazing places to eat. It's worth making a day trip!
Ponce City Market – Atlanta – This building alone has so much history now it's like a permanent flea market with shows, and food to take in too.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta – Atlanta – A great place to take kids to let them run around have some fun. Lots of hand on activities. We like to hit the Children's Museum on days where the weather isn't good for other activities.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway – Blue Ridge – Take a train ride and take in the mountains in northern Georgia. They do theme train rides, lunch and more.
Harper Fowlkes House, Davenport House, & Colonial Park Cemetery – Savannah – We made a day out of visiting both houses and the cemetery. There is so much history in all 3 locations.
14 Must See Free Things to do in Savannah Georgia
31 Free Things to do in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Georgia Staycation Ideas
Savannah's First Timers Guide – There is so much to see and do in Savannah I wanted to share it all in this guide perfect for your first time visiting or your 5th!
Related: Saving Money With CityPASS – Everything You Need to Know
Saving Money in Georgia
CityPass – If you are visiting Atlanta you can grab an Atlanta CityPASS and save 40% of some of the major attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN studio tours, The World Coca-Cola tour, the Fernbank Museum and more.
Groupon – Once you know your travel dates and locations check Groupon! You can get discounts and many places to eat, places to stay and things to do. At the time of writing this, there are discounts for Zoo Atlanta, Flint Iver Aquarium, Stine Mountain Park, the Georgia State Fair, and more.
Getaway Today – Look at a packages vacation deal with someone like Getaway Today. Packaging it all together can offer some major discounts.
One more thing. If you are visiting the bigger cities in Georgia then I suggest checking out the local Entertainment Book. They have tons of coupons on everything from hotel stays, places to eat, places to shop, and local attractions.
What do you have planned for your Georgia vacation? Let us know inf the comments below.
