Gorgeous Georgia is mostly known for being home to charming historic cities filled with leafy squares and oak-lined streets, sprawling farmlands, towering mountains, and lashings of Southern charm.
With the pretty beaches and coastline, sleepy rural settlements, roaring rivers, jaw-dropping national parks, clear sparkling lakes, and even a hip city that’s known for its partying – to say this southeastern U.S. state is diverse would be a huge understatement.
Here are the top 10 most beautiful places in Georgia to visit:
Tallulah Falls State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a 2,689-acre Georgia state park adjacent to Tallulah Falls, Georgia, along the county line between Rabun and Habersham Counties. The park surrounds Tallulah Gorge, a 1,000-foot deep gorge formed by the action of the Tallulah River, which runs along the floor of the gorge. The major attractions of the gorge are the six waterfalls known as the Tallulah Falls, which cause the river to drop 500 feet over one mile.
Tallulah Gorge is bounded upstream by a hydroelectric dam operated by Georgia Power. The river flows much lower than the historical flow. Large releases of water are typically scheduled for kayaking and whitewater rafting on the first two weekends of April and the first three weekends of November. Additional aesthetic water releases are scheduled for weekends in the spring and fall to allow visitors to see what the natural flow of the river would look like in the gorge.
Providence Canyon
Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area is a 1,003-acre
Georgia state park located in Stewart County in southwest Georgia, United States. The park contains Providence Canyon, which is sometimes called Georgia's "Little Grand Canyon". It is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. It is also home to the very rare plumleaf azalea.
This story of the origin of the canyons has been commonplace since the 1940s, but the formations in the canyons are at least partially natural. Although there were probably a few early arrivals before 1825, the first heavy influx of settlers in Stewart County only came after the Treaty of Indian Springs (1825), by which the Creek Indians were forced to cede all their lands east of the Chattahoochee River. Evidence of the existence of the canyons at this time includes their mention in a deed by James S. Lunsford to William Tatam from 1836.
St Simons Island
St. Simons Island is a barrier island and census-designated place (CDP) located on St. Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia, United States. The names of the community and the island are interchangeable, known simply as "St. Simons Island" or "SSI", or locally as "The Island". St. Simons is part of the Brunswick metropolitan statistical area, and according to the 2020 U.S. census, the CDP had a population of 14,982. Located on the southeast Georgia coast, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, St. Simons Island is both a seaside resort and residential community. It is the largest of Georgia's renowned Golden Isles. Visitors are drawn to the Island for its warm climate, beaches, variety of outdoor activities, shops and restaurants, historical sites, and natural environment.
The vast majority of commercial and residential development is located on the southern half of the island. Much of the northern half remains marsh or woodland. A large tract of land in the northeast has been converted to a nature preserve containing trails, historical ruins, and an undisturbed maritime forest. The tract, Cannon's Point Preserve, is open to the public on specified days and hours.
The primary mode of travel to the island is by automobile via F.J. Torras Causeway. Malcolm McKinnon Airport (IATA: SSI) serves general aviation on the island.
Lake Allatoona
Lake Allatoona is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Etowah River in the northwestern part of the State of Georgia. This reservoir is mostly in southeastern Bartow County and southwestern Cherokee County. A small portion is located in Cobb County near Acworth.
Cartersville is the nearest city to Allatoona Dam. Also, Red Top Mountain State Park is located on its shores, on the peninsula between the two arms of the lake. Most of the north side of the lake remains protected from land development because of its isolated location, mostly blocked by the lake.
The major highways Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 41 passes along the southern and western side of Lake Allatoona, and they cross the Etowah River downstream from the Allatoona Dam.
Helen, Georgia
Helen is a city in White County, Georgia, United States, located along the Chattahoochee River. The population was 531 at the 2020 census.
A gorgeous and very unique mountain town and popular vacation spot located in Northeast Georgia and next door to the popular Unicoi State Park.
It’s home to charming Bavarian-style buildings, over 200 specialty shops, as well as vineyards, many mountain and forest trails, and a nearby attractive lake, waterfalls, and campsites. Popular things to do in this tourist hot spot include river tubing, wine tasting, and the fun Georgia Mountain Coaster.
Northeast Georgia Mountains
The Georgia Mountains Region or North Georgia mountains or Northeast Georgia is an area that starts in the northeast corner of Georgia, United States, and spreads in a westerly direction. The mountains in this region are in the Blue Ridge mountain chain that ends in Georgia. At over 1 billion years of age, the Blue Ridge mountains are among the oldest mountains in the United States and sometimes mistaken to be the oldest mountains in the world. The mountains in this region are also a part of the vast system of North American mountains known as the Appalachian Mountains that spans most of the United States longitudinally along the eastern areas of the nation and terminates in Alabama.
The region is known for its ruggedness and scenic beauty. The Cherokee who lived in these mountains called them - "Blue Smoke Mountains". Large portions of the North Georgia mountains are included in the more than 750,000 acres (3,000 km2) that comprise the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Lake Lanier and Lanier Islands
Lake Lanier Islands is a resort complex built on a small group of islands on Lake Lanier, the largest lake in Georgia, located 60 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The resort complex was established in 1974 and includes a hotel, water park, golf course, multiple conference and meeting venues, beaches, boat docks, and a number of other recreational amenities.
The Lake Lanier islands were originally large hills near Gainesville. After the creation of Buford Dam and the flooding of part of the Chattahoochee River valley created Lake Lanier, the hills became the largest chain of islands in the lake. Development included Harbor Landing boat docks, campgrounds, horse stables, beaches, a golf course and the PineIsle Hotel. The complex opened in 1974, and the PineIsle Hotel opened the following year. A water park opened in 1987. Events held at the complex include annual Independence Day fireworks, on the lake, full moon parties, and "Magical Nights of Lights."
In the summer of 2016, Legacy Lodge & Conference center, the hotel on Lanier Islands, underwent a 2 million dollar renovation. The upgrades included "214 rooms now have new hardwood floors, artwork and decor with an outdoors theme, as well as new bedding, mini-refrigerators and Keurig coffee makers. Other upgrades include newly painted woodwork and ceilings throughout the hotel, new wallcoverings in guest rooms and corridors, new carpets in corridors and new lighting and window treatments."
Amicalola Falls State Park
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is an 829-acre Georgia state park located between Ellijay and Dahlonega in Dawsonville, Georgia. The park is home to Amicalola Falls, a 729-foot waterfall that is the highest in Georgia. It is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. An 8-mile trail that winds past Amicalola Falls and leads to Springer Mountain, famous as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, begins in the park. Amicalola Falls State Park also offers many hiking trails, a guest lodge, restaurant, cabins, a shelter for long-distance Appalachian Trail hikers, a campground, and access to the eco-friendly Len Foote Hike Inn.
Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge has four groups of trails within it, including the trail leading up to the top of the waterfall. The park has a lodge that serves as a starting point for Appalachian Trail hikers. The park also checks in guests for a nearby facility called the Len Foote Hike Inn, a backcountry eco-friendly inn that is 5 miles from the park, one mile from the Appalachian Approach trail and 4.4 miles from Springer Mountain.
In 2012, Amicalola Falls State Park was privatized and its operations transferred to Coral Hospitality, a Florida-based hotel and resort management company.
Tybee Island, Georgia
Tybee Island is a city and a barrier island located in Chatham County, Georgia, 18 miles east of Savannah, United States.
The island is the easternmost point in Georgia. The phrase "From Rabun Gap to Tybee Light," intended to illustrate the geographic diversity of Georgia, contrasts a mountain pass near the state's northernmost point with the coastal island's lighthouse.
Officially renamed Savannah Beach in a publicity move at the end of the 1950s, the city of Tybee Island has since reverted to its original name. The small island, which has long been a quiet getaway for the residents of Savannah, has become a popular vacation spot with tourists from outside the Savannah metropolitan area. Tybee Island is home to the first of what would eventually become the Days Inn chain of hotels, the oft-photographed Tybee Island Light Station, and the Fort Screven Historic District.
Callaway Gardens
Callaway Resort & Gardens is a 2,500-acre resort complex located near Pine Mountain in Harris County, Georgia, 18 miles from LaGrange, Georgia. The world's largest azalea garden, this destination draws over 750,000 visitors annually. Callaway Gardens was ranked as Best Georgia Attraction in 2018 by USA Today.
A true National Natural landmark, the Callaway Gardens was established in 1952. Located along the Pine Mountains, the Callaway Gardens connects you to nature with a beautiful collection of fauna and flora.
Featuring a variety of recreational activities, Callaway Gardens is Georgia’s authentic destination for beautiful gardens, golf, lodging, dining and much more.
Soak up some sun in the Robin Lake Beach or hike along the Pine Mountain trail, this place is full of seasonal events.
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