Georgia Gems
Exploring the Riches of the South
By Candice Mutschler

> Georgia's Covered Bridges
> 18 Fun Facts
> Mysteries of the Deep

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If you've always wanted to plan a spontaneous vacation by opening a map, closing your eyes and pointing to a random spot, Georgia's is the perfect map to choose. For no matter where your finger lands, you're bound for a beautiful destination.

The Hay House Credit: Historic Heartland Travel Association

Georgia has the distinction of being one of the country's most scenic states. Virtually every corner boasts something to behold, from tree-topped mountains and picturesque lakes to unspoiled coastland and historic towns. It's a visual feast you want to take in slowly, deliberately. Here you can't help but relax—the culture practically demands it—which makes The Peach State an ideal place to unwind, recharge and take in a few sights.

Imagine you pointed to Comer, a small town in Madison County. What luck! Comer is home to Watson Mill Bridge, the longest covered bridge in Georgia. Considered the king of the wooden bridge era, the rustic structure spans 229 feet, is more than 100 years old and is the main attraction at Watson Mill Bridge State Park. You could plan an entire trip around photographing covered bridges, and many have done just that, admiring the 15 bridges that have been preserved by The Covered Bridge Trail of Georgia, Inc.

There are other historic sites in this little town, too, like the ornate Madison County Courthouse and the oldest church in Georgia. But you'll find the greatest concentration of historic structures in Macon—the geographic center of Georgia—where 5,500 buildings in 11 districts are listed on the National Register. Make sure your camera batteries are charged for the 18,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival mansion known as the Hay House, or "palace of the South," an architectural marvel considered the most advanced antebellum building in America. After seeing its lavish interior design featuring Carerra marble fireplaces, trompe l'oeil finishes, a music room with a 30-foot clerestory ceiling, exquisite plasterwork with 24-karat gold leafing and brilliant stained glass...you'll understand why.

The Oconee River in central Georgia is 170 miles long. Credit: Historic Heartland Travel Association

Though none is as grand as the Hay House, a wealth of antebellum homes dot the landscape of nearby Washington-Wilkes. Over 100 of these Southern beauties serve as gracious reminders of a bygone era, including one that houses the Washington Historical Museum. Inside, an extensive collection of Civil War relics is on exhibit. General Robert Toombs' uniform, original photographs and priceless signed documents are among the fascinating collection. Even if you're not a history buff, you can't help but appreciate the significance of such memorabilia.

Other museums throughout the state preserve a wealth of historical and natural artifacts, scientific discoveries, and valuable art collections. Children who visit these institutions get an education unavailable through textbooks alone. Who doesn't remember visiting a museum of natural history in their youth? The experience creates a lasting impression for kids and adults alike. So whether you're off on a solo excursion or a family outing, you can't go wrong when you put culture on the itinerary.

In Atlanta, take your pick from several renowned museums, including The High Museum of Art located in Midtown's art district. More than 11,000 permanent works are on display as well as numerous pieces from the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Don't wait too long to visit—they're only on loan until 2009. Also in the city, Fernbank Science Center and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History promise to wow the curious.

The back nine of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Great Waters Course at Reynolds Plantation skirts Lake Oconee. Credit: HHTA/Reynolds Plantation

To study art, culture, nature and science in one location, head to Macon's Museum of Arts and Sciences. If you go in October, don't miss the "Haunted Woods" event, where you can explore an abandoned cave, visit a mad scientist's laboratory, and then take a walk into the Haunted Woods.

Happy Trails

Speaking of woods, there's a good chance your finger will point to a spot along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which traverses the Chattahoochee National Forest for 75 miles. Georgia's section of the trail, or "A.T."—which actually extends across 14 different states, all the way to Maine—is most inviting during September and October when the temperatures are mild during the day and not terribly cold at night. Nature lovers can take day hikes through rugged wilderness or camp overnight in shelters along the way. This is primitive country, and hikers are advised to exercise caution, not only navigating the steep climbs and descents, but also with regard to wildlife sharing the trail. The adventurous (and fit!) will want to make the 1,500-foot trek to Brasstown Bald, the highest point in the state.

If you're the outdoorsy type, the Appalachian Trail is a rewarding excursion. If not, stick to trails you can "hike" without getting your boots dirty—like Georgia's Antiques Trail, a delightful loop through 16 picturesque communities.

Each has its own allure and attractions. Athens, for instance, is a hip college town known for its live music scene (churning out superstar bands including the B-52s and R.E.M.), while Colonial Watkinsville boasts a thriving artists colony. Perry's renovated downtown is a must-see, and in October, the Semi-Annual Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival promises to show Perry visitors "the way things used to be." Of course, shopping venues abound along the Antiques Trail; galleries and stores are filled with treasures to browse and to buy.

Georgia Aquarium Exterior Credit: Georgia Aquarium

You might feel a sense of dé ja vu as the loop takes you through Monroe County and Eatonton. Yes, you have been here before—via the big screen—watching the blockbuster hits Fried Green Tomatoes and My Cousin Vinny, to name just two.

Pointing to the Heart of the Historic District could inspire a more targeted road trip to what's known collectively as the Treasures Along I-20 Travel Trail—60 miles connecting Conyers, Covington, Social Circle, Rutledge, Madison, Greensboro and Georgia's Lake Country. How convenient that these gems of Georgia are so close together! Even so, it's worth an overnight stay at one of the charming bed-and-breakfasts—especially after dining at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, a restaurant famous for its all-you-can-eat buffet. The rule there is, "No one goes home hungry," surely an understatement considering the hearty homestyle fare. Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, smothered pork chops, fried green tomatoes, dumplings, cobbler...no wonder the Blue Willow Inn has been lauded in the press time and time again.

Another type of trail lures folks from all over the world: the Aonia Pass Motocross Park, where racers compete in off-road activities on a 1.7-mile-long course. It can be quite a thrill to watch skilled athletes challenge the terrain—and one another. If you happen to point to Aonia, catch the AMA Best of Georgia Motocross Series in September, or the Young Farmers Truck and Tractor Pull in October, which everyone should witness at least once. (Never fear, they're more exciting to watch than you might expect!)

Sweet Things

Georgia is famous for sweet things: peaches, sweet tea and sorghum syrup. If the yummy goo makes your sweet tooth tingle, close your eyes and point near the top of your map—you could be bound for the Appalachian mountain town of Blairsville. Spanning just one mile in diameter, the neighborly community overflows with sweetness during the Annual Sorghum Festival in October. People from near and far congregate to celebrate the harvest and cooking of "the best syrup in the world." Cane, grown in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is said to get its special flavor from the soil, mountain temperatures and gentle winds. Who knows—but it sure tastes good on a biscuit!

Cownose rays have a unique forehead that resembles a cow's nose. Credit: Georgia Aquarium

One person who knows her biscuits is celebrity chef Paula Deen. At her Savannah restaurant The Lady & Sons, every meal comes with one of her famous garlic cheese biscuits and a hoecake (thin cornbread baked on a griddle). People reportedly travel from all over the country to eat her food; why not you?

If you live in an inland region, Savannah—and the coast—can seem a world away. But if you've traveled all this way for dinner, don't go home without satisfying another craving: the sight of sand and surf.

Georgia's coastal region is roughly 110 miles long and an exciting area that provides numerous opportunities for adventure or relaxation. Besides Savannah, popular daytrips include Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia, which include St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Golf, boating, fishing, kayaking, shopping...it's all here to enjoy.

Birdwatchers and nature photographers will love Skidaway Island State Park, a barrier island with observation towers for viewing wildlife and rare migratory birds such as the painted bunting. And just a couple hours to the south lies Okefenokee Swamp Park, a beautifully preserved 680-square-mile wildlife refuge. Talk about getting away from it all! A canoe or boat ride will have you feeling like an explorer as you chart a course through wetlands teeming with life and activity.

Finally, near the Georgia/Florida state line is Kingsland—a perfect Labor Day weekend destination if you have a taste for catfish and country music. The Annual Catfish Festival attracts more than 75,000 people over the three-day event.

As you can see, there's so much to do in Georgia that you could travel for years through and still not take it all in. So hit the road! It doesn't matter where the journey takes you, it's beautiful at every point.

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18 Fun Facts

1. Georgia's motto is "wisdom, justice and moderation."
2. The official state fish is the largemouth bass, and the brown thrasher is the official bird; it's one of 350 species of birds in Georgia.
3. Georgia is the nation's number-one producer of the three Ps—peanuts, pecans and peaches, with more than 40 varieties of the fruit grown commercially.
4. The peach became a cash crop in the 1870s because of a tiny insect called the boll weevil, which decimated cotton crops, causing a dire need for agricultural diversification.
5. The slogan from the Athens soul food eatery Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods inspired the title of R.E.M.'s 1992 album "Automatic For the People."
6. Georgia has more than 300 golf courses.
7. The Vidalia onion—known as the sweetest onion in the world—can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville.
8. In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World, it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork.
9. The Cherokee rose is the official state flower; the live oak is the official tree.
10. Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton of Atlanta. The brand name was suggested by the doctor's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, who penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today.
11. In 1828, the city of Auraria (near Dahlonega) was the site of America's first Gold Rush.
12. Famous Georgians include Ted Turner, Martin Luther King Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, Burt Reynolds, Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Ray Charles, Bill Elliot, Julia Roberts, Travis Tritt and, of course, President Jimmy Carter.
13. The blue/green color painted on the doorframes, porches and window sills of many Savannah homes is called "Haint Blue" and is believed to ward off evil spirits.
14. In 1945, Georgia became the first state to lower the legal voting age from 21 to 18.
15. Georgia was the first state to declare that married women should have full property rights with The Married Women's Act of 1866.
16. The only county in Georgia named after a woman is Hart county, named for Nancy Hart, a patriot and warrior in the fight against the British during the Revolutionary War. (Only two counties are not named after people: Liberty and Peach.)
17. The largest wild hog ever discovered was found and killed in Alapaha. The creature, weighing in at 1,000 pounds and measuring 12 feet in length, was nicknamed "Hogzilla."
18. The Summer Redneck Games are held every year in East Dublin. The games include a Mud-Pit Belly Flop, Hubcap Hurl and Dumpster Dive.

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Mysteries of the Deep

For a fascinating look at the mysterious creatures that inhabit our oceans, rivers and seas, head to the Georgia Aquarium. The building's exterior—designed to look like a giant ship breaking through a wave—sets the tone for a day of wondrous exploration.

The Five Galleries
As guests enter the atrium inside the building, they're led past a "wall of fish" and have the choice of exploring five distinctive galleries, each depicting a different habitat, ranging from arctic to tropical. Unlike most aquariums, the Georgia Aquarium does not follow a linear layout, but rather allows guests to decide the order in which they visit each gallery.

Ocean Voyager
Journey with Giants is the largest single habitat in the world, holding 6.33 million gallons of water and thousands of animals. It measures 284 feet long by 126 feet wide by 30 feet deep at its largest points. Visitors can view the dramatic exhibit from several different angles, including from inside a 100-foot-long tunnel surrounded by water and animals on three sides. The gallery also features an enormous window, giving guests an amazing view of four whale sharks, the largest fish in the world. This is the only aquarium to display whale sharks outside of Asia. Also calling this habitat home is the largest collection of giant grouper, potato grouper, humphead wrasse, tarpon, giant trevally, batfish, sawfish, blacktip reef sharks and wobbegong sharks. The variety and size of the fish are truly impressive!

Cold Water Quest
The Chilly Unknown gives visitors a glimpse of the rich variety of life found in cold ocean waters, and features animals in both indoor and outdoor exhibits. From the icy waters of the polar regions to the temperate seas of California, South Africa and southern Australia, this part of the world is home to an abundance of plants, invertebrates, fish and marine mammals. Guests can gaze at beluga whales, California sea lions, sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus. A pop-up viewing window in the African penguin exhibit gives guests an opportunity to get up close with the animals.

Tropical Diver
The Coral Kingdom is a gallery of living art. Here, time slows down as guests view graceful jellies, curious garden eels and other jewels of the sea. This gallery was designed to be peaceful and relaxing, from the fish and tropical coral reefs within to the lighting and music throughout. Deeper into the gallery, guests are mesmerized by an enormous and brightly lit reef filled with corals and vibrantly hued tropical fish. An overhead synthesized crashing wave completes the re-creation of a Pacific barrier reef.

River Scout
Freshwater Mysteries gives guests an opportunity to discover a wide diversity of animals found in the rivers of Africa, South America, Asia and even in Georgia. It is the only freshwater gallery in the aquarium. The themed environment of waterfalls, logjams and the only overhead river featured in an aquarium, provides guests an unusual perspective. A colorful display of African cichlids and a variety of electric fishes greet guests. Amusing Asian small-clawed otters entertain guests with their antics as they climb and swim about with toys.

Georgia Explorer
Discover Our Coast is an interactive gallery that includes a children's play area; a simulated shrimp boat; and five touch pools featuring bonnethead sharks, cownose rays, horseshoe crabs, sea stars and shrimp. Guests can explore the coast of Georgia, discovering Atlantic spadefish and robust redhorse suckers, which were believed to be extinct for more than 100 years before being rediscovered in the Oconee River in 1991. Other exhibits feature loggerhead sea turtles and fishes of Gray's Reef—an underwater area off the Georgia coast designated a National Marine Sanctuary.

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