Official State Travel Guide - 2025 Georgia Official State Travel Guide

THERE’S NO WRONG WAY TO SPEND SUMMER IN GEORGIA. WITH SO MANY OPTIONS FOR UNFORGETTABLE TIMES, WHETHER OUT IN THE SUN OR STAYING COOL INSIDE, BE SURE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASON WITH SOME OF THE STATE’S BEST SUMMER ACTIVITIES.

Water activities aren’t exclusive to North Georgia. There’s plenty of splashy action farther down state, including the Man o’ War attraction at Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island and Statesboro’s resort-style Splash in the Boro! with its lazy river, wave pool, and more. If you’re closer to Valdosta, you’ll find acres of wild and wet slides, drops, and waves at Splash Island Waterpark at Wild Adventures. Whitewater Express in Columbus features rollicking river rafting on the Chattahoochee – from classic adventures for beginners to The Carnage Trip for wild Class V rapids. Or head down to LaGrange’s Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, a massive indoor water park full of giant slides and expansive pools (always kept at a perfectly warm 84 degrees), where you can also stay the night and do it all again the next day.

After all that summer sun, head indoors to cool off. Visit the Telfair Museums’ three Savannah locations, including the stunning architecture of the Moshe Safdie-designed Jepson Center and its ArtZeum interactive children’s activities. Telfair Academy features 19th- and 20th-century art from both Europe and America. Tour Telfair’s Regency-style Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters to learn about the complicated contrast between the free and formerly enslaved peoples. See the meticulously maintained archives at the Atlanta History Center, including the Native Lands exhibit that showcases stories and the history of Georgia’s original inhabitants. The High Museum of Art is another can’tmiss Atlanta institution loved for its expansive collections of American, African, European, and folk art, among other world-class offerings.

Theaters such as The Grand Opera House in Macon, District Live in Savannah, and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre just north of Atlanta provide entertainment of all sorts, from concerts to off-Broadway plays and other live shows to wind down your evenings. Or, tour some of the state’s marvelous historical homes, including Hay House, a Renaissance Revival mansion in Macon, and the magnificent Hills & Dales Estate, overlooking dreamy 19thcentury gardens in LaGrange. Visit Milledgeville to stand on the grounds of Andalusia, Southern author Flannery O’Connor’s rural farmhouse.

IDEAL DESTINATION

Nestled in the heart of the North Georgia mountains in Hiawassee, Lake Chatuge is the ideal summer getaway. Stay lakeside at The Ridges Resort, where you’ll enjoy a slower pace and simple pleasures like strolling along the lake, lounging with games, and enjoying a picnic by the water. The resort’s marina features a variety of pontoon and speed boats for a day on the lake with access to a gas dock, Dockside, a new grab-and-go snack station, and a friendly staff of marina professionals ready to assist with any boating needs.

Higher above ground, the steep but short half-mile hike to Brasstown Bald is not to be missed. At 4,784 feet high, the mountain is Georgia’s highest peak, with an observation deck that offers 360-degree views of the Southern Appalachian Mountains as well as four states on a clear day. Or, venture to other area highlights including the scenic overlooks at Bell Mountain, wine tours and tastings at Crane Creek Vineyards in nearby Young Harris, and events including the July Fourth Fireworks, concerts, fairs, and more at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.

DON’T-MISS EVENTS

The extended holiday feeling of summer is perhaps best experienced the week of July Fourth, and Georgia has several ways to celebrate.

At Stone Mountain Park, don’t miss the Fantastic Fourth Celebration, a spectacular Independence Day fireworks and lights show that, with ticket purchase, offers access to more park attractions like scenic hiking and 1940s-era train rides.

Park your car at the Great Dunes or Oceanview Beach parks, and watch an exciting waterfront pyrotechnics display on Jekyll Island.

Callaway Resort & Gardens’ multiday party of American pride in Pine Mountain offers a nightly Fireworks Extravaganza, preceded by fun activities, including beach volleyball, watersports, and mini golf.

The annual July Fourth burst of colorful Fire in the Sky over Lake Blue Ridge in North Georgia makes for a magical celebration best seen from a boat or along the shoreline.

SCAN CODE for more hot summer ideas.