7. GEORGIA’S ELECTRIC Charge up your electric vehicle (EV) and recharge your mental battery on an environmentally friendly roadtrip from the mountains to the coast. Not only is Georgia home to stunning waterfalls, cosmopolitan cities and 100 miles of sandy shores, but it is also a hub for the country’s rapidly growing electric-vehicle industry. Whatever kind of EV you drive, you’re covered when you need to recharge the batteries—yours or your car’s—with an EV-oriented roadtrip across the state spanning destinations like Atlanta, Macon, the Atlantic Coast and Savannah. ATLANTA TO SAVANNAH: NEARLY 286 MILES START IN ATLANTA: Begin at The Battery, one of Atlanta’s top entertainment and dining districts. The area’s eight parking lots provide several fast-charging EV stations that are also open to guests staying at Aloft at The Battery Atlanta and Omni Hotel at The Battery. Power up while dining on gourmet sandwiches at Savi Provisions, shopping for wellness-centric gifts like bath salts and soaps at Sugarboo & Co., or free falling at iFly Atlanta, an indoor-skydiving facility. 85 MILES TO MACON: Stop in Macon for the 1842 Inn, a historical—not to mention palatial—Greek Revival-style mansion now operating as a bed and breakfast. Sample 1842’s signature drink, the mint julep, while your wheels get a boost from the on-site charger. Then head out for some of Macon’s top attractions like the Tubman Museum, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Mercer Music at Capricorn and the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Eat at locals’ favorite spots like Dovetail for artisanal cocktails or H&H Restaurant for hearty Southern soul food. 183 MILES TO TYBEE ISLAND: Named one of the country’s best beaches by Travel + Leisure, Tybee’s historic North Beach offers three EV stations for recharging. Plug in while soaking up the sun’s warming rays, taking a stretchy SUP yoga class or a scenic nature tour with Sea Kayak Georgia. It’s not a trip to the coast without freshly caught seafood. Dine on local shrimp and grits and pan-seared scallops at Sundae Cafe at Tybee, an upscale restaurant that sources most of its dishes from nearby purveyors and uses only biodegradable products. Another sustainably minded local spot is Sea Wolf Tybee, which serves oysters, mussels and hot dogs, including a vegan Sonoran-style brat so tasty you won’t even miss the pork. 18 MILES TO SAVANNAH: Make your way back inland and keep motoring to Savannah for a night at the Thompson. Not only does it offer six charging stations, a luxurious stay here means easy access to the city’s bustling historic district along the beckoning Savannah River. While your car charges, stroll the idyllic Riverwalk, sip a classic old fashioned at Bar Julian for towering cityscape views (it’s on Savannah’s tallest rooftop) or shop the mix of boutiques on nearby River Street. RIVIAN 14 #EXPLOREGEORGIA
Official State Travel Guide 2023 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 14
