On the Road to Georgia Getaways
Written by JACKIE KENNEDY
As spring turns to summer and school winds down to a close, the desire to get out of town is sometimes too strong to tamp down.
Give in to your wanderlust notions this summer while staying in your home state. Whether it’s the North Georgia mountains or the South Georgia coast, the Peach State offers an expanse of vacation and weekend getaway options. It’s why visitors from all over the United States and across the world come here.
Don’t miss out on what others are enjoying. Turn your attention to a Georgia vacation this year, and find out what you’ve been missing if you haven’t yet visited the three spots we feature in this issue: Blue Ridge for mountain adventures, St. Marys and Cumberland Island for coastal breezes, and Plains and Americus for downhome fairs and festivals with presidential lore and legend to boot.
Blue Ridge and Fannin County
Outdoorsy and upscale in North Georgia
Blue Ridge offers lodging with stunning mountain views, creek-side hideaways, riverfront fishing lodges, cabins on the lake, hotels and resorts. Photo courtesy of FANNIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
About 90 minutes north of Atlanta off Interstate-575, Blue Ridge is outdoorsy, earthy, upscale, fresh and historical, all at once. It’s a collision of opposites that results in a picture-perfect getaway for crafting memories, whether seeking solitude, uniting family, gathering friends or igniting romance.
Upscale cabins dot this North Georgia landscape, giving visitors an opportunity to revel in nature while keeping within close proximity to the chic shops, restaurants and multi-generational activities that Fannin County offers.
The charming mountain towns of Blue Ridge and McCaysville each have a distinct character and history. Downtown Blue Ridge offers eclectic shopping and dining in a quaint small town setting. With the historic Blue Ridge Depot at its center, Blue Ridge is a center for arts and galleries, antiques, unique shopping and eateries.
Hop aboard a train. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is one of the must-see attractions in this region. The railroad connects the towns of Blue Ridge and McCaysville and offers a journey along the beautiful Toccoa River.
Sink your teeth into sweet, plucked-fresh-from-the-tree apples at local orchards. Buying local fruits, vegetables and homemade goodies is a big part of the Blue Ridge experience, especially when it includes a visit to Mercier Orchards, a family farm for 65 years and one of the largest orchards in the Southeast. Amazingly, 50 varieties of apples are grown here.
Test your taste buds with farm-to-table offerings. Shop for unique souvenirs and wardrobe additions at the boutiques. Cheat on your diet with sweet treats. Engage your senses at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and Art Center.
For the adventurous, get back to nature with scenic ventures on the Benton MacKaye Trail, spanning nearly 300 miles through the Appalachian Mountains. Kayak the Toccoa River, boat Lake Blue Ridge, or cast a line in Fannin County, known as Georgia’s Trout Capital.
Two of the greatest outdoor adventures in the world begin at the southern border of Fannin County. Both the Appalachian and the Benton MacKaye Trail start at the top of Springer Mountain.
The Appalachian Trail, better known and the longer of the trails, is a 2,000-plus-mile journey to Maine through many states on the Eastern Seaboard.
The Benton MacKaye, more remote than the Appalachian, begins a 286-mile trek along the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains, rejoining the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
SUMMER FUN SPOTS
The Swan Drive-In, one of three remaining drive-in theaters in Georgia, offers first run movies on weekends.
The Ocoee Whitewater Center, site of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak/Slalom events, features great spots for wading and sliding on rocks at this natural water park.
At Lake Blue Ridge, boating and fishing are popular pastimes for outdoor enthusiasts.
The McCaysville Basin, along the Toccoa River, is frequented by trout fishermen.
SUMMER EVENTS
Arts in the Park: Downtown Blue Ridge City Park, Memorial Day Weekend
Pickin’ in the Park: Horseshoe Bend Park, every Thursday evening from May through September
Old Timers Day Parade: Downtown Blue Ridge, Saturday closest to July 4th
Lake Blue Ridge Fireworks: Blue Ridge Marina, on or near July 4th
Old Fashioned Fourth in McCaysville: Downtown McCaysville, July 4th weekend
Blue Ridge Kiwanis Rodeo: Kiwanis Fairgrounds in Blue Ridge, August
Copper Basin River Fest: Downtown McCaysville/Copperhill, August
Labor Day Barbeque: Downtown Blue Ridge, Labor Day
Plains and Americus
Presidential ties where history comes to life
The Historic Windsor Hotel occupies nearly an entire city block in the heart of downtown Americus. A prime example of Victorian architecture, the hotel was built in 1892 to attract winter visitors from the North. The upstairs balcony is a favorite spot for guests to unwind after a day of sight-seeing. Photo courtesy of BEST WESTERN PLUS WINDSOR HOTEL.
A two-hour drive from Newnan, Sumter County is the only county in Georgia – and one of only three counties in the United States – with two national historic sites: Andersonville National Historic Site, home to the largest and most well-known Civil War prison, and Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, which pays homage to the nation’s 39th president.
From peanut farmer to president to Nobel Prize laureate, Carter remained an active citizen in his community until recent years. He and his wife Rosalyn renovated a downtown building into the Historic Plains Inn where guests from around the world have stayed overnight in the inn’s rooms, which each depict a different decade from the president’s life.
At the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, visitors see the Plains Depot, restored to its 1976 appearance when it served as Carter’s campaign headquarters.
Other stops along the historic site include the president’s boyhood home and surrounding farm, as well as Plains High School where both Jimmy and Rosalyn graduated. The high school now serves as a museum and visitor’s center.
Established in 1970, Andersonville National Historic Site has three main features: the prison site, Andersonville National Cemetery, and the nation’s only National Prisoner of War Museum. Andersonville was the largest and arguably the most infamous of 150 military prisons of the Civil War.
Across the road from the historic site is Andersonville Civil War Village featuring The Drummer Boy Museum, Pioneer Farm, and the Anderson Station Restaurant.
In downtown Americus, unique shops include Café Campesino, Georgia’s first and only 100% fair trade, organic coffee company, and Mobile Glassblowing Studios, where a factory tour allows a peek into the art and community behind it.
Formerly home of Habitat for Humanity’s International Headquarters, Americus is still home to the Historic Windsor Hotel and Rylander Theatre.
Located in the heart of downtown Americus, the Windsor is a breathtaking example of Victorian architecture. Built in 1892 to attract winter visitors from the north, the Windsor is a 53-room, five-story Victorian masterpiece designed with tower and turret, balconies and a three-story open atrium lobby. It occupies almost an entire city block. The hotel closed in 1972 after almost 80 years in operation and reopened in 1991 after a $6.5 million dollar renovation.
The Historic Rylander Theatre sports much of its original grandeur after a $4.8 million restoration and is home to local theater productions.
Also in Sumter County, the town of Leslie is home to the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum, which houses the largest collection of telephones and telephone memorabilia in the world.
SPOTS FOR TONS OF FUN
Both held in September, Taste of Sumter, in Americus, and Plains Peanut Festival offer lots of good eats and drinks, activities and entertainment.
Lake Blackshear is located on the edge of Sumter County and is home to a multitude of water based activities like fishing, boating, tubing and skiing.
SAM Shortline Excursion Train, a rolling Georgia State Park, makes stops in Leslie, Americus, Plains and Archery most weekends.
The Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival is the world’s largest gathering of hot glass blowers. Each spring, internationally recognized artisans fire up some of the most dazzling pieces while visitors enjoy craft beer from around the state.
Jimmy Carter Regional Airport, in Americus, was known as Souther Field Airport in 1923 when Charles Lindbergh took his first solo flight, making the local airport one of the most important heritage sites in aviation.
St. Marys and Cumberland Island
Beauty and adventure await on Georgia’s coast
The St. Marys waterfront offers stunning views of sunsets, shrimp boats and more. Photo courtesy of ST. MARYS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU.
One of the most relaxing coastal Georgia experiences awaits visitors in historic St. Marys and Cumberland Island.
This typically uncrowded destination on the Atlantic coast serves up culture, heritage and outdoor activities that make it popular with both history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts.
St. Marys’ intimate downtown waterfront community offers a welcome respite. With no pretense, local restaurants serve up tasty coastal cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. The streets are lined with locally owned shops with owners happy to share local tips and favorite spots. Historic homes offer glimpses into coastal life in an earlier era, and some homes are open for overnight guests, adding unique options for lodging.
The revitalized St. Marys waterfront is a welcoming, walkable and bikeable community center. The pedestrian-friendly streetscape continues along a multi-use path leading to a new public marina. Self-guided tours highlight historic sites, and the St. Marys Submarine Museum displays memorabilia from submarine history, including stories from the local waters.
All this is set against the scenic beauty of the St. Marys River. Once prowled by pirates and smugglers, today shrimp and pleasure boats dot the horizon.
A visit to the Cumberland Island Visitors Center, in St. Marys, prompts many to visit the enchanting island. Across the river, the untamed beauty of Cumberland Island provides an escape to a world away.
Protected as the Cumberland Island National Seashore and accessible by boat only, Cumberland can be visited by taking a 45-minute passenger ferry from St. Marys. Day trips highlighted by a guided Lands and Legacies tour are popular; participants are taken by van to visit the island’s cultural and natural landmarks, such as the remains of Robert Stafford’s plantation and cemetery, Plum Orchard Mansion, Cumberland Wharf, the Settlement and First African Baptist Church.
Some adventurous travelers to Cumberland Island choose to camp overnight on the island, which is allowed by reservation only.
Back on the mainland and 10 minutes from downtown St. Marys, Crooked River State Park is another natural treasure. Set on the banks of the Crooked River, the 500-acre park offers cabins and campsites, a nature center and hiking, biking and kayak trails. The 11-mile St. Marys Tabby Trail connects the park with downtown St. Marys via a multi-use bike trail.
The entire area is known as a paddling and birding mecca and has spots noted on both the Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail and the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. A guided tour with state park staff takes guests to St. Marys rookery to visit a variety of native wading birds, including Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills. NCM
FAST FACTS
In 1804, after the infamous duel between third Vice President Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, Burr fled to St. Marys and found refuge at the home of his law school friend, Archibald Clark. The Archibald Clark House is the oldest house in St. Marys and is available today as a vacation rental.
St. Marys was one of the last battles of the War of 1812. On January 13, 1815, five days after the Battle of New Orleans, British troops attacked the battery at Point Peter just minutes from downtown St. Marys. Known as the Forgotten Battle, it was over by late evening as Point Peter fell to Admiral Cockburn and his 1,500 troops.
St. Marys Peace Garden is the southernmost point of the Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail. The site commemorates the War of 1812 and the shared heritage of the United States and Canada. The trail begins in Canada.
St. Marys is on the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail. The town is home to the St. Marys Submarine Museum where guests can have fun with a working periscope and view WWII patrol reports along with submarine and veteran memorabilia.
WARM WEATHER EVENTS
First Friday in Downtown
St. Marys: First Friday of each month
Music in the Park: Second Saturday from April to October
St. Marys Independence Day Festival: July 4
St. Marys Seafood Festival: First Saturday each October
