OVERVIEW
Experience the Deep South in Georgia
Georgia offers many exciting and unique travel destinations. Take the time to explore Georgia’s diverse landscapes and experience our world renowned southern hospitality.
Located in the southeastern United States, Georgia is one of America’s most diverse states. With close to 10 million residents, Georgia has one of the country’s largest populations. The state is bordered by South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. Georgia encompasses 154,000 square meters with 160 km of Atlantic coastline. The state stretches 475 km from north to south and 370 km from the coast to its western border. Review our state map [link to detailed map] for a detailed view.
From bustling cities to a relaxing coastline and breathtaking mountain scenery, Georgia boasts all types of rich and unique experiences. Within the state’s capital, Atlanta, there are world class museums, entertainment, and high-end shopping. In the romantic port city of Savannah, visitors can reminisce on colonial times, and see plantation homes. The historic Antebellum Trail showcases Georgia’s past with small town squares and magnificent antebellum architecture reminiscent of those seen in “Gone with the Wind”. Georgia’s Coast stretches approximately 160 kilometers between the Savannah and St. Marys Rivers. Wander isolated beaches, tranquil marshes and cobblestone streets. The barrier islands, mysterious swamps and the easy rhythm of coastal culture make for an unforgettable experience. The state is sprinkled with pristine environments, such as the swamp at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, one of the oldest freshwater areas in the country.
Awaiting you in the North Georgia Mountains are exciting outdoor adventures such as hiking, hang-gliding, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking. Georgia has a rich presidential history with former President Jimmy Carter’s peanut farm located in Plains and the house of his predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt located in Warm Springs. Georgia is home to golf legend Bobby Jones, the country's oldest golf club - the Savannah Golf Club - and the world's most prestigious golf tournament - The Masters® in Augusta. No other state gives you such an opportunity to be a part of the history and heritage of the game of golf. With more than 300 golf courses in Georgia, every golfer is sure to find a course that suits their game.
Georgia’s musical talents have influenced generations of musicians and can be heard around the world. The music scene in Georgia is vibrant, growing and full of history. Georgia boasts a variety of musical venues, talents and experiences just waiting to be discovered. Little Richard, James Brown, Otis Redding, Trisha Yearwood, B-52’s, R.E.M. and the Allman Brothers are just a few of the more than 450 Georgia musicians who are celebrated at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. Athens has a music vibe that is explosively energetic with hundreds of bands calling it home who play jazz, classical, blues, country, hip hop, rock, and every kind of alternative genre. Augusta’s James Brown Tour features 13 Godfather of Soul-related sites. Head to Albany, birthplace of Ray Charles, and visit the new Ray Charles Plaza where you can hear the legendary performer’s music and reflect at a one-of-a-kind sculpture. The Savannah Music Festival, Georgia’s largest musical arts festival, brings a diversity of musical genres to Georgia’s oldest city. Head to the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival in Thomson. Spend Labor Day weekend in Atlanta at the Montreux Jazz Festival at Underground Atlanta.
In 2009, Georgia celebrated the 70th Anniversary of “Gone with the Wind”. The most memorable and widely-recognized American film can still be experienced in Georgia today. Visit our many “Gone with the Wind” sites from where the Pulitzer-prize winning novel was written to where it was inspired. See the tiny apartment in Midtown Atlanta where the book was written at the Margaret Mitchell House & Movie Museum. Visit Jonesboro’s Road to Tara Museum and Stately Oaks Plantation. Or, Marietta’s “Gone with the Wind” Museum: Scarlett on the Square. Spend the night at The Georgian Terrace Hotel where the movie's stars stayed when the Oscar-winning film premiered in 1939 at the Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. There is no shortage of exciting experiences and sites in Georgia offering a peek inside the legendary tale.
Georgia’s Travel Regions
Georgia- Nine Different Ways
The state is divided into nine tourism marketing regions each with its own unique assets and destinations.
Metro Atlanta, Classic South, Georgia Coast, Historic Heartland, Historic High Country, Magnolia Midlands, Northeast Mountains, Plantation Trace, and Presidential Pathways are prominently featured on the map to the left. You can click on each region for more detailed information.
Climate and Tourist Season
Mild temperatures
Georgia enjoys mild temperatures all year round due to its latitude and proximity to the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico. Our summers are warm, our autumns brisk and sunny, our winters mild and our springs are blooming with dogwoods and azaleas. While there is minimal snowfall in the northern part of the state in the winter months, summer temperatures range from 80 to 95° F (27 – 35° C).
Georgia’s Greatest Treasure: Its People
“Hi y’all!” – Home in Georgia
Culturally rich, Georgia’s wealth comes from the great mixture of cultures that have a presence here. A Georgian’s southern drawl and lifestyle is often more relaxed than what visitors may typically find in the northern United States.
Our “Southern Hospitality” comes alive to visitors, who are often greeted warmly by residents. Georgians are almost always willing to help with directions, share their favorite sights and restaurants and share their beautiful home state with others.
The melting pot of various backgrounds has created a rich blend of diversity. Georgia’s largest cultures are of European and African descent. The state has a growing immigrant population from Latin America and Asia.
The word “y’all” is part of Georgia’s charm and commonly used when referring to a group of people.