Southern Georgia

Southern Georgia is an indefinable array of vacation possibilities. If your interests lead you down bygone paths, this part of Georgia is as thick with historical sites as San Francisco is with fog. If you like outdoor activities, the region's rivers, lakes, streams, and hiking paths provide ample opportunities for enjoying Mother Nature.

Georgians are proud of their rich history. So proud, in fact, that in 1984 a group of students from the University of Georgia got together and formed The Antebellum Trail, dedicated to highlighting the state's most valuable asset: its past. Seven cities along the trail, Athens, Watkinsville, Madison, Eatonton, Milledgeville, Old Clinton, and Macon are filled with Victorian and Antebellum architecture as well as oak-lined streets dripping with Spanish moss. The cities have their individual charms while sharing a rich cultural and artistic heritage famous in the Deep South.

Those with a musical bent will want to visit the Georgia Music Hall of Fame (GMHF), located in Macon. The GMHF has inducted the likes of Ray Charles, Little Richard, The Allman Brothers Band, Lena Horne, Chet Atkins, Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mercer, and many others, all Georgia natives. The museum is filled with photos, musical videos, and memorabilia of all descriptions. A new children's wing has interactive drums, keyboards, and guitars where the little ones can jam.

Golf is king in Augusta. Each April, the world's eyes turn to the most prestigious tournament in the world, The Master's, which takes place at Augusta National Golf Club, probably the most private of private clubs in the world. Golf fans will certainly want to tour the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. The museum honors Georgia's sons and daughters who have made a noted contribution to the game of golf. There is also an impressive sculpture gallery commemorating some of golf's most famous moments. While Augusta National is not open to the public, beautiful Goshen Plantation is. This course has some of the largest greens in Georgia, and several holes use water hazards as punishment for errant shots. Golf is rampant outside of Augusta as well. The Golf Club at Cuscowilla, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, was named one of the top modern courses in America by Golfweek magazine. The course blends the natural layout of the surrounding terrain in an old fashioned test of golfing skill.

For some outdoor fun, set your compass for Lake Sinclair, located near Sparta. The lake has 15,330 acres of surface water and over 400 miles of shoreline and is a maze of coves and inlets that open out into large main veins of water. Anglers flock to the lake for the large and smallmouth bass hiding beneath while the quiet coves and inlets are a great place for a dip in the hot Georgia sun. There are plenty of opportunities to sail, jet ski, or practice your water skiing or wakeboarding maneuvers, too.

Southern Georgia is a symphony of vacation sounds. Athens is a vibrant college town that has influenced the artistic creativity of musicians like R.E.M. and the B52s. Vidalia became famous for an onion that locals eat like apples. Madison is billed as the "town that Sherman couldn't burn down."Macon, the geographic center of the state, has more than 150,000 cherry trees and is famous for its Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place every March. The past and the present converge in Southern Georgia, making for one of the most special vacation destinations around!