By their very nature, small towns in Georgia are easy to miss. The lack of population may mean they don't get as many headlines as our more urban centers, but don't mistake that for lack of attractions! There are so many great Peach State small towns that have classic Southern charm, fascinating histories, and beautiful natural surroundings. One of our favorites is Hiawassee, Georgia. It's the county seat of Towns County in the northeast corner of the state, and it has a population of just over 1,000 people. There's a surprising amount of things to do in Hiawassee, Georgia, despite its small size, and it's the perfect spot for a quick getaway.
Hiawassee's name is derived from a Native American word meaning "meadow." The town was settled around 1820 and then incorporated in 1870.
The trek to the mountain's observation deck can be made by car or (strenuous) hike.
Another Hiawassee, Georgia thing to do is a stop by Hamilton Gardens. This colorful garden features more than 3,000 rhododendrons, plus plenty of other species.
Want to do a little bargain-hunting? It doesn't get much better than a trip to Hiawassee Antique Mall, a 10,000-square foot palace filled with antiques galore.
Have you ever visited Hiawassee? You can learn more about this charming small town from the Towns County Tourism Facebook page. If you're a fan of hiking, you'll find so much to love in this region - make sure to check out the nearby trails from our friends at AllTrails!
When it came time for me to move away from my hometown of Savannah to attend college, I had a number of options of places to go thanks to good grades in high school. To appease my parents and stick relatively close to home, I went four hours north to Athens for the University of Georgia. Little did I know I'd never end up leaving the area!
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Athens is often thought of as purely a college town, and, in truth, it is heavily influenced by being home to the state's flagship university. Local businesses are well aware that their annual sales follow the school calendar, and you literally can't even go half a block without seeing that big G somewhere. The university owns a great deal of land in Athens proper, particularly in the downtown area, and it's impossible to ignore the college's influence on this mid-sized city.
ATHENS, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 5: A member of the Georgia Bulldogs redcoat band performs prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
However, writing the Classic City off as "just a college town" is doing this place a great disservice. Ironically enough, I hated my four years at UGA – I had no friends, was miserable, and couldn't wait to get the heck out of Athens. Life had other plans for me and I've now lived in the area for more than a decade and have really grown to love the city now that I see how much more there is to it than just fraternities and football.
Downtown of Athens, Georgia, USA.
Living in a college town provides a number of benefits to all residents of the area, not just students. The UGA campus is practically one huge botanical garden, and I absolutely love strolling around North Campus on a beautiful day. The general public also enjoys access to the UGA Main Library, and there are often lectures and film screenings hosted on campus that are open to the public.
It's not just spots related to the college that make this city so special, though. It's got an incredible array of parks within its borders. When I first moved here, I was excited to be in such close proximity to so many great Georgia state parks, but I've found that the Athens-Clarke County parks are so numerous and varied that I don't even have to leave town to enjoy hiking opportunities and time outdoors.
From Sandy Creek Park (pictured above) to Ben Burton Park, there's so much green space all over the city just waiting to be enjoyed. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is located in Athens and has miles of trails, plus beautiful gardens to stroll through at any time of year – it's one of my favorite free things to do in the city.
I don't have kids, but another great aspect of life in Athens is how many activities there are for children. It's kind of an unexpected benefit because the college's reputation as a party school means that it gets a bad rap as an "adult" area, but there's actually a lot of family-friendly activities to enjoy in Athens. The library system here is incredible and puts on a number of fun events throughout the year, and spots like Memorial Park's free Bear Hollow Zoo are always popular with the little ones. The Georgia Museum of Art is admission-free and has plenty to entertain kids and adults of all ages.
Lisa Sammons/Only In Your State
After football, the thing that Athens is probably most famous for is music. The city has been known for decades for its thriving music scene, and world-class venues like 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre host local and national acts throughout the year. Take a stroll downtown, and you'll see decorative guitar picks all over the sidewalk showing off the Athens Music Walk of Fame, honoring local names like The B-52's and R.E.M. that made it big. AthFest is the city's biggest event of the summer, and the free music and arts festival draws big names and plenty of crowds.
Lisa Sammons/Only In Your State
There are some pretty spectacular places to dine here, too. You can find just about every chain restaurant under the sun in Athens, but with so many great options for dining locally, I almost always end up at a mom-and-pop place instead. Mannaweenta is tucked away on Athens's east side and serves superb Ethiopian eats. Independent Bakery is the place to go for breads. Other hot spots include Kelly's Authentic Jamaican Food and Donderos'.
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Since the town attracts so many visitors during football season (go Dawgs!), there's no shortage of places to stay here. From hotels to vacation rentals, there are plenty of choices of spots to rest your head at night. I love this rustic studio Airbnb that's nestled just outside of town: it looks so peaceful!
I actually live about 25 minutes outside of town now in a suburb of Athens, but I still think of the Classic City as home. It's such a wonderful place, whether you're staying for an afternoon or a lifetime, and it drives me up the wall when I see it referenced in the media as "just a college town" – there's so much more to Athens than the University of Georgia!
Summer is so ephemeral, and it sometimes feels like the season is gone just after it starts. But just because the season is ending, doesn't mean we can't still enjoy a few special activities. We love making out a summer bucket list in Georgia that includes all of the Peach State's must-visit attractions, just to make sure we don't miss out on anything fun. Here are a few things we think every Georgian must try annually:
Whether you're visiting the Golden Isles or checking out one of our many lakes or rivers, there are so many amazing beaches in Georgia that are perfect for a summer day of fun. Tybee Island is a delightful small town with several great beaches, and it's really no wonder that it's one of the most popular summer destinations in Georgia.
Many of us love picking these up from roadside stands or country stores, but wherever you get them from, they are a summertime staple. Sunrise Grocery in Blairsville has some of the tastiest in the state, but really, you can't go wrong with any type of boiled peanuts.
With dozens of state parks located all over Georgia, there's something for everyone within our state park system. Whether you like wooded hikes and lakefront trails or enjoy strolling along a sandy beach, you can find all the info you need on hiking in Georgia's state parks from our friends at AllTrails.
The museums in Georgia are some of the very best in the country. We've got museums with broad focuses, like general history museums, but you'll also find more specific topics available. I love the Crawford Long Museum in Jefferson, GA - it's got some fascinating medical artifacts and tons of information about the founder of anesthesia. I also always recommend first-time visitors to Atlanta check out the Coca-Cola Museum. It's always got new attractions coming in and has so many interactive exhibits that are perfect for kids.
Summer in the Peach State can get hot, and what better way to cool off than a visit to a water park in Georgia? Whether you love relaxing on a lazy river or the thrill of a water slide, there's something for everyone at these fun family attractions.
From concerts to farmers markets, there are plenty of wonderful Georgia festivals all over the state to keep you busy from Memorial Day to Labor Day and beyond.
Water parks are great, but we also love a good tube down one of Georgia's natural lazy rivers. Floating down the Chattahoochee River in Helen is a summer tradition for many Georgians.
Yes, they do still exist! Catching a new release film or a classic playing at a drive-in movie theater in Georgia is such a fun and nostalgic way to spend a summer evening.
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How many of these have you enjoyed this year? What's on your summer bucket list in Georgia? Share your thoughts in the comments!
