Home to seven official natural wonders, the birthplace of Martin Luther King and an extraordinary culinary scene, Georgia, USA, takes home plenty of culture, history and foodie prizes when it comes to reasons to visit.

Not just a leading film destination for hits like Stranger Things and The Hunger Games, this picturesque southeastern state is a top choice for anyone who enjoys mountain hikes, foodie feasts, an innovative beverage industry and often balmy weather. Charming Southern hospitality walks hand in hand with quirky festivals, history and and culture, all set against a backdrop of picture-perfect settings, from waterfalls and lakes to canyons, islands and beaches.

Not sure where to start? Visit the USA is here to help with a curated guide of what to see, eat, drink and do during your trip to Georgia.

Explore the great outdoors

Whether you’re taking scenic drives through the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking the Appalachian Trail, paddleboarding through the state’s best lakes or taking a dip in the waters of the Golden Isles, you’ll see that Georgia puts the “great” in the great outdoors.

 

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Check yourself into Dunya Camp in the North Georgia mountains for a restorative getaway complete with sauna aromatherapy, yoga classes under the open sky and in-tent massages. Or if you’re more into beaches than mountains, Georgia’s 177-kilometre-long coastline has plenty to offer. Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Savannah you’ll find Tybee Island, known for its pink-hued sunsets. Here, the popular Crab Shack is a great waterfront spot for lunch or dinner, and it offers a fabulous view and a chance to spot an alligator; Sting Ray’s Seafood is another wonderful choice, perfect for casual post-beach fish tacos and cold drinks.

Honourable mentions go to camping trips in the picturesque Vogel State Park, at the base of Blood Mountain, and canoe adventures through Okefenokee Swamp.

Sip your way through the state

Georgia has a long history of producing spirits. Moonshine production here dates back to the 1780s, when Scotch-Irish immigrants began to settle in the region, bringing with them the knowledge of how to distill fruits into alcoholic beverages.

Nestled at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, Dahlonega is a gorgeous historic town that plays host to award-winning wineries (Montaluce Winery & Restaurant is an excellent first port of call), wine-tasting rooms, breweries and distilleries, making it a must-visit for in-the-know wine and spirit enthusiasts.

Family-owned Atlanta Hard Cider & Distillery is a top choice for fans of natural craft ciders, while rum lovers should head to Richland Rum, a premium distillery that uses locally grown single-estate sugar cane.

 

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Those who enjoy watering holes should try oyster bar Kimball House; but if it’s a sunny day, there’s no better spot to go for a casual drink than the Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall (located next to the Atlanta BeltLine), which pitches up umbrellas and beach chairs for its guests. In Savannah, try the hip speakeasy-esque Alley Cat Lounge, the opulent Artillery Bar or the retro Lone Wolf Lounge, all of which are beloved by locals.

Soak up the local culture

An unmissable spot for history buffs, the Savannah Historic District, with its elegant architecture, is worth a trip to Georgia. Take a Martin Luther King Jr. History Tour in Atlanta to learn about the early days of the civil rights movement, or admire the city’s street-art scene with a local guide on a Cabbagetown Street Art Tour.

While the Peach State has no shortage of galleries and museums, you’ll want to reserve some time to visit Pasaquan, near Buena Vista. It’s a three-hectare visionary art site filled with pre-Columbian Mexican, African and Native American cultural and religious symbols in the form of major structures and murals.

 

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For a retail-therapy hit, head to Atlanta’s Mashburn. The light-filled 150-square-metre space—created by famed Atlanta clothiers Sid and Ann Mashburn—is a one-stop shop for chic womenswear, menswear, children’s wear and homewares. Or try Brick + Mortar, also in Atlanta, for soothing soy candles (each complete with its own Spotify playlist) and a relaxed browse of the store’s vintage and antique goods. If you’re visiting Savannah, stop by The Paris Market, a charming bi-level boutique offering an eclectic range of antiques, housewares, gifts and jewellery, or the Wright Square Vintage & Retro Mall, which is a must-visit for vintage cowboy boots, vinyl records and retro decor.

Dig into the culinary scene

With Georgia’s Southern comfort cuisine and soul food, there’s no limit to the amount of time you can spend feasting your way through the state. In Atlanta’s Westside area, Miller Union, by James Beard Award winner Steven Satterfield, is an institution for foodies—make sure to end your meal with the blood-orange-dark-chocolate ganache. For true local soul dishes, head to Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in the Blandtown neighbourhood and order the crispy fried chicken with sweet potato chutney for a meal to remember.

 

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Over in Savannah, a visit to the award-winning The Grey is well worth it for the art-deco interiors and ingenious twists on old Southern classics. Before that, though, check out The Collins Quarter—an Aussie-inspired café renowned for its strong coffee and vibrant breakfast dishes—for brunch.

Venture down to the coastal regions for flavourful traditional dishes like low-country boil and Brunswick stew. And for on-the-go lunches, visit Georgia’s barbecue festivals and embrace the state’s well-established farm-to-table movement at its roster of farmers’ markets.

Plan your perfect trip to Georgia and discover all that the USA has to offer at VisitTheUSA.com now.