Things to do / Travel Guide
Wanna tour an antebellum house for breakfast, mosey around botanical gardens for brunch, explore Coca Cola Headquarters for lunch, and dine at a Waffle House for dinner? Then the Georgia and South Carolina region is where you should be headed.
The region is one of opposites, in that upon the backdrop of some of the most history-oriented cities and country areas in the States you have Atlanta, one of the country's most modern metropolises. Atlanta is the headquarters of Coca Cola, CNN, Def Jam Records, Home Depot, Delta Airlines, and others. On the other hand, neighboring Athens is the classic city for all the old mansions and historical districts. Over along the coast are the Golden Isles, where some of the nation's best resorts are located.
South Carolina's cultural hub is Charleston, like New Orleans in terms of its color and class. South of the capital is Hilton Head, a fashionable center for island luxury. North of Charleston is Myrtle Beach, a golf mecca and home to Broadway at the Beach, where you can sip a margarita in honor of his eminence Jimmy Buffet or fight the Yanks with Dolly Parton. It isn't incongruous, it's just the South at its best.
History and Architecture in Georgia and South Carolina
The historical architecture in the region is, indeed, stupendous. From Athens to Macon you'll find sweeping antebellum plantations, while Savannah, Charleston, Beaufort, and Georgetown, are all stocked with great examples of Old South architecture. You'll see Federal architecture, as well as Neo-Classical and Victorian, all basking in a dollop of gentility and good breeding.
In all this maze of architecture and history, you'll hear plenty of tales of ghosts and dungeons, as told by the region's tour guides. Some of the best scary stories come out of Savannah and Charleston.
Georgia and South Carolina's Great Outdoors
The region of Georgia and South Carolina excels in the range of outdoors activities it offers. Starting with the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, this is your chance to come face to face with an alligator, spot a majestic great blue heron, or lose a pet insect to a Venus Fly Trap. The swamp's peat can be up to 15 feet thick, and where there's no peat you'll probably need a boat.
Fishing is at its best in the region's creeks, rivers, and coastal waters. The Chattahoochee River runs right through Atlanta, providing locals and visitors plenty of places for leisurely fishing; it flows from Lake Lanier, where you can fish from the myriad piers or from your own boat.
Deep-sea fishing and sport-fishing in the Atlantic Ocean can be quite rewarding, with charters departing from the Golden Isles, Savannah, and Charleston, among other places, as you cast off in search of grouper, snapper, bass, barracuda, mahi mahi, Spanish and king mackerel, and flounder.
Kayaking and diving on the region's waters is equally as rewarding. Beautiful views and haunting river and barrier island scenes, such as around Hilton Head, abound from your kayak. Underwater, you'll have a chance to view wrecks, some more than a century old, and explore reefs.
Accommodations in Georgia and South Carolina
Stay at the region's best accommodations, such as the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, or Charleston's Wentworth Mansion. For the height of extravagance, book a few nights at the Lodge at Sea Island, a luxury golf and beach resort on St. Simons. This is an amazing five-star facility where all your desires can be fulfilled. You even get your own butler! The restaurant is rated as one of the best in the entire country. Of course, more affordable accommodations are available as well.
While the rest of the country might function at a faster pace, Georgia and South Carolina can afford a step back. The locals have fashioned quite a nice place, in their cities and countrysides, and the visitor stands to benefit tremendously. Quality of life in the region, especially in the South Carolina areas, is high. Take advantage of the good food and the superb hospitality, take in all the architectural and historical wonders, and connect with nature in the region's rivers forests and beaches. Enjoy the scenery on the coast. Bring back with you a conch or a sand dollar to remind yourselves of the great time you had in the region.
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