10 Gorgeous Georgia Towns To Visit In 2023

The “Peach State” has many great places to visit with the family in 2023. From Stone Mountain State Park just outside Atlanta to Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls, some of the sights in Georgia are spectacular to behold. There are also several charming towns in Georgia worth visiting as well. From quaint downtown landscapes to panoramic scenic backgrounds, some towns just seem to possess a sense of welcome and tranquility that shocks the senses.  

Athens

Athens, located about seventy miles northeast of Atlanta, is home to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. This attraction is not the only natural wonder that makes Athens one of the most picturesque towns in Georgia, though. Sandy Creek Park, the “We Let the Dawgs Out” Public Art Exhibit, and “The Tree that Owns Itself” exhibit are also great signs of beauty within the town. As a place listed on the National Register of Historic Places, from the city hall with the domed clocktower to the blending of American Southern and British Victorian architecture scattered throughout town, Athens is part historical knowledge, part college-town brilliance, and part third hometown innocence, and worthy of checking out.

Tybee Island

Most extensively known for weddings and honeymoons, Tybee Island is also the best place in Georgia to experience the rugged, scenic beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. Whether through painting, photography, or poetry, more people on Tybee Island are significantly altered by the majestic grandeur of the ocean off the coast of Georgia than anywhere else. Tybee Island also has a plethora of other reasons why it would be deemed a gorgeous southern town, including renting a quaint cottage on the beach, planning one of several local tours or taking a stroll along Butler Avenue, and stopping in at AJ’s Dockside Restaurant on Chatham Avenue for a taste of some delicious, ultra-fresh seafood. 

Blue Ridge

Located in Fannin County, deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with only around a thousand residents, the town of Blue Ridge is one of those places where you go to “get away from it all” or possibly even to get back to your roots. From a quaint downtown, complete with the Black Sheep Restaurant and the Serenity Garden Café, both located on Main Street and serving up dishes like fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, collard greens, and mashed potatoes, to the Historic Blue Ridge Depot and the Blue Ridge Bed and Breakfast, where strong, tasty coffee is a staple every morning, this gorgeous southern town has a bit of old-town charm around every corner.

Helen

Hidden away in White County, along the Chattahoochee River, the small town of Helen is home to less than a thousand people. This is, in no way, a reflection of a town with nothing to do or sights to see. Downtown Helen offers some of the most back-home-country establishments in the entire state, including Mully’s Nacoochee Grill and Betty’s Country Store. There are also several activities in and around Helen that bring the locals and visitors together, like the Georgia Mountain Coaster and Uhuburg, a Renaissance Castle that offers tours of the grounds, wedding events, and lots more. Plus, Helen is home to Raven Cliff Falls and Anna Ruby Falls, both having spectacular sights of nature at its finest.

Americus

The town of Americus, located in Sumter County between Albany and Atlanta, is home to the Georgia Pecan Festival every year. Americus is also famous for the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park and the Georgia Veterans State Park. Some of the best reasons for Americus retaining a “gorgeous Georgia town” title and worthy of a visit in 2023 are Koinonia Farm and Southern Dreams Ranch. Koinonia Farm specializes in sustainable farming and working as a team within the community, while Southern Dreams Ranch offers horseback riding to all ages. There are even some natural getaways in Americus, like the Wolf Creek Plantation, which offers a wine-tasting tour and tractor rides through its stunning vineyards. 

Dahlonega

Between spectacular views of downtown Dahlonega from the comforts of a horse-drawn wagon to having a picnic in one of the many parks to horseback riding at Forrest Hills Resort, the town of Dahlonega is a wonder to behold for the entire family. There are also several other opportunities to enjoy the hidden beauty of this small town, located in Lumpkin County, as well. Cane Creek Falls and the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve are both nearby, as well as a chance to hike along a portion of the Appalachian Trail and visit Dick’s Creek Falls. And, if you want to get a bite to eat, Foothill Grill and Picnic Café both offer outdoor seating. 

Tallulah Falls

Home of the Tallulah Gorge State Park, Bridal Veil Falls, and Hurricane Falls, the town of Tallulah Falls is a wondrous beauty to witness this year, either with friends, with family, or even all by yourself. Located two hours northeast of the city of Atlanta, Tallulah Falls, and the Tallulah Gorge State Park offer visitors a plethora of gorgeous scenic views that will take your breath away. There are even some spectacular sights downtown, whether you are enjoying outdoor dining at Tallulah 1882 or even taking a ride on the Tallulah Falls Scenic Railroad. Tallulah Falls Lake and Tallulah Point Overlook are also worth checking out while you are in the area. 

Darien

Located about fifty miles south of the city of Savannah, the town of Darien is a hidden treasure of wonders for visitors and residents alike. Along with being the home of the Fort King George Historic Site, Darien is also relatively near Butler Island Plantation and Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge. Vernon Square and Waterfront Park are also located in the town of Darien. Waterfront Park allows visitors to get up close and personal with the many watercraft while offering some of the best views of the Atlantic Ocean in Darien, while Vernon Square offers gorgeous, paved walkways and a memorial fountain dedicated to Lloyd “Buck” Thompson, all under the massive spans of mighty trees sporting Spanish Moss.

Perry

The town of Perry is a great place to visit in 2023 for its gorgeous scenery as well as its quaint, down-home charm. Located partly in Houston County and partly in Peach County, Perry is home to Razor Park and Barbara Calhoun Park, both offering visitors a chance to enjoy the wonders of nature, whether through a friendly game of horseshoes, getting in some afternoon fishing, or having a picnic with friends or family. There are also several activities in downtown Perry that are worth experiencing, like stopping by Big Indian Paintball with the family, checking out Mossy Creek National (where you can learn to make soap), and taking a tour of the Perry Area Historical Museum. 

Cumming

Between the Cumming Aquatic Center, Fowler Park, Central Park, and Big Creek Greenway, the town of Cumming has the family in mind for 2023. Located in Forsyth County, this town of approximately eight or nine thousand people offers a bit of history, a bit of naturalistic splendor, and a bit of modern ambiance, sometimes all at the same time. From Mary Alice Park, situated off Mary Alice Park Road and offering several amenities to visitors like swimming, walking, and boating in and around Lake Lenier, to the Cumming School Street Playhouse, offering concerts and events as well as plays performed by the local high school, the town of Cumming has something for everyone, including young children and older citizens.

These fabulous Georgia towns serve to delight travelers of all tastes. Their stunning presence speaks to our minds, reminding us that beauty can be found anywhere, even within the borders of a town in Georgia.