8 Offbeat Georgia Towns To Visit In 2025

When most people think of Georgia, they picture the state’s famous peaches and southern hospitality. However, the state has plenty of surprises up its sleeve, especially in some of its small, offbeat towns. For example, Thomasville is known for its beautiful roses, while Vidalia is the birthplace of the sweet Vidalia onion. Then there’s Helen, which surprises visitors with its Bavarian culture. No matter how well you think you know Georgia, these eight quirky towns may challenge your expectations!

Peachtree City

While cars are necessary for getting around most Georgia cities, Peachtree City is best explored by golf cart! Around town, there are over 100 miles of golf cart-friendly trails, and visitors can rent a cart from local agencies like Golf Rider, which has served the community for over two decades. Within the city limits, there are several lakes to explore as well. Lake Peachtree is a great option for swimming, fishing, walking, and running, with a multi-use path that winds nearly four miles around the shore. For a live performance, travelers can grab tickets for an event at the Fred Amphitheater, an open-air, 2,500-seat theater that has hosted artists like Gladys Knight, Huey Lewis and The News, and Foreigner.

Thomasville

Nicknamed, “The City of Roses”, Thomasville is famous for the Thomasville Rose Garden, which features more than 1,500 rose bushes that are in bloom from April through July. On April 25th and 26th of this year, the town will host the annual Thomasville Rose Show & Festival, a tradition that has taken place since 1922 and offers a rose parade, artisan market, antique car show, and more. Besides the beautiful roses in Thomasville, visitors should make sure to check out the town’s oldest natural landmark, The Big Oak. Over three centuries old, this tree measures over 26 feet in circumference and has a limb span of more than 165 feet!

Brunswick

With a thriving seafood industry, Brunswick is the perfect town to visit if you want to try your luck at shrimping. Visitors can sign up for an excursion with Coastal Tide Shrimpin’ Excursions and hop aboard a retired shrimping trawler for a day of catching shrimp, crab, and local fish. Mary Ross Waterfront Park, meanwhile, is a great spot to admire local shrimping boats from the shore and visit a life-size model of a Liberty Ship, one of the vessels built in the town during World War II. For a waterfront meal, consider grabbing lunch at Marshside Grill, a local seafood restaurant that has been operating in the area for over 20 years.

Ellijay

Affectionately known as Georgia’s Apple Capital, Ellijay is a fantastic spot for apple picking, cider tasting, and fall festivals. During apple blossom and apple season, travelers can tour the 160-acre orchards of R & A Orchards. In September and October, the orchards also open to the public for apple picking. The fall season is particularly fun at BJ Reece Orchards, which offers festive activities like wagon rides, apple cannons, corn mazes, and petting zoos. Year-round, visitors can appreciate some delicious cider at Reece’s Cider Company, which also hosts live music nearly every weekend!

Helen

Although travelers may not often associate the South with Bavarian culture, Helen is an interesting exception. One of the most popular annual events is its Oktoberfest, which features lots of polka dancing, traditional lederhosen and dirndls attire, and German cuisine. Year-round, travelers can enjoy German dishes at the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant, which serves traditional meals like schnitzel and wurst. There are also plenty of waterfalls near Helen to explore! Dukes Creek Falls, for example, is just a 10-minute drive from town and features a series of cascading waterfalls, including an impressive 300-foot drop.

Vidalia

Vidalia is famously known as the birthplace of the Vidalia onion, a sweet and mild onion that a local farmer accidentally created in the 1930s. Each year, the town celebrates this unique onion heritage during the Vidalia Onion Festival. The festival this year will take place near the end of April and will offer live country music performances, cooking demonstrations, fireworks, an onion-eating contest, and more. If you are not able to attend the festival in April, you can still plan a visit to The Vidalia Onion Museum! This 1,300-square-foot museum explores the onion’s cultural, economic, and culinary significance over the years. If all of the food-themed activities are making you hungry, you can grab a bite at Tappas, a local restaurant that serves homemade sandwiches like sirloin steak, ribeye steak, and spicy sausage sandwiches.

Jekyll Island

If you love sea turtles, you are in for a treat on Jekyll Island. This island is home to the state's only rehabilitation center for endangered sea turtles, where visitors can learn about the species and witness the rehabilitation process through interactive exhibits and experiences. Travelers can see wildlife in their natural habitat, meanwhile, at Horton Pond, a secluded spot that is home to alligators, turtles, fish, and birds. A 0.7-mile nature trail encircles the pond, offering visitors the chance to explore the surrounding wooded ecosystem. Golfers should be sure to visit the Jekyll Island Golf Club, which offers three courses: The Pine Lakes Course, Indian Mound Course, and Great Dunes Course, all of which are immersed in nature.

Dahlonega

Dahlonega is simultaneously a historic mining town and a growing winery destination in Georgia. Travelers interested in the town’s mining history can enjoy an underground tour or go gem mining at Consolidated Gold Mine. If you prefer to relax at a vineyard, consider visiting Wolf Mountain Vineyards, an award-winning winery that produces wine atop the 1,800-foot-tall Dahlonega Plateau. There are so many cozy inns in Dahlonega that offer the perfect weekend away. The Smith House Historic Inn is a great option, as it has been a family-owned and operated business since 1922. There are several charming cottages, suites, and a lodge to choose from.

Final Thoughts

Georgia has an amazing diversity of small towns. In the mood for some fresh shrimp, for example? Make your way to Brunswick. Prefer to go apple picking? Ellijay has you covered. You can even get a taste of Bavaria in Georgia by visiting Helen! These eight towns are just a reminder of what the state has to offer, proving that you do not have to travel far to enjoy an unforgettable vacation within Georgia’s borders.