These 12 Towns In Georgia Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2024
Do you want to learn more about Coca-Cola and the birth of the Civil Rights Movement? Then, you will definitely fall in love with the state in which these two concepts originated—Georgia, so named after King George II of England. There are at least a dozen small towns in Georgia that were ranked among US favorites in 2024 for good reason. Between Darien’s historic appeal, Brunswick’s proximity to the Golden Islands of Georgia, and Covington’s filmic settings and backdrops, you will be convinced of the veracity of all those lauded and flowery reviews regarding these high-ranked small towns in the state of Georgia. For the sake of your vacation, you ought to at least visit one of these 12 towns in Georgia that were ranked among US favorites in 2024.
Darien
Travelers can learn all about the Scottish highlanders living around the Altamaha River in the small town of Darien. Since 1733, Darien has been the second oldest community in Georgia on land formerly owned by the Gullah-Geechee clan. Fort King George, a military outpost headquartered by General James Edward Oglethorpe, who also founded the state of Georgia, was instrumental in defending the state during the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War.
Newcomers can journey to all sorts of amenities, particularly the Golden Isles of Georgia, which include Sapelo Island and Little St. Simons Island. The Butler Island Plantation gives an insightful history of rice production that has contributed much to Georgia’s development, though at the cost of slave profiteering, while the Old City Jail Art Center, formerly a jailhouse for the county’s convicts, now gives exhibits and galleries of Darien’s art scene. Perhaps the one thing you ought to look out for in Darien is Altie, the Altamaha Sea Monster of local cryptozoology. If you are curious to see more of Darien, then you ought to book a room at either the Open Gates Bed & Breakfast or Darien Waterfront Inn.
Dahlonega
Wondering where the first major US Gold Rush took place? Then, travel an hour away from the city of Atlanta and into the golden town of Dahlonega. Learn all about the mining operations in the Heart of Georgia Wine Country and the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Dahlonega Gold Museum. Travelers can also seek out historical markers like “The Trail of Tears,” which shows the unjust ousting of the Cherokee people from their territories and their journey into the Mississippi River. The Consolidated Gold Mine retains the remnants of Dahlonega’s old gold mining days, and the “Dahlonega method” teaches you how to possibly scoop gold nuggets from the rivers and streams around town. Give yourself a treat of the Blue Mountains at the Blue Mountain Vineyards, and admire the awesome animals of the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo. Most of all, get yourself comfortable and comfy in fine lodgings like The Mountain Top Lodge or Dahlonega Inn on Main.
Madison
Immerse yourself in Georgia’s historic aspects in the quaint town of Madison. Only about 29 miles from the city of Athens, newcomers can see how pioneering Americans and immigrants from all over used to live at the antebellum homes of Rogers House, Richter Cottage, and Rose Cottage. The Morgan County African-American Museum, meanwhile, dedicates itself to the retelling of African-American history in Morgan County and in Madison. When it comes to recreational areas, the Scull Shoals Experimental Forest and Hard Labor Creek State Park do not disappoint. And when it comes to festivities, Madison’s annual Chili Cook-Off and Fall Festival on October 19 and the magical Firefly Festival every July do not disappoint. Should you wish to stay a little bit longer in Madison, you may want to store your belongings in safe dwellings such as the James Madison Inn.
Blue Ridge
An hour away from Dahlonega, the beautiful village of Blue Ridge stands as one of the remotest towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you are trudging through the Appalachian Mountains along the Appalachian Trail or visiting remarkable landmarks such as the Chattahoochee National Forest, you will undoubtedly be amazed by all that Blue Ridge has to offer. Since the town is the Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia, one can catch these fantastic fish at either the Lake Blue Ridge, Ocoee River, the Toccoa River, or the Chattahoochee River.
For easier kinds of catches, you can always tour one of the oldest local farms in the state, the Mercier Orchard, or you might fancy a ride on horses through the Fort Mountain State Park. However, you ought to take care while exploring as the Sasquatch Museum elaborates on the different sightings and locations in which Bigfoot was seen in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For those of you who prefer to stay indoors at night, the Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast will certainly keep you accommodated.
Tallulah Falls
Along the Tallulah River is the refreshing town of Tallulah Falls. As Georgia’s premier resort town, Tallulah Falls gives visitors access to unparalleled natural attractions such as the Tallulah Gorge State Park and the very falls that gave the town its namesake—among them Bridal Veil Falls—and which rivaled Niagara Falls in Canada. Campers and hikers will certainly enjoy pitching a tent at the Chattooga Sounds Camp, while those with interests in large bodies of water can go kayaking at Lake Rabun and Tugaloo Lake—however, you should be mindful when wading through Tugaloo Lake as it does share its waters with the state of South Carolina. More wonders await in Tallulah Falls, even in humble abodes and establishments like the Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant or the Historic Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant.
Helen
About 35 minutes from Tallulah Falls, the town of Helen is a positively breathtaking destination along the Chattahoochee River. With its Bavarian-style buildings, Helen is an image of a rural town in Germany and promotes splendid amenities for your interests, such as the Helen Waterpark, Anna Ruby Falls, Smithgall Woods State Park, and the Hardman Farm Historic Site, the latter being an Italian-style mansion from 1870 close to an old Native American burial mound. Get an appetite for Georgian wine at the Habersham Winery and Cenita Vineyards, or head over to the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center to learn all about the indigenous communities that continue to thrive in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Finally, spend your peaceful evenings at the Loreley Resort, the Valhalla Resort Hotel, or the Alpine Village Inn.
Brunswick
Approximately 17 miles from Darien, Brunswick is another convenient jumping point towards Georgia’s Golden Isles, notably Jekyll Island and Saint Simons Island—the latter, specifically, contains an 18th-century stronghold in the Fort Frederica National Monument for you to tour. At the Old Town Brunswick National Historic District, one can gaze at all the well-preserved Victorian houses of Brunswick, while the Lover’s Oak Tree has continued to be Brunswick’s arboreal mascot since 1787. Traipse about in the Mary Ross Waterfront Park and along the Turtle River, or head over to the Historic Ritz Theatre, formerly the Grand Opera House in 1898, to watch vintage movies and performances. Hop aboard the Emerald Princess Casino, a four-deck cruise ship that journeys through the deep and wide Turtle River. Finally, rethink your assumptions about American slavery at the Hamilton Plantation Slave Cabins.
Saint Marys
Close to the border of Florida as separated by the Saint Marys River, the small town of Saint Marys contains a plethora of beautiful landmarks both natural and historic. Among the historic amenities include the Dungeness Ruins on Cumberland Island, which is essentially a Queen Anne-style mansion from the 1800s with over 59 rooms for you to explore. Afterward, visit the Ice House Museum, where ice was stored long before refrigerators were invented. As for natural attractions, travelers will enjoy beachside walks and rests at Cumberland Island, as well as trekking routes at the Crooked River State Park. You might be invested in attending Saint Mary’s Mardi Gras every February, the Saint Marys Seafood Festival in October, or the Woodbine Crawfish Festival every April. However you wish to proceed in Saint Marys, you should definitely end your day with a nice sleep at either the Cumberland Kings Bay Lodges Motel or Riverview Inn.
Dublin
About two hours away from the city of Savannah, visitors will be amazed by “The Emerald City” of Dublin. With close cultural connections to Ireland and perhaps even to Ireland’s capital city of Dublin, the eponymous town bears historical significance since the MLK Monument Park was where Martin Luther King Junior presented one of his first speeches for Civil Rights. More history can be gleaned at the Dublin-Laurens County Veterans Building, which pays respects to many an American soldier, and the Downtown Dublin Audio tour, which gives a thorough tour of Dublin’s historic landmarks. The First African Baptist Church was where newly freed African-Americans after the American Civil War would show their faiths, and destinations like the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area and the River Bend Wildlife Management Area are verdant playgrounds worth exploring. No need to feel unwanted in Dublin, especially in accommodating hostels like the Page House Bed & Breakfast.
Grovetown
Go roving about outside the city of Augusta and find yourself 11 miles from the city and in the splendid small town of Grovetown. Just a stone’s throw away from the military barracks of Fort Eisenhower, Grovetown has accommodated veterans from World War II who once trained in the same when it was originally known as Camp Gordon or Fort Gordon. Grovetown derives its name from the old Grove Baptist Church, built in the year 1808 at the time of the town’s founding. The first U.S. mail service was inaugurated in Grovetown in the year 1877, and way before, in the post-Civil War era, a famous Southern poet named Paul Hamilton Hayne also worked as a postman in Grovetown. Even though Grovetown may be small compared to the impressive size of its neighbor, Augusta, there are still a number of interesting spots for you to enjoy your vacation in Grovetown.
Covington
About 30 miles east of Atlanta, you will certainly enjoy the lush and lackadaisical atmosphere in Covington. So named after United States Army Brigadier General and United States Congressman Leonard Covington, who served in numerous battles in the War of 1812, Covington has welcomed travelers from all over due to its title of “The Hollywood of the South.” Indeed, several vintage films and TV series were set in Covington’s small town, such as My Cousin Vinny, The Vampire Diaries, Remember the Titans and Halloween II. The Green Valley Farms Fields was where a plane crash was filmed for the movie Flight starring Denzel Washington. And Covington’s old-school courthouse permitted many cameras to capture its likeness as seen in movies like Selma and Footloose. There are many more nostalgic and recognizable places you may find in Covington, so consider booking a room at places like The Twelve Oaks Bed and Breakfast.
Pine Mountain
Many pine for a desirable vacation in the mountains and away from civilization. Fortunately for you, the resplendent town of Pine Mountain is a 40-mile getaway from the city of Columbus. Whether you are admiring the lake, birds-of-prey exhibits, and butterfly house at the Callaway Gardens or taking in the waterfalls and rock formations along the Pine Mountain Trail, you will feel blessed and relieved by all the arboreal attractions in Pine Mountain. Even President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought Pine Mountain was beautiful since he built a lovely white cottage home there.
Although Roosevelt did die from a stroke at that same house in the year 1945, Roosevelt’s Little White House continues to endure as a comprehensive museum about the man. Additionally, one can undertake awesome horseback rides through the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park. One might also fancy seeing exotic animals at the Wild Animal Safari or learning more about the town’s history at the Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain. So, if you are pining for a vacation, then book a room in one of Pine Mountain’s lovely lodgings like the Garden Inn & Suites or the Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens.
Regardless of whether you are celebrating Mardi Gras in Saint Marys, pining over the Little White House of Franklin D. Roosevelt in Pine Mountain, or stepping into a moment in the Civil Rights Movement at Dublin, you will undoubtedly be amazed by the biggest state east of the Mississippi River. Georgia is no stranger to tourists, and many of its small towns were ranked among US favorites in 2024 because of their localized charm and unique attractions that visitors could not stop gushing over. But there comes a time when you need to stop looking at so many reviews and go see these accoladed attractions for yourself, so have a jolly adventure in these 12 Georgia small towns this 2024.
