Wandering Around America One State at a Time – Georgia

Posted in Birds, Georgia, Historic Sites, Lighthouse, RVing, Wandering around America, WildlifeTagged , , , , , ,

State 8:

Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!

I will be featuring the states alphabetically and the next state is my home state!

Georgia

Georgia was one of the original 13 colonies and became the 4th  state on January 2, 1788. The capital is Atlanta where the capital dome is covered in gold leaf from the Georgia Gold Rush in Dahlonega during the 1830’s.

I was born in Georgia but did not grow up here. When I was a child, our summer vacations were spent visiting relatives in middle Georgia where my mother grew up.  I first moved to Georgia as a freshman at the University of Georgia in Athens and I’ve lived in the state ever since. Even when we are wandering I always have Georgia on my mind.

I’m afraid I won’t be able to do our state justice. How I condense a lifetime of memories into one post?

With the city of Atlanta, the north Georgia mountains, National Wildlife Refuges and National Forests, The Okefenokee Swamp, peach and pecan groves, cotton fields, lakes and streams, the Grand Canyon of Georgia, Athens the Classic City, Stone Mountain, antebellum homes, historical lighthouses, salt marshes, barrier islands, beautiful beaches, friendly small towns, and many historic sites Georgia has much to offer. And did I mention the delicious sweet tea, barbeque, grits, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, low country boil, fresh wild Georgia shrimp and blue crabs, peach cobbler, banana pudding, and all the other amazing food around the state?

Unfortunately I am missing photos from many places around the state. No matter where you go there are interesting things to see and do in the Peach State.

Georgia is the Peach State and Peach County produces many of those peaches. There is nothing in the world that’s better than a fresh Georgia peach plucked right from the tree when it is perfectly ripe in the summer time. You know it’s perfect when you bite into it and the nectar drips down your chin and all over your hands. And fresh peach cobbler is a staple around our house when the peaches are in season.

Peach County, Georgia
Peach County, Georgia

In Georgia, you can watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean or watch the sunset over one of the Georgia’s many lakes.

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean
Sunset over Lake Seminole at Eastbank Campground

Nothing says springtime in Georgia like azaleas, peach blossoms,  and flowering dogwoods.

Peach Blossoms in Georgia
Wild Dogwoods
Georgia Azaleas under Live Oak Tree

With ancient live oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss, squares, a beautiful historic district, museums, historic forts, and one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States, Savannah is a popular vacation destination.

Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah, Georgia
Steam Engine at the Georgia Railroad Museum
Ft. Puaski National Monument is a landmark visible from the highway as you travel east from Savannah to Tybee Island, GA
Historic stone steps leading to River Street

Three lighthouses protecting the Georgia Coast are accessible to the public. The Tybee Island Light Station is the tallest lighthouse in Georgia.

Tybee Island Light Station 4th of July American Flag
Tybee Island Light Station 4th of July American Flag

A trail at Fort Pulaski National Monument winds through palmettos for a close up view of the Cockspur Island Lighthouse.

Cockspur Lighthouse at Fort Pulaski National Monument
Cockspur Lighthouse at Fort Pulaski National Monument

The St. Simons Island Lighthouse was rebuilt after it was destroyed by the Union Army during the War between the States.

St. Simons Lighthouse
St. Simons Lighthouse

Joel Chandler Harris, Alice Walker, and Flannery O’Connor are just a few of the writers from Georgia. The Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton celebrates the creator of Brer Rabbit, Joel Chandler Harris.

Brer Rabbit stands in front of the Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton, GA
Brer Rabbit stands in front of the Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton, GA

Georgia also has a close connection with the film industry. Many movies and tv shows have been filmed in Georgia. Oliver Hardy was one of the stars who was born in Georgia.

Laurel and Hardy Museum at Harlem, Georgia
Laurel and Hardy Museum at Harlem, Georgia

You know your shrimp is fresh when you see the shrimp boats that caught them.

Shrimp Boats in Darien
Shrimp Boats in Darien

Atlanta is the capital and the home to companies such as Coca Cola, UPS and Delta Airlines. Atlanta also hosted the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.

Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta
Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta
Centennial Olympic Stadium 1996 - Reconstructed after Paralympics to become Turner Field
Centennial Olympic Stadium 1996 – Reconstructed after Paralympics to become Turner Field

The birds and other wildlife are abundant all over the state.

Great Egret with chicks
Wood Storks building a nest
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin near Tybee Island, Georgia
Turtle in the Okefenokee Swamp
Baby Gator on Lilly Pad
Butterflies and Blooms Tiger Swallowtail
White Tail Deer

The Iron Horse was originally placed on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens and later moved to the middle of a field near Greensboro.

The Iron Horse stands tall in the middle of a cornfield
The Iron Horse stands tall in the middle of a cornfield

We Georgians love our sports teams! When we travel in our fifth wheel, there is no doubt which college team we support!  How bout them Dawgs!

Our fifth wheel has a new look
Our fifth wheel has a new look

As I put the finishing touches on this post the Atlanta Falcons are preparing to take on the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in Houston.  Go Falcons!

To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama      Alaska      Arizona      Arkansas      California      Colorado     Florida

20 thoughts on “Wandering Around America One State at a Time – Georgia”

  3. Ah, such a great taste of Georgia you gave us! Amazing photos!!!! Wow!
    We sure hope to see more, but the few places we have been were just fabulous. We are going to a few places you’ve recommended to us on our way back to Jacksonville in March.

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    1. Thanks Debbie. Glad I could help with recommendations. Enjoy your time here in March. Just be aware that if you are anywhere around Savannah around St. Patrick’s Day be prepared for crowds!

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  4. I can tell, I have missed out. Sounds like a state with a lot to offer. Unfortunately, my only time spent in Georgia was a quick drive through in my early twenties while on a road trip from IL to FL. Al and I both have an interest in visiting Savannah. Hmm, need to figure out a year to head east. Another informative post piquing my interest.

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  5. I think you’ve done your state quite proud. 🙂 We have visited a couple of times and were always in awe of its beauty. Your photos are stunning. As for tomorrow, I wish you well but I will be cheering for our New England Patriots. But, I’ll be thinking of you. Enjoy the game. 🙂

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    1. Judy, I have to confess that I will be pulling for one of the Patriots to do well. Wide Receiver Malcolm Mitchell is a rookie from Georgia and his story about reading and becoming the author of a children’s book has been featured on CBS news. He goes to schools to read to children and has a foundation that donates books to schools. He is really an inspiration. Go Malcolm!

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  7. You did Georgia proud, Beth! My daughter just moved back to Georgia, so with both kids down there, I think we may be spending time on St. Simons next winter.
    The Patriots are my team, but the Falcons also are close to my heart. It was a thrilling game and the Patriot Dawgs came through. I love Malcolm Mitchell–imagine joining a book group of middle aged white UGA ladies!

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    1. Thank you Brenda! I had a really hard time stopping myself from scanning a bunch of old faded photos to show some of the places we visited many years ago. I wanted the Falcons to win but I really wanted Malcolm to catch at least one ball – and he caught more than one. We heard him speak at the Savannah Book Festival last year. He is such an inspiration. We stood in line to get our picture made with him and to get autographed books for our youngest grandchildren. He took the time to talk to everyone and answered lots of questions. He is a young man who will go far.

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