4 Georgia Trips to Help You Travel More, Spend Less
Get the most out of your Georgia vacation – and your wallet – with budget-friendly trips covering all types of getaways. Explore ways to save along the way, whether you’re going on a memory-making family adventure, an intimate couple’s getaway, an excursion with your closest friends, or a solo city escapade.
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Discover Family Fun in Pine Mountain
Relax on a Couple's Trip to Brunswick
Outdoorsy Friends' Trip to Clayton
1. Discover Family Fun in Pine Mountain
Pack up the kids and head to Callaway Resort & Gardens, a one-stop, family-friendly vacation spot. Nestled amid the forests and rolling hills of Pine Mountain, at Callaway you’ll be surrounded by manicured gardens, rainbows of blooming flowers, and cozy lakefronts. Make the most of your budget by cooking family meals in the cottages’ fully equipped kitchens. Or, opt for a suite in the lodge and dine at on-site restaurants like Country Kitchen, known for its flavorful chicken pot pies.
Access to The Gardens – home to scenic woodland trails and sites for exploration and learning – is included in the cost of your reservation. Stroll over to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, where orange, azure, and lemony-yellow butterflies flutter inside a glass-enclosed, sub-tropical jungle. Your mini-me can meander along the paved paths to find trickling waterfalls, turtles sunning themselves on rocks, and butterfly feeders. Be ready with your camera – you never know when a butterfly may land on one of you to take a rest.
On your garden explorations, keep an eye out for the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel. Set along the banks of Falls Creek Lake and hidden among towering, leafy trees, it’s easy to mistake this simple structure for a charming stone cottage. Aim to see it on a sunny day when its glorious stained-glass windows light up in a kaleidoscope of colors. It’s also a picturesque opportunity to snap a Christmas card-worthy family photo.
For a healthy dose of exercise, try one of Callaway’s eight walking trails that wind across the grounds through shaded woods and along tranquil lake shores. Make it a two-wheel adventure by renting or bringing your own bikes, and pedal the extensive Discovery Bicycle Trail, which traverses almost the entire resort.
Nestled in the shelter of the forest on the edge of Mountain Creek Lake, the Callaway Discovery Center is an excellent place for edu-tainment. Inside, you can browse nature-themed art exhibits, learn about the wild critters that call Georgia home, or watch a presentation in the auditorium. Adventure outside the center, where MegaBugs await. Come face-to-face with more than 73 giant insects, including a 15-foot emperor dragonfly, a taller-than-dad praying mantis, and a 20-foot-long hissing cockroach. Attend a Birds of Prey show at the Discovery Amphitheater, where golden-eyed hawks glide overhead and wide-winged owls swoop silently through the crowd.
Planning your family trip for the spring? Don’t miss the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl. At peak season, you can see a spectacular petal parade with peachy pinks, vibrant magentas, and dazzling reds.
Another draw of Callaway is Robin Lake Beach, open late May through early September, and admission to both the beach and lake is included in your stay. Parents and kids alike will love spending an afternoon here – or even the whole day – building sandcastles, playing beach volleyball, and swimming. Cool off with an icy beverage and beachy treats like hot dogs and burgers at The Beach Pavilion. It’s home to an ice cream truck for the kiddos, and The Beach Bar and The Sand Bar for moms and dads.
Tips to Save
When you book your stay during seasonal events, your lodging reservation will include access to Callaway’s special programming, like Fantasy in Lights, the Pumpkins at Callaway, or Hot Air Balloon Glow.
2. Relax on a Couple’s Trip to Brunswick
Known for sandy beaches and serene coastal waters, the Golden Isles is a dreamy romantic escape. In Brunswick, the mainland port city between Jekyll and St. Simons islands, you can enjoy the benefits of town and still appreciate the beauty of the ocean. Stay at The Kress Brunswick for charming suites with plush sofas, tons of natural light, and sleek, modern kitchens. Set in the heart of the historic downtown just minutes from the waterfront, you can ditch your car and walk almost everywhere.
Amble down the city’s scenic, sunny sidewalks – you’ll love the coastal vibes as you pass large-frond palms and lush flowering trees. Stop in local boutiques selling everything from gemstone pendants to fishing-themed sun shirts. When you’re ready for a break, meander over to Richland Rum for a complimentary tour to learn about the rum-distilling process – add a rum-tasting experience for a low cost. At Silver Bluff Brewing, sip a cold Golden Isles IPA beneath shaded pergolas or compete in a friendly round of corn hole.
Stroll hand in hand through town toward the intersection of Albany and Prince streets, where you’ll find the massive, long-limbed Lover’s Oak. This thriving, 900-plus-year-old tree has been a meeting spot for lovers over the centuries. Share a smooch and snap a selfie in the deep shade of this magnificent oak where so many other adoring couples have stood.
Take a day trip to the beach for a peaceful day in the sand – the northern tip of St. Simons Island to Gould’s Inlet is the perfect spot. Listen to the soothing calls of shorebirds, and let the gentle waves lap over your feet as you and your partner make footprints down the beach. Tote your paddleboard along and catch some waves, or cuddle up on a bench as the sun sinks below the horizon and the sky is painted shades of pink, yellow, and purple.
Plan for at least one evening out – a date night to remember. At Indigo Shanty, American classics merge with Mexican and Caribbean flare for decadent plates, like sesame-crusted catfish and fresh-caught seafood glazed in housemade jerk sauce and topped with pineapple salsa. Request a patio table to dine in an enchanting outdoor atmosphere complete with strings of twinkling fairy lights and a towering oak. Order a thick slice of their sweet Georgia peach pound cake topped with vanilla-bean ice cream, spiced pecans, and a drizzle of bourbon-caramel sauce. You may want to order individual slices of this cake (it’s that good).
Simple yet sophisticated, Reid’s Apothecary serves a mix of classic Southern treats, like shrimp and grits, and fusion dishes like pulled-duck nachos topped with crispy wontons, creamy brie, grilled cabbage, and more. Just remember to plan ahead – a locals’ favorite hangout, Reid’s is best enjoyed with a reservation. After your meal, secret away to the restaurant’s hidden lounge, The Study – you’ll need a password to enter! Indulge in a handcrafted cocktail or two as you listen to live music and gaze at each other across a low-lit table.
Down the street, a lit-up, marquee-style sign tempts you to sample local culture and history at the stately Historic Ritz Theatre. Sit back in cushy red seats on the balcony level and watch retro films flit across the silver screen, laugh or cry from the first row at a theatrical performance, or admire the latest art exhibition.
Tips to Save
The Kress offers guests condo-style suites, including full kitchens as well as washers and dryers. Here you can make your own meals for a day – maybe even pack a beach picnic – to fully maximize your vacation food budget.
3. Solo Adventure in Savannah
Travel down to the coastal city of Savannah and luxuriate in some well-deserved “you” time. You’ll love wandering the historic cobblestone streets lined with ancient oaks and people-watching as you meander.
At The DeSoto Savannah, lounge on your comfy bed and admire city views filled with charming red-brick buildings and local sites, like the white spires of the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Or, request a poolside room for direct access to the hotel’s rooftop oasis. Swim a few laps or sip and mingle with other travelers at the covered patio bar.
Park your car and join a hop-on/hop-off tour with Old Town Trolley Tours. Entertaining guides narrate the storied past of Victorian- and Colonial-era buildings and noteworthy landmarks. Get out and investigate at stops you’d like to explore more – like River Street, the Bull Street corridor (an independent shopping district also celebrated as the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low), and the said-to-be-haunted Madison Square – and climb back aboard the next trolley when you’re ready to continue.
A few blocks from the DeSoto lies the lush, 30-acre Forsyth Park. Along with free entrance, you’ll love roaming through the park’s beautiful Fragrant Garden and admiring the 150-plus-year-old fountain with its trumpeting mermaids and swans. Sit on a shaded bench beneath trees dripping with Spanish moss and listen to the sounds of a park concert, watch people play on the open green, or gaze at the stately historical homes framing the park. Seek refreshment on Collins Quarter at Forsyth’s sunny patio. Its menu boasts everything from bubbly peach bellinis to spirit-free mocktails and local brews – not to mention a raved-about brunch if you come early enough.
Near the Savannah riverfront, City Market is a buzzing local gem for souvenir shopping and Southern cuisine, like shrimp and grits and fried shrimp po’boys. Get a history lesson at its American Prohibition Museum, then toast to your vacation with a tart Gin Rickey cocktail from the on-site speakeasy.
Seeking something unexpected? Stop by the Savannah Bee Company for a Bee Garden Tour. On this behind-the-scenes glimpse into honey making, you’ll get to wear the iconic beekeeper’s mesh-net hat (don’t forget to snap a photo), learn about hive life, and meet the honeybees themselves. Afterward, peruse the store for tasty treats, like whipped honey and honeycomb, and pollen-, beeswax-, and honey-based products.
On the marshy outskirts of Savannah, Pin Point Heritage Museum offers insights into its tightly knit Gullah Geechee community. Many guides are descendants of the region’s formerly enslaved people and grew up among these reedy waterways. Hear their personal stories and learn about the Gullah language, religion, and life working in this former oyster and crab factory that now houses the museum.
Wander through the white-walled galleries of the Savannah College of Art & Design’s Museum of Art, where rotating exhibitions showcase the hems and ruffles of contemporary fashions and striking canvases with bold splashes of color. Attend special events where you can meditate amid the artwork or take a tour with an American Sign Language interpreter.
For more history and art, snag a ticket for the Telfair Museums. Explore the manicured garden and period interiors at the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, the sculpture gallery at the Telfair Academy, and the interactive art exhibitions at the Jepson Center. Your ticket is valid for a full week and gives you entrance to all three locations. Come for the Georgia History Festival in February, which includes a day of free access to museums and historical sites called Super Museum Sunday. Nearby Telfair is Leopold’s Ice Cream, a sweet Savannah tradition serving scoops since 1919.
When hunger strikes, dine in revamped shipping containers at Starland Yard – a food-truck park and social hub for live music and weekly events, like prize-winning bingo. Try everything from handmade flautas and tender pulled-pork sandwiches to fresh-baked cookies and Georgia drafts.
Insider Tip
Visit during the off-season (January through February) – exploring Georgia this time of year means guaranteed pleasant temperatures perfect for wandering Savannah destinations in comfort. Plus, you’re more likely to find alluring lodging deals.
4. Outdoorsy Friends Trip to Clayton
Surrounded by lush, forested valleys, misty peaks, and cascading waterfalls near the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, Clayton is an incredible setting for exploring with friends in nature. Stay in town and be close to the local shops by reserving a row of rooms at the charming White Birch Inn. Your entire posse will fall in love with nature-themed touches, like stone fireplaces, wood-paneled walls, and tree-branch bed frames. Breakfast features fluffy quiches, fruit-filled scones, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
For something more secluded, book a group stay at the Beechwood Inn. Located in a quiet, residential area surrounded by mature trees, this spot is perfect for luxuriating outside. Snooze on a hammock beneath a leafy canopy, cozy up to the firepit and listen to birdsong, or lounge on the back porch to admire majestic peaks.
Begin your outdoor adventures at Black Rock Mountain State Park, where everyone can romp along 11 miles of trail dotted with scenic overlooks and babbling creeks, or hike to the lofty summit. See the resident ducks as you paddle and fish together at the serene, aquamarine lake, or hunt for geocaches.
Hidden away between mountain crags and veils of verdant trees are Clayton’s beautiful tumbling waters. Trek your team up to Martin Creek Falls, a two-tier waterfall with a weeping rock wall where fuzzy mosses and aquatic plants cling between the rocks. Or, cruise through the mountains on a scenic drive toward the Chattahoochee National Forest for a visit to the crashing waters of Dick’s Creek Falls. Hike to the trail’s end to appreciate the beautiful cascade with a small shoal that’s ideal for wading. Pose for a group selfie to celebrate a successful ascent. Rather go straight to the view? Skip the hike and caravan up to the falls’ parking lot.
Watersport enthusiasts will delight in the winding waterways of the massive Lake Rabun. At the southern end lies Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area, complete with boat ramp. For a small fee, your group can launch your motorized and non-motorized boats. You can also sunbathe on the sandy beach, splash in the lake, or cast a line from the fishing dock. Visit Bear Gap Outfitters to rent stand-up paddleboards, Jet Skis, and pontoons.
Head over to Tallulah Adventures, a lodge-style social and recreational hub complete with an outdoor rock wall, a restaurant and bar, and a spacious lawn. Breathe in the fresh mountain air as everyone downward dogs in a yoga session, compete against your travel buddies in corn hole, or dance to groovin’ music performances. Or, pause at Blue Ridge Honey Company to sample locally produced honey, see live bees buzzing, and explore dozens of fantastic souvenirs like honey shampoo, beeswax candles, and themed home decor.
Experience movie night the old-fashioned way at Tiger Drive-In Theater. Claim your spot in the grassy field and lay out on a thick blanket piled high with squishable pillows. Set up a late-night picnic spread complete with fresh, buttery popcorn to nibble on as your movie flickers onto the oversized screen.
When it’s time to refuel, chow down on tender sauced wings, veggie-topped pizzas, and juicy wagyu burgers from Fortify Pi. Afterward, chill out at Currahee Brewing Company’s taproom – lounge in side-by-side Adirondack rocking chairs as you chat and sip hazy IPAs, brown ales, and rye porters.
Did you enjoy this feature from the 2025 Georgia Official State Travel Guide? Order your copy for more Georgia travel inspiration!
