Georgia for All Seasons
As the seasons shift in Georgia, they bring with them unique events, exciting outdoor adventure and more.
Jump to:
Pick Your Perfect Spring
Springtime in Georgia is an annual reminder of the many amazing reasons to get outside and into the beautiful natural playground of the Peach State.
Georgia Botanical Gardens
There’s no shortage of blooming flora this time of year, which means Georgia’s garden wonderlands make for a blooming-great getaway. At The State Botanical Gardens in Athens, a rainbow of daffodils, roses, snapdragons and cherry blossoms kick off the season, and heirloom roses, fruit crops and native species give you a peek at the state’s agricultural history. There’s also plenty of opportunity for outdoor amazement in North Georgia at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, when the early March to mid-April Daffodil Colorfest blankets the landscape in a frothy, vibrant yellow.
Take an unhurried stroll through Atlanta Botanical Garden’s gorgeously manicured paths and sculptural plant installations. Sit beside the pond to absorb the peaceful garden sounds and fresh aromas at Savannah Botanical Gardens, or participate in a Lunch & Learn at the intimate Columbus Botanical Garden. Not far away is the expansive scenery of Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, whose sprawling landscape — covered with thousands of gem-colored azaleas — offers tennis, golf, ziplining, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and the resort’s luxurious lodge and spa.
Splendor at Georgia State Parks
Georgia’s coastline isn’t the only area where you can find vast vistas of the state’s many beautiful bodies of water. Hike, picnic or camp out along the maritime forest of the Intracoastal Waterway at Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah, or find a great place to spend a night outdoors with the scenic campgrounds, access to the vast Lake Allatoona, and miles of nature trails at Red Top Mountain State Park in Acworth. You can also find a serene place to lay out for a night or two after earning your sleep with an invigorating day of hiking and backpacking at Vogel State Park near Helen — the 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail is a top accomplishment — or F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, where the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail passes waterfalls, travels over creeks and moves through a winding forest.
If you’re less into the rough-it sort of outdoors adventure and more into fanciful forest relaxation, go for a night of luxury at Timberline Glamping Company near Georgia’s tallest waterfall, Amicalola Falls, at the southern end of the Appalachian Trail in Dawsonville. If someone accuses you of cheating because your heated or air-conditioned tent has electrical outlets, a coffee maker, and a minifridge, just invite them in for a visit. Together, you can trek a portion of the Appalachian Trail from the waterfall’s 8.5-mile approach trail to Springer Mountain.
U-Pick at Georgia Strawberry Farms
It’d be quite a shame to spend time in this gorgeous agricultural state without taking advantage of every chance available to pick and enjoy your own veggies, fruit and other produce — and berries are spring’s finest. Head to The Market at Rutland Farms in Tifton to pick them (and gobble up their strawberry ice cream) and do some bass fishing. During picking hours at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, fill your own bucket with some of their sweet berries, ride the cow train and meet the farm creatures in Bell’s Barnyard. Or spend time at Fort Valley’s Lane Southern Orchards to pick more gorgeous strawberries (and even some peaches as early as mid-May!).
Ideal Spring Destination: Augusta
Springtime in Augusta is pure Georgia magic, with the return of sunnier skies and warming temperatures. There’s no better time to experience Georgia’s second-largest city than when it’s shaded in newly sprouted leaves and bedazzled in blooms. Go bass fishing at Mistletoe State Park, home to Clarks Hill Lake – one of the largest lakes in the Southeast. Then take a pedaling tour with Bike Bike Baby to see the downtown district’s public art, churches, cemeteries and other important spots related to African American culture, including – of course – the soulful areas of town that inspired Augusta’s own James Brown.
For an evening of amazing entertainment, buy tickets to one of many concerts or festivals hosted at the Jessye Norman Amphitheatre, which sits alongside the Savannah River. And give your perfect spring evening a proper Augustan nightcap with an old fashioned and panoramic views of the city’s streetscape at legendary rooftop bars Edgar’s Above Broad or Six South Rooftop Bar at Partridge Inn.
Don't-Miss Spring Events in Georgia
Mid-to-late March is your chance to hear live music, eat delicious food and see Macon’s beautiful Yoshino cherry-tree blossoms during the International Cherry Blossom Festival.
Atlanta’s beloved Piedmont Park has been hosting the Dogwood Festival in April for more than 80 years, where local arts and crafts are sold, musicians share their songs, and festival delicacies like fried pickles, mushrooms, and okra are sampled.
The Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade is America’s second-largest procession honoring “the apostle of Ireland,” where thousands of green-attired revelers celebrate the holiday and toast with green beer while watching marching bands, bagpipe players, and floats.
There’s no wrong way to spend summer in Georgia. With so many summer things to do in Georgia for unforgettable times, whether you’re out in the sun or staying cool inside, be sure to make the most of the season with some of the state’s best summer activities.
Enjoy fun on the water in North Georgia
Getting out on the water is one way to explore the splendor of North Georgia’s abundant natural charm and beauty. Toccoa River Tubing Company in McCaysville offers kayak, canoe and tube rentals for floated fun just outside Blue Ridge, along with Cartecay River Experience, whose tube and kayak rentals get you three hours of deep-water floating with a few rapids that’ll make your heart race in Ellijay.
At Cool River Tubing, you can take a quick tubing trip on the Chattahoochee River with the family (including tubes for pets!) before hopping out to grab a bite to eat in Helen. Nantahala Outdoor Center in Atlanta serves up canoe trips, whitewater-rafting adventures with lunch, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking on the Chattahoochee River, with excursions for all skill levels and ages.
Play at indoor and outdoor water parks
Water activities aren’t exclusive to North Georgia. There’s plenty of summer things to do in Georgia farther down state, including the Man o’ War attraction at Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island, along with Statesboro’s resort-style Splash in the Boro! with its lazy river, wave pool and more.
If you’re closer to Valdosta, you’ll find acres of wild and wet slides, drops and waves at Splash Island Waterpark at Wild Adventures. Whitewater Express in Columbus features rollicking river rafting on the Chattahoochee – from classic adventures for beginners to The Carnage Trip for wild Class V rapids. Or head to LaGrange’s Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, a massive indoor water park full of giant slides and expansive pools (always kept at a perfectly warm 84 degrees), where you can also stay the night and do it all again the next day.
Stay cool at indoor attractions in Savannah, Atlanta, and more
After all that summer sun, head indoors to cool off. Visit the Telfair Museums’ three Savannah locations, including the stunning architecture of the Moshe Safdie-designed Jepson Center and its ArtZeum interactive children’s activities. Telfair Academy features 19th- and 20th-century art from both Europe and America. Tour Telfair’s Regency-style Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters to learn about the complicated contrast between the free and formerly enslaved peoples.
See the meticulously maintained archives at the Atlanta History Center, including the Native Lands exhibit that showcases stories and the history of Georgia’s original inhabitants. The High Museum of Art is another can’t-miss Atlanta institution loved for its expansive collections of American, African, European and folk art, among other world-class offerings.
Theaters such as the Grand Opera House in Macon, District Live in Savannah, and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre just north of Atlanta provide entertainment of all sorts, from concerts to off-Broadway plays and other live shows to wind down your evenings.
Or, tour some of the state’s marvelous historical homes, including Hay House, a Renaissance Revival mansion in Macon, and the magnificent Hills & Dales Estate, overlooking dreamy 19th-century gardens in LaGrange. Visit Milledgeville to stand on the grounds of Andalusia, iconic author Flannery O’Connor’s rural farmhouse.
An ideal Georgia summer destination: Lake Chatuge
Nestled in the heart of the North Georgia mountains in Hiawassee, Lake Chatuge is the ideal summer getaway. Stay lakeside at The Ridges Resort, where you’ll enjoy a slower pace and simple pleasures like strolling along the lake, lounging with games, and enjoying a picnic by the water. The resort’s marina features a variety of pontoon and speed boats for a day on the lake with access to a gas dock, Dockside, a new grab-and-go snack station, and a friendly staff of marina professionals ready to assist with any boating needs.
Higher above ground, the steep but short half-mile hike to Brasstown Bald is not to be missed. At 4,784 feet high, the mountain is Georgia’s highest peak, with an observation deck that offers 360-degree views of the Southern Appalachian Mountains as well as four states on a clear day. Or, venture to other area highlights, including the scenic overlooks at Bell Mountain, wine tours and tastings at Crane Creek Vineyards in nearby Young Harris, and events, including the July Fourth Fireworks, concerts, fairs, and more at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
Can't-miss summer events in Georgia
The extended holiday feeling of summer is perhaps best experienced the week of July Fourth, and Georgia has several ways to celebrate.
At Stone Mountain Park, don’t miss the Fantastic Fourth Celebration, a spectacular Independence Day fireworks and lights show that, with ticket purchase, offers access to more park attractions like scenic hiking and 1940s-era train rides.
Park your car at Great Dunes or Oceanview beach parks, and watch an exciting water-front pyrotechnics display on Jekyll Island.
Callaway Resort & Gardens’ multiday party of American pride in Pine Mountain offers a nightly Fireworks Extravaganza, preceded by family fun activities, including beach volleyball, watersports and mini golf.
The annual July Fourth burst of colorful Fire in the Sky over Lake Blue Ridge in North Georgia makes for a magical celebration best seen from a boat or along the shoreline.
Find more of Georgia's best July 4th celebrations.
From leaf peeping to corn mazes to harvest festivals, crisp weather accompanies some of the top Georgia fall experiences we look forward to all year long.
Farm Visits & Pumpkins
Few activities are more quintessentially autumnal than those happening on the farm. Get in the spirit with Washington Farms’ 6.5-acre corn maze, a pick-your-own patch of pumpkins and wagon rides in Bogart. Hop on a hayride and pick out a jack-o-lantern in the making at Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Dawsonville. Don’t miss Pine Mountain’s Pumpkins at Callaway Resort & Gardens, whose Enchanted Pumpkin Forest stars forest creatures carved from grand gourds.
Scenic Train Rides
Pass eye-catching landscapes of brilliant red, vibrant orange, and bright yellow aboard some of Georgia’s iconic trains. Take the leisurely 26-mile round-trip trek along the Toccoa River aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Step onto an open-air train car pulled by a 1940s locomotive along the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad for leaf peeping on a 5-mile mountain loop.
Georgia Wine Tours
Celebrate harvest season with a trip to Georgia’s burgeoning wine country. Sip award-winning blanc de blancs brut at Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, taste the beloved Scarlett blend at Habersham Winery & Vineyards in Helen, and let the team at Fainting Goat Vineyards & Winery in Jasper pack you a gourmet picnic accompanied by a bottle of vino. Or, take a tour of the only known wine cave in Georgia at Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Cleveland. Don’t feel like organizing tour stops or designating a driver? Pop the Cork Wine Tours can take care of all the details.
Apple Picking & Outdoor Activities
Autumn in Georgia isn’t complete without indulging in apple-flavored goodies. Pick your own from more than 50 varieties at Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge and shop for treats from hard cider to apple-cider donuts. Don’t miss a visit to the state’s self-proclaimed "Apple Capital," Ellijay, where B.J. Reece Orchards and Red Apple Barn stand ready to satisfy your apple cravings. The Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay celebrates the almighty apple with family-friendly arts and crafts, a parade, and – of course – a bounty of apple-y treats each October. U-pick options abound at nearby orchards during the festival.
Finally, experience classic autumn at the historical Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta with a guided fall tree walk, a rotating variety of spooky seasonal activities, or the Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tour (book in advance). This special Halloween-season destination always seems to have something new and spine-chilling to offer.
Ideal Fall Destination: Helen
The Bavarian-inspired village of Helen, tucked into the northeast Georgia mountains, is an ideal fall destination for its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Starting in late September and running through October, the beer-centric event features German delicacies, traditional costumes, plus dancing to live polka music in the festhalle.
Outdoor lovers will revel in picturesque hikes with dazzling fall colors for all ability levels at nearby Unicoi State Park & Lodge and Smithgall Woods State Park, as well as a host of spectacular waterfalls waiting to be discovered. Prefer to see the views with a side of adventure? Settle into a cart on the Georgia Mountain Coaster, an alpine rollercoaster where you control the speed — leave the brake off to hit up to 28 miles per hour.
Round out your experience by perusing more than 200 specialty boutiques and cool down with a brew and bratwurst at King Ludwig’s Biergarten.
Don’t-Miss Fall Events in Georgia
The six-week Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park features a family-friendly pie-eating contest, party parade with glowing scenes, pumpkin-themed drone show and more starting in mid-September.
From livestock shows and barrel racing to leather art, sewing, and soap carving, there’s something for every age and interest at the 11-day Georgia National Fair. It’s held at Perry’s 628-acre Georgia National Fairgrounds in October.
The annual Gold Rush Days, an October weekend festival celebrating the 1828 Dahlonega gold discovery, is set against a backdrop of brilliant fall color.
You don’t have to feel truly frosty to find the charm of the winter season across Georgia, from lights and ice skating to holiday markets and more.
Holiday Lights in Georgia
What is more wonder-inducing than millions of sparkling holiday lights? Get your fill of dazzling, immersive displays at Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain. At Hiawassee’s Mountain Country Christmas in Lights, arts and crafts and hot chocolate accompany the glittering spectacle, and revelers pause their tunnels-of-lights tour at Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden in Athens for a s’mores break. The Garden Lights, Holiday Nights event sets the Atlanta Botanical Garden aglow with magic; Enchanted Garden of Lights in Rock City illuminates an Arctic kingdom and magic forest; Wild Adventures Christmas in Valdosta peppers thousands of shimmering lights across a lake and through a walkable tunnel; and the Boat Parade of Lights in Savannah (and accompanying fireworks) reflects the season’s joy against the wintry water of the Savannah River.
Snow & Ice Activities
Georgia might not have frequent snow, but that won’t stop you from enjoying winter’s outdoor delights. Head to Snow Island at Lanier Islands in Buford, where you’ll find an eight-story snow slide, carnival rides and fresh powder for snow angels. Lace up your skates for pristine rinks at Atlanta’s Skate the Station at Atlantic Station and the annual Evans on Ice, where you can also roast marshmallows for a warm up. Or, hop aboard the historic SAM Shortline Excursion Train in Cordele for the Candy Cane Express holiday ride.
Holiday Markets in Georgia
Whether those on your list have been naughty or nice, find their perfect gifts at the holiday markets spread across the state. At Thomasville’s annual Victorian Christmas, strolling carolers, carriage rides and visits with Santa accompany the one-of-a-kind, boutique-shopping experience downtown. Search for artisanal treasures at the Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District, Helen’s Christmas Market or Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas.
Georgia Christmas Tree Farms
No holiday season is complete without the perfect Christmas tree, and there are plenty of family-run farms ready to help you find the right evergreen. Cut your own — and score a fresh wreath — at Berry’s Tree Farm & Nursery in Covington, Webster’s Christmas Tree Farm in Darien or Sleepy Hollow Farm in Powder Springs. Whether you’re looking for a fragrant Fraser fir or a festive Leyland cypress, you’ll make family memories while you explore the farms (and may even spot Santa Claus himself!).
Ideal Winter Destination: Jekyll Island
There’s more to love on Jekyll Island than balmy weather and having beaches to yourself. A winter visit to the southern end of Georgia’s Golden Isles means you may spot migrating wildlife, like bald eagles and endangered North Atlantic right whales. Experience the island’s nature with a park-ranger-led walk to explore the maritime forest and pristine shoreline. Explore Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum for its captivating local history and eye-popping fashion exhibit. Depart from the museum for a guided trolley tour to glimpse centuries-old Gilded Age homes.
Venture out on your own for a self-guided walk along the educational Wanderer Memory Trail, where you’ll follow the true story of Umwalla, an African boy on America’s last known slave ship, as he journeys from capture to freedom. Search the island for hand-blown glass globes during the Island Treasures event (held daily throughout January and February), then take home what you find from the artistic scavenger hunt.
Try your hand at fishing and crabbing along miles of shore, with stops at panoramic Jekyll Island Fishing Pier and meandering Clam Creek. Finally, wander the hauntingly beautiful Driftwood Beach, an ideal place for a keepsake photo where sun-bleached wood spreads like fingers across the sand.
Don’t-Miss Winter Events in Georgia
Holly Jolly Jekyll turns the island into a winter wonderland, with trolley and carriage rides beneath light-covered trees, drive-in holiday movies, a market and much more.
NYE Live! at The Battery Atlanta celebrates with a bubbly toast and midnight balloon drop, plus all sorts of New Year’s revelry, including a live DJ, confetti cannons, and games.
Let Atlanta Ballet transport you with a magical performance of “The Nutcracker,” with updated choreography by Yuri Possokhov, fanciful costumes, and high-tech sets.
Did you enjoy this feature from the 2025 Georgia Official State Travel Guide? Order your copy for more Georgia travel inspiration!
