Go Back to School and Discover These Roadside Finds
August signals back to school in the South, so we've put together a few places for visitors to get their education. There's the school itself, as well as the soda fountain for hanging out afterward. Of course, you need to get to school on the bus, and we've even included a little field trip for some hands-on learning. So, grab your shiny new backpack and lunchbox, and explore Georgia.
Old School History Museum in Eatonton
Even if you aren’t from Eatonton, you’ll leave with a sense of school pride after visiting the Old School History Museum, located in the original 1916 Eatonton School. Remember blackboards and Weekly Readers? This incredibly well-done museum has both, as well as the original cloakroom, a replica soda fountain, and even the photos of every graduating class from 1916 to the 1970s. Best of all, admission is free.
School Bus Graveyard in Alto
Where does a school bus go when it's no longer being used as a school bus? To a school bus graveyard, of course. And, if you line up a bunch of buses, it attracts graffiti artists, who create colorful masterpieces on the bright yellow canvases.
The result is a unique free roadside art exhibit in Alto that's worth the field trip, especially when combined with a stop at neighbor Jaemor Farms for ice cream and produce. The School Bus Graveyard is located off Hwy 23.
Lane Southern Orchards in Fort Valley
The best part of school was always the field trip. Plan your own to Lane Southern Orchards. You’ll want to take the packing line tour, where you can watch the trucks bring the fruit in, see how it’s sorted, waxed, stickered and boxed. Then, break for lunch in the Peachtree Cafe and Bakery for food that features locally grown produce. Lane is located in Fort Valley off I-75.
