16 Only-in-Georgia Attractions & Places
Georgia has no shortage of incredible attractions to explore from beaches and mountains to cities and small towns. Among them, the Peach State holds some unique titles and has some quirky landmarks you'll find only here.
Here are places in Georgia you won't find anywhere else, including standouts like the Georgia Aquarium and Stephen C. Foster State Park. How many have you visited?
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Photo by @romana_zackova
1. The Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the western hemisphere, containing more than 11 million gallons of water. There are permanent galleries with marine life from the state and beyond, including whale sharks and beluga whales. The aquarium has even been featured on the Animal Planet show "The Aquarium."
National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia
2. The National Infantry Museum at Fort Moore
The National Infantry Museum at Fort Moore in Columbus is the only military museum that focuses solely on telling the story of the infantryman through America's conflicts. The Smithsonian-affiliated institution has free admission and an incredible collection of military artifacts, a large-screen theater, memorials, a gift shop and a restaurant.
If you visit on Thursday or Friday mornings, you can attend Fort Moore basic training graduation ceremonies, which are held on the field adjacent to the museum. Loved ones travel from across the country to witness their soldier's graduation.
Mountain Crossings in Blairsville, Georgia. Photo by @lifeinthesouthlane
3. The Stone Arch at Mountain Crossings
Hikers traveling to Blood Mountain from Neels Gap near Blairsville can cross under the stone arch at Mountain Crossings, the only place where the Appalachian Trail passes through a manmade structure. Mountain Crossings is an outfitter that also has accommodations for hikers.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mural in Dublin, Georgia. Photo by @jamesscarborophotography
4. First African Baptist Church
Dublin, Georgia, is where a 14-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his first public speech after winning an essay contest. The event took place at First African Baptist Church, the oldest African American church in the city.
Today, a mural and small park honor King's early legacy. Several times a year, visitors can participate in a living play that chronicles the civil rights movement, including highlights from King's first speech. And, youth can participate in the annual oratorical speech contest at the church in Dublin each April.
The Booth Museum in Cartersville, Georgia
5. The Booth Museum
The Booth Museum in Cartersville has a presidential gallery that has a letter and portrait from every U.S. president. The 120,000-square-foot space also has Western art, Civil War art and more than 200 Native American artifacts. There is even a sculpture garden outside. The second-largest art museum in Georgia has interactive and temporary exhibits, and it hosts events throughout the year, including the West Fest in October.
Kolomoki Mounds State Park in Blakely, Georgia. Photo by @westy4xer
6. Kolomoki Mounds State Park
Kolomoki Mounds State Park in the southwest Georgia town Blakely is the oldest and largest Woodland Indian site in the Southeast and has the oldest great temple mound in Georgia. It was occupied by Native Americans from 350 to 750 A.D. and contains two smaller burial mounds and a park museum featuring artifacts and a film.
Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve in Cairo, Georgia
7. The Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve
The Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve in Cairo, Georgia, is the largest extent of trout lilies known anywhere in the world. The plants are in bloom from mid-February to March on land that was donated by a former timber company. Late morning and early afternoon are the best times to see them opened up.
8. The Screaming Eagle Zip Line
The Screaming Eagle zip line at Historic Banning Mills Adventure and Conservation Center in Whitesburg reaches up to 70 miles per hour. The zip line holds the Guinness World Record for the longest and largest canopy tour in the U.S. The park also has onsite accommodations, including an inn and treehouses, and an RV and camping park.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign Headquarters in Plains, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones
9. Jimmy Carter National Historic Site
From 2019 until his passing in December 2024, Jimmy Carter was the country's oldest living American president. Visitors can learn about the 39th president at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in his hometown of Plains and tour his boyhood home.
Whitewater Express in Columbus, Georgia
10. Columbus Whitewater Course
The Columbus Whitewater course is the longest urban whitewater rafting in the world, running straight through the city on the border with Alabama. The Georgia Power portion on the Chattahoochee River has changing rapids levels based on the dam release times on the 2.5-mile course.
Okefenokee Swamp. Photo by @fosterino
11. The Okefenokee Swamp
The Okefenokee Swamp is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, running along the border between Georgia and Florida. Stephen C. Foster State Park, which is located within the swamp, was named the first International Dark Sky Park in Georgia, which makes it a prime destination for stargazers.
Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia
12. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was established by Trappist monks in Conyers more than 70 years ago and is the only one of its kind in Georgia. Set on 2,000 acres, visitors can roam the grounds or even stay overnight and attend church services. The monastery also has a cafe, gift shop and bonsai nursery.
Rock City Gardens in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Photo by @of_these_mountains
13. Rock City Gardens
Rock City Gardens in Lookout Mountain on the border with Tennessee is a beloved attraction, promoted on the sides of barns for generations. It was here that the first mini-golf course was created when a local man created a community called Fairyland. Construction delays caused a small golf course to be created until a full one could be built. The popular mini-golf course soon caught on.
14. Old Car City
Old Car City in North Georgia is one of the world's largest classic-car junkyards. Some cars date back to the 1920s. The attraction in White, Georgia, is made up of 34 acres and contains more than 4,000 old cars. The majority are from the 1970s.
Georgia Tour Company in Senoia, Georgia. Photo by @benjamingalland
15. The Home of "The Walking Dead"
"The Walking Dead" is the most-watched television series in basic cable history and was filmed exclusively in Georgia. It put locations in Atlanta, nearby Senoia, and beyond on the map for fans of the show. Located just 45 miles south of Atlanta, Senoia's main street is lined with shops and restaurants as well as historic homes and inns. Grab a bite at Nic & Norman’s, a Southern eatery owned by producer, director, and special effects master Greg Nicotero and fan favorite Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon). Then, take a walking tour with Georgia Tour Company to learn behind-the-scenes secrets about the show.
The Rock Garden in Calhoun, Georgia. Photo by @barrysnapp
16. The Rock Garden in Calhoun
More than 50 diminutive buildings crafted by volunteers using tiny stones, pebbles, shells, odd pieces of broken glass and china, rocks, ceramic tile, cement, wire, and other materials make up this folk art collection in Calhoun. Explore the paths to see the wee-sized churches, houses, castles, a monastery, a cathedral modeled after the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France, and mini porcelain figures of people and animals, some as small as two inches.
