Explore Southwest Georgia on a Budget
Scenic Southwest Georgia is full of unique sites with great value.
You can stretch your dollars and your imagination while learning what makes southwest Georgia so unique. From one of the state's Seven Natural Wonders to a Michigan governor's retreat, discover unusual adventures in the region with a visit to these five spots – all for $10 or less.
Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village, Tifton
Immerse yourself in late-1800s Georgia with a visit to a 19th century farm and village at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. Take home freshly ground grits from the grist mill, sample boiled "turpentine potatoes" on the grounds and visit the Victorian home of Tifton’s founder, Capt. H.H. Tift, complete with period furnishings.
Museum, Art Gallery and Historic Village open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Weekdays: $7 adults, $4 children ages 5-16. The Vulcan Steam Train runs on Saturdays. Open Saturdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children ages 5-16. Free admission daily for children 4 and under, and active duty or retired military.
Georgia State Bicycle Route 10
What better way to explore the communities of Bainbridge, Cairo, Thomasville, Quitman, Valdosta, Lakeland, Waycross, Nahunta and Brunswick than on two wheels? Pedal along part of the 246-mile Southern Crossing bike trail through small towns and past historic sites, like Brooks County Courthouse in Quitman or the Norfolk Southern Railroad in Waycross.
There is no cost to ride your own bicycle.
Crime and Punishment Museum, Ashburn
This historical brick home was once the county jail, with the sheriff’s home downstairs and jail cells upstairs. The Crime and Punishment Museum and Last Meal Cafe houses a replica of Old Sparky (Georgia’s electric chair), the jail’s execution chamber (with a noose and trap door) and other artifacts.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (the last tour is at 4 p.m.), and Saturdays by appointment only. Admission: $6 adults, $4 children and seniors.
Radium Springs Gardens, Albany
One of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders, the blue-hued Radium Springs (flowing at 70,000 gallons per minute into the Flint River) gets its name and color from radium in the water, which some believe has healing properties. This spot was once the home of a casino and resort, and its scenic gardens make it an ideal place to picnic.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission.
Tyson Steel Wildlife Museum, Doerun
See leopards, bears, buffalo, hyenas and other wildlife from far-off lands at this exhibit housed in a steel products business at the Tyson Steel Wildlife Museum. The trophy collection is from the Tyson family’s hunting trips in New Zealand, Africa and Australia, and shows the preserved animals in natural-looking habitats.
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free admission.
