Get Summer on Your Mind in Georgia
Play all day every day this summer at water parks, indoor attractions and festive events throughout Georgia.
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.
Did you enjoy this feature from the 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide? Order your copy for more Georgia travel inspiration!
