The Peach State

Georgia is known as the "Peach State" because of the growers' reputation for producing the highest quality fruit. The peach became the official state fruit in 1995

Georgia

From its wonders of nature to its unique attractions and distinctive personalities, you'll be intrigued by the number of interesting cities and towns that can spice up your next trip to Georgia.

Just outside of Atlanta, Roswell is a great place to look into the past. Roswell's preserved antebellum homes include Bulloch Hall, the home of Theodore Roosevelt's mother, and the 1845 Smith Plantation. Also just outside of Atlanta in Hampton, NASCAR enthusiasts should make a pit stop at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. This 1.54-mile quad-oval track is one of the premier motor sports facilities in the country.

In the Mountains region, enjoy the seasons of Lake Lanier in Gainesville. Splash in the water park, relax among spring blossoms and fall leaves, and delight in thousands of twinkling holiday lights. Or if baseball is your game, pay homage to Ty Cobb, "the Georgia Peach," at the Ty Cobb Museum in Royston.

Down in Georgia's Southern Rivers region, learn about Georgia's unique Civil Rights heritage in Albany at the Mount Zion Baptist Church. In the early 1960s, civil rights groups used this church as a meeting place, and today, the church houses the Albany Civil Rights Movement Museum.

Towards the coast don't overlook Tybee, a laid-back beach town on the northernmost of Georgia's barrier islands that offers visitors a little of everything. Tybee is a resort complete with restaurants, hotels and luxurious condominiums – but it's an atmosphere considerably more laid-back than that of the busier beach communities to the north and south.

In Georgia's Historic South, literary buffs shouldn't miss the Brer Rabbit statue in the Eatonton town square and the papers of Flannery O'Connor in Milledgeville.

Georgia's small towns and cities offer you a welcoming charm that you won't find anywhere else in the world. For you next vacation, think outside the box and visit some of Georgia's out-of-the-way treasures that are our cities and towns.

Georgia Department of Economic Development