Providence Canyon State Park
(Lumpkin, GA)
In a region known for its rural towns and peanut farms, it is startling to come across the large natural canyon featured in this state park. Known as Georgia “Little Grand Canyon”, the multicolored sandstone of the area has led to many interesting rock formations. You can hike along the river bed of the canyon floor for quite a ways.
Franklin D Roosevelt State Park
(Pine Mountain, GA)
This large state park is located along the Pine Mountain Range and its visitor center has a great overlook to see the valley. It is named for FDR because this was the area he usually vacationed in to enjoy the nearby warm springs. The park has trails, a small lake, and picnic sites.
Jimmy Carter National Historic Site
(Plains, GA)
Jimmy Carter was born and raised in the tiny peanut farming town of Plains, GA. The whole area was designated a National Historic Site with several locations that were key to his childhood and his campaign to become president.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
(Macon, GA)
Oculmogee Mounds National Historical Park is a collection of very old and important mounds and earthworks along the Ocmulgeee River and Walnut Creek. Starting from the visitor center, you can walk to the several remaining mounds and see a recreated earth lodge. Behind these is a huge nature area on the river where I even saw several deer walking around.
Fort King George State Historic Site
(Darien, GA)
Fort King George was an old English fort built in 1721 on the coast of Georgia near the Altamaha River as a defense against other colonial empires looking to lay claim to the region. It housed a small garrison of soldiers under the harsh conditions of heat, humidity, and black flies that the region brings with it. Covered later by sawmills, when the site was rediscovered in the twentieth century, it was carefully recreated with traditional methods to stand as a showcase of that era of American and Georgia history.
