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Georgia:

Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Georgia has long been known as the largest American southeastern state, producing a large portion of the needs of Americans in areas like agriculture, processed food, textile, and chemicals. Little does one know that the "Peach State" is also a good site for various outdoor activities like camping since it holds numerous public parks under its fold aside from having several natural attractions that should entice most RV-boarded travelers to consider Georgia as part of their travel itinerariy.

Georgia started out as a military stronghold of Spain in the 1700s before becoming involved in the American Civil War almost a century later. Today, the Empire State of the South experiences a constantly growing industrial development but still retains a distinct landscape where countless adventures lie waiting. From its rugged mountains and rolling hills down to its coastal fields and pristine waters, Georgia should ably satisfy the interests of most outdoor lovers, including RVers.

Seeing Georgia Regionally

Georgia boasts of five different regions covering its vast landscape that is about 59,441 square miles in length. The regions typically include the Mountains Area, the Atlanta Metro Area, the Historic South Area, the Coast Area, and the Southern Rivers Area.

The Mountains Region

The region consists of an east and west portion with the latter called the Historic High Country that is considered by many to be Cherokee Indian territory. Public museums and parks adorn the greater area of this region depicting its Native American heritage and Civil War participation. Yet, there are public retreat areas that offer great outdoor treats like those featured at Barnsley Gardens Resort where RV riders can engage in outdoor sports like fishing and horseback riding. The Chattahoochee National Forest, meanwhile, is the official home of the biggest natural preserve in eastern USA, the Cohutta Wilderness Area, where one can opt to take an exhilarating hike across the famed Appalachian Trail.

For scenic driving, RVers can actually avail of three superb Georgia rides. One is the Southern Highroads Trail where the drive covers four nearby states with picturesque sightings of the Northwest Georgia mountains. Another is the Chieftains Trail where three Native American cultures namely Cherokee, Creeks, and Mississippian, can be explored. The third is the Blue and Gray Trail that showcases 1860s life, including the Civil War.

For RVers in need of a good camp site in these parts, there is one in Cave Spring town called Cedar Creek Park where water-based activities like fishing, tubing, and canoeing go hand-in-hand with land-based sports like golf. There is another one in Adairsville, the Family Leisure Resort, located near I-75 that is quite popular among many RV owners.

The northeastern edge of the Georgia Mountains Region, meanwhile, is an outdoor recreational paradise for many RV riders with a visit to the historic Chattahoochee River in Alpine Helen town topping the list of places to see. There are myriads of outdoor activities available here, including waterfalls hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The town also boasts of other significant landmarks that should be worth exploring, like the Unicoi State Park, the Smithgall Woods Conservation Area, and the Sautee Nacoochee Arts Center.

The area covers what is called the mountain-lake district of Georgia where several dammed rivers resulted in the formation of lakes that provide residents with their water and power needs. More significantly, the lakes have become popular destinations for many outdoor lovers where they engage in sports like fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, or just simply having a quiet and relaxing time by the lakeshore. RV-boarded tourists should find the Northeast Georgia mountains a delight to see especially since there is one RV campground they can go to that sits right beside the Etowah River, the Etowah River Campground situated on the western end of Highway 52 about ten minutes away from Georgia's Public Square.

The Atlanta Metro Region

The Atlanta Metro Region is quite obviously the urban center of Georgia where commercial centers like department stores, specialty shops, boutiques, art galleries, museums, and restaurants enjoy brisk business. Still, there are historic sites, amusement parks, and a great outdoors section here that ought to be considered when riding aboard an RV across this particular region of Georgia.

Take a tour of Stone Mountain Park, among the most prominent attractions in the US where, among other things, the biggest exposed granite piece can be seen. The park additionally features the "Ride the Ducks" tour where visitors are guided through the vastness of the area on two fronts, on land and on water. Another park attraction is Crossroads, a rural 1870s town that represents typical Georgian life in the 19th century and which Stone Mountain Park has wonderfully recreated.

To get to easily view the other attractions of Stone Mountain Park, RVers can opt to settle in the Stone Mountain Family Campground where the camp sites come in 441 fully wooded types, 147 of which are fully hooked-up. Known as the largest camping site in the Peach State, Stone Mountain Family Campground should allow RV riders to have the most enjoyable camping experience ever amidst the natural wonders that only the Georgia can offer.

The Historic South Region

The region is situated on the east central part of Georgia that most RV riders can reach in less than three hours if coming from Atlanta. It may be considered as the best Georgia region for many RVers both in terms of places to visit and RV parks to settle in. For the former, several Georgia lakes can be seen here, including Lake Oconee, the second largest in Georgia, where outdoor activities like camping, hunting, fishing, and boating are quite popular.

Another lake, the Clarks Hill/Thurmond Lake, boasts of five marinas with eleven recreational centers and over 1,200 miles of coastlines topped by 13 campgrounds. It also has ten fabulous parks that are perfect strolling grounds for RVers who bring along their families on their trip.

Additionally, the South Region has six state parks, all of which welcome boating, swimming, hiking, and camping enthusiasts with overnight options open for those interested. Of the six public parks, what is perhaps the best one to visit is the Providence Canyon State Park that features an intricate but amazing complex of cliffs, ravines, and rock formations adorned by rare and exotic wildflower species like the Plumleaf Azalea. This awesome interplay of natural earth wonders has earned for the park the tag "Little Grand Canyon" of Georgia.

Hiking paths stretching for about three miles can be seen within the park premises. Ditto for picnic areas and photo opportunities, but for RVers in search of a place to park in their RVs, there are several campgrounds set inside the vicinity of the Providence Canyon State Park though they could opt for a more spacious area at nearby Florence Marina State Park where majestic Lake Walter F. George serves as the main attraction.

The Coast Region

The Coast Region of Georgia is yet another outdoor paradise for many RV-boarded travelers. With its endless water-based attractions typified by its isolated beaches and mysterious marshes, there is little wonder why this particular Georgia region should not be considered an ideal visiting spot.

Among the sites to see here include Tybee Island in historic Savannah where several beaches wait eagerly for visiting tourists. Another one is Jekyll Island whose Summer Waves Water Park has made it popular among family travelers. Apart from the said park, the place is also renowned for its beaches complemented by several bike paths and golf courses.

There is also Cumberland Island to consider where bird-watching is a common activity because migrating birds usually stop over the island before moving on in their transatlantic migratory journey. In addition, the island has become the home of many endangered bird species like Wilson's Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers.

Apart from bird-watching, Cumberland Island also welcomes hikers, fishers, bikers, beach combers, and campers to its midst as it can easily accommodate them all in its cover space that stretches to about 17.5 miles. Salt marshes also abound in the island complemented by several historic structures, making Cumberland Island the largest barrier island of Georgia.

A big advantage in visiting Cumberland Island is that there are numerous camping sites existing in the surrounding areas. The campgrounds come in developed and primitive forms, with campers allowed to stay for as long as a week though there are fees involved as payment for the use of camp facilities.

The Southern Rivers Region

The region is the classic water attraction area of Georgia led by the Altamaha River, an incredible ecosystem that serves as the natural habitat of more than 130 different species of mostly endangered marine animals. It has recently been included in the list of the Nature Conservancy of the 75 "Last Great Places" worldwide.

Fishing and paddling are the more popular activities regularly found on the river banks with RV-boarded travelers not needing to worry about parking spaces because there are camping areas put up in areas surrounding the river. Alternatively, one can try exploring Little Ocmulgee State Park where its resident lake is teeming with boaters, accompanied by anglers who savor the rich fishing produce of the lake.

Across the park, the Oak Ridge Trail showcases nature in all of its beauty that has become the ideal background for many hikers. For lovers of golf, the park features the Wallace Adams golf course that boasts of 18 holes and has the additional advantage of having a nearby lodge situated near it. The Lodge at Little Ocmulgee, found near McRae, is made up of 1,265 acres planted with pine forest trees interspersed with various high sandhills. It has gained a reputation for being a suitable family getaway.

Interesting Georgia Cities

The many cities of Georgia each carry an interesting array of attractions that should arouse the curiosity of most RVers. Truth to tell, though, some cities offer more exciting features where RV riders are afforded opportunities to examine the attractions both on foot and aboard their vehicles.

Dahlonega

The town of Dahlonega in the Mountains Region of Georgia is quite small but it packs in quite a large array of attractions for most RV-boarded travelers. There are various fine restaurants here offering exquisite local wines that has made the town the wine center of Georgia. In addition, resort spas abound in Dahlonega and trying out one center will definitely leave tourists totally relaxed.

Of course, Dahlonega can never be an attraction without its famed Appalachian Trail set within the vastness of the Chattahooche National Forest where a host of exciting outdoor sports can be engaged in, including hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Additionally, biking is one other outdoor sport commonly being undertaken here, making Dahlonega the bicycle center in northern Georgia. Its hosting of several biking events like the Six Gap Century Ride and the Tour de Georgia Mountain Stage has produced several great personalities in the biking arena.

To fully enjoy all the attractions that Dahlonega offers, there is only one campground that RVers need to go to, and that is the Etowah River Campground. Located along River Mill Road, the the RV campground covers about 28 acres of land situated near the Etowah River and the Appalachian Trail. A year-round camp site, the Etowah River Campground is famous for its trout fishing and for several other outdoor ventures like tubing.

Augusta

Augusta is acknowledged by many as the second biggest city in Georgia. Standing aloft along the celebrated Savannah River, the city has achieved national prominence for playing host to the Masters Golf Tournament. Yet, there is more to Augusta than just golf. Among its other attractions that RVers will find quite interesting are Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's Botanical Gardens, the Meadow Garden, the Morris Museum of Art, and the renowned Augusta Riverwalk, a two-sided strolling grounds regarded by many as the front porch of the city.

For bird lovers, not to be missed is the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, located just a few minutes away from the urban center of Augusta where rare species are protected under a 1,100 acre wildlife sanctuary. Nearby, the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake offers boating ventures, including camping sites for those wishing to stay for an extended period of time. It is the biggest artificial lake ever found on the eastern tip of the Mississippi Riverand boasts of a 1,200-mile shoreline.

Savannah

It is often regarded as the "First City" of Georgia and this is not exactly surprising because Savannah is teeming with ancient houses, museums, cemeteries, and plazas that feature a distinctive Savannah architectural style that has made this city different from other areas in Georgia. RVers will find it overwhelming driving through the many scenic spots of the city, including those that have great historic significance like the statue of General James Edward Oglethorpe, acknowledged as the man who founded Savannah, and those that became known the world over like the Mercer House due to its use in the novel, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".

Of course, just like other places in Georgia, Savannah also has its share of outdoor fun. The lowcountry district of the city, for example, is teeming with kayaking activities, while down at Tybee Island, the beaches offer many fun-filled water-based activities complemented by a good number of excellent seaside restaurants.

Atlanta

No visit to Georgia would be complete without passing through Atlanta city, home of CNN and Fox TV. RV riders should also not dare miss visiting Philips Arena where the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA regularly show their wares. During summer, baseball lovers head off to Turner Field where the Atlanta Braves show why they are a dominant fixture of the game.

Best Georgia Visiting Time

Summer and Spring are most definitely the best times to visit Georgia as these are the seasons when the beautiful scenery of the "Peach State" come in full bloom and with it come various recreational opportunities. The state parks, in particular, are good areas for an RV visit since many, if not all of them, have been specifically built for outdoor activities like camping. One park, the Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton city, holds 84 RV sites apart from 64 pull-through's . More significantly, it hosts two major bluegrass festivals annually anytime between May and September, events worth seeing for many RVers looking for totally joyous activities.

Enota Mountain Retreat

Rated among the top 100 camping areas in the US, Enota Mountain Retreat is situated deep inside the Mountains Region of Georgia, specifically within the inner areas of the Chattahoochee National Forest but is nevertheless near several prominent Georgia cities, including Helen, Dahlonega, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Hiawassee.

Occupying only 60 acres of land, Enota has 33 RV sites, all fully hooked-up and includes water, sewage, and electrical connections. Majority of the said sites are located near streams and properly shaded. They come equip with fire pits, a picnic grill, and picnic areas. Nearby attractions than one can see here are the Rollins Planetarium found inside the Young Harris College compound; the Brasstown Bald; the North Georgia Mountain Fair Grounds where fairs and shows are regularly held; and Helen, a small town village nestled at the Chattahoochee National Forest foot hills where shopping centers and restaurants line up in rows.

Brookwood RV Resort Parks

This particular RV park is perhaps the best one to settle in for RV riders who wish to examine the more prominent attractions of Georgia, including its most famous city, Atlanta. Brookwood RV Resort Parks is the nearest RV park site to the downtown area of Atlanta, being a mere 13 miles driving distance. Additionally, the RV park is only 20 minutes away from such famous Georgia attractions as the Georgia Aquarium and the White Water Park.

The RV park sites are completely paved and are designed with elegant patios for a more refreshing stay. Internet access is possible at these sites that are fully hooked-up and powered by 30-50 amp electrical service. A swimming pool, shower rooms, and laundry facilities are the more prominent amenities available here.

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