Maybe your looking for an out-of-the-box way to honor our fallen soldiers, and spend time with family this May. Georgia has beautiful beaches, mountains, outdoor activities, great food and an overall amazing landscape. Kick off the summer right, and celebrate all weekend at these peach state getaways.
Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens is an unusually mountainous nook slightly north of Columbus. The signature Memorial Day event is the 59th Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament featuring talented water athletes. A party complete with bouncy houses, food and fireworks with ensue after. Stay at Callaway Gardens Resort with your choice of a spa or secluded cottage getaway, and spend spare time biking the seven-mile trail, exploring the butterfly observatory, or driving a few balls at the award-winning golf courses.
Jekyll Island
One of the many gorgeous Spanish moss covered islands along the Georgia Coast, Jekyll Island stands out as one of the most serene. Driftwood Beach is spectacular for a relaxing walk or breathtaking photo session. Wildlife is abundant throughout the inlets, so kayaking is high on the “must do” list. Spot dolphins, visit Summer Waves Water Park and munch on barbecue or munch on seafood from Love Shack BBQ Shrimp & Yardbird. Fuse has creamy frozen yogurt to finish off holiday.
Stone Mountain
For years, Stone Mountain has largely been known for its colorful, summer laser shows, and they crank it up a notch on patriotic holidays. Bring a blanket and picnic out on the lawn—kill some time tossing the football before the show starts. But before settling in, ride the tram to the top of the mountain, circle the park on the train or experience SkyHike and Geyser Towers.
Atlanta
A lot goes on in Atlanta, and surrounding areas, especially over Memorial Day weekend. The Atlanta Jazz Festival is a nice change up from typical celebrations and will be featuring some of the most talented jazz artists in the Nation. The best part? It’s free. At the Beltline’s Old Fourth Ward, there’ll be a Beach Bash on the 24th of May. The Luau style party will be complete with roasted pig, rum punch and live music. Decatur will hold an arts festival on the 23rd and 24th—lots of cool, quirky, local stuff will be on display. Decatur is also home to a ton of awesome restaurants.
Helen
Helen looks as if it was plucked straight out of Switzerland, and placed in the Scenic North Georgia Mountains. Bavarian style hotels, shops and restaurants line the streets, while horse drawn carriages regularly trot by. Bavarianfest takes place on May 26th, in celebration of those who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. A live Oompa Band will be piping authentic music through the village, while crowds dance and enjoy beer varieties, bratwurst and other delicious fare. Veterans admission, as well as one guest, will be free.
Lookout Mountain
On top of Lookout Mountain is a quaint destination—Rock City. Stunning views of surrounding states, old rock formations, trails with caves, massive gardens and water features provide the perfect environment for kicking off the summer. Magic of Fairyland Caverns, gift shops and a list of southern-style restaurants are scattered through Rock City. From Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, Summer Music Weekends with modern, folk and bluegrass bands will be performing live.
Savannah
Beaches, seafood, historical sites, craft brews equals summer perfection. Cozy inns dominate the lodging scene, and the iconic Tybee Island is a hop, skip and a jump away. Savannah holds a number of festivities to honor the fallen, like the Armed Forces Festival on May 25th—proceeds from the River Street celebration will benefit the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation.
Columbus
Setting right on the Georgia-Alabama border, Columbus is home to Fort Benning, and the National Infantry Museum. Visiting the museum is one way to fully absorb the magnitude of the selflessness the men and women of the military have shown. Columbus also offers water rafting, zip lining, other unique museums and great places to eat—it’s a well rounded getaway.
