Take a bite out of the Peach State in a trip that explores the heart of Georgia. Enjoy big city attractions in Atlanta, then venture out to smaller towns where historic sites and small-town diversions sit side-by-side.

1. Atlanta

Starting Point • Entertainment, History, Outdoor Recreation

Start your exploration of the Peach State in its sprawling capital, Atlanta. The largest city in Georgia, Atlanta offers ample Civil War-era and Civil Rights Movement-related attractions along with lots of fun family activities and a thriving arts and culture scene. Key sights include the Georgia Aquarium (among the world’s largest), the World of Coca-Cola — a museum dedicated to an iconic American brand — and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, where the famous leader once lived.

2. Macon

Drive 83.8 miles, 1 hour, 17 minutes • Entertainment, History

From Atlanta, head southeast to Macon, a compact but thriving city known for its historic homes and musical heritage. Little Richard and Otis Redding hailed from Macon, and both the Otis Redding Foundation and the Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House are major attractions. While in town, don’t miss the Tubman Museum, the largest African-American museum in the region, and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the state’s largest sports museum.

3. Tifton

Drive 105 miles, 1 hour, 34 minutes • History Shopping

Continue south to Tifton, a cozy little city characterized by historic homes, cute boutiques and plentiful opportunities for fishing. Attractions of interest include the Tifton Residential Historic District and the Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village (formerly Agrirama), a living museum dedicated to the late 19th century. Features include a traditional farm, a rural town and a museum focusing on agriculture.

4. Valdosta

Drive 48.7 miles, 48 minutes • Entertainment History

Further south toward the border with Florida, the small city of Valdosta is best known as the location of Wild Adventures, a zoo and theme park featuring rides, a water park, and a large number of resident animals, from elephants to ostriches — there’s even a giraffe feeding zoo. And while the park is the main draw for most visitors, Valdosta also offers plenty for arts lovers, including the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, with regular exhibits.

5. Columbus

Drive 175.1 miles, 1 hour, 35 minutes • History, Outdoor Recreation

Head back north toward Columbus to check out the National Civil War Naval Museum, a 40,000-square-foot blast from the past exhibiting Civil War artifacts and dioramas. Star attractions include the wreckage of the CSS Chattahoochee as well as the hull of the largest remaining Confederate warship, the CSS Jackson. Adrenaline junkies should also check out Whitewater, a raft ride along a turbulent, 2.5-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River that features a wide range of rapids. Experienced guides will ensure that you have a safe — and thrilling — voyage on the river’s rough current. Drive 108 miles for 1 hour and 40 minutes back to Atlanta to complete the loop.

Lake Pines RV Park & Campground • Columbus, GA – (706)561-9675