Y’all ready for a quintessential taste of the Deep South? This week-long itinerary takes you through the heart of Georgia with stops at gorgeous antebellum mansions, strolls through fragrant gardens, and laid-back living in small southern towns. You’ll be charmed by that famous Southern hospitality from the moment you arrive. Get a behind-the-scenes look at 19th-century plantation life, try your hand at regional activities like peach picking, and feast on comfort foods like fried chicken and biscuits. Along the way, soak up history, stories, and that slow, sweet pace of living. You’ll sip sweet tea on the veranda and channel your inner Southern belle by the end. Let’s hit the road!
Who Is This Trip For?
This itinerary is ideal for couples, friends, and families who want an immersive experience of quintessential Southern history and culture. It’s perfect for easy-going travelers who enjoy learning through guided tours, hands-on activities, and getting to know locals. It offers something for all ages with a mix of historic estates, outdoor adventures, and down-home dining. The trip also works well for those interested in America’s complex past.
How Long Is This Trip?
To fully experience the history and hospitality of these three Georgia towns, plan on spending 5–7 days. That gives you 1-2 days each in Columbus and Macon to tour antebellum homes and gardens at a leisurely pace. Then spend two nights in laid-back Valdosta before heading home. With this length, you’ll have time to enjoy sights, sounds, and flavors without feeling rushed.
When Is The Best Time To Take This Trip?
The ideal time to visit is March through May, when the weather is mild, and gardens burst into bloom. Azalea blossoms and fragrant magnolias make for picture-perfect tours. September and October are also delightful, with fewer crowds. Avoid July and August when temperatures soar into the 90s.
Recommended Packing List:
- Walking shoes – You’ll be on your feet touring homes and gardens
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Light pants and short sleeve shirts for hot weather
- Sweatshirt or jacket for cool evenings
- Camera
- Picnic supplies to dine alfresco
- Binoculars for birdwatching
- Mosquito spray
- Southern-style outfit for fun like a sundress or seersucker suit
- Extra memory cards – You’ll take lots of photos!
Important Information About This Trip
Georgia law requires all vehicle occupants to wear seatbelts. Hands-free cell phone use while driving is also mandated. Be alert when driving smaller rural roads with oncoming farm equipment. Give yourself extra time, especially in larger cities like Columbus and Macon, which can have congested rush hour traffic. Having some cash on hand is recommended for parking meters, toll roads, and farmer’s stands.
Itinerary:
Columbus, GA – 2 days
Columbus is known as the “crown jewel” of southwest Georgia, with elegant antebellum architecture and historic riverfront ambiance. Tour several magnificent nearby plantations, including an 1830s Greek Revival and an 1836 estate with 25 restored buildings. Must-see sights are the house museums Bartholomew-Zeigler and Belmont-McGehee. Ride a paddle-wheeler, enjoy fresh catfish downtown, and don’t miss Providence Canyon’s breathtaking red, pink, and white rock gorges just outside town.
Top Lodging: The Rothschild-Pound House Inn provides cozy rooms in a pre-Civil War mansion. Budget rates at the Hampton Inn Columbus Historic District location.
Top Dining: The Black Cow offers upscale Southern cuisine in a converted Coca-Cola bottling plant. For down-home cooking, Country’s Barbecue is a local favorite.
Getting Around: Having a car makes plantation touring convenient, but downtown sites are walkable. Metered street parking is available.
Macon, GA – 2 days
Macon dazzles with over 5,000 acres of gorgeous blooming cherry trees, earning it the nickname “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World.” The annual International Cherry Blossom Festival each March is a real treat. Be sure to tour the historic Hay House, known as the “Palace of the South,” and the expansive grounds of Rose Hill Estate. Hit up the Ocmulgee Mounds archaeological site and the Tubman Museum honoring African-American art and history. For delicious Southern fare, don’t miss dinner at the legendary H&H soul food restaurant, a Macon institution.
Top Lodging: The 1842 Inn offers elegant rooms in a restored Greek Revival mansion. There’s also the centrally located SpringHill Suites by Marriott.
Top Dining: The Rookery is a popular spot for New Southern cuisine in a charming Victorian home setting. Fried chicken aficionados must try the Chicken Fingers at Nu-Way Weiners.
Getting Around: Macon is very walkable downtown. Outside the center of the city, having a car is more convenient.
Valdosta, GA – 2 days
Nestled among sprawling oak, cypress, and magnolia trees near the Georgia-Florida border, Valdosta will lull you into vacation mode with its warm small-town feel. Spend a day at Wild Adventures Theme Park, riding rollercoasters and seeing exotic animals. Check out the old locomotives at the Valdosta Rail Yard and Lowndes County Historical Society Museum. Azalea lovers, visit the 70-acre Valdosta Azalea City Park. Be sure to sample some famous South Georgia barbecue at one of the local joints. At night, catch some live local music over sweet tea on the porch of Mac’s Bar.
Top Lodging: The Hilton Garden Inn has a central location and outdoor pool. Check out The Crescent Inn Bed and Breakfast for a quaint historic stay.
Top Dining: Jackson’s Steakhouse serves premium cuts of certified Angus beef. For finger-licking barbecue, hit up Moo’s BBQ.
Getting Around: Valdosta is simple to navigate by car or Uber. Downtown is very walkable.
Conclusion:
After a week of experiencing the rich history, garden strolls, comfort cuisine, and welcoming spirit of Georgia’s finest historic southern towns, you’ll depart with your heart full and mind expanded. These journeys reconnect us with our past, open us up to new people and perspectives, and remind us of the amazing places left to discover. Here’s to making the world a little smaller and our lives a little fuller by stepping out of our comfort zone. Y’all come back now, ya hear? The warm Georgia hospitality will be waiting.
