Southbound to Georgia

Battlefields & Nature Beckon in National Parks

Trek through the diverse Georgia National Parks, exploring historic places and lush landscapes. These sites chronicle American history—from Civil War battlefields to the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.—or invite you to soak in nature’s splendor.

Day One

MORNING  Get an early start at the Chickamauga Battlefield, the site of the Confederate army’s last major victory.

• Marvel at more than 300 types of military shoulder-fired weapons.
• Take a 7-mile, self-guided driving tour that winds through ornate monuments and informative historical markers.
• Hike through shaded forest and skirt open fields, absorbing the atmosphere and learning along the way.

AFTERNOON  Head east to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, where General William T. Sherman’s campaign to take Atlanta began in 1864. Explore the museum, then head outside to see how the mountainous terrain affected the outcome.

EVENING  Treat yourself to a contemporary take on Southern comfort food at Trackside Grill in downtown Kennesaw. Then make the quick drive to Marietta to stay the night. Search Marietta hotels on Expedia

Day Two

MORNING  Pack a picnic, then drive 17 miles to the Island Ford visitor center in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. From there, you set out on a hike or go boat, fish, or simply float the river.

AFTERNOON  Just 20 minutes south lies the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta.

• At the visitor center, examine the Courage to Lead exhibit, detailing King’s work in the Civil Rights Movement.
• Sign up for a ranger-guided tour to see the home where he was born.
• Walk to the nearby King Center to visit his final resting place.
• Visit Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was baptized and ordained as a minister.
• Eat at one of King’s favorite lunchtime haunts, Paschal’s Restaurant, famous for its fried chicken.

EVENING  Drive three miles northeast to Virginia Highland, a walkable neighborhood with art galleries, restaurants, and pubs. Search Virginia Highland hotels on Expedia

Day Three

MORNING & AFTERNOON  From Atlanta, drive 90 miles south to the Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon. This collection of earth mounds was constructed as far back as 1,000 B.C.E.—but the area was occupied for more than 12,000 years.

• At the site’s museum, examine artifacts from the ice age up to the 1700s.
• Explore the grass-covered earth mounds, even trek through the dark corridor into the Earthlodge.

EVENING  For an upscale dinner, try the Tic Toc Room in Macon—be sure to sample the extensive martini menu. Then listen to jazz at the famous Douglass Theatre. Search Macon hotels on Expedia

Day Four

MORNING  Drive 65 miles southwest to one of the largest—and most infamous—prisoner of war camps from the Civil War. Stroll the grounds of Andersonville National Historic Site, getting a sense of prison life, then venture to the museum to view artwork, photographs, and other informative displays.

AFTERNOON  Drive 22 miles southwest to Plains, where Jimmy Carter was born and still lives. He sometimes teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church—and on those days you can arrange to meet President Carter and get a picture with him. The nearby Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is open year-round.

EVENING  Spend the last night of your tour in nearby Atlanta. Search Atlanta hotels on Expedia