Top 5 Must Do / Must See / Must Experience

• Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Macon
• Lake Lanier Islands Resort
• Albany Civil Rights Institute
• Kangaroo Conservation Center, Dawsonville
• Little St. Simons Island

When Ray Charles sang the famous song "Georgia on My Mind,” the world learned that even in dreams, Georgia is an unforgettable place. Whether you talk about the state’s diverse and ever-changing landscapes, its patchwork of cultures, rich heritage, or warm, friendly people, Georgia’s magic “comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.” From ancient mountains to rolling rivers, charming towns to a bustling metropolis, Georgia offers whatever it is you’re looking for.

Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery, Statesboro

Just outside of the city limits of Statesboro, there’s a hidden treasure, Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery. The first of its kind in Southeast Georgia, it boasts scenic views, sunsets, and award-winning wines. Meinhardt hosts the annual Grape Stomp and Muscadine Festival, where festival attendees can crush grapes themselves and see how muscadine wine is made. Relax and enjoy some of their delicious wine and cheese and experience life at a slow Southern pace with: free wine tastings, catering, weddings and receptions, retreats and private parties, gift shop, hayrides and more! More about Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery, Statesboro

Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Macon

When Fiddlin' John Carson began playing on Atlanta's WSB in 1922, he created a musical genre today known as country music. Thomas Dorsey may have written bawdy tunes for Georgian Ma Rainey, but he is best known today as the father of gospel music. Ray Charles merged his deep gospel roots with rhythm and blues to create soul music. Georgia's TLC took the "edge" off urban music with the hip-hop ballad Waterfalls. These are just a few of the stories presented at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. The show actually begins in the parking lot with the recorded music of Georgia artists wafting across well-placed external speakers. More about Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Macon

Westville, Lumpkin

Westville is an outdoor history museum which depicts an 1850 west Georgia village. You may have seen pictures of little towns like Westville. They dotted the 1850s countryside in the southern United States. Westville was created so that visitors can experience a community in the twenty-first century similar to the ones in which our ancestors lived in the middle of the nineteenth century. See where the antebellum townspeople worshipped, voted, and went to school. Westville has over thirty authentically restored and furnished pre-Civil War buildings: houses, stores, workshops, churches, a school, and a courthouse. In fact, it has all the ingredients of a functioning town. More about Westville, Lumpkin

Blue Willow Inn and Village, Social Circle

The Blue Willow Inn is located in the heart of the historic district of Social Circle. While in our area absorb the ambiance of the Old South by visiting Social Circle and Treasures along I-20 Travel Trail. Six miles south of the Blue Willow Inn Restaurant is the award winning Fox Vineyards and Winery. Whether dressing for the theatre or casually touring the area, you are invited to enjoy the Blue Willow's Southern feast. No one is allowed to leave hungry after feasting on a variety of Southern salads, meats, vegetables, breads and desserts. Along with your meal enjoy sweetened iced tea, the "Champagne of the South", and lemonade. More about Blue Willow Inn and Village, Social Circle

Lake Lanier Islands Resort

Set on the picturesque blue shores of Lake Sidney Lanier, our 1,100-acre resort in Georgia provides a variety of deluxe amenities and services in a setting of unparalleled natural splendor. The grounds feature a diverse selection of accommodations from the Legacy Lodge & Conference Center to 30 sublime lakeside cottages and six executive villas, to floating houseboats from our very own Harbor Landing. Activities include award-winning golf courses, adventurous horseback riding, pampering spa services, and luxury boat rentals. Don't miss out "Magical Nights of Lights", the world’s largest animated holiday light extravaganza, which takes place mid-November until the end of December. More about Lake Lanier Islands Resort

Albany Civil Rights Institute

Before the most notable civil rights confrontations graced the cover of Time and the evening news, Albany, Georgia was one of the first civil rights battlegrounds where the four major civil rights organizations joined forces. The Albany Civil Rights Institute brilliantly captures stories that emphasize the roles “ordinary” people can play in creating effective change agents. On our walls, in our halls, in our database, archives and programs, you will see “everyday” citizens who changed history with their deeds, courage and strength. The Albany Civil Rights Institute will allow visitors to experience the civil rights movement in Southwest Georgia like never before! More about Albany Civil Rights Institute

Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum

Take a stirring journey through time in Atlanta's Cyclorama. Sit at the center of a sweeping panorama of the Battle of Atlanta, fought on July 22, 1864, during the American Civil War. The Cyclorama painting — 42 feet tall and 358 feet in circumference — is said to be the largest painting in the world. It offers breathtaking realism enhanced by a foreground of three-dimensional figures and terrain. The presentation is accompanied by music and narration, available in five languages. When you visit the Cyclorama in Atlanta's Grant Park you can also see artifacts of the war displayed in the Civil War Museum and a steam locomotive known as the Texas, a veteran of the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. More about Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum

Little St. Simons Island

Recognized for its untouched natural beauty, gracious hospitality and secluded worlds away appeal, Little St. Simons Island, a private island rental and island romantic getaway, lies unexpectedly just off the Georgia coast. Accessible only by boat, this private island and its riches await your discovery. Nature takes center stage, where 10,000 perfectly preserved acres of private island rental are shared with no more than 30 overnight guests. Seven miles of shell-strewn beaches and an enticing array of outdoor activities beckon guests to explore and discover our natural wonders. More about Little St. Simons Island

Kangaroo Conservation Center, Dawsonville

Welcome to the Kangaroo Conservation Center! We are dedicated to the preservation of kangaroo species through captive breeding and public education. Currently exhibiting hundreds of kangaroos of 9 species, our Center has successfully bred and cared for over a dozen different species of marsupials in the past 26 years. For example, take a look at the Brush-tailed Bettong: This tiny kangaroo is a critically endangered species in Australia. Kangaroo Conservation Center has a very successful captive breeding program for this species. You are invited to visit and enjoy the unique wildlife educational adventure, an experience to remember forever! More about Kangaroo Conservation Center, Dawsonville