Georgia Group Tour Planner 2015

Villa Rica Georgia

Located only 25 minutes from downtown Atlanta along I-20 at Exit 24 & 26 we make you close to everything! But make that turn off I-20 and find outdoor adventures and history, parks, special events year ’round, fine restaurants, a historic downtown and a Gold Mine!

As home to the First Gold Rush in Georgia in 1826 and the “Father of Gospel Music,” Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey we are steeped in history. Our downtown with its shopping and great dining abounds with buildings from the late 1800’s to the very early 1900’s. Plus, see Pine Mountain Gold Museum and Park. Come, walk where the miners walk and find adventure!

Advertiser Index

Albany CVB 3 www.albanyga.com

Antebellum Trail .........................................................17 www.antebellumtrail.org

Atlanta CVB 21 www.atlanta.net

Atlanta History Center .......................................... 34. www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Callaway Gardens 9 www.callawaygardens.com

College Football Hall of Fame 25 www.cfbhall.com

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson ........................ 34. www.countryinns.com/helenga

Explore Gwinnett CVB 23 exploregwinnett.org

Gone With the Wind Trail ...................................... 19 www.GWTWTrail.com

Historic Oakland Cemetery 21 www.oaklandcemetery.com

Inside CNN Studio Tour......................................... 34. www.cnn.com/studiotour

LaGrange-Troup County COC 15 www.lagrangechamber.com

Lamplighter Tours of Atlanta 32 www.lamplightertours.net

Lane Packing CompanyLane Southern Orchards 12 www.lanepacking.com

Macon/ Bibb County CVB 4.4. www.maconga.org

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, The ............. 4.0. www.mightyeighth.org

Monastery of the Holy Spirit 4.3 www.trappist.net

National Infantry Museum ......................................17 www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com

Ocmulgee National Monument 4.1 www.nps.gov/ocmu

Roswell CVB 27 www.cvb.roswell.ga.us

Stay in Savannah.........................................................12 www.stayinsavannah.com

Telfair Museum of Art 27 www.telfair.org

Villa Rica Tourism Bureau ......................................... 2 www.villaricatourism.com

Visit Savannah 31 www.savannahvisit.com

World of Coca-Cola 38. www.woccatlanta.com

WHAT’S INSIDE

2015 Georgia Group Tour Guide

6 Map and regions 7 Events and festivals Culinary 8 Dishing up Georgia 10 Itinerary — Georgia Grown Trail 37 ( Plantation Trace) 11 Itinerary — Field to table (Magnolia Midlands) Movies and vip 13 Star power 14 Itinerary Role Models (Presidential Pathways) 16 Itinerary — Legends of the page and screen (Historic Heartland) gone with the wind 18 Miss Scarlett and Miss Margaret 20 Itinerary — Dreams of Tara (Atlanta Metro) sports 22 Big time adventure and sports 24 Itinerary — Atlanta’s got game (Atlanta Metro)

26 Itinerary — Heads up, outdoor enthusiasts (Northeast Georgia Mountains) 28 Great attractions for students

Civil rights 30 A historic journey for civil rights 32 Itinerary — The American Dream (Atlanta Metro) 33 Itinerary — Georgia’s southern coast (The Coast) faMily reunions 35 We are family 36 Itinerary — Natural connections (The Coast) 37 Itinerary — Time together (Historic High Country)

religious

travel

39 Faith takes root 40 Itinerary — Come all ye faithful (Classic South) 42 Itinerary — Right to the heart (Historic Heartland)

FRONT COVER PHOTO: Chef Hugh Acheson, restaurateur, author, and judge on television’s Top Chef, surrounds himself with Georgia-grown foodstuffs.

Rock City Gardens, Lover’s Leap, Lookout Mountains, Ga.

Welcome to Georgia!

Here you will find one-of-a-kind destinations, a thriving arts and cultural scene with year-round events, and much more.

inside this 2015 Georgia Group Tour Planner are exciting ways for you and your family to discover new adventures and local resources to help create lasting memories. Georgia is perfect for your getaway, and i’m confident that you will leave eager to return for another visit.

Thank you for keeping Georgia on your mind!

GRoup touR GuiDe

Georgia Department of economic Development

CoRpoRAte oFFiCe

75 Fifth St, NW Suite 1200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 1-800-ViSit GA (800) 847-4842 www.exploreGeorgia.org

Deputy Commissioner tourism Division Kevin Langston Domestic Business Development Manager priti Shah pshah@georgia.org (404) 962-4175

published by

CoRpoRAte oFFiCe

2465 112th Avenue Holland, Mi 49424-9657 1-800-767-3489 (616) 393-2077 fax: (616) 393-0085 www.grouptour.com

ADVeRtiSiNG

Media Consultant Marlene Smith marlene@Grouptour.com (231) 933-4900

nathan deal, governor of georgia

PHOTO CO u RTESY OF STATE OF GEORG i A

Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Dunagan Deal

Georgia State Map

9 regions each with its own unique attractions and historical sites

HISTORIC HIGH COUNTRY

The mountainous Historic High Country region is both a draw for outdoor adventurers and a destination for visitors interested in discovering the region’s rich Native American, Civil War and locomotive history.

ATLANTA METRO

Thrilling attractions, world-class sports, premier artistic venues and the best shopping in the South await visitors to Georgia’s capital and its neighboring communities. Experience the excitement and energy of Atlanta Metro

HISTORIC HEARTLAND

Once the nucleus of a zealous collegiate fan base and a hotbed of internationally recognized musicians, athletes and authors, this is a region where history is cherished and celebrated — and continues to be made every day.

PRESIDENTIAL PATHWAYS

Rooted in presidential history, this region features several sites steeped in the lives of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter, as well as an array of wonderful attractions, from a storied garden to a working ranch.

PLANTATION TRACE

While most of the namesake plantations are long gone, the region’s focus on agriculture remains strong thanks to a number of outstanding attractions. its bounty also includes noteworthy museums and cultural offerings.

NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAINS

Situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the Northeast Mountains region is a favorite destination for outdoor fun, outstanding wineries and engaging attractions, many of which spotlight the area’s rich Appalachian culture.

CLASSIC SOUTH

The Classic South region abounds with attractions and activities that pay homage to its rich history and unspoiled natural beauty. A nature enthusiast’s paradise, the region also captivates history buffs and art aficionados alike.

MAGNOLIA MIDLANDS

Magnolia Midlands is deeply rooted in agriculture. Visitors can spend days picking fresh produce and perusing the bounty at roadside stands between visits to the region’s towns, historic sites and family attractions.

THE COAST Georgia’s storied history began on the Coast, and its colonial charm beckons visitors searching for escape. From enchanting Savannah to the wonders of the Okefenokee and the state’s barrier islands, the Coast is truly a world away.

H I

F E G

A

• C IRC l E THESE 2015 DATES

February 1-28 (Atlanta

Atlanta’s rich civil rights legacy is highlighted during Black History Month. Numerous events take place during this celebration, including a large parade from the historic Sweet Auburn district to Peachtree Street. www.atlanta.net

C

Metro)

B

March 20-29 (Historic Heartland)

Each March, Macon becomes a pink paradise as more than 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom in all their glory. For 10 days, the International Cherry Blossom Festival treats visitors to one of the most extravagant displays of springtime color in the nation. www.cherryblossom.com

Celebrating 94 years, the Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival has been a Southwest Georgia tradition since the early 1920s. The free, family-friendly festival encompasses the Rose Show, the Rose Parade, the Street Dance, live music, arts and crafts, Southern-style festival foods, a car show and more. www.ThomasvilleGA.com

D

thomasville Rose Show and Festival, thomasville

April 23-26

(Magnolia Midlands)

Georgia’s official state vegetable is celebrated each spring at The Vidalia Onion Festival in Vidalia. Events include The Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, a chef competition and Battle of the Bands. www.vidaliaonionfestival.com

‘Yumion’

F

(Northeast Georgia Mountains)

Enjoy bagpipes and drums, Highland music, dancing and food at the Annual Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Watch athletes compete in traditional games, including caber toss, putting the stone and tossing the sheaf. www.blairsvillescottishfestival.org

June 13 – 14

G

I D

October 10-11 and October 17-18

(Historic High Country)

Find more than 300 vendors and a parade at Ellijay’s Georgia Apple Festival, but the real stars are the apples! Gilmer County is considered Georgia’s Apple Capital for a reason – apple orchards are scattered all over the region. www.georgiaapplefestival.org

E

May 9 (Classic South)

Honoring the legacy of the famous blues musician born near Thomson, the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival welcomes blues acts from around the country for an unforgettable weekend of music. www.blindwillie.com

September 30 – October 5

(The Coast)

The inaugural St. Simons Food & Spirits Festival promises to become an annual favorite, allowing guests to experience all that is unique about the Golden isles. Area restaurants, regional farmers and artisans will be the highlight of Saturday’s tasting tents, farm stand and market. www.goldenisles.com/event/saint-simons-food-spirits-festival

H November/December (Presidential Pathways)

P HOTO G D E c D

Georgia Apple Festival, ellijay

April 23

Dishing up Georgia

Cafes, restaurants, marketplaces and orchards take pride in serving the best

Enjoy locally sourced, heartfelt feasts

{ ABOVE: GEORGIA PEACHES}

Food culture in Georgia is high on everyone’s list. For example, residents labor with love to elevate barbecues to an art form.

Hospitality is expressed through food, especially when locally sourced and Georgiagrown.

Family traditions

Owned by Paula Deen and her two sons, Jamie and Bobby, the Lady & Sons in Savannah has been open for more than 25 years. The Lady’s Southern Buffet is the draw, but there is also a menu marking Ms. Deen’s recipes — like fried green tomatoes served with sweet onion relish and topped with roasted red pepper sauce. The buffet is served seven days a week; and the ingredients are Georgia-grown.

The lunches served on weekdays at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, owned and managed by her great-grandson Ryon Thompson, in-

clude Sema Wilkes’ fried chicken served with seasonal vegetables, like shelled whippoorwill peas in the summer or sweet potatoes in the fall. Mrs. Wilkes took over the Savannah boarding house in 1943.

Mountainous meals

The porches at the Dillard House in Dillard provide vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains in north Georgia. The menu provides taste experiences served family style a la platters of Southern specialties like Dillard House Country Ham. Among its guests, Dillard House has hosted Henry Ford, President Jimmy Carter and ambassador Andrew Young. Established in 1917, it is operated by descendants of Capt. John Dillard who relocated to the region after serving in the American Revolution.

Harvest Moon Cafe is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northwest Georgia. With dishes like fried green tomatoes with chipotle pimento cheese and bacon jam on grilled focaccia, diners soon realize that the Rome restaurant lives up to its promise of serving “food that makes your tongue smile.” Harvest Moon serves lunch daily, dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch.

Farm fresh

From Atlanta to Valdosta, Georgia Grown Farmers Market Showcases are

scheduled throughout the summer. The events connect farmers and producers directly with consumers. When researching travel, check the Georgia Grown website for a listing of showcases for 2015.

Located about 30 miles south of Macon, Lane Southern orchards in Fort Valley puts fun into a farm visit. The Lane family opened the farm and marketplace in 1908. Visitors can hop on a tram for a tour of the orchards or watch peaches being packed. The marketplace offers Lane products and other Georgia-grown produce.

For more Georgia culinary tour possibilities, visit www.ExploreGeorgia.org

Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, Savannah

Lane Southern orchards, Fort Valley

•

G EORGIA G ROWN T RAI l 37

Two ways to explore Georgia’s first agritourism highway

Tour No. 1 (East) Day One

Arrive at Hampton inn Adel and check in. Relax until an evening wine tasting at Horse Creek Winery in Sparks. Sample award-winning muscadine wines made from grapes grown on Horse Creek’s 40-acre Nashville, Ga., vineyard and enjoy a bistro dinner.

Return to accommodations.

Day Two

Begin the day with the Hampton inn Adel breakfast buffet.

Then, depart for a morning of guided tours. First is perry Vineyard in Nashville, Ga. which provides Horse Creek Winery with its muscadine grapes. Explore the production facility and check out the gift shop before boarding the tram for a vineyard tour.

Next, it’s off to Little Duck Farms pecan orchard, packaging facility and gift shop in Ray City. A third-generation, family-owned

•

• P lANTATION TRACE

business, Little Duck produces fine pecans, pasture-raised beef and pork, as well as select vegetables.

View the murals of Lakeland before heading to Georgia olive Farms, Georgia’s largest olive orchard. Experience the quality of fresh virgin olive oil before visiting the grits mill on Shaw Farms.

Lunch is a picnic affair at Ford Farm in Lakeland, where the group will enjoy Georgia-grown products from the trail.

Then, head to Homerville for shopping at Avriett House or Bruce’s Honey Shack.

Next, it’s off to Reed Bingham State park, a favorite of American bald eagles. Enjoy a park naturalist presentation and a pontoon boat ride up river to view wildlife.

Return to accommodations to freshen up.

End the evening with a Georgia-grown dinner at the parrish House, an 1860s farm house surrounded by cotton and corn.

Tour No. 2 (West)

Day Three

Have breakfast at the hotel and bring a Georgia-grown box lunch for the road.

Arrive at George t. Bagby State park & Lodge in Fort Gaines and settle in.

Enjoy a wine reception and dinner at

•

the pilot House Grill Restaurant on site. Overnight at the lodge.

Day Four

After breakfast at the lodge, depart for White oak pastures, a 2,500-acre, multigenerational farm, restaurant and gift shop.

Have lunch at White oak, then head for Still pond Vineyard, the South’s largest commercial vineyard. Each tour includes wine tasting, a vineyard tour via tram, distillery tour and complimentary gift.

Next, it’s off to packer produce. Groups can taste local products and place an order; packer produce ships its products throughout the u.S.

Check in to Hampton inn in Moultrie.

Cap off the evening with a Georgiagrown dinner at the Square Restaurant & Bar, featuring a farm-fresh local menu, craft beers, wine list and full bar.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Georgia Grown Trail: Highway 37 (229) 896-2281: (229) 686-5123 http://georgiagrowntrail37.com

Muscadine grapes

Day One

Vidalia is known around the world as the source of sweet onions. Begin exploring in the onion’s namesake, a town full of local flavor. Stop for a hello at the Vidalia Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, which shares a building with the Vidalia onion Museum.

Enjoy barbecue, seafood or Southern favorites at a Vidalia restaurant.

in the afternoon, visit the university of Georgia Vidalia onion and Vegetable Research Center, Vidalia Valley or R&K Greenhouses to see how Georgia’s official state vegetable is grown, processed and turned into Georgia-made products.

Check out the Market on Madison, an open-air venue that attracts farmers, artists and crafters to downtown Dublin.

Stay in Dublin for dinner and overnight or return to Vidalia.

Day Two

After breakfast at the hotel, head to Red Brick Farm in Douglas. Owners Caroline Ables and Lamar Merritt are passionate about locally grown food. They’re eager to welcome visitors to their farm that produces strawberries, pumpkins and other seasonal produce.

Café

@ 210, Vidalia

After the farm tour, travel to Lyons, which began as a railroad town in the late 19th century. Enjoy lunch at the city’s fine dining restaurant, elements Bistro & Grill. Executive chef John Mark Lane opened the restaurant in 2007.

Follow with a visit to Watermelon Creek Vineyard in Glennville. Specializing in Georgia-grown items, the rustic winery produces muscadine wines, jams and sauces fresh from the vineyard.

The 1773 Farm Tour in Glennville introduces groups to the property, including the

tasting room and vineyard store, and to the winemakers.

Stay for a catered dinner at the Bud Break Banquet Hall and Vineyard terrace or head back to Vidalia. Return to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

Day Three

Visit Claxton, the hometown of a Georgia tradition — the fruitcake. At the familyowned Georgia Fruit Cake Company, order a slice to eat right away and pick up a tin or two to take home as gifts.

The Hunter Cattle Company, located just outside Brooklet, practices sustainable farming with grass-fed beef, pastured pork and sheep, and free-range poultry. The whole group can hop aboard the farm wagon to see the farm’s operations up close.

From the Hunter Cattle Company, it isn’t far to Statesboro, home to Georgia Southern university. The vibrant college town has a delightful downtown, which will provide the perfect setting for lunch and afternoon shopping.

Lastly, set out on a tour of eagle Creek Brewery, which includes a souvenir pint glass and the chance to taste six Georgiamade brews.

Star power

Famous activists, athletes, musicians and celebrity chefs hail from Georgia

Georgia has one lengthy list of famous natives. And it’s only getting longer.

From well-known actors and musicians to athletes, politicians and inspiring places, Georgia is a red carpet destination.

Albany’s allure

Ray Charles plaza is reason enough to visit Albany. There are benches to sit on while listening to recordings of the multiaward-winning and honored resident — especially “Georgia on My Mind,” the state song. The audio is broadcast from a life-size statue of Charles seated at a piano.

There is always a possibility that Paula Deen may be visiting; Deen was born in Albany. As was Nancy Lopez, whose golf swing still intimidates golfers of all ages. Olympian

Film frenzy

in Covington, one of the treasures Along i-20 communities just east of Atlanta, the draw is filming locations. its most current fictional incarnation is “Mystic Falls, Virginia” for The Vampire Diaries. More than 60 films have been produced in Covington.

Fans line up in Coweta County for tours of filming sites from the AMC series The Walking Dead. Guided tours are the best way to visit the locations as the narratives often provide insider scoops.

The peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau offers the Southern Hollywood Film Tour, which visits film and television sites in and around Peachtree City. Stops include locations for Sweet Home Alabama and Joyful Noise.

The elegant surroundings of the Swan House, part of the Atlanta History Center, make it one of the most photographed landmarks in the state’s capital. it also can be seen in films. its latest location credit is in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Rock ‘n’ soul

There are plenty of reasons that give Macon-Bibb County license to call itself the “Song and Soul of the South.” it is the

birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll’s Little Richard, the legendary Otis Redding whose statue is one of the most photographed in Macon, and the Allman Brothers Band, whose career is honored at the Big House museum.

When the Mars theatre opened in Springfield 60 years ago, it opened a world of entertainment to the small town near Savannah. Westerns brought out the crowds until the advent of television led to the theater’s closing. Movies returned in 2014 when the renovated Mars reopened as an entertainment venue.

Near Rome, oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum play a key role in telling the story of a woman’s vision of education for needy children. Miss Berry’s dedication allowed her dream to eventually expand from elementary education through college.

Alice Coachman and San Francisco Giants star Buster Posey also call Albany home.

Ray Charles plaza, Albany

Destinations roll out the red carpet for groups

{ ABOVE: HOlly TROllEy, COVINGTON }

Swan House, Atlanta

RO l E MODE l S

Day One

in LaGrange, tour Bellevue, a leading example of Greek Revival architecture. The Fuller E. Callaway Foundation donated the antebellum home to the LaGrange Woman’s Club, which cares for the building.

Stop for lunch before visiting Hills & Dales estate, the historic home of the Callaway Sr. family. The grounds of the Georgian italian-style villa, circa 1914, include Ferrell Gardens, among the best preserved 19th-century boxwood parterre gardens in the southeastern united States.

Callaway Gardens, purchased by Cason Callaway to preserve nature and use as a leisure resort, is in pine Mountain. This estate provides full public access to trails, golf, special events, meetings and the magnificent gardens.

Overnight in pine Mountain.

Day Two

in the morning, the tour skirts F.D. Roosevelt State park en route to the Little White House, built while Roosevelt was governor of New York. The president was drawn to the

area because of the thermal spring waters. in 1945, while posing for a portrait at the property, FDR suffered a stroke. The “unfinished portrait” is featured at the museum.

Stop for lunch on the way to Columbus. Admission is free to the Columbus Museum and its Bradley Olmstead Garden. Find traveling exhibits and selections from the permanent collection, such as The Peale Family and George Washington paintings.

Check into lodging before leaving for the Springer opera House. it is home to one of the country’s most vibrant profes-

sinal theater companies and hosts a MainStage Series and regional theater productions.

Overnight in Columbus.

Day Three

Start the morning at the National Civil War Naval Museum for a look at the sailors, soldiers and civilians that were affected by both navies during the American Civil War. Overlooking the Chattahoochee River, the museum houses the largest surviving Confederate warship, the CSS Jackson and a replica of the uSS Water Witch, the only ship to serve both sides during the war.

Following lunch, depart for Americus, check into lodging and dine. Meet at the Rylander theatre for a tour and concert. The restored Moller Theater Pipe Organ is one of only two remaining in the state, the other at Fox theatre in Atlanta. Overnight in Americus.

Day Four

Tour the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in plains. The complex tells the story of a boy from a rural community who became president of the united States and received the Nobel Peace Prize. The site includes Plains High School, Historic District of Plains, the Train Depot, Carter Boyhood Farm and Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trial.

Spend free time in plains and then depart for home.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 999-1613 www.visitcolumbusga.com

LaGrange - Troup County Chamber of Commerce (706) 884-8671 www.lagrangechamber.com

Pine Mountain Tourism Association (800) 441-3502 www.pinemountain.org

Follow in the footsteps of those that made a difference

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, plains

l EGENDS OF THE PAGE AND SCREEN

Brake for literary, movie and TV sites in Historic Heartland

Day One

Begin the afternoon in Macon with a stop at the downtown visitors center to view a video about the heritage of the area, then follow a step-on guide for a tour of historic homes and a box lunch at the Federated Garden Club Headquarters, circa 1910.

Leave for Warner Robins for an afternoon of u.S. Air Force history at the Museum of Aviation. Guided tours include stepping inside a C-130 Hercules aircraft.

Relax at the hotel before exploring the Grand opera House on a behind-the-scenes tour that includes dinner on the grand stage.

Overnight in Macon.

Day Two

After breakfast, be ready for a road trip all about filmmaking. Enjoy movie history in Covington, one of the communities on the treasures Along i-20, known as a shopping hot spot. Covington enjoys a second moniker, the “Hollywood of the South.” Step-on guided tours highlight the area’s history and filming locations. The most popular filming stops feature The Vampire Diaries series.

Stop for lunch along the way in Juliette, an unincorporated area in Monroe County that was the location of the Whistle Stop Cafe in the iconic film, Fried Green Tomatoes. Stick around for a serving of its namesake dish and a few photos. Visit the town shops for gifts to take home.

Return to Macon and tour Sidney Lanier Cottage House Museum, birthplace of the poet, musician and soldier. Among the items at the historic home are one of his flutes, wife Mary Day’s wedding dress and numer-

ous Lanier portraits and first editions. Dine and overnight in Macon.

Day Three

Enjoy breakfast, then depart for Milledgeville, known as the First Lady of Georgia and the state’s former capital. Located on Georgia’s Antebellum trail, it is the home of Andalusia Farm, former estate of American literary giant Flannery O’Connor. Born in Savannah, O’Connor penned two novels and 32 short stories. Her work heavily incorporated Georgia settings.

After lunch in Milledgeville, depart for eatonton, birthplace of Pulitzer Prizewinning author Alice Walker and the late S. Truett Cathy, founder of the Chick-fil-A chain of restaurants. Visit the uncle Remus Museum at turner park and learn about the life and writing of Joel Chandler Harris, author of numerous Br’er Rabbit stories. The museum is a log cabin made from two original putnam County slave cabins.

Return to Macon for dinner and the overnight.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Covington-Newton County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (800) 616-8626 www.gocovington.com

Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce (706) 485-7701 www.eatonton.com

Forsyth-Monroe County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (478) 994-7000 www.themiddleofeverywhere.com

Georgia’s Antebellum Trail www.antebellumtrail.org

Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau (478) 743-1074 www.maconga.org

Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins

Experience a world-class museum

The National Infantry Museum

T O H O N O R

T O E D U C AT E

“There are individual war heroes, but this place makes a hero of the Infantry itself – the legions of anonymous patriots whom history does not record but whose service and sacrifice is crucial to the success of our country ” – Colin Powell, Former Secretary of State; Retired Four-Star General

The National Infantry Museum honors the sacrifices of the U S Infantry past, present and future In Columbus, outside the gates of Fort Benning See why this is a A Place to Remember

OPEN TUES-SAT 9-5PM, SUN 11-5PM, CLOSED MON (except federal holidays) | NATIONALINFANTRYMUSEUM.ORG

T O R E M E M B E R

Vietnam Memorial Plaza and Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall

Miss Scarlett and Miss Margaret

Tour the home of ‘Gone With the Wind’ author

{ ABOVE: ROAD TO TARA M USEUM, jONESBORO }

Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind, was born in Atlanta in 1900, 35 years after the end of the Civil War.

Like her most famous creation, Scarlett O’Hara, Mitchell was a Georgia girl to the core. Both ladies experienced a city in flux — Scarlett’s Atlanta was weathering the war, and Mitchell’s hometown was forging ahead.

Seeing Scarlett

Now, 150 years after the Battle of Atlanta and 75 years after the world premiere of the Gone With the Wind film, Scarlett remains a symbol of Atlanta.

Fans of the book and movie will find many places to follow in the author’s footsteps. They can step into the fictional world of Tara Plantation and see where the Civil War shaped history.

A walk through the Road to tara Museum in Jonesboro provides an overview from the Battle of Atlanta to when Gone With the Wind dazzled on the silver screen.

The Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square features a world-class collection of movie treasures. See an original honeymoon gown donned by Vivien Leigh in the film and other costume

pieces, promotional items from the movie and Mitchell’s own copies of the novel.

Author’s home

The Margaret Mitchell House, a Tudor Revival building in downtown Atlanta, also draws the attention of Gone With the Wind fans.

Operated by the Atlanta History Center, the three-story house was home to Mitchell and husband John Marsh beginning in 1925.

The Atlanta History Center also has a 33-acre campus in the Buckhead neighborhood; it houses one of the largest Civil War exhibits in the country.

More stops on Georgia’s Gone With the Wind trail are a must for fans. The Fulton County public Library headquarters — located at 1 Margaret Mitchell Square — features a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, across the street from a monument erected in her honor. The monument honors Mitchell’s memory with a waterfall and columned sculpture.

Gone, but not forgotten

Guided walking tours at Historic oakland Cemetery show where Mitchell was laid to rest, close to golf legend Bobby Jones and 3,000 Confederate soldiers.

Atlanta Movie tours brings film buffs to places throughout Mitchell’s Atlanta. The entire three-hour tour aboard a luxury motorcoach is led by a costumed interpreter portraying Mitchell. it is best described as a “Broadway show on wheels.”

See Georgia through the eyes of its favorite daughter

Margaret Mitchell House, Atlanta

D REAMS OF TARA

Read between the pages at important novel and film locations

Day One

Get an early start at one of the most extensive collections of Margaret Mitchell’s photographs, books and personal items. The Atlanta-Fulton public Library System’s Central Library contains close to 1,500 pieces including 73 editions of 35 translations of Gone With the Wind and even the Remington typewriter used to write her novel.

Continue on to one of Atlanta’s most well-known attractions, Atlanta Cyclorama & Museum. The three-dimensional panorama with music and narration of the painting depicts the Battle of Atlanta and some of the most pivotal moments in American history. The Cyclorama will be moving from its current Grant park location to the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead in 2016.

Stop for lunch at either pittypat’s porch or Mary Mac’s tea Room for fantastic Southern cuisine and an experience that all groups have loved for years.

Following lunch, head to Historic oakland Cemetery, a Victorian garden cemetery that is also a magnificent sculpture and botanical garden, and the resting place for Margaret Mitchell and thousands of other Atlanta notables and pioneers.

Next, head south approximately 30 minutes to Jonesboro and visit Road to tara Museum. Visitors can relive Rhett and

Scarlett’s sweeping romance by enjoying the museum’s original movie props and wardrobe items, original manuscripts and an extensive photo gallery.

Conclude the afternoon at the beautiful Stately oaks plantation, also in Jonesboro. Visitors can explore the grandeur and architectural influence of the antebellum period at the historic home that was built in 1839.

Day Two

Begin the day visiting Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park. Located approximately 30 minutes north of downtown Atlanta, this park is a 2,965-acre National Battlefield that preserves the battleground where the Confederate army temporarily stopped General William T. Sherman’s troops’ advance southward before the fall of Atlanta. The visitor center houses numerous exhibits that illustrate the history of the Atlanta Campaign and the battle that took place there on June 27, 1864.

Continue toward Atlanta and stop in Marietta. The historic town square is an attraction in itself with several unique dining experiences and quaint shopping. Downtown Marietta also houses Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square. Enjoy an extensive collection of memorabilia, ranging from the original Bengaline honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh in the movie to scripts, promotional pieces and film posters.

Next, travel back 50 years to a dining experience that is an Atlanta tradition. Swan Coach House is located in the heart of historic Buckhead and welcomes groups to sophisticated regional fare along with

Historic oakland Cemetery, Atlanta

traditional Southern favorites such as cheese straws, secret-recipe chicken salad and more.

After lunch, head to Atlanta History Center to explore Georgia’s past through awardwinning exhibitions and two historic houses. See more than 1,400 original artifacts in one of the largest Civil War exhibitions in the nation.

Conclude the day at Margaret Mitchell House in midtown Atlanta. Visit the place Margaret Mitchell affectionately nicknamed “the Dump” and view the birthplace of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone With the

Wind. Guided tours are offered daily and visitors can explore exhibitions on the movie and the life and times of Margaret Mitchell.

Atlanta

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta History Center

Inside CNN Studio Tour

Margaret Mitchell House, Atlanta

Big time adventure and sports

scenery

Spectators and outdoor enthusiasts find their favorites

There is nothing minor about sports in Georgia.

Major sporting events draw fans into stadiums that are works of art, celebrating histories worth learning.

Major, high-speed fun

in the capital, find philips Arena in the heart of the Luckie Marietta District. Home to the NBA Atlanta Hawks and the WNBA Atlanta Dream, the NBA’s only LEEDcertified arena draws more than 1.6 million visitors annually.

The Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia State university Panthers, also offers stadium tours.

At Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Braves in Lawrenceville, enjoy an intimate baseball experience with the MLB Atlanta Braves’ AAA club.

The history of the Atlanta Braves and its previous incarnations is highlighted in the ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum & Hall of Fame at turner Field. Guided tours of the ballpark and the museum and hall are offered year-round.

Armed with a Hall of Fame All-Access Pass, fans of collegiate sports spend hours at the College Football Hall of Fame, which is connected to the Georgia World Congress

Center. The Helmet Wall features more than 700 college football teams; stories about the young men who wore their school’s colors resonate throughout the building.

Located in Hampton, Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) offers a number of experiences. Watching an official NASCAR race is one. Getting behind the wheel for a turn on the track is another. Six different racing adventure schools offer driving experiences at AMS, during which visitors suit up and slip behind the wheel for a ride around the 1.54-mile quad oval.

Paddle and pan

The Chattahoochee River beckons outdoor types in Roswell. The Chattahoochee Nature Center is the oldest and largest private, non-profit natural science learning center in the Southeast. There are 27 species of native wildlife and 127 acres of native plants and gardens within.

Adventure seekers also find thrills in silent sports in the Northeast Georgia Mountains, where it is easy to tour the beauty created by Mother Nature. Panning for gold in Dahlonega or hiking in Amicalola Fall State Park takes a little more effort. Find toccoa Falls on the toccoa Falls College campus; the falls are 26 feet higher than Niagara Falls in New York.

Old-time pastime

in Savannah, the past meets the present at Historic Grayson Stadium, circa 1926, then home of the Savannah indians. The indians were the first team in the South Atlantic League to break the color barrier when Al “izzy” israel and Junior Reedy started on Opening Day in 1953. Today the Savannah Sand Gnats take the field in the historic stadium as the farm team for the MLB New York Mets. philips Arena, Atlanta

{ ABOVE: COOlRAy FIE lD, lAWRENCEVI llE }

Photo by Kyle Hess

AT lANTA’ S GOT GAME

Night and day trips for sports fans

Day One

Motorsports fans can spend up to a full weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, especially when a NASCAR competition is in town. During the rest of the year, there’s plenty to see and do on speedway tours that include back-of-the-stands, Victory Lane and two laps on the track.

Soccer fans can check out Atlanta Silverback park, home to the Atlanta Silverbacks men’s professional, women’s semi-pro and reserve soccer teams. The stadium seats 5,000. u.S. Soccer legend Eric Wynalda is the team’s technical director.

Replay the day over a hot dog special at the Varsity drive-in restaurant. The original has grown from a “lunching pad” to eight sister locations. the Varsity can handle crowds — the two-acre downtown Atlanta location can accommodate 600 cars and more than 800 people inside. All meals are made to order, so when someone hollers, “Have your order in your mind and your money in your hand,” be ready.

Overnight in Atlanta.

Day Two

Tour turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves. Tours are available year-round. The Braves Tour includes a behind-the-scenes video about the park from virtual hosts Bobby

Cox, John Smoltz and Dale Murphy. Be sure to see this beautiful ballpark before the Braves move to Suntrust park, a new stadium complex in the Cumberland highrise district.

Next, check out philips Arena and an Atlanta Dream game if the timing is right. The WNBA franchise has qualified for the playoffs in five of its six years in Atlanta and has reached the WNBA Finals three times. The Dream offers several interactive fan experiences, such as meet and greets. Traditional and student groups of more than 50 can propose a member to sing the national anthem at the game. Group photos on the court are permitted after the game.

Another option is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Georgia Dome, home of the NFL Atlanta Falcons and NCAA Georgia State

university Panthers football team. The dome opened in 1992 as the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world. Tours explore the 200-foot-high observatory deck, press box, suites, club lounges, lower level, locker room and the field.

Dine in downtown Atlanta.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (404) 521-6600 www.atlanta.net

turner Field, Atlanta

Georgia Dome, Atlanta

H EADS UP, OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

Snap, crackle and zip across northeast Georgia

Day One

Spend the morning at Skip Barber Racing School at Road Atlanta in Braselton to role-play a racecar driver through one of the driving experiences available at the track. Slip into a fire suit and speed around the 2.54-mile, 12-turn oval.

Then, board the motorcoach for the ride to the alpine-inspired town of Helen, where the comfort of Country inn & Suites by Carlson awaits.

Day Two

Enjoy breakfast at the inn before leaving for one of the stables in Helen for a morning ride in the Blue Ridge Mountains, perhaps on a trail by the Chattahoochee River. Armed with box lunches, board the coach for a ride through grand swaths of green to the Chattooga River at the state line. The Chattooga is considered the crown jewel of rivers in the southeastern united States. A section of the Chattooga was featured as the fictional Cahulawassee River in James Dickey’s book and movie, Deliverance. Arrangements can be made with an area outfitter to have canoes waiting for the group to raft section iii or iV.

Return to Helen.

Day Three

it is a short drive to Lula where the North Georgia Canopy tours is waiting with a selection of zip lining courses. The threehour Adventure Tour is a favorite. it includes two sky bridges, three nature walks, the fastest zips on the course, zips over three ponds, two zips over the North oconee River and a rappel.

A high-power snack may help calm the thrill of the ziplining experience, but a dip in a fresh water lake may be even better. Spend the afternoon in Gainesville at the beach at Lanier islands on Lake Lanier.

Return to Helen.

Day Four

Check out of the Country inn & Suites and head toward tallulah Gorge for a morning hike to the famed tallulah Falls. Tour the nature exhibits and watch the award-winning film about the flora, fauna and history of the gorge.

Enjoy lunch at a tallulah Falls-area eatery, then leave for Dahlonega where a fleet of kayaks awaits your group to paddle on the etowah or Chestatee rivers. Both offer Class i and ii rapids and opportunities for flat-water experiences.

Enjoy dinner and overnight in Dahlonega.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau (800) 858-8027 www.helenga.org

Dahlonega-Lumpkin Chamber & Visitors Bureau (800) 231-5543 www.dahlonega.org

tallulah Falls, tallulah Gorge State park

GREAT ATTRACTIONS FOR STUDENTS

Culinary Movies and VIP

National Infantry Museum Columbus

Preserving one of the greatest collections of military artifacts in the world, this museum emphasizes the values that define the infantryman. The National infantry Museum (NiM) offers classroom-based instruction and living history demonstrations for student groups. in addition to numerous exhibits, the NiM features an iMAX theater, combat simulators and an on-site restaurant. (706) 685-5800, www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org

Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village, Tifton

Stroll down Main Street and back in time at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village. The historic site includes the home of the town founder, Capt. H.H. Tift, as well as an 1890s farmstead and 35 other structures from the 19th century, including a working sawmill and pharmacy where you can still order a fountain Coke and other treats at the window. At this project of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, costumed interpreters lead students through workshops and farm activities. (229) 391-5205, www.abac.edu/museum

Cooking schools

Sandy Springs and Atlanta area

Time in the kitchen is more than making food; it’s a life lesson, team-building event and lots of fun, too. in and around Atlanta, several cooking schools welcome students to their kitchens. The Young Chefs Academy of Sandy Springs is geared toward students with tailored field trips and cooking parties that include time in the kitchen, plus plenty of good food to eat and an academic lesson to support the curriculum. (404) 255-9263, www.youngchefsacademy.com

Centennial Olympic Park

Atlanta

The 21-acre home of the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics holds a wealth of history and cultural significance. Granite from each of the five continents represented in the Olympic Games is used in the park. it is also home to the Fountain of Rings, the world’s largest interactive fountain using the Olympic symbol of five interconnecting rings. (404) 223-4412, www.centennialpark.com

Sports

Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Columbus

interactivity is the name of the game at this Columbus State university attraction located along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. its immersive Omnisphere Theater presents the solar system and the human body like no other technology. The MeadWestvaco Observatory operates several telescopes and offers regular public observing sessions. Students can use video and still cameras to capture high-detail images of celestial objects. (706) 649-1470, www.ccssc.org

Covington Walk of Stars, Covington

Nicknamed “The Hollywood of the South,” Covington has hosted numerous films and TV shows over the years, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Sweet Home Alabama and The Vampire Diaries. Another of the more notable is the 2000 sports drama film, Remember the Titans, starring Denzel Washington and based on a true story. The Covington Walk of Stars celebrates this film and its actors as well as others who have shaped the history of Covington. (800) 616-8626, www.gocovington.com

Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village, tifton

National infantry Museum, Columbus

Explore these group-friendly sites

Family Reunions

Gone With the Wind

Fulton County Public Library Atlanta

Atlanta’s main library is located on Margaret Mitchell Square, the same place where the movie, Gone With the Wind, enjoyed its world premiere in 1939. The square is packed with sculptures, and inside, the library features a special exhibit dedicated to Mitchell’s Civil War epic novel, Gone With the Wind. (404) 730-1700, www.afplweb.com/central-hq

National Museum of the Mighty eighth Air Force, pooler

National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler

Activated during World War ii, the Mighty Eighth started in Savannah. Tens of thousands of men and women fought with the Mighty Eighth in Europe, compiling an impressive record of service. its museum includes interactive exhibits, the City of Savannah B-17 Bomber and a replica of a 16th-century English church, Chapel of Fallen Eagles. Guided tours and educational programs connect youngsters with World War ii history. (912) 748-8888, www.mightyeighth.org

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Blue Ridge

Passengers of all ages enjoy rides aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The journey begins at the 1905 depot tucked in the mountain town of Blue Ridge, en route to the twin towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. The two-hour layover includes plenty of time to have lunch, shop and get ice cream. The train returns to Blue Ridge an hour later. (877) 413-8724, www.brscenic.com

Patrick R. Cleburne Confederate Memorial Cemetery, Jonesboro

Fifteen miles south of Atlanta, Clayton County preserves its history and connection to Gone With the Wind. Margaret Mitchell placed Tara, Scarlett O’Hara’s beloved family home, in Clayton County. Perhaps Scarlett would have visited the Patrick R. Cleburne Confederate Memorial Cemetery, the final resting place for more than 1,000 Confederate soldiers who died in the 1864 Battle of Jonesboro. (800) 662-7829, www.atlantastruesouth.com

Civil Rights

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta

This is the place to immerse students in MLk’s legacy. The center’s library and archives in Atlanta is the largest repository of primary source materials on MLk and the American Civil Rights Movement in the world. it is a treasure trove packed with civil rights organization records and more than 200 oral history interviews with MLk’s teachers, friends, family and associates. Records are available by appointment. (404) 526-8900, www.thekingcenter.org

Herndon Home Museum, Atlanta

Built in 1910 by Alonzo Franklin Herndon, the first black millionaire in Atlanta, the Herndon Home is a 15-room beaux-arts classical style structure built exclusively by black craftsmen. it opened as a tour museum in 1983. Herndon founded the Atlanta Life insurance Company. His wife, Adrienne McNeil Herndon, was an aspiring actress and one of the first three black professors at indiana university. (404) 581-9813, www.theherndonhome.org

Fulton County public Library, Atlanta

A historic journey for civil rights

MlK’s legacy, museums and important churches illustrate march toward equality

Georgia played crucial role in the movement

{ ABOVE: NATIONAl CENTER FOR CIVI l & HUMAN RIGHTS, ATlANTA }

in the mid-20th century, civil rights were a heartfelt priority for Georgia residents. Their leadership role in social reform was marked by courage, perseverance and faith.

Throughout the state, memorials and museums mark turning points during a tumultuous time in united States history.

Coastal connection

The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum in Savannah has a story to tell. Located in the former Wage Savings and Loan Bank, once the largest financial institution for blacks in the country, its three floors contain records of Savannah’s civil rights saga. The museum is named for the late Dr. Ralph Mark Gilbert, pastor at the historic First African Baptist Church and a leader in the struggle for equality.

Faith perseveres

The Albany Civil Rights institute found a home in Old Mount zion Church, the site of mass meetings in southwest Georgia. Four students sang a cappella to voice their opposition to slavery; Rutha Mae Harris, Bernice Johnson, Cordell Reagon and Charles Neblett called themselves the Freedom Singers. Their voices became the sound of civil rights around the world. The Freedom

Singers still sing a cappella at the church on the second Saturday of every month.

Across the street from Mt. zion, Martin Luther king Jr. addressed overflowing crowds at Shiloh Baptist Church. Shiloh is considered the birthplace of the Albany civil rights movement. A trail of footprints leads from the front of the church to the Albany bus station. They mark the route of the Albany civil rights march in 1961 that ended in mass arrests.

Churches across the state provided space for meetings and often havens during the Civil Rights Movement.

Dr. Charles Spencer Hamilton at the tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta hosted many famous activists, including Dr. king, congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and Thurgood Marshall, then an attorney.

in Columbus, the First African Baptist Church, which was founded in 1830 as a church for slaves, had white ministers until 1862. That year, the Rev. Harry Wilson became its first black minister.

Fight for freedom

inside the Morgan County AfricanAmerican Museum, visitors learn about freed-slave John Wesley Moore (1862-1908). As a free man, Moore was among an emerging group of African American property owners. By the time of his death, he had built the house and left his widow debt free with 67 acres of land.

Society, then and now, is the focus at the National Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta. Established in 2014, the center is among the must-see attractions at pemberton place — adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and the massive Georgia Aquarium.

Shiloh Baptist Church, Shiloh

T HE A MERICAN D REAM

Civil rights sites offer fresh perspective

Day One

Start the day’s tour on Auburn Avenue. Auburn was once the segregation line in Atlanta. The headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is located on Auburn Avenue; the SCLC was an early leader in the advancement of American Civil Rights, a role it retains today. Historically Auburn Avenue has been called the “Street of Pride.” Discover its stories at the Atlanta ApeX Museum, where a replicated street is one of the attractions.

Fill the morning with a stop at the Atlanta History Center. its 33 acres includes a complex of important houses, museums, gardens and trails. The 1928 Swan House and the 1860s Smith Family Farm are at the center, as is the Centennial olympic Games Museum, the Goizueta Gardens and the

Kenan Research Center.

Break for lunch to discuss the morning’s findings before heading to ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther king Jr. (MLk) was co-pastor with his father, the Rev. Martin Luther king Sr.

From the pulpit at ebenezer, MLk delivered many of his famous speeches, including “The American Dream.” ebenezer’s open door policy invites visitors to Sunday services and has done so for more than 124 years.

Schedule a stop at Hammonds House Museum. Hammonds is located in Atlanta’s West End. The museum has a permanent collection of work from American, African and Caribbean artists, including 18 pieces

from Romare Bearden. in his obituary, The New York Times called Bearden “one of America’s pre-eminent artists” and “the nation’s foremost collagist.”

Return to hotel.

Day Two

Start the morning at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site where his childhood home can be toured. The rangerled tour is free and lasts 30 minutes. Tour operators can pick up group tickets for timed entry. Tours of other related structures — Dr. King’s gravesite, Freedom Hall, Fire Station No. 6 and the Visitor Center — are self-guided.

Leave for Historic oakland Cemetery to pay respects to many of Atlanta and Georgia’s leading citizens. Golfer Bobby Jones is buried there as is author Margaret Mitchell and the honorable Maynard Jackson, the first African American mayor of a major city. Tours lead past elaborate mausoleums and sculptures.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (404) 521-6600 www.atlanta.net

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta

G EORGIA’ S SOUTHERN COAST

Festival fun in Savannah and a day on the Geechee shore

Day One

St. Simons Sound and the other inlets comprising Georgia’s seacoast have names reminiscent of European settlers. The barrier islands inhabited by the Geechee, descendants of freed slaves, are a different story. The Geechee worked the islands’ farms before emancipation.

Passing through areas of Georgia Lowcountry, notice the African American vernacular architecture — like a shotgun house built using local materials.

Find more examples on Sapelo island, one of three Georgia sites — along with the Geechee Kunda Cultural Center in Riceboro and pin point Heritage Museum in Savannah — included in the Geechee National Heritage Corridor.

Next, journey to Brunswick and HofwylBroadfield plantation Historic Site, which offers interactive demonstrations about the rice plantation and lowcountry.

Learn more about the oral history, folklore

and storytelling culture of the Geechee at the Geechee Kunda Cultural Arts Center & Museum in Riceboro.

Arrive back in Savannah in time for early dinner seating at Vic’s on the River. Vic’s is located in a former warehouse dating to 1858. The menu features twists on Southern favorites, such as wild Georgia shrimp served with smoked cheddar stone-ground grits with

applewood-smoked bacon and rosemary barbecue sauce.

The Black Heritage Festival is held every February at the Savannah Civic Center. Performances and events are free. The program includes performing and visual arts, cuisine and crafts.

Day Two

A morning discovering local history starts at the First African Baptist Church, which dates to 1775. it is the oldest African American congregation in the united States.

The King-tisdell Cottage is named for Eugene and Sarah king and Mrs. king’s second husband, Robert Tisdell. it is furnished to period with pieces typical of an African American residence of the late 20th century. The cottage features a restored Victorian center hall and is architecturally significant for its gingerbread ornamentation.

After lunch, visit the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum. Named for the father of Savannah’s civil rights movement, three floors are devoted to the African American community and tell of its struggle from slavery to the present.

Savannah’s Beach institute was built in 1867 as a school for the education of newly freed slaves. it served as such until 1919. it is now an African American cultural center with a dedicated program of arts, crafts, and traveling and local exhibits.

Meet up with tours by BJ for a tutorial and tour of Savannah’s connections to the underground Railroad.

Head back to the Savannah Civic Center for another evening at the Black Heritage Festival.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 933-2627 www.goldenisles.com

Visit Savannah (912) 238-1453 www.visitsavannah.com

King-tisdell Cottage, Savannah

We are family

Family reunions find a warm welcome at resorts, parks and museums

the ties that bind

When relatives choose to spend time together, they’re making a commitment to connect. For the planners, their commitment begins long before the getaway commences.

The location needs to be chosen, accommodations booked, invitations sent, activities planned, name tags written and food purchased.

Luckily for reunion planners, Georgia is a place that welcomes families with open arms.

Catching up in Atlanta

Many families connect in Atlanta, spending time at the state capitol, the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola and inside CNN Studio tour. The High Museum of Art also is popular with families as is a side trip to Roswell for outdoor adventure.

Thrill seekers and mild souls alike will find something to like at Six Flags over Georgia. Hurricane Harbor, a seven-acre waterpark, opened in 2014. Staff help reunion planners organize the outing with catered picnics, group discounts and venues.

With so much to do, it helps to engage an expert. Atlanta-based

Lamplighter tours has spent more than 25 years showing off the best of the city and beyond. Whether the family is interested in motorsports, a canal ride in Augusta, the Civil War, golf or beaches, Lamplighter’s experts can arrange a tour for the entire group.

Golden getaways

During the Gilded Age, titans of industry eyed the Georgia coast as their destination of choice for their families. Their opulent vacation spots now encompass the Jekyll island National Historic District. Guided trolley tours and museum exhibits give a peek into this sumptuous period.

Golden reunions also are had in Villa

Rica. One of its most popular attractions, the pine Mountain Gold Museum, offers a chance to pan for gold and gems. Families can gather at the Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex, a 6,000-square-foot facility perfect for large parties.

For families wishing to add a little luxury to their overnight stays, Resora, the Rock Ranch and Callaway Gardens all accommodate reunions in style.

Resora, a former plantation just outside Albany, has been transformed into an event venue. its cabins are appointed with luxurious touches, including chef-inspired kitchens.

Outdoor bonding

Campouts under the stars are commonplace at the Rock Ranch, located an hour south of the Atlanta airport. Picnics, u-pick produce, cooking classes, a zipline and meals bring people together at the ranch. Callaway Gardens fosters connections in many ways. Covering 6,500 acres in pine Mountain — just outside Columbus — the resort offers adventures year-round. Along with the gardens, families can spend time hiking, enjoying water sports, watching butterflies or celebrating the holidays with Fantasy in Lights.

ATlANTA

N ATURA l CONNECTIONS

Pack the sunscreen (and a sense of adventure) for the Georgia Coast

Day One

Family members arrive in Savannah throughout the afternoon and check in to the hotel.

The inn at ellis Square and Stay in Savannah’s family of hotels welcome reunion groups with special services and perks.

After settling in, gather the entire family together for time on the town. Dine, catch up, watch the sunset and prepare for the next day’s island getaway.

Day Two

Get an early start and head to tybee island, Savannah’s beach. Go for a swim or lounge on the shore. Those who would like can go bird watching, rent a kayak or climb 178 steps to the top of the tybee Light Station.

Have lunch on the beach or at one of the island’s eateries. Then return to Savannah and head to Hogan’s Marina. Join Bull River Cruises for an eco-tour aboard the Island Explorer.

After returning to land, it’s time to explore Savannah’s history. old town trolley tours offers three ways to sit back and enjoy the city — a narrated sightseeing tour, evening

ghost tour and a Paula Deen tour that includes a buffet dinner at her Lady & Sons Restaurant.

After the tour and dinner, return to the hotel for some quality time.

Day Three

okefenokee Adventures provides guided interpretive adventures throughout the okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Step aboard a 24-foot Carolina skiff with plenty of room and canopies. Listen to the guide talk about the swamp’s wildlife, water and trees.

Next, head north to the Cumberland island National Seashore. Start at the mainland visitors center in St. Marys. After the introduction, take the ferry to the barrier island. Ferry reservations are required. Take a guided tour, follow a hiking trail or comb the beach.

Return to the mainland and travel to Georgia’s Golden isles. Visit Jekyll island or St. Simons island, connecting from the mainland via Brunswick.

Once the retreat of the Gilded Age industrial barons, Jekyll island has a fascinating history. Take a tram tour of the National

Or visit St. Simons island, the largest of the Golden isles. Step back into colonial history at Christ Church, Fort Frederica National Monument or St. Simons Lighthouse Museum.

Stay on the island for dinner and an evening stroll on the beach before heading back to the hotel in Savannah.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 933-2627 www.goldenisles.com

Visit Tybee Island (912) 786-5444 www.visittybee.com

Historic Landmark District, explore the Georgia Sea turtle Center and visit the beach village shopping and dining district by the new convention center.

St. Simons Lighthouse, St. Simons island

T IME TOGETHER

•

Connect for family fun in Historic High Country

Day One

Meet the family and check in at Barnsley Resort, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Adairsville.

Gather for a tour of this Southern estate’s history museum. Listen to the stories of builder Godfrey Barnsley and his tales of love and loss.

Next, visit Gordon-Lee Mansion, Chickamauga. The 1847 antebellum mansion was integral to the Battle of Chickamauga, both as a union headquarters and a Confederate hospital.

Chickamauga’s National Military park headquarters includes exhibits of the 1863 battle and a display of the Fuller Gun Collection of American Military Arms. The collection includes more than 300 examples of military long arms.

Find the Georgia Monument along the 7-mile driving tour as well as historical tablets and hiking trails. Guided tours and programs can be arranged.

After visiting the battlefield, head to Howard Finster’s paradise Garden in Summerville. This one-of-a-kind location celebrates the vision of tireless folk artist, Howard Finster.

Next visit Booth Western Art Museum in

Chickamauga Battlefield, Chickamauga

Cartersville. Younger members of the group can visit the Sagebush Ranch play area while others explore the art, sculptures and letters from each u.S. president.

For dinner, try pizza in downtown Cartersville or enjoy some authentic Georgia barbecue. Return to the resort.

Day Two

in the morning, experience a Georgia tradition — Lookout Mountain. See Rock City while following the walking trail along the top of Lookout Mountain. Check out Rock City Gardens’ caves, lush gardens and a 90-foot-tall waterfall. Visit Mother Goose Village, walk across the Swing-A-Long Bridge, explore Fairyland Caverns and see views of seven states at Lover’s Leap. After the walking tour, gather for lunch.

Return to Barnsley Resort to play a round of golf, visit the spa or take a dip in the pool. There’s also time to go fishing, kayaking or tour the gardens.

The complex gardens were originally designed to complement the italianate mansion. More than a century later, a new owner revived the gardens with mass plantings of roses. The gardens are open to the public.

Day Three

Head north to Rossville, the home of Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement park. The family-friendly park features roller coasters, kiddie rides and the Soak Ya Water Park. Make sure to take a ride on the Ferris wheel, see bird’s-eye views of the park from the Alpine Way and take a whirl on the 1916 carousel.

After a day packed with fun, return to Barnsley Resort.

VISITORS RESOURCES

Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 733-2280 www.visitcartersvillega.com

Fannin County Chamber of Commerce (800) 899-6867 www.blueridgemountains.com

Faith takes root

Churches and religious sites celebrate devotion

Every week, many Georgians gather together for a Sunday service, Friday night prayer service or midweek Mass. They go to find peace amid busy times and to honor their faith commitments.

Time-honored traditions

Many congregations welcome visitors into their midst. Former president Jimmy Carter still teaches Sunday school regularly at Maranatha Baptist Church in plains.

Kiokee Baptist Church in Appling is proud to be Georgia’s oldest continuing Baptist church. The congregation near the South Carolina state line traces its roots to 1772 and remains active today.

Springfield Baptist Church has been a part of the Conyers community since 1879. its first members were former slaves and sharecroppers. in the decades since, the church has grown and flourished with more than 3,500 members.

Conyers is a popular destination for religious tours, as it is the home of Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The resident Trappist monks welcome visitors for tours, overnight retreats and daily prayers. The site, located 35 miles outside of Atlanta, includes rolling hills, a prayer walk, Stations of the Cross and walking trails.

Diversity reigns

A diverse group of Georgians worships at Atlanta’s Shrine of the immaculate Conception, which holds Mass once daily and twice on Sunday. The Catholic parish is eager to work with groups to schedule tours at other times.

Two locations have connections to religious history dating far before Georgia became a state. The ocmulgee National Monument in Macon preserves millennia of Native American culture, including the

Great Temple Mound and other earthworks. in LaGrange, explorations in Antiquity Center takes groups back to the world of the Bible with an authentic Passover meal, archaeological replicas and items from daily life. The newly opened Biblical Life Artifacts Gallery is the only museum in the Southeast to have a long-term collection of artifacts on loan from the israel Antiquities Authority.

Coastal concepts

The Georgia Coast fosters its connections to places and people of faith. Savannah’s historic houses of worship include the First African Baptist Church, founded in 1775, and Congregation Mickve israel, the third-oldest Jewish congregation in the united States.

Religious tours also visit the friendly Golden isles Church of God in Brunswick and Christ Church Frederica. The Episcopal house of worship on St. Simons island dates back to the mid 18th-century when the Rev. Charles Wesley served the people of Fort Frederica. His brother, John, visited in 1736 before founding Methodism.

The church weathered war and hard times. Today, the active congregation welcomes visitors to experience the beauty of the architecture, live oaks and stained-glass windows.

For more Georgia religious tour possibilities, visit www.ExploreGeorgia.org

Georgia has strong Baptist, Catholic and Episcopal heritage

{ ABOVE: C HRIST C HURCH FREDERICA, ST. S IMONS IS lAND }

Kiokee Baptist Church, Appling

Day One

Start the tour by arriving in Augusta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. Hear the story behind its Springfield community. Before the Civil War, it was home to free blacks, many of whom escaped from slavery.

in 1844, the congregation of the Springfield Baptist Church moved into a new home, a New England-style meetinghouse rarely seen in the South. By 1897, the congregation had grown and was ready for a new home, a red-brick Victorian Gothic structure. Both places of worship remain in Augusta.

Next, step into the spectacular Sacred Heart Cultural Center, housed in a former Catholic church. Now, the downtown structure hosts art exhibits, choral concerts and events.

Travel west on interstate 20 en route to downtown Greensboro. Enjoy lunch at the Yesterday Cafe, crowning the meal with a slice of buttermilk pie.

Listen to the story of penfield, a city named for Savannah silversmith Josiah Penfield. His contributions helped

old Mercer Chapel, now penfield Baptist Church

• C OME A ll y E FAITHFU l C lASSIC SOUTH O

LD M ERCER C HAPEL NOW P ENF ELD B APT ST C H u RCH S AM u EL T. G EER

lead to the creation of the Mercer institute (later Mercer university, its main campus in Macon). The Old Mercer Chapel remains in Greensboro, now home to the penfield Baptist Church.

Return to Augusta for dinner. Take a stroll along the Augusta Riverwalk before relaxing at the hotel.

Day Two

Today offers the chance to tour the Woodpecker trail. This historic motor route, with more than 200 miles in Georgia, connects Charlotte, N.C., with St. Petersburg, Fla.

Begin in Augusta with a visit to the 1804 First presbyterian Church. The current congregation gathers in the original structure designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument.

The Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, father of President Woodrow Wilson, served as pastor of the church from 1858 to 1870. During the Civil War, the church transformed into an infirmary for wounded soldiers — a scene witnessed by the young future president who lived across the street.

Travel south to Millen, where Buckhead Church is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Georgia. The congregation’s current church, a lovely Greek Revival building, dates to 1855.

Enjoy the scenery of George L. Smith State park, including the covered bridge, refurbished Parrish Mill and a lake. Stay for a picnic lunch before heading to Metter.

Enjoy the chance to tour Sower Min-

istries’ Guido Gardens. The landscaped gardens are located adjacent to the studio where the Sower TV show broadcasts. Next, visit the 1875 Salem Baptist Church, the first church built in Candler County.

Follow with visits to Graham united Methodist Church in Baxley, Shiloh primitive Baptist Church in Blackshear and the 1821 Sardis primitive Church in Folkston, the gateway to the okefenokee Swamp.

Stay in Folkston for dinner and the overnight.

Augusta

Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta

• R IGHT TO THE HEART

•

Inspiration abounds in Georgia’s Historic Heartland

Day One

Begin the tour in Conyers, just south of Atlanta. Here, Trappist monks welcome guests to their home, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit.

Begin in the visitor center, where the exhibits and film introduce the lives of the monks. See the stained-glass windows in the Abbey Church and learn about bonsai at the Monastery Garden Center.

Then, stop for coffee and shop the Abbey Store. Stroll the grounds, learning about the Cistercian Saints along the prayer walk or following the lakeside Stations of the Cross.

Head west to oxford, the small city where emory university began in 1836. A group of Methodists started the school, then known as Emory College, named for Bishop John Emory.

Tour the old Church, which opened in 1841 as a chapel for Emory students. Hear how the white clapboard church was used as an infirmary during the Civil War and how it was restored in the 1990s.

Head for a catered lunch at Rock eagle 4-H Center just north of eatonton. Situated amid oconee National Forest, the retreat center is operated by the university of Georgia

in support of 4-H. After lunch, see the Rock eagle Mount, a design constructed of milky quartz rocks, likely for religious purposes. Continue to the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. The 1895 Romanesque Revival building crafted from red bricks once housed a public school. Today, it is home to art exhibits, music performances, a museum shop and cultural experiences. in the late afternoon, arrive in Athens for

dinner in the college city’s vibrant downtown. Spend the evening with the Athens Master Chorale. Conductor Joseph Napoli founded the volunteer concert choir in 1989, which has performed in Athens, Atlanta and Asheville, as well as Carnegie Hall in New York.

After the concert, follow up with more live music or return to the hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Day Two

After breakfast at the hotel or an Athens restaurant, travel south to Macon. Tour one of the Georgia Trust’s gems, the Hay House. The National Historic Landmark, officially the National Historic Landmark JohnsonFelton-Hay House, was built between 1855 and 1859 in the italian Renaissance style. Take a guided tour to learn about the three families who called the mansion home and see the decorative arts collection.

in Warner Robins, spend time at the E.L. Greenway Welcome Center. Step into the old train depot to learn about communities surrounding Robins Air Force Base. Take a stroll down the Wellston trail or tour the Museum of Aviation.

After lunch in Warner Robins, wrap up the tour with a visit to Massee Lane Gardens. The nine-acre showpiece of the American Camellia Society features brick walkways, a rose garden, a visitor center and Japanese garden along with annuals, perennials and flowering trees.

VISITOR RESOURCES

Athens Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau (706) 357-4430 www.visitathensga.com

Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau (478) 743-3401 www.maconga.org

Warner Robins Convention & Visitors Bureau (478) 922-5100 www.warnerrobinsvisitorscenter.com

Hay House, Macon

Explore beauty and simplicity at the Monastery

of the Holy Spirit.

Honoring a centuries-old tradition of hospitality, Georgia’s Trappist monks welcome you. Nestled on more than 2,300 acres, the Monastery offers a serene setting for exploration, contemplation and recreation.

See the Gothic-style Abbey Church

Experience a day in the life of a monk and learn about monastic tradition at the Historic Museum

Browse through the Bonsai Garden and Nursery

Shop at the Abbey Garden Center and Abbey Store for locally-made crafts, outdoor décor or Christian books and monk-made fruitcake, fudge and biscotti

Stroll the scenic grounds or exercise on the PATH trail

Stay for the day or experience an overnight retreat

Open year-round and free to the public. Visit trappist.net for more information.

From the Indian Mounds of Ocmulgee to the storied African-American culture, Macon is the perfect destination to take you back in time.

Contact Kristen Simonton at 800.768.3401 or go online to book your tour.

new tubman african american museum opening summer 2015.

HI sto RI c HIGH co U nt RY

Destination Marketing organizations

Cartersville-Bartow County CVB

P.O. Box 200397 (mail); 54 B 50 GA Hwy. 20 (location) Cartersville 30120

Ph: (770) 387-1357 Fax: (770) 607-3104 www.visitcartersvillega.org

Contact: Louise Young Harris lyoungharris@cartersvillebartowcvb.org

Cartersville is a real Georgia gem just slightly north of Atlanta and an hour’s drive south of Chattanooga, Tenn. Must-see attractions include Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum and Barnsley Resort. Let us create a memorable custom itinerary to match your budget and interests. Ask us about LakePoint for Youth Travel — new in 2015!

Gordon County CVB 300 S. Wall St. Calhoun 30701 Ph: (706) 625-3200 Fax: (706) 625-5062 www.exploregordoncounty.com

Contact: Sarah Husser shusser@gordonchamber.org

Miniature castles, Civil War historic sites, New Echota Cherokee Capital and more await in Gordon County. Enjoy acclaimed entertainment at Calhoun’s restored GEM Theatre and Harris Arts Center. Shop the sales at Calhoun Premium Outlets. Find unique souvenirs in Downtown Calhoun and purchase fresh produce from local farms. Conveniently located on I-75 between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Gordon County offers easy access to plentiful dining choices, entertainment, shopping and lodging.

Greater Rome CVB 402 Civic Center Drive Rome 30161 Ph: (706) 295-5576 Fax: (706) 236-5029 http://romegeorgia.org Contact: Shelby Farrer Shelby@Romegeorgia.org

Tucked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is geographically located in the center of the Atlanta-Birmingham-Chattanooga triangle. Meeting spaces vary from a typical convention center to an unconventional refurbished dairy barn. Our classic town has grown in sophistication and has seasoned in character over the decades to become a unique portrait of Southern heritage and hospitality. Meet in Georgia’s Rome, where the rivers meet and the mountains begin!

Downtown Woodstock 8588 Main St. Woodstock 30188

Ph: (770) 924-0406 www.visitwoodstockga.com

Contact: Kyle Bennett kbennett@woodstockga.gov

Downtown Woodstock has 20 great local restaurants, 35 unique shops and more to offer visitors. A stroll around our charming downtown will be an enjoyable experience for any group.

Attractions

Bartow History Museum 4 E. Church St.

Cartersville 30120 Ph: (770) 382-3818

Fax: (770) 383-9314 www.bartowhistorymuseum.org

Contact: Trey Gaines Ph: (770) 382-3818, ext. 6286 treyg@bartowhistorymuseum.org

Through interactive exhibits and enlightening programs, Bartow History Museum illustrates the past and present of Georgia’s Bartow County. Visitors can explore Cherokee and pioneer cabins, sit in a one-room schoolhouse, listen to historic voices and much more. Gift shop on site. Can accommodate up to 100 people. Groups of 15 or more will receive group rates. Advance booking required for groups.

Booth Western Art Museum

501 Museum Drive

Cartersville 30120

Ph: (770) 387-1300 www.boothmuseum.org Contact: Marcia Dillard Ph: (770) 387-3849 marciad@boothmuseum.org

Booth Western Art Museum, an affiliate to the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000-square-foot museum where guests are invited to see America’s story through contemporary Western artwork, a presidential gallery, Civil War art gallery and Sagebrush Ranch, an interactive children’s gallery. Open since August 2003, Booth Museum is the only museum of its kind in the southeast and is the second-largest art museum in the state.

Bowman’s Restaurant

868 County Line Road Resaca 30735 Ph: (706) 624-3255 www.bowmansrestaurantandcatering.com Contact: Katherine Bowman bcbbq@bellsouth.net

Real home cooking! All Bowman’s dishes are slow cooked with ingredients from the farm, not the factory. We shuck our own corn and make the biscuits by hand. The proof isn’t just in our pudding, it’s in the entire menu. It is food that actually stirs your soul — comfort food at its best.

Calhoun’s GEM Theatre

114 N. Wall St. Calhoun 30701 Ph: (706) 625-3132 www.calhoungem.org Contact: Clare Lewis chl.gemtheatre@gmail.com

The GEM features the best of both the past and present as its appearance takes you back to 1939 and its amenities provide a state-of-the-art theater experience. The original GEM is best remembered as a movie theatre, but the renovated 461-seat GEM showcases a variety of entertainment.

Calhoun Premium Outlets

455 Belwood Road

Calhoun 30701 Ph: (706) 602-1305 www.premiumoutlets.com Contact: Linda Hale lhale@simon.com

Exceptional brands with extraordinary savings of 25 to 65 percent at 50 outlet stores. Find impressive savings at Ann Taylor, Carter’s, Coach, Gap Outlet, Gymboree, Jones New York, Nike, Old Navy, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more. Group tours receive additional discounts.

Cave Spring Welcome Center and Museum 4 Rome St.

Cave Spring 30124

Ph: (706) 331-3005 www.cityofcavespring.com Contact: Sandra Lindsey ddadir@cityofcavespring.com

Visit the Cave Spring Welcome Center for maps and walking tour of 26 historic structures. Cave Spring has over 90 structures on the National Registry of Historic Places. In beautiful Rolater Park you can tour the limestone cave, have a picnic by the spring or just relax and enjoy the scenery. Stroll through the historic downtown to shop at unique shops or eat in one of our delightful restaurants.

Dub’s High On The Hog 349 S. Wall St.

Calhoun 30701 Ph: (706) 602-5150

Contact: Monte or Jeff Erwin dubshighonthehog@bellsouth.net

The only place in Calhoun that doesn’t have a sign and doesn’t need one! Dub’s serves up quintessential Southern dishes. From hamburgers and fall-off-the-bone ribs to a BBQ sundae, Dub’s is known for its delicious recipes, sauces and seasonings.

Fort Wayne Civil War Historic Site 117 Taylor Ridge Road Resaca 30735 Ph: (706) 625-3200 www.exploregordoncounty.com Contact: Sarah Husser shusser@gordonchamber.org

Visitors can walk the one-mile trail to view the original parade grounds and entrenchments, which are the last known constructed by the Georgia militia. Open daily dawn-dusk. Free admission.

Georgia Winery 6469 Battlefield Pkwy. Ringgold 30736 Ph: (706) 937-9463; (706) 937-2177 Fax: (706) 937-9860 www.georgiawines.com Contact: Taylor Ware taylor@georgiawines.com

Georgia Winery invites you to have a taste of the South. Enjoy complimentary wine tasting, experience a winery tour, relax in the vineyard and shop for unique gifts at Georgia’s first farm winery. Conveniently located just a mile off I-75 near exit 350, six miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn., Georgia Winery provides the perfect setting to bring family and friends or to enjoy a quick stop while traveling.

Gilmer County Historical Society Museum 138 Spring St. Ellijay 30540 Ph: (706) 276-1861 www.gilmercountyhistoricalsociety.org Contact: Leslie Barker Thomas preshist@etcmail.com

Historic 1870 Tabor House is the location of the community’s historical society and Civil War museum. In addition to this we have a gift shop and restaurant.

New Echota Cherokee Capital State Historic Site 1211 Chatsworth Hwy. NE Calhoun 30701

Ph: (706) 624-1321 www.gastateparks.org/newechota Contact: David Gomez david.gomez@dnr.state.ga.us

One of the most significant Cherokee Indian sites in the nation, where the infamous Trail of Tears officially began, and home of the first Indian-language newspaper office. Tour the 12 original and reconstructed buildings, view interpretive exhibits and a 17-minute film. Open Thursday–Saturday.

Part Time Artist, Inc. 102-C Public Square Adairsville 30103

Ph: (706) 602-4955 www.parttimeartist.com Contact: Skip McNutt Ph: (770) 773-3616 skip@parttimeartist.com

Art gallery. Works of art by Skip McNutt. One of the artists of the “Great Locomotive Chase” painting that hangs on the front of the Adairsville pre-Civil War museum. Works of art from portraiture to landscapes and of the Great Locomotive Chase.

The Paulding County Schoolhouse Museum 295 N. Johnston St. Dallas 30132

Ph: (678) 318-1394 www.facebook.com/pages/ Paulding-County-Historical-SocietyInc/129390050480405

Contact: Dana Strack Ph: (404) 867-1879 pchsminc@gmail.com

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month, except for holidays. Special visits can be arranged. The building, which houses the Paulding County History Museum, was built sometime near 1860. It was saved and moved to its current location in January 1997.

Payne Farm & Produce 204 Salem Road Calhoun 30701

Ph: (770) 878-2005 www.paynefarmandproduce.com Contact: Carla Payne info@paynefarmandproduce.com

Payne Farm features a farmers market offering locally grown and pick-your-own produce and hosts a variety of events including an annual strawberry festival in May and family fall fun in October.

Prater’s Mill Foundation 5845 Georgia Hwy. 2 Dalton 30721 Ph: (706) 694-6455 Fax: (706) 694-8413 www.pratersmill.org Contact: Elaine Watkins elaine@pratersmill.org

Your group will see a 19th-century grist mill, a cotton gin, general store, train caboose and a barn. Bring a picnic or walk the nature trail. We specialize in working with small groups (10-50) and promise to engage your imagination. A living museum for all occasions, we’re located just seven miles from I-75, perfect as a destination or as an add-on as you pass through the area!

Resaca Confederate Cemetery Confederate Cemetery Road Resaca 30735

Ph: (706) 625-3200 www.exploregordoncounty.com

Contact: Sarah Husser shusser@gordonchamber.org

The oldest Confederate military ground in Georgia and the resting place of more than 400 soldiers who died during the Battle of Resaca. Open daily dawn-dusk. Free admission.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Road Lookout Mountain 30750 Ph: (423) 475-8990; (706) 820-2531 Fax: (423) 756-4424 www.seerockcity.com

Contact: Sherry R. Harris Ph: (423) 475-8990; (865) 250-5971 sherry@rockruby.com

Looking for a place where your group can create lasting memories? Look no further! Located atop Lookout Mountain, just 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga, Rock City is a true marvel of nature featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with over 400 native plant species and breathtaking “See 7 States” panoramic views. Each season there’s a new reason to visit!

The Rock Garden 1411 Rome Road Calhoun 30701 Ph: (706) 263-1937 Contact: Sarah Husser Ph: (706) 625-3200 shusser@gordonchamber.org

A whimsical, tranquil place featuring over 50 diminutive buildings, including castles and cathedrals, all surrounded by beautiful flowers and greenery. This volunteer built pleasance is truly a must-see!

Roland Hayes Museum at the Harris Arts Center 212 S. Wall Street Calhoun 30701 Ph: (706) 629-2599 www.harrisartscenter.com Contact: Toni Molleson tonicgarts@bellsouth.net

Roland Hayes was a child of former slaves who became the first African-American vocalist to achieve international acclaim. Learn the details of his remarkable half-century career through photos, stories, records, autographed programs, personal letters and music scores. Open Monday–Friday. Free admission.

Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum

Company Address: 306 Bradley St. Carrollton 30117 Ph: (770) 301-2187 www.southeasternquiltmuseum.com Contact: Norma West Ph: (770) 328-7388 madquilter8@att.net

We are ideal for group tours. We can accommodate up to 25 people. We are just a short walk to the square of beautiful downtown Carrollton, with lots of restaurants and shopping. The square has the oldest bookstore in the state. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tellus Science Museum

100 Tellus Drive

Cartersville 30120

Ph: (770) 606-5700 Fax: (770) 386-0600 www.tellusmuseum.org Contact: Darlene Gunn Ph: (770) 606-5699 darleneg@tellusmuseum.org

Tellus is a world-class, 120,000-squarefoot museum located in Cartersville just off I-75 near exit 293. Tellus features four main galleries: Weinman Mineral Gallery, Fossil Gallery, Science in Motion and Collins Family My Big Backyard. A 120-seat digital planetarium and an observatory with a stateof-the-art, 20-inch telescope are also located at Tellus.

W&A Railroad Tunnel & Museum

215 Clisby Austin Drive

Tunnel Hill 30755 Ph: (706) 876-1571 www.railroadtunnel.com Contact: Thomas Scalf Ph: (800) 331-3258 gteems@visitdaltonga.com

Construction began on the tunnel in 1848, during which the city of Tunnel Hill sprang up from people moving here to supply accommodations to the railway workers. The tunnel, which spans 1,477 feet, was dug through the base of Chetoogeta Mountain. On May 9, 1850, the first Western and Atlantic train passed through the mountain tunnel and the new town of Atlanta became one of the railway’s major hubs.

lodging

Above the Rest Luxury Cabins

1662 My Mountain Road Morganton 30560 Ph: (706) 374-2057 www.abovetherestcabins.com Contact: Jeanette Jenkins abovetherestcabins@tds.net

Twenty-six homes on a private, 1,500-acre mountain 15 minutes from historic downtown Blue Ridge. On-site property management and superior service. Perfect for reunions, retreats, weddings and group gatherings. Convenient to all area attractions. Pets welcome in some homes. Rated No. 1 on TripAdvisor in specialty lodging. Above the rest. Experience the difference. Experience the mountains.

The Beautiful Rock Campground, RV and Music Park 130 Forsyth Lake Road Rockmart 30153

Ph: (770) 684-8519; (770) 684-8517 www.therockrvpark.com www.rockmartfestivals.com Contact: Jon Hitchcock rockmartfestival@aol.com

We are the largest tourist draw for the Silver Comet Trail year-round for Polk County. Every year we are frequented by hundreds of Boy and Girl Scout troops, church groups, and family groups. We have two large concert venues and an 8,000-square-foot vintage farm equipment museum. We also have music festivals, arts and craft shows and car shows throughout the year. Come visit us at The Rock!

Best Western Garden Inn & Suites 5663 Hwy. 20 NE Cartersville 30121 Ph: (770) 386-1569 Fax: (770) 386-8720 www.bestwesterncartersville.com Contact: Dharmesh Patel Ph: (770) 548-4370 bestwesterncartersville@gmail.com

Easy access form I-75 near exit 290. Free hot breakfast. For every 20 rooms booked, you get one comp room for the escort or bus driver. Competitive rates. Elevator. Baggage handling available upon request.

Comfort Suites 23 Chateau Drive Rome 30161 Ph: (706) 232-6055 Fax: (706) 232-6110 www.comfortsuites.com/ hotel-rome-georgia-GA583 Contact: Chris Darwin victoryhosp2@gmail.com

This Comfort Suites hotel has 64 luxuriously appointed suites. Comfort Suites hotel is conveniently located near the heart of Rome. It is located only three miles from our popular Victorian-style downtown area. Downtown boasts numerous local restaurants, shopping and event venues. Other local attractions include State Mutual Stadium, Berry College, Chieftains Museum, Rome Clock Tower, Historic DeSoto Theatre and Myrtle Hill Cemetery.

Days Inn Cartersville 5618 Hwy. 20 SE Cartersville 30121 Ph: (770) 382-1824 Fax: (770) 606-9312 www.daysinn.com/cartersville Contact: Jay Patel pateljay3@gmail.com

Free continental breakfast including light-and-fit yogurt and cheese omelet. Free high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker in every room. Newly renovated rooms. Seasonal pool.

Sage Cottage Inn 97 Ward Mountain Road Adairsville 30103 Ph: (770) 877-5232 www.sagecottageinn.com Contact: Jim Southerland jimmysouth68@yahoo.com

Bed and breakfast and special events facility with pouring license and full banquet capability in a lovely wooded setting only three miles from Barnsley Gardens.

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals

240 W. Main St.

Blue Ridge 30513

Ph: (866) 422-2467; (706) 258-3737 Fax: (706) 632-2614 www.southerncomfortcabinrentals.com Contact: CJ Stam info@southerncomfortcabinrentals.com

Your perfect Blue Ridge experience begins with where you stay.

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals offers a diverse portfolio of properties each handpicked to ensure it meets our standards of luxury and comfort. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the north Georgia mountains, your options are endless. Our mission is providing true Southern hospitality to make certain your time in Blue Ridge is exactly what you envisioned.

no Rt H e A st G eo RGIA M o U ntAI ns

Attractions

Andy’s Trout Farm & Cabins P.O. Box 129 Dillard 30537

Ph: (706) 746-2550 www.andystroutfarm.com

Contact: Sonya Cousineau; Melanie Conner info@andystroutfarm.com

Choose Andy’s Trout Farm for your next group outing to the mountains. From adventure to serenity, we have 13 cabins, a lodge for gathering and dining and activities for all including hiking, fishing, sitting on your porch by the stream and relaxing on the deck watching the sunset. We are a family owned and operated mountain destination for family reunions, church and school groups, scouts, ball teams, retreats of all kinds and destination weddings.

BabyLand General Hospital 300 N.O.K. Drive Cleveland 30528

Ph: (706) 865-2171 Fax: (706) 865-5862 www.cabbagepatchkids.com

Contact: Margaret H. McLean Ph: (706) 865-2171, ext. 241 margaret.mclean@cabbagepatchkids.com

Witness a birth at home of Cabbage Patch Kids and Little People. White-columned, 70,000-square-foot mansion on 650 acres in north Georgia mountains. Fun is born! Doctors and nurses administer lots of TLC and Imagicillin with adoption consultations. One of Travel Channel’s Top 10 Toylands. Selfguided tour. Free admission. Seasonal events. Birthday, wedding and meeting facility. Visiting hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brenau University Galleries 500 Washington St. SE Gainesville 30501 Ph: (770) 534-6263 www.brenau.edu

Nichole Rawlings or Allison Murphy amurphy2@brenau.edu

The Brenau University Galleries are pleased to offer an adult tour program based on rotating exhibitions held on campus in Gainesville. Docent-led tours are free and must be reserved in advance. Please see our website for more information.

Broad River Outpost 7911 Wildcat Bridge Road Danielsville 30633 Ph: (706) 795-3242 www.broadriveroutpost.com gabroadriver@gmail.com

Kayak and canoe rentals, camping, restaurant, shuttles on beginner whitewater and scenic moving water — we have something for everyone. Using the most stable and maneuverable sit-on-tops available, novices, beginners and seasoned paddlers enjoy the Broad River and appreciate the bros’ role in ensuring a fun and pleasant day on the river. Open March through October. Best prices and service. Family-managed for over 30 years. Near Athens.

Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center 8552 Gainesville Hwy. Blairsville 30512 Ph: (706) 745-2034 www.byronherbertreecesociety.org Contact: John Kay Ph: (706) 379-3219 reecesociety@gmail.com

On this beautiful 9.3-acre site, located one mile north of Vogel State Park, visitors will learn how living close to nature inspired Reece, Georgia’s Appalachian poet/novelist, to write great poems and novels. Numerous exhibits in the main barn and outbuildings will introduce tourists to Reece’s twin legacy of farming and writing. Open April-November, Thursday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Consolidated Gold Mines 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Road Dahlonega 30533 Ph: (706) 864-8473 www.consolidatedgoldmine.com consolidatedgoldmine@gmail.com

Underground Gold Mine Tours of a real hard rock gold mine. Learn the history of Georgia’s first major Gold Rush and travel over 200 feet underground. Free gold panning with tour. On-site gemstone mining and gem cutting. Group rates starting at 25 people up to 200 per hour. Group packages for underground tour, gold panning, gemstone mining or any combination. Call ahead for best service.

Crawford Long Museum 28 College St.

Jefferson 30549 Ph: (706) 367-5307 www.crawfordlong.org Contact: Vicki Starnes vstarnes@crawfordlong.org

The birthplace of anesthesia and the site of the first painless surgery, performed March 30, 1842, by Dr. Crawford Long. Exhibits tell the story of Long, his family and achievements. Mid-1800s general store reflects past culture of Jackson County. Group-friendly, three-building museum complex located on the downtown Jefferson public square.

Dahlonega Walking Tours

19 E. Main St.

Dahlonega 30533

Ph: (706) 482-8795 Fax: (706) 864-6655 www.dahlonegawalkingtours.com Contact: Jeremy Sharp dahlonegawalkingtours@gmail.com

Dahlonega Ghost Walk — Historic Hauntings Tour: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. March through November. Adults $15, children $5. The 13-location guided tour takes guests on an eerie and intriguing journey full of local tales and legends. The tour weaves through streets, back alleys, rows of historic buildings and the historically significant local cemetery. Tour is approximately 1.3 miles long.

Elberton Granite Museum

150 College Ave.

Elberton 30635

Ph: (706) 283-2551 Fax: (706) 283-6380 www.egaonline.com

Contact: Christopher Kubas egaonline1@gmail.com

The Elberton Granite Museum features exciting historical exhibits, artifacts, an educational video and displays. Self-guided exhibits allow visitors to view unique granite products as well as antique granite working tools used in the quarrying, sawing, polishing, cutting and sandblasting of granite cemetery memorials. Hours of operation are Monday–Saturday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. We can host up 20 patrons. Closed on holidays.

Habersham Winery

7025 S. Main St. Helen 30545 Ph: (706) 878-9463 www.habershamwinery.com Contact: Emily DeFoor Ph: 706-878-9463, ext. 24 emily@habershamwinery.com

Habersham Winery has been producing award-winning Georgia wines since 1983 and is one of Georgia’s oldest and largest wineries. Located in the North Georgia Wine Country, a half mile south of Alpine Helen in Nacoochee Village, the winery is open daily for complimentary tastings and self-guided tours.

Helen Arts & Heritage Center 25 Chattahoochee Strasse

Helen 30545

Ph: (706) 878-3933 www.helenarts.org Contact: Nancy Ackerman Ph: (706) 969-1688 helenartshc@gmail.com

A non-profit arts and heritage organization serving the arts and artists of northeast Georgia while striving to preserve our rich heritage. The center’s gallery and gift shop is operated by its volunteer members, selling unique, one-of-a-kind, locally handcrafted art. The center offers a variety of art education classes and workshops throughout the year.

North Georgia Corn Maze 559 Tom Bell Road Cleveland 30528 Ph: (800) 959-1874 Fax: (706) 348-1746 www.northgacornmaze.com

Contact: Heath Biggers Ph: (706) 892-6381 heath@northgacornmaze.com

North Georgia Corn Maze is an eightacre corn maze located in Cleveland, offering hayrides, a haunted house and movies under the stars in September, October and November. Specifics on our hours can be found on our website.

North Georgia Premium OutletsA Simon Center 800 Hwy. 400 S. Dawsonville 30534 Ph: (706) 216-3609 Fax: (706) 216-3612 www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/ outlet.asp?id=16 Contact: Kimberly Vigne kvigne@simon.com

Exceptional brands with extraordinary savings of 25 to 65 percent off at 140 outlet stores. Find impressive savings at the Armani Outlet, Coach, The North Face, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and more.

North Georgia Zoo & Farm 2912 Paradise Valley Road Cleveland 30528 Ph: (706) 348-7279 www.myfavoritezoo.com Contact: Hope Bennett info@wildlifewonders.org

Teachers, educators and group leaders: As your No. 1 field-trip destination, North Georgia Zoo offers field-trip packages designed with you in mind. We have options that can be customized to fit your needs. Age-appropriate curriculum and budget-friendly options. Flexible time frame. Options for small and large groups.

Paradise Hills, Winery Resort & Spa

366 Paradise Road Blairsville 30512 Ph: (706) 745-7483 Fax: (706) 745-0527 www.paradisehillsresort.com Contact: Ilke Lander info@paradisehillsresort.com

Georgia mountains hidden treasure offering rustic and luxury cabin rentals, a European-styled spa and farm winery with tasting room. A great group and wedding venue.

Red Apple Barn 3379 Tails Creek Road Ellijay 30540 Ph: (706) 635-5898 www.redapplebarn.com Contact: Barry Pritchett apples@redapplebarn.com

Three miles west of Ellijay lies a beautiful, family-owned, 120-acre farm where tasty apples, beautiful flowers and glorious pumpkins are grown by three generations. U-Pick Hayrides and Farm Tours are available on Saturdays, Sundays and by appointment for groups of 15 or more on Fridays in the fall. Baked goods, caramel and candied apples, six kinds of cider, local honey, sorghum, jams and jellies abound in our Red Apple Barn.

Savannah River Productions, Inc. 173 E. Howell St. Hartwell 30643 Ph: (706) 376-7397 Fax: (706) 376-6816 www.savannahriverproductions.org Contact: Andrea Bradford savannahriverproductions@yahoo.com

Savannah River Productions, Inc., is a regional theater troupe that performs in Elberton at the beautiful Rock Gym. The Rock Gym seats up to 400 people for dinner theater. We strive to offer high-quality theater productions to the northeast Georgia region and western South Carolina areas. Our 2015 season includes Driving Miss Daisy, A 60’s Musical Review, Fox on the Fairway, Les Miserables, Fall Extravaganza and Annie, Jr.

Tiger Mountain Vineyards 2592 Old Hwy. 441 S. Tiger 30576 Ph: (706) 782-4777 www.tigerwine.com Contact: Lisa Ezzard Ph: (760) 419-0214 lisa@tigerwine.com

Tiger Mountain Vineyards is located on a five-generation family farm. The vineyards are nestled on the rolling sunny slopes of Tiger Mountain where they are individually tended and hand-picked. Our wines, mostly European vinifera, have won more than 195 awards. Our vineyards and tasting room are open year-round and our indoor/outdoor Red Barn Cafe is open seasonally from the end of April through mid-November.

Toccoa Falls 107 Kincaid Drive

Toccoa Falls 30598 Ph: (706) 886-6831 www.tfc.edu/location Contact: Helen Gentry Ph: (706) 886-6831, ext. 5219 bookstore@tfc.edu

Toccoa Falls is a 186-foot-high waterfall that is truly a spectacular sight. A 100-yard path leads to the falls. Assistance is available for individuals with a disability. Leashed dogs are welcome. Entrance to the falls is accessible through Toccoa Falls Books & Gifts, located in Gate Cottage. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Uncle Shucks Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch 4520 Hwy. 53 E. Dawsonville 30534 Ph: (770) 772-6223 www.uncleshucks.com Contact: Mike Pinzl mpinzl@uncleshucks.com

Visit Uncle Shuck’s and start a new family tradition. Explore the corn maze. Find your perfect pumpkins. Shoot the corn cannon. Great food and fun. Fall decorations. Goat walk.

lodgings

Beechwood InnGeorgia’s Premier Wine Country Inn 220 Beechwood Drive Clayton 30525

Ph: (706) 782-5485 www.beechwoodinn.ws

Contact: David Darugh ddarugh@windstream.net

Camp Blue Ridge 355 Playhouse Drive

Mountain City 30562

Ph: (706) 746-5491) Fax: (786) 955-2740 www.blueridgecamp.com Contact: Lori Waldman Ph: (954) 668-6888 blueridgecamp@gmail.com

Wild Berry Cottage

139 E. Morgan St. Clarkesville 30523 Ph: (706) 391-8017 www.wildberrycottagegifts.com Contact: Joey Duncan Ph: (706) 499-6108 jduncan@duncankitchens.com

Wild Berry Cottage is a unique gift store featuring local artisan jewelry and pottery along with other popular gift items and gourmet foods. The Cottage also features a wine-tasting room serving Cartecay Vineyard wines along with other north Georgia winery selections.

Woody’s Mountain Bikes 457 Hwy.356 Helen 30545 Ph: (706) 878-3715 www.woodysmtb.net Contact Name: Woody woodysmtb@gmail.com

Visit Woody’s Mountain Bikes for a carefree adventure. Explore Chattahoochee National Forest by mountain bike. A naturebased travel destination, it’s fun for anyone 12 to 60+. There are over 60 trails in the Northeast Georgia Mountains to fit all skill levels. Woody’s is open during daylight savings time; closed winter. Established in 1996. Family-owned. Operates under USDA Forest Service permit.

Beechwood Inn — selected Best Inn in Georgia 2013 by Georgia Magazine. It’s really about the food. We use fresh local products and much comes right from our own gardens. It’s also about the wine. Beechwood Inn offers daily wine-thirty featuring our wines made from Georgia grape. We also have a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine cellar.

Best Western Lake Hartwell 1357 E. Franklin St. Hartwell 30643 Ph: (706) 376-4700 Fax: (706) 376-4726 http://bestwesterngeorgia.com/hotels/bestwestern-lake-hartwell-inn-and-suites Contact: Terry McReady bestwesternlakehartwell@gmail.com

Enjoy Best Western Lake Hartwell Inn & Suites’ tranquil setting near Lake Hartwell. With recently remodeled rooms, our 100 percent smoke-free hotel is just minutes from downtown Hartwell and the lake. Lake Hartwell is one of the southeast’s largest and most popular recreation lakes.

A 250-acre facility that sleeps 400 and offers delicious meals and incredible rates. Two lakes, heated pool, 50-foot climbing tower, low ropes course, archery, riflery, blob, two outdoor amphitheaters, fire pits, 8,000-square-foot indoor gym, 10,000-square-foot dining hall/multipurpose building, waterskiing and much more. Hosting youth/church groups, school groups, family reunions, weddings, adventure and obstacle racing, fraternities and sororities, birthdays, etc. Beautiful cabins and 15 miles of trails for hiking to our beautiful waterfall.

Chateau Elan Winery & Resort 100 Rue Charlemagne Drive Braselton 30517

Ph: (678) 425-0900 Fax: (678) 425-6000 www.chateauelan.com

Contact: group sales office Ph: (678) 425-6017 groupsales@chateauelan.com

Chateau Elan is a 3,500-acre resort offering groups access to 63 holes of championship golf, 35,000-square-foot spa, seven restaurants, award-winning winery and vineyards, Viking culinary studio, 25,000-square-foot conference center and team-building course.

Copperhead Lodge

171 Copperhead Pkwy Blairsville 30512 Ph: (706) 835-7433 www.copperheadlodge.com Contact: Michelle Evans michelle@copperheadlodge.com

Resort lodge located in the north Georgia mountains. Eleven guest rooms and over 30 cabins available for rent. Group meeting space, full-service restaurant/catering and bar.

The Dahlonega Square Hotel & Villas 135 N. Chestatee St. Dahlonega 30533

Ph: (706) 867-1313 www.dahlonegasquarevilla.com

Contact: Caroline Ariemma Ph: (706) 429-5421 dahlonegasv@yahoo.com

Located steps from the historic square. The hotel has two separate spaces for events. The historic house is perfect for receptions, cocktail gatherings or light brunches. The terrace-level space works well for meetings or catered breakfasts, lunches and dinners up to 45. Both event spaces feature Smart TVs and Sonosâ sound system. The hotel has 12 rooms and one suite. The villas feature complete kitchens and sleep four and six.

Days Inn & Suites Commerce 30976 U.S. 441 S. Commerce 30529 Ph: (706) 336-0082 Fax: (706) 336-0081 www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/ commerce/days-inn-and-suites-commerce/ hotel-overview

Contact: Ligon Brown brown.ligon@gmail.com

The Days Inn & Suites in Commerce is a newly renovated property located just off Interstate 85 in Commerce. We strive to ensure every stay at our property is exceptional and are proud to be your friendly, attentive and professional hosts.

Days Inn of Elberton 302 Elbert St. Elberton 30635

Ph: (706) 283-2300 Fax: (706) 283-2500 www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/elberton/ days-inn-elberton/hotel-overview

Contact: Krishan Patel daysinn30635@yahoo.com

We have 34 rooms, each with one king or two double beds. All rooms have refrigerator, microwave, TV, iron and ironing board and coffee maker. Free breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking and swimming pool in the summer.

Don Carter State Park 5000 N. Browning Bridge Road

Gainesville 30506

Ph: (678) 450-7726 Fax: (678) 450-7728 http://gastateparks.org/doncarter Contact: Will Wagner william.wagner@gadnr.org

Cottages and camping for overnight travel and tourism. Located between downtown Gainesville and the north Georgia mountains and waterfalls. Perfect spot to be away from it all while still having proximity to town and a jump-off spot to trails and vistas.

Enchanted Mountain Retreats P.O. Box 298

Blairsville 30514

Ph: (706) 781-3892; (877)307-3367 Fax: (706) 745-7840 www.georgiaemr.com

Contact: Ana Salvatti enchantedmountainretreats@gmail.com

Our mission is to help people who need to unwind from their busy lives and want to reconnect with nature and with their loved ones in our luxury, pet-friendly accommodations with concierge services that meet their needs.

Fairfield Inn and Suites

137 Frontage Road Commerce 30529

Ph: (706) 336-0066 Fax: (706) 336-0067 www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ahncofairfield-inn-and-suites-commerce

Contact: Kris Hoerler kris.hoerler@marriott.com

Come stay at the newest hotel in Commerce! Enjoy one of our 80 spacious rooms, complimentary daily hot breakfast, free high speed Internet access and indoor heated pool and spa. Conveniently located within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. Also new this year, the Fairfield 100% Guarantee. Let our friendly staff show you why we are one of the best hotels in the area!

Forrest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center

135 Forrest Hills Road Dahlonega 30533

Ph: (800) 654-6313 Fax: (706) 864-6456 www.forresthillsresort.com Contact: Michele DeBlois Ph: (706) 974-9325 michele@forresthillsresort.com

One hour North of Atlanta and located on 140 acres in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. We feature five private group lodges, each with eight, 12 or 16 hotel-size rooms, hospitality suite and meeting space. Private cabins also available giving the resort a total of 90-plus rooms. Restaurant, free Wi-Fi, massage spa, horseback riding, chuck-wagon dinners, outdoor pool, team building activities and beach volleyball are all on property.

Long Ridge Campground, LLC

180 Jarrard Camp Road Hiawassee 30546 Ph: (762) 500-2055 www.longridgecampground.com Contact: Donna Danyus longridgecg@gmail.com

Small, secluded campground great for small groups, retreats and rallies. Call us and let us help your group reserve the entire campground for your exclusive use! Open year-round. Visit our website for pictures and more information including rates and reservations.

The Ridges Resort and Marina 3499 U.S. 76 Hiawassee 30546

Ph: (888) 834-4409; (706) 896-2262 www.theridgesresort.com

Contact: Hayley Burch Ph: (706) 896-1886 h.burch@theridgesresort.com

Located on beautiful Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, The Ridges Resort and Marina is the perfect destination for your group event. Whether you are planning a family reunion, church retreat or business retreat, we have what it takes to accommodate your every need. With our talented staff and unique resources, we guarantee that we will provide you with a custom and extraordinary experience while accommodating up to 325 guests.

River Vista RV Resort 20 River Vista Drive Dillard 30537

Ph: (706) 746-2722 www.rvmountainvillage.com Contact: Julie Welch relax@rvmountainvillage.com

River Vista is an RV park with 144 sites and seven cabin rentals. Our Mountain Village Center can seat 250 people. It has a speaker system and also a projector set up on the stage. The Mountain Village also has two full kitchens set up.

The Sandbar 3435 King Hall Mill Road Bowman 30624

Ph: (706) 245-4163 www.thesandbarbroadriver.com

Contact: Natalie Sanford thesandbarbroadriver@gmail.com

We are located on the beautiful Broad River. We offer kayak rentals and we have a zipline canopy tour. You can also tent camp along the river or stay in one of our riverside cabins.

Splendor Mountain 359 Eastman Mountain Road Tiger 30576 Ph: (404) 218-7638 www.splendormountain.com

Contact: Chevin Woodruff splendormountain@gmail.com

Enjoy privacy for a family reunion, a church retreat, a team or club in two elegantly rustic cabins for up to 20 participants. We are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Our 75 wooded acres boast long-distance views, open skies, old logging trails for hiking and water activities and cascading waterfalls. Enjoy a bonfire and have your meeting in Sunrise Lodge.

Sugar Mill Creek RV Resort 4960 Laurel Lodge Road

Clarkesville 30523

Ph: (706) 947-0162 www.sugarmillcreek.com Contact: Rita Smith sugar_mill_creek_rv@yahoo.com

Forty-eight site RV park. We can accommodate small and large camp groups. Full hook-up, 50/30/20-amp service at all sites. Paved roads. All sites are level with a cement pad for the RV. Camp store and outdoor bars with large three-level deck.

Super 8 205 N. 400 Center Lane

Dawsonville 30534

Ph: (706) 216-6801 Fax: (706) 216-6810 www.super8.com/hotels/georgia/dawsonville/super-8-dawsonville/hotel-overview Contact: Bipin super8dawsonville@yahoo.com

Indoor-corridor hotel with indoor heated pool and spa, Free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast. All rooms have micro-fridge, iron and board. Outlet mall nearby. Major restaurant in walking distance. Gold mine and mountain trail nearby.

York House Inn 416 York House Road Rabun Gap 30568 Ph: (706) 746-2068 Fax: (706) 746-2068 www.yorkhouseinn.com Contact: Stan Penton stay@yorkhouseinn.com

Georgia’s oldest bed-and-breakfast inn since 1896 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beautifully decorated rooms offer a variety of bedding arrangements. All 13 rooms have private baths and luxury amenities and some have fireplaces and private porches. Wedding, anniversary, birthday and meeting groups are welcome.

Receptive operators/ tour companies

Outside World Outfitters

471 Quill Drive

Dawsonville 30534

Ph: (706) 265-4500 www.theoutsideworld.net Contact: Brent Troncalli info@theoutsideworld.net

Wanna get outdoors? Outside World will lead your group on a kayak or paddleboard adventure in north Georgia. From a leisure paddle on Lake Lanier to hitting the rapids we can do it all. Give us a call or email today.

clA ss I c so U t H

Destination Marketing organizations

Augusta CVB 1450 Greene St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 823-6600 Fax: (706) 823-6609 www.visitaugusta.com Contact: Michelle Bovian Ph: (706) 823-6616 michelle@visitaugusta.com

The Augusta CVB staff is here to help your group plan an unforgettable experience. From personalized trolley tours to Augusta Canal boat tours to culture experiences, Augusta should be your group’s next stop. Let us help you get here!

Augusta Visitor Center

560B Reynolds St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 724-4067 www.visitaugusta.com Contact: Toni Seals-Johnson Toni@VisitAugusta.com

The Augusta Visitor Center is located in the lobby of the Augusta Museum of History. Let our Augusta experts help you plan your time while visiting Augusta. We have the inside scope on unique attractions, dining, events and shopping. We also offer ample room for parking. Come on over and see us.

Attractions

Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival P.O. Box 1776

Augusta 30903 Ph: (706) 826-4702 www.artsintheheart.com

Contact: Sallie West Ph: (706) 826-4702, ext. 2 info@artsintheheart.com

Arts in the Heart of Augusta, an awardwinning festival, is two days of beautiful visual arts, crowd-pleasing performances and scrumptious food. Taking place at the Augusta Common and Broad Street, this well-loved Festival features a fine arts and crafts market with over 120 artisans, five stages of non-stop entertainment, over 20 authentic ethnic food booths, a free, handson family area and a young artist market for artists under 18.

Greater Augusta Arts Council 1301 Greene St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (706) 826-4702, ext. 1 Fax: (706) 826-4723 www.augustaarts.com; www.artsintheheart.com Contact: Brenda Durant brenda@augustaarts.com

Art weekend in Augusta. Two- to threenight visit during our exciting fall season. September 17/18-20 includes: Weekend pass to Arts in the Heart Festival with camp chair; escorted tours of Morris Museum of Art, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art and Sacred Heart Cultural Center; welcome dinner at the exclusive Pinnacle Club (excludes alcohol), $54 per person includes one tour guide. Other weekends and group show tickets available. Call.

Augusta Canal National Heritage Area & Boat Tours

1450 Greene St, Ste. 400 Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 823-0440 Fax: (706) 823-1045 http://augustacanal.com Contact: Holley Madden Ph: (706) 823-0440, ext. 7 hmadden@augustacanal.com

Guided canal boat tours on historic Augusta Canal. Up to 49 passengers per vessel. View national register landmarks, Civil War history, wildlife and more. All tours include visit to Canal Discovery Center in restored textile mill. Bus parking on site. Cafe on property.

Augusta Entertainment Complex

601 7th St.

Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 722-3521 Fax: (706) 724-7545 www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com

Contact: Vicki Johnson Ph: (706) 262-4573 vjohnson@arccc.com

We are home of the James Brown Arena and the Bell Auditorium in Augusta. We offer group discounts to select family shows, Broadway shows, concerts and comedy. We would love for your group to plan an outing at one of our events!

Augusta Ghost Trolley 2451 Wheeless Road

Augusta 30906

Ph: (706) 432-8883 Fax: (706) 434-2408 www.augustaghosttrolley.com

Contact: Michael Wolff trolleyguy@comcast.net

Join us for a spirited and interactive trolley tour of Augusta. From eerie tales of body snatchers and legends of cursed stone pillars to restless spirits of past and present, the Augusta Ghost Trolley is a fun and informative tour that will thrill and leave you wanting for more! Voted Best Tourist Attraction 2014 by the readers of Augusta Magazine!

Augusta Museum of History

560 Reynolds Street

Augusta 30901

Ph: 706-722-8454 Fax: 706-724-5192 www.augustamuseum.org Contact: Julie Gazda jgazda@augustamuseum.org

The Augusta Museum of History offers tours to school groups, church and civic groups, veterans, family and class reunions and businesses. We can customize a tour for your group’s needs and interests. Our facility is handicap accessible. Tours can be self-guided or with the help of our hunt for history scavenger hunt pages, which can be found on our website. We also offer guided tours led by trained docents.

Bonaventure Historical Society

330 Bonaventure Road, Savannah 31414 (location)

P.O. Box 5954, Savannah 31410 (mail) Ph: (912) 412-4687 www.bonaventurehistorical.org Contact: Lee Maltenfort jandlmaltenfort@gmail.com

Free guided tours hosted by trained Bonaventure Historical Society volunteers held the weekend of the second Sunday of each month. One tour at 2 p.m. on Saturday; tours at 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Special group tours can be arranged on request for any day of the week. Please visit website and follow the links to Tours, submit the proposed date(s) and time(s) for confirmation.

The Book Tavern

936 Broad St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 826-1940 www.booktavern.com Contact: David Hutchison david@booktavern.com

The Book Tavern is a locally owned and operated used, new and rare bookstore. We also carry vinyl albums, movies and other fun stuff!

Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson 419 7th St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 724-0436 Fax: (706) 724-3083 www.wilsonboyhoodhome.org Contact: Erick Montgomery info@historicaugusta.org

Visit Georgia’s oldest presidential home where Woodrow Wilson lived with his family during the Civil War and Reconstruction from 1860-1870. See the main house, kitchen/ service building and carriage house. Fourteen rooms are furnished with 13 pieces of furniture used by Woodrow Wilson and his family and other period antiques. Tours: Thursday–Saturday on the hour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Craft & Vine 1204 Broad St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 496-8442 http://craftandvine.com Contact: Darby Carpenter info@craftandvine.com

Craft & Vine is an upscale cocktail bar and eatery politely tucked away on Broad Street in downtown Augusta. It’s the newest addition to the Frog Hollow Hospitality Group, which also founded Farmhaus Burger and Frog Hollow Tavern. It’s old wood mixed with modern metal. Low lights bouncing off art deco and leather — all tamed by the house rules and persuasively welcoming.

The Edenfield House 426 W. Church St. Swainsboro 30401 Ph: (478) 237-3007 www.edenfieldhouse.com Contact: Aaron Correll edenfieldhouse@gmail.com

Built in 1895, the Edenfield House is a historic bed and breakfast located in beautiful Swainsboro. We have nine spacious bedrooms; all with private bathrooms and individually-controlled heat/air — each under $100 per night! Our commercial kitchen and beautiful dining facilities enable us to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner to groups of up to 40 people with 48 hours advanced notice. Free Wi-Fi and parking is also available.

Frog Hollow Tavern 1282 Broad St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (706) 364-6906 www.froghollowtavern.com Contact: Megan Thrash info@froghollowtavern.com

The space is a modern restaurant-meetsbar, where a diverse crowd of people enjoy the company of others paired with a comfortable atmosphere, detailed service and exquisite, affordable cuisine. Expect a dinner menu that features a substantial amount of local and regionally grown seasonal quality ingredients, prepared with the intention of letting the freshness speak for itself.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA

231 Furys Ferry Road, Ste. 210 Augusta 30907 Ph: (707) 650-5760 www.goodwillworks.org Contact: Susan Clay Ph: (706) 854-4728 sclay@edgarshospitality.org

Tours of Goodwill’s Augusta campus include Helms College culinary school and Edgar’s Grille as well as the Snelling Center. Groups up to 150 can be accommodated in the center, with full A/V capability and catered meals available.

Hildebrandt’s 226 6th St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (706) 722-7756 www.facebook.com/hildebrandtsaugustaga Contact: Luanne Hildebrandt; Rick Marschalk rmarschalk@gmail.com

Established in 1879, Hildebrandt’s is a family-owned store featuring lunch, snacks, drinks, antiques and memorabilia. We can seat up to 40 people at one time and can also accommodate to-go group orders. Please call at least a day in advance.

Imperial Theatre

745 Broad St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 722-8293 Fax: (706) 312-1202 www.imperialtheatre.com Contact: Charles Scavullo charles@imperialtheatre.com

The Imperial Theatre is noted in the national register as critical to the character of the Broad Street Historic District. Built in 1917 with its immutable history, Edwardianstyle structure and current function, it is the only medium-size traditional proscenium theater capable of flying scenery in the Augusta area and is a critical component of the infrastructure for area performing arts groups, providing a gracious and historic setting.

The Jewell Box at Rosemont 10746 Macon Hwy. Jewell 31045 Ph: (706) 465-2198 Contact: Denise Ph: (706) 465-2198 thejewellbox@hotmail.com

Antique/vintages with a spot of tea! Come visit our unique storefront, c. 1870 Mercantile, complete with treasures from Grandma’s attic! Sit by the cozy “fire” and pinky finger up while sipping our fragrant house tea, “3 Jewells” and indulging in our award-winning delectable scones. Many other teas/sweets available, including housemade fudge, jams and marmalades! Come on in and make yourself at home.

Mill Pond Kayak, LLC

P.O. Box 576

Twin City 30471 Ph: (478) 299-6616 www.millpondkayak.com Contact: Wesley Hendley info@millpondkayak.com

Two-and-a-half-hour guided kayak tours on the 412-acre cypress-lined mill pond at George L. Smith State Park. Perfect venue for first-time kayakers. Ten single and five double kayaks available for groups up to 19 people. Boats, paddles and PFD vests provided. Advance reservations required. It’s a boatload of fun!

New Moon Cafe 936 Broad St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 823-2008 www.newmoondowntown.com Contact: Sarah Irvine irvine.phoenix@gmail.com

Dine with friends while enjoying our fresh-roasted fair trade coffees and locally sourced menu. Check out the array of art on display, provided by local artists, and make use of our wall of event announcements to keep up with what is happening in the downtown area. We also have a private area upstairs available for meetings and gettogethers — perfect for book clubs, business gatherings and showers.

Ogeechee River Mill 262 Reynolds Road Warrenton 30828 Ph: (706) 465-2195 www.exploregeorgia.org/listing/3429ogeechee-river-mill Contact: Missy Garner ogeecheerivermill@yahoo.com

1847 Grist Mill in working order on the Ogeechee River. We give tours of the mill, tell its history, run the turbine and let people bag their own meal and hushpuppy mix. Fishing can be included. Overnight accommodations are available, including dry campsites.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park 1858 Lock & Dam Road Augusta 30906 Ph: (706) 828-2109 Fax: (706) 828-2129 http://phinizycenter.org

Contact: Melody Taylor Ph: (706) 396-1427 info@phinizycenter.org

Your group can enjoy the beauty of nature just minutes from downtown Augusta. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers customized, private tours: hiking, biking, birding or just a leisurely stroll. Many boardwalks and paths are handicap accessible and tours can be adapted for those with disabilities. Call for pricing and more information.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center 1301 Greene St. Augusta 30901

Ph: (706) 826-4700 Fax: (706) 722-2222 www.sacredheartaugusta.org

Contact: Sandra Fenstermacher sfenst@knology.net

Come celebrate history, the arts and architecture. Built circa 1899 and listed on National Register of Historic Places, this former Catholic church is one of the finest examples of Victorian masonry with over 13 distinct brick styles, 94 stained-glass windows and Italian-marble alters. It is a popular venue for art exhibitions, concerts and festivals. Self-guided tours and a gift shop are available.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center Festival 1301 Greene St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (706) 826-4700 Fax: (706) 722-2222 www.sacredheartaugusta.org; www.sacredheartgardenfestival.com Contact: Sandra Fenstermacher sfenst@knology.net

Experience the world of gardening during the Sacred Heart Garden Festival, April 24 through April 26, 2015. Butterflies, inspiring landscape and floral designs, exceptional private garden tours, noted speakers including Jeff Ross of Blackberry Farm, multitudes of plants and garden accessories, children’s activities, demonstrations and more await patrons. During the festival, save 10 to 30 percent on lodging rates at Comfort Suites Augusta with a festival ticket.

Soiree: Jazz+Wine @ Jessye Norman School of the Arts 739 Greene St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (762) 233-5299 www.jazzsoiree.com Contact: K. Gordon kgordon@gardencityjazz.com

Soiree: Jazz+Wine. An evening of live jazz and lovely people. Every 4th Saturday at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts. Classic jazz music performed by the area’s top artists, various wines selected by the host and light eats provided by local chefs. All presented with state-of-the-art sound and lighting in a beautiful, historic building. Dress like you mean it. Can accommodate groups of up to 40 people.

Tire City Potters 210 10th St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (706) 294-3871 www.tirecitypotters.com Contact: Shishir Chocksi tcpotters@yahoo.com

Create unique ceramic face jugs! Participants each receive a pre-made clay jug and extra clay to shape, mold and carve a face that inspires them. The jugs are then glazed and high-fired before returning to their creators. The cost is $35 per participant and groups of up to 20 participants can be accommodated year-round. Please schedule three or more days in advance to allow time for the jugs to be made.

Westobou Festival

P.O. Box 2104 965 Broad St. Augusta 30903 Ph: (706) 755-2878 http://westoboufestival.com Contact: Kristi Jilson kristi@westoboufestival.com

Join us Sept. 30–Oct. 4, 2015! Celebrating excellence in the arts, Westobou Festival includes an array of performances and exhibitions featuring distinct talent in the disciplines of dance, film, music, spoken word and visual arts.

lodging

Baymont Inn & Suites/Augusta Riverwatch 2905 Riverwest Drive Augusta 30907

Ph: (706) 733-5900 Fax: (706) 733-5905 www.baymontinns.com/hotel/17812

Contact: Kim Gibbons kim@stayaugusta.com

Baymont Inn & Suites/Augusta Riverwatch, located six miles from downtown Augusta, one mile from Washington Road’s restaurants and minutes from the Augusta Mall. We offer a complimentary full hot breakfast, free wireless Internet access and free parking. Guest rooms feature microwaves, refrigerators, coffeemakers and 37-inch LG LCD flat-panel TVs. Relax poolside with your favorite beverage. Stay with us and enjoy our hometown hospitality!

Best Western Evans Hotel 452 Park 20 W. Grovetown 30813

Ph: (706) 651-9100 Fax: (706) 651-0514 www.bestwestern.com/evanshotel Contact: Kim Gibbons kim@stayaugusta.com

Our Best Western Evans Hotel is conveniently located off I-20 at exit 194 in Grovetown, 12 miles from downtown Augusta’s eclectic restaurants and shopping. We offer a complimentary full hot breakfast, free wireless Internet access and free parking. Guest rooms feature microwaves, refrigerators, coffeemakers and 32-inch LG LCD flat-panel TVs. Enjoy a dip or relax at our outdoor pool. Stay with us and enjoy our Southern hospitality!

Days Inn 3654 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909

Ph: (706) 868-8610 www.the.daysinn.com/augusta06218 Contact: Shantu Patel 3654daysinn.aug@gmail.com

Complimentary breakfast, high-speed wireless Internet access, in-room hair dryers, coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave. Outdoor pool. Cable. Free HBO. AAA, AARP and group discount.

Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District 201 E. Bay St. Savannah 31401

Ph: (912) 231-9700 Fax: (912) 231-0440 www.savannahlodging.com

Contact: Morgan Stincer Ph: (912) 629-4187 morgan.stincer@savannahlodging.com

Conveniently located on East Bay Street in the heart of the historic district, this beautiful property is walking distance to River Street and City Market. Guests receive complimentary hot breakfast each morning, Wi-Fi and access to the concierge, rooftop pool, business center and fitness center. The hotel features Savannah gray brick and charming pine floors in the common areas and comfortable guestrooms equipped with microwave, mini-fridge and flat-screen TV.

Holiday Inn Express East 444 Broad St. Augusta 30901 Ph: (706) 922-1414 www.hiexpress.com/Augusta Contact Name: Marcia Kell marcia@hiexaugusta.com

Stay smart in comfort with free high-speed Internet access and complimentary breakfast. Located in the city center, guests will enjoy being close to attractions, local dining, festivals and shopping. Group rates apply. Call today!

Holiday Inn Express

Savannah Historic District 199 E. Bay Street

Savannah 31401

Ph: (912) 231-9000 Fax: (912) 629-4180 www.savannahlodging.com

Contact: Morgan Stincer Ph: (912) 629-4187 morgan.stincer@savannahlodging.com

This Southern contemporary-style hotel is located in the heart of the historic district on East Bay Street, within easy walking distance of River Street and Savannah’s famed squares. Among the amenities are complimentary hot breakfast each morning, Wi-Fi, concierge service, fitness center, business center, full-service lobby bar, rooftop pool, hot tub and observation deck overlooking the Savannah River. The spacious guestrooms feature a microwave, mini-fridge and flat-screen TV.

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lodging

Days Inn 616 Fair Road

Statesboro 30458

Ph: (912) 681-7700 Fax: (912) 681-9677 www.daysinn.com/statesboro Contact: Andy Anderson statesboro.daysinn@gmail.com

Experience small-town Southern hospitality and comfortable accommodations at our modern Days Inn Statesboro hotel near Georgia Southern University. Enjoy in-room amenities like a coffee maker and free Wi-Fi Internet access or take a relaxing swim in our outdoor pool. Kids 17 and under stay free with an adult at our pet-friendly hotel in Statesboro. Find plenty of free parking for your truck, bus or RV in our lot.

Days Inn Metter 1225 S. Lewis St. Metter 30439 Ph: (912) 685-3000 Fax: (912) 685-3141 www.daysinn.com/metter daysinnmetter@yahoo.com

Contact: Sonya daysinnmetter@yahoo.com

We are conveniently located near exit 104 off I-16 and within walking distance of a variety of restaurants. We are a 20-minute drive to Statesboro and an hour drive to Savannah.

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Destination Marketing organizations

Kingsland CVB

1190 Boone Ave. Kingsland 31548 Ph: (912) 729-5999 Fax: (912) 729-7258 www.visitkingsland.com Contact: Sarah Beard sarah@visitkingsland.com

Kingsland is your coastal Georgia connection to amazing group travel locations. From the white sandy beaches of Cumberland Island to the mysteries of the Okefenokee Swamp with a bit of fun in the sun in between let us roll out the red carpet for your group!

Visit Savannah 101 E. Bay St. Savannah 31401 Ph: (912) 644-6400 Fax: (912) 644-6499 www.visitsavannah.com

Contact: Mindy Shea Ph: (912) 644-6419 mshea@savannahvisit.com

Welcome to Savannah! This much-celebrated destination has been enticing visitors with her sultry ambiance, striking beauty and eccentric charm for centuries. From the elegance of the Landmark Historic District to the festivities of River Street, visitors delight in all that this coastal jewel has to offer. Our knowledgeable tour and travel sales team is ready to work with you to ensure your group has an unforgettable Savannah experience

Attractions

Coastal Georgia Historical Society

610 Beachview Drive St. Simons Island 31522 Ph: (912) 634-7090 Fax: (912) 638-6609 www.saintsimonslighthouse.org Contact: Curt Smith Ph: (912) 634-7092 events@saintsimonslighthouse.org

The Coastal Georgia Historical Society operates and maintains the St. Simons Lighthouse and Keeper’s Dwelling as well as the Historic Coast Guard Station at East Beach.

Georgia State Railroad

655 Louisville Road

Savannah 31401 Ph: (912) 651-6823 www.chsgeorgia.org/Railroad-Museum.html

Contact: Natalie Butler Ph: (912) 312-3038 NButler@chsgeorgia.org

Located at the old Central of Georgia Railway Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities, Georgia State Railroad Museum is a stunning National Historic Landmark that is part of a National Historic Landmark District.

National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force 175 Bourne Ave.

Pooler 31322 Ph: (912) 748-8888 Fax: (912) 748-0209 www.mightyeighth.org

Contact: Susan Eiseman Ph: (912) 988-1844 events@mightyeighth.org

The museum is located on 13 acres only minutes from downtown Savannah and features over 90,000 square feet of incredible aircraft, interactive displays and a magnificent collection of aviation art.

Old Fort Jackson

1 Fort Jackson Road

Savannah 31404

Ph: (912) 232-3945 Fax: (912) 236-5126 www.chsgeorgia.org

Contact: Lisa Porter lisaporterofj@gmail.com

Old Fort Jackson was used to protect the city of Savannah during the Revolutionary War and Civil War. We offer programs that are based on the Georgia Performance Standards. Each offers an engaging, interactive and fun educational experience for visitors of all ages. Please visit our website for more information on specific programs.

Pin Point Heritage Museum

9924 Pin Point Road

Savannah 31406

Ph: (912) 355-0064; (912) 667-9176 Fax: (912) 335-1135 www.chsgeorgia.org

Contact: Tania Smith-Jones Ph: (912) 247-7991 taniasmithjones@gmail.com

Pin Point tells the story of life on the water of a Gullah-Geechee community and its strength and endurance in the most challenging times. They were self-sustained and maintained their land and values. Pin Point also includes the A.S. Varn & Sons crab and oyster factory and explains the economic impact on the community. The story is love, faith, and family — a cultural legacy for all to see.

Savannah Theatre

222 Bull St. Savannah 31401

Ph: (912) 233-7764

Fax: (912) 233-5550 www.savannahtheatre.com

Contact: Linda Harris Ph: (352) 777-9680 sales@savannahtheatre.com

Our two-hour musical comedy production will have you laughing, singing and tapping your toes to the melodies of well-known songs of the past and current hits as well. Year-round entertainment for your groups. We love groups!

Telfair Museum of Art 124 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 31401

Ph. (912) 790-8800 www.telfair.org

lodging

Inn at Ellis Square – A Days Hotel 201 W. Bay St. Savannah 31401

Ph: (912) 236-4440 Fax: (912) 232-2725 www.innatellissquare.com

Contact: Julie Getty Ph: (912) 944-3282 julieinnatellis@aol.com

Three million guests cannot be wrong! Inn at Ellis Square is the place to be! Welcoming Savannah’s visitors for 34 years has become a wonderful habit of ours. Come see why. We offer it all: perfect location, 252 guest rooms, gracious suites, an inviting lobby, bar and a dining room with lovely fireplaces await your arrival. Bring your tour, reunion and conference groups. They will love you for it!

Jekyll Island Club Hotel 371 Riverview Drive Jekyll Island 31527 Ph: (844) 342-2625 www.jekyllclub.com

Contact: Patty Henning Ph: (912) 635-5123 phenning@jekyllclub.com

The legacy of the original Jekyll Island Club is one of history and hospitality. Founded in 1886, the club was once the private winter retreat of America’s wealthiest families with such members as Morgan, Rockefeller, Pulitzer and Vanderbilt. It all began at the turn of the century and now the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is one of the top resorts in Georgia, open to you.

Stay in Savannah 411 W Bay St. Savannah, GA 31401 Ph. (912) 721-2305 www.stayinsavannah.com

Receptive operators/ tour companies

GH Tours, Inc. 46 Lanier Road Jekyll Island 31527 Ph: (912) 635-2697 Fax: (912) 635-2699 www.ghtoursinc.com Contact: Ginny Howell ginny@ghtoursinc.com

Are you looking for new group tour ideas? One call will provide you with new ideas. Our team has done all the research, which allows you more time to sell. We are the key to your most successful group tours. Our unique, out-of-the-ordinary attractions, dining venues and accommodations make for outstanding memories. As the southeast’s premier tour company, we have made numerous vacation dreams come true!

Stacey’s Tours & Lodging 1083 Carter Road Sapelo Island 31327 Ph: (912) 644-0324; (912) 485-2367 www.staceystours.com Contact: Stacey White toursapelo@gmail.com

Off the coast of Georgia lies an 11.5-milelong slice of paradise. Join Stacey’s Tours & Lodging for tours and overnight stays on beautiful Sapelo Island.

Up The Creek Xpeditions

P.O. Box 5236 St. Marys 31558 Ph: (912) 882-0911 www.upthecreekx.com Contact: Pete Koerner Ph: (912) 227-2096 info@upthecreekx.com

Up The Creek Xpeditions provides large group activities and adventures in the Cumberland Island and Amelia Island areas. With the area’s largest fleet of kayaks, most professional guide staff and the area’s only “big canoes,” we offer the safest and most unique on-water activities for large groups. We also offer interpretive walking tours on Cumberland Island and in other local parks and wilderness areas.

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Destination Marketing organizations

Albany CVB

112 N. Front St. Albany 31701

Ph: (229) 317-4760 Fax: (229) 317-4765 www.visitalbanyga.com

Contact: JD Sumner jdsumner@albanyga.com

Experience the heart of southwest Georgia, with first-class accommodations, adventures down the Flint River, rich heritage tours, a peek inside a blue hole, up-close animal encounters, sounds of native son Ray Charles and a Paula Deen hometown tour. Awaken your taste buds with a full Southern culinary tour. Southern hospitality comes naturally in Albany. We provide customized itineraries, special behind-the-scenes tours and step-on guides.

Thomasville Visitors Center

144 E. Jackson St. Thomasville 31792 (location); P.O. Box 3319 Thomasville 31799 (mail) Ph: (866) 577-3600 Fax: (229) 228-4188 www.thomasvillega.com

Contact: Sherri Nix sherrin@thomasville.org

There is always something to do in Thomasville — from outdoor movie nights to live concerts and historic plantations to Victorian homes, holiday festivals and incredible shopping! Spend the night or the weekend and discover what makes us extraordinary!

Attractions

Turner Center for the Arts

527 N. Patterson St. Valdosta 31601

Ph: (229) 247-2787 Fax: (229) 247-8978 www.turnercenter.org Contact: Rebecca Brosemer rbrosemer@turnercenter.org

The Turner Center for the Arts is a premier regional arts center located in downtown Valdosta, offering a wide variety of art experiences to citizens of Valdosta, Lowndes, surrounding Georgia counties and north Florida. The six light-filled galleries offer a diverse selection of works by regional and national artists in approximately 30 exhibits annually.

lodging

Comfort Suites Valdosta

1332 N. St. Augustine Road

Valdosta 31601

Ph: (229) 249-8880 Fax: (229) 249-8005 www.csvaldosta.com Contact: Brandy Kirkland sales@csvaldosta.com

Conveniently located near I-75 off exit 18 with many restaurants within walking distance including Denny’s, Hooters, Outback Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, Wendy’s and more! Welcome receptions Monday–Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. We realize that hospitality is all encompassing, so from check-in to check-out our dedicated team will work tirelessly to ensure your stay is of the highest quality in our industry.

Days Inn 15375 US 19 S. Thomasville 31792 Ph: (229) 226-6025 www.daysinn.com/hotel/06460 Contact: K.C. Patel daysinn6460@yahoo.com

All rooms with micro-fridge, free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast. Outdoor pool, guest laundry room, iron and board and hairdryer in all rooms. Flatscreen TV with HBO.

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Destination Marketing organizations

LaGrange-Troup County Tourism Bureau P.O. Box 636

Days Inn Valdosta Conference Center

1827 W. Hill Ave.

Valdosta 31601

Ph: (229) 249-8800 Fax: (229) 249-8800 www.daysinn.com/hotel/06626 Contact: Raymond Upchurch stay@daysinn16valdosta.com

Great location with large parking lot. Friendly, helpful staff with clean, comfortable rooms featuring all the things you expect. Healthy Days Inn breakfast with many choices.

Holiday Inn Express

814 W. 7th St. Tifton 31794 Ph: (229) 382-3300 Fax: (229) 382-9333 www.hiexpress.com/tifton Contact: Melody Cowart Ph: (229) 392-6602 mcowart@williamshotelgroup.com

Stay smart at our hotel in Tifton. You’ll find the comfort and convenience you need at our Holiday Inn Express, one of Tifton’s leading hotels. Located off I-75 near exit 62, our hotel is the place to stay for easy access to the area’s most popular businesses and attractions. We offer reasonable rates and a name you can trust, allowing you to stay smart.

LaGrange 30241 Ph: (706) 884-8671 Fax: (706) 882-8012 www.lagrangechamber.com Contact: Laura Jennings ljennings@lagrangechamber.com

This tourism bureau will coordinate every detail of your group’s tour. Use LaGrange’s first-class, less expensive hotels as a hub-andspoke to see Hills & Dales Estate and Explorations in Antiquity Center and for sightseeing in the region — from FDR’s Little White House in Warm Springs to Callaway Gardens to Columbus’ National Infantry Museum.

Attractions

Andersonville Guild/ The Drummer Boy Civil War Museum P.O. Box 6 Andersonville 31711 Ph: (229) 924-2558 www.andersonvillegeorgia.info Contact: Cynthia StormCaller tours@andersonvillegeorgia.info

We invite you to visit the Drummer Boy Civil War Museum and Andersonville National Historic Site as part of your American history education. A professional step-on tour guide can be provided for both sites (donations are appreciated for the village’s preservation society, the Andersonville Guild). We welcome all groups to come and step back in time with us throughout the year. We are open 361 days a year.

Hills & Dales Estate

1916 Hills and Dales Drive

LaGrange 30240

Ph: (706) 882-3242 Fax: (706) 882-3464 www.hillsanddales.org Contact: Suellen Dolan sdolan@hillsanddales.org

The centerpiece of the 35-acre estate is the 1916 Italian villa-style home of textile magnate Fuller E. Callaway. Adjacent to the house are the pre-Civil War Ferrell Gardens, which include an extensive boxwood garden, herb garden, greenhouse, fountains and garden statuary. The house and gardens are complemented by a visitor center where guests can see family artifacts, displays and our orientation film.

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site 300 N. Bond St. Plains 31780

Ph: (229) 824-4104 Fax: (229) 824-3441 www.nps.gov/jica

Contact Name: Steve Theus Ph: (229) 824-4104, ext. 42 steve_theus@nps.gov

Whether you are a Carter enthusiast, researcher, or just curious how a small town influenced a young boy who would become the president of the most powerful nation in the world, odds are you will find a visit to the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site interesting. The site has three areas to explore: Plains High School, the Plains Depot and the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm.

National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center 1775 Legacy Way Columbus 31903

Ph: (706) 685-5800 Fax: (706) 653-8368 www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org

Contact: Vickie Benton Ph: (706) 685-5809 vbenton@nationalinfantryfoundation.org

The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is a world-class museum honoring soldiers past, present and future. Just outside the gates of Fort Benning, the 190,000-square-foot facility features galleries and the museum’s signature attraction: the Last 100 Yards ramp. IMAX Theatre, fullservice restaurant, WWII Company Street, simulator attractions and more. Visitors may attend Infantry School graduations at adjacent parade field and stadium. Catering and room options for all needs.

Richland Distilling Company

333 Broad St. Richland 31825

Ph: (239) 887-3537 www.richlandrum.com

Contact: Karin Vonk Ph: (941) 545-4311 richlandrum@att.net

Award-winning Richland Rum is handcrafted with locally grown sugar cane, copper pot-distilled and aged in virgin oak barrels.

The distillery, barrelhouse and tasting room are located in historic downtown Richland and are open for tours and tastings

The Rock Ranch 5020 Barnesville Hwy. The Rock 30285 Ph: (706) 647-6374 Fax: (706) 647-4472 www.therockranch.com

Contact: Adam Pugh adampugh@therockranch.com

Plan your next event at The Rock Ranch! We host company picnics, corporate and team meetings, bus tour groups, church socials, reunions and Christmas parties. Please allow us to customize your next successful event. The Rock Ranch was founded by the late S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-Fil-A, and is dedicated to growing healthy families. See y’all soon!

lodging

Callaway Gardens Resort

17800 U.S. Hwy. 27 Pine Mountain 31822 Ph: (800) 543-7121 (800) 225-5292 Fax: (706) 663-5068 www.callawaygardens.com/groupsales

Contact: Pat Horan Ph: (706) 663-5126 phoran@callawaygardens.com

Callaway Gardens offers everything from resort amenities to a butterfly center including meeting space, restaurants, golf and zipline/obstacle courses. Here you’ll find everything needed for a great day or overnight visit. This resort destination has all of the features needed for groups in a setting that is productive and still relaxing. Ask about group and motorcoach packages. Every season provides a great reason to visit.

Days Inn

1605 East Lamar St. Americus 31709

Ph: (229) 924-2726 Fax: (229) 924-0982 www.daysinn.com/hotel/46910

Contact: Ambria Ridley americus.ga@cphosp.com

Let us welcome you to the heart of Sumter County when you make a reservation at our affordable Days Inn Americus hotel. Surrounded by exciting attractions and Southern dining, our pet-friendly hotel places you within easy reach of everything our city has to offer. Jimmy Carter’s former home, the Andersonville Civil War village and Lake Blackshear are all just a short drive from our welcoming front door.

Receptive operators/ tour companies

Outside World Outfitters 1025 Broadway Columbus 31901 Ph: (706) 322-4200 www.theoutsideworld.net

Contact: Chris Largent columbus@theoutsideworld.net

Wanna get outdoors? Outside World will lead your group on a kayak or paddleboard adventure in north Georgia. From a leisure paddle on an area lake to hitting the rapids on the Chattahoochee, we can do it all. Give us a call or email today.

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Destination Marketing organizations

Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce 305 N. Madison Ave. Eatonton 31024 Ph: (706) 485-7701 Fax: (706) 485-3277 www.visiteatonton.com

Contact: Maddie Atkinson info@eatonton.com

Filled with animated story telling, 2,000-year-old historical sites, antebellum homes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s trail and a delicious home-cooked meal, Eatonton has it all!

Eatonton can accommodate groups of all sizes. We have different itineraries that can be customized to fit your needs. Whether you have half a day or a whole weekend, we have just the activities for groups of all sizes and ages.

Macon-Bibb County CVB 450 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Macon 31201 Ph: (478) 743-1074 Fax: (478) 745-2022 www.maconga.org Contact: Kristen Simmonton Ph: (478) 743-1074, ext. 108 ksimmonton@visitmacon.org

The Macon-Bibb County CVB celebrates Macon as the Song & Soul of the South! Rich historical and musical significance, diverse culture, year-round festivals, top attractions, and heaps of Southern hospitality make Macon a destination of choice for group tours! Just south of Atlanta on I-75, Macon is conveniently located in the heart of Georgia with four highways providing easy access into Macon and to your next destination!

Milledgeville-Baldwin CVB 200 W. Hancock St. Milledgeville 31061 Ph: (478) 452-4687 www.visitmilledgeville.com Contact: Tamara Hendricks tourism@windstream.net

Milledgeville is a popular destination for an antebellum or old South tour. We can customize your visit to the state’s former capital by offering step-on guides, price sheets, customized itineraries, dining and accommodation options and much more!

Discover Perry

101 General Courtney Hodges Blvd. Perry 31069 Ph: (478) 988-8000 Fax: (478) 988-8005 www.perryga.com Contact: Sandi Smeltzer ssmeltzer@perryga.com

Perry has been known as the Crossroads of Georgia since its early days as a popular stagecoach stop. Perry is located in the heart of Georgia at the intersections of I-75, highways 341 and 41 and where the Golden Isles Parkway begins. Perry is the ideal destination, overnight stop or day trip! Home to the Georgia National Fair and the annual Peaches to Beaches event!

Attractions

Georgia’s Antebellum Trail

Ph. (404) 962-4175 www.antebellumtrail.org

Georgia Artisan Center

101 General Courtney Hodges Blvd. Perry 31069

Ph: (478) 988-8000 Fax: (478) 988-8005 http://georgiaartisancenter.com Contact: Sandi Smeltzer ssmeltzer@perryga.com

Whether passing through or spending a day or a night, this is a worthwhile stop when it comes to selecting one-of-a-kind works of art handcrafted by Georgia artisan from throughout the state. Groups can pick up a piece of folk pottery or a handcrafted, Georgia-grown pecan oil to add to an existing collection or to serve as a memory-worthy souvenir.

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

301 Cherry St. Macon 31201

Ph: (478) 752-1585 Fax: (478) 752-1587 www.georgiasportshalloffame.com

Contact: Chelsey Freeman Ph: (478) 752-1585, ext. 120 chelseyf@gshf.org

Here at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, we offer a variety of sports-themed attractions. Start in our theater to see an educational and inspirational sports film. Next, the upstairs is 14,000 square feet of highly interactive exhibits. Then, explore our high-energy interactive section. To finish, take a stroll down the hall of fame corridor, where you’ll see the newest inductees and legends in sports history.

Go Fish Education Center 1255 Perry Parkway (Off I-75, exit 134) Perry 31069

Ph: (478) 988-6701 www.gofisheducationcenter.com Contact: Tamatha Beckham Ph: (478) 988-6702 tamatha.beckham@dnr.state.ga.us

Fun for the whole family! Hunting and fishing simulators, aquariums full of native fish and an alligator exhibit await you. The casting pond is open with poles and bait provided. We are open Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Field trips and other groups are encouraged to book Tuesdays-Thursdays. Our hands-on field trips go along with Georgia performance standards.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia 5171 Eisenhower Pkwy. Macon 31206 Ph: (478) 471-4250 www.goodwillworks.org Contact: Susan Clay sclay@edgarshospitality.org

Tours of Goodwill’s Macon campus include Helms College culinary school and its student-run Edgar’s Bistro along with the Anderson Conference Center. Groups up to 600 can be accommodated in the center, with full A/V capability and catered meals available.

Ingleside Village Pizza 2395 Ingleside Ave. Macon 31204 Ph: (478) 750-8488 www.inglesidevillagepizza.com

Contact: Tina Dickson ourladyofpizza@yahoo.com

Macon’s best pizza, over and over again. By the slice or whole pie, sub sandwiches, fresh salads and garlicky breadsticks. Also, we have one of the largest selections of bottled beer in town. Dine in or call ahead for carry out. Closed on Mondays.

Lane Southern Orchards 50 Lane Road

Fort Valley 31030

Ph: (800) 277-3224 Fax: (478) 825-8195 www.lansouthernorchards.com Contact: Wendy R. Barton wendy@lanepacking.com

Since 1908, Lane Southern Orchards has grown the best tasting peaches and pecans in Georgia. If you are anywhere in the middle Georgia area, it’s worth a visit to our Roadside Market. Be sure to enjoy lunch at our Peachtree Café. Just don’t get us started on which tastes better, our peach cobbler or pecan pie! This friendly debate always ends up with a big helping of each and several spoons!

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

2625 Hwy. 212 SW Conyers 30094 Ph: (770) 483-8705 www.trappist.net Contact: Jim Burnham Ph: (678) 964-2239 jim@trappist.net

Explore beauty and simplicity at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Visitors are welcome year-round at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, the inspirational home of Georgia’s Trappist Monks. Nestled on more than 2,300 acres in Conyers, the Monastery offers a scenic and peaceful environment to explore and contemplate.

Ocmulgee National Monument 1207 Emery Hwy. Macon 31217 Ph: (478) 752-8257 Fax: (478) 752-8259 Website: www.nps.gov/ocmu Contact: Angela Bates Ph: (478) 752-8257, ext. 219 angela_bates@nps.gov

Step back in time and enjoy the beauty of Ocmulgee. Stroll to the continent’s only earth lodge and early Mississippian temple mounds. View downtown Macon from the top of the Great Temple Mound. Visit the site of the only two Civil War battles fought in Macon. Picnic on the grounds at shade covered picnic tables. Browse the museum with over 2,000 artifacts.

Popcorn Divine 4641-B Presidential Pkwy. Macon 31206 Ph: (478) 314-8622 www.popcorndivine.com Contact: Nicole Harmon Ph: (678) 717-7884 popcorndivine@gmail.com

Popcorn Divine has the best gourmet popcorn with over 250 flavors. Our motto, So Delicious, It’s Divine, is evident by the savory taste of every bite and the thousands of satisfied customers. With flavors like key lime pie, Oreo cheesecake, Chicago mix, Italian sausage, Snickers, dill pickle, birthday cake, peach cobbler, apple pie, white chocolate pretzel, cheese-coated caramel, peanut butter chocolate, pistachio and hundreds more.

Ricky D’s 139 E. Jefferson St. Madison 30650

Ph: (706) 342-0020 Fax: (706) 342-4433 www.rickyds.com Contact: Dana Kibbey Ph: (772) 215-2757 dana@rickyds.com

Unique entertainment venue for all ages! Hollywood Museum, 50-seat movie theatre, delicious gourmet sandwich items and an intimate wine bar. Host your group event at this wonderful facility or just stop in to have some fun while visiting historic Madison. Across from the courthouse.

William Harris Homestead 3636 GA Hwy. 11 Monroe 30656 Ph: (770) 267-5844 www.harrishomestead.com

Contact: Dotty Zazworsky Ph: (404) 520-0332 dotty@harrishomestead.com

The William Harris Homestead is a historic site in north Walton County, three miles south of Hwy. 316 on Hwy. 11, about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta. It serves as a cultural and educational center dedicated to the advancement of heritage, agricultural and environmental knowledge. Open to the public first and third Saturdays from March to December. By appointment for events, group tours and luncheons.

lodging

Days Inn

246 Hwy. 49 N. Byron 31008

Ph: (478) 956-5100 Fax: (478) 956-5033 www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/byron/ days-inn-byron/hotel-overview Contact: Victoria Lovett Ph: (478) 956-5200 daysinnbyron@gmail.com

Recently renovated. New carpet in nonsmoking rooms and laminated wood floors in pet-friendly and smoking rooms. Flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, hot continental breakfast, faxes and copies and local and USA Today newspapers. Laundromat on site.

Days Inn 2551 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville 31061

Ph: (478) 453-8471 Fax: (478) 453-8482 www.daysinnmilledgevillega.com Contact Name: P.D. Patel panpurav11814@gmail.com

We have 92 rooms, single- and doublebed, smoking and non-smoking. Pet-friendly rooms available for group reservation. Please feel free to contact us with your requirements.

Days Inn Macon I-475 4999 Eisenhower Pkwy. Macon 31206

Ph: (478) 781-4343 Fax: (478) 784-8140 www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/macon/ days-inn-macon-south-west/hotel-overview Contact: Paul Tucker daysinnmacon@gmail.com

Days Inn Macon I-475 a pet-friendly property with plenty of parking and places to walk your pets. We also have a seasonal outdoor pool, business center, free continental breakfast and free wireless Internet access in all guestrooms and public areas. There are a lot of options for food. We are 15-20 minutes from historic downtown Macon. Up to two pets allowed for a nominal fee of $10 per pet, per night.

Magnuson Hotel Macon 2720 Riverside Drive

Macon 31204

Ph: (478) 743-1482 Fax: (478) 745-3967 www.magnusonhotels.com/ Magnuson-Hotel-Macon Contact: Melonie Watson meloniewatson@earthlink.net

The Magnuson Hotel Macon is located right off I-75, exit 167, between northside attractions and downtown Macon. The Magnuson Hotel Macon is 10 minutes from the Macon Centreplex and Mercer University. Please contact us for all of your lodging needs.

Microtel Inn & Suites By Wyndham 110 Fairview Drive Perry 31069 Ph: (478) 987-4004 Fax: (478) 987-4005 www.microtelinn.com/hotels/georgia/perry/ microtel-inn-and-suites-perry/hotel-overview Contact: Brandie McClain microtelbm113@yahoo.com

Microtel Inn & Suites is a hotel with 63 rooms. Microtel Perry has a hot breakfast. We are pet-friendly with a small pet fee. Exit 134 off of I-75 across from the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter.

The Retreat of Southern Bridle Farms 125 South Langston Circle Perry 31069 Ph: (478) 396-5947 www.theretreatofsouthernbridlefarms.com Contact: Susan Scragg Ph: (478) 919-0704 susanscragg829@gmail.com

Large groups can stay in one of 24 beautifully restored rooms. Dine in the retreat’s on-site restaurant and bar — The Carriage House. The picturesque setting, among century-old trees and meticulously manicured grounds, provides the perfect backdrop for your outdoor event.

Receptive operators/ tour companies

Rock Candy Tours 575 College St. Macon 31201

Ph: (478) 955-5997 www.rockcandytours.com

Contact: Jessica Walden Ph: (478) 361-6998 rockcandytours@gmail.com

See the homes, offices, crash pads and favorite haunts of some of Southern music’s most legendary players. Rock Candy Tours offers weekly music history walking tours and opportunities for private walking, group and step-on tours that explore miles of downtown Macon historic sites that helped shaped rhythm and blues, Southern rock, new wave punk and the global music industry.

AtlA ntA M et R o

Destination Marketing organizations

Atlanta CVB

233 Peachtree St. NE, Ste. 1400 Atlanta 30303 Ph: (404) 521-6600 www.atlanta.net

Contact: Brandon Barnes (international) (404) 521-6567, bbarnes@atlanta.net; Leah Spain (domestic) (404) 521-6638 lspain@atlanta.net

Celebrating over 100 years of leadership in Atlanta’s $12 billion hospitality industry, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) serves as the liaison between meeting planners, tour operators and its 1,200-plus member organizations. ACVB positions Atlanta as the leading destination for conventions and tourism through aggressive sales and marketing programs and has a seasoned, highly professional staff to assist you with all your group travel plan needs.

Brookhaven Tourism 4362 Peachtree Road Brookhaven 30319

Ph: (404) 637-0516 Fax: (404) 637-0517 www.brookhavenga.gov

Contact: Mike Vescio Ph: (404) 637-0500 mike.vescio@brookhavenga.gov

Tour. Taste. Shop. Relax. No. 1 destination according to Movoto.com. Most exciting place in Georgia. Enjoy three historic neighborhoods, Oglethorpe University, Town Brookhaven and the international corridor. Enjoy one of our 10 hotels from limited- to full-service offering 1,471 spacious guest rooms.

Cobb Travel & Tourism One Galleria Parkway Atlanta 30339

Ph: (678) 303-2622 Fax: (678) 303-2625 www.travelcobb.org

Contact: Dianne Lovett Ph: (678) 303-2635 dlovett@travelcobb.org

Cobb Travel & Tourism is a full-service organization with a professional group tour staff dedicated to providing you the tools you need to create a memorable adventure. Our goal is to help you plan a trip that will fit your group’s interests, leaving them eager to come back for more.

Explore Gwinnett 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 200 Duluth, GA 30097 Ph. (888) 494-6638 www.exploregwinnett.org

Marietta Visitors Bureau 4 Depot St. Marietta 30060 Ph: (770) 429-1115 Fax: (770) 428-3443 www.mariettasquare.com Contact: Katie Peterson katie@mariettasquare.com

Marietta, a charming historic city located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, is filled with unique boutiques and specialty shops, a wide variety of dining options and fascinating attractions. The turn-of-the century square is rich in arts and culture, Civil War history and heritage. No matter your group’s interest, Marietta offers the atmosphere for you to have a memorable experience.

Roswell CVB 617 Atlanta St. Roswell 30075 Ph: (800) 776-7935 Fax: (770) 640-3252 www.visitroswellga.com

Contact: Diane Stone Ph: (770) 640-3253 dstone@roswellgov.com

A Visit Roswell group tour specialist will assist with your arrangements: Southern Trilogy Historic Homes tours, Chattahoochee Nature Center, ghost Walks, unique shops, galleries, antiques and boutiques, over 200 independent restaurants and welcoming lodging facilities.

Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism 5920 Roswell Road, Ste. A-118 Sandy Springs 30328 Ph: (866) 511-7742 Fax: (770) 206-1439 www.visitsandysprings.org

Contact: Will Carlson Ph: (770) 206-1445 will.carlson@sandyspringsga.org

Located in Atlanta’s dynamic metro north, Sandy Springs is in the center of fun, whether shopping, dining or visiting one of the many metro area attractions. Sandy Springs Hospitality & Tourism offers many complimentary resources to help in planning: discounted pricing at our 18 area hotels, restaurants and attractions; event site tours; and goody bags delivered to your host hotel!

Villa Rica Tourism Bureau

571 W. Bankhead Highway

Villa Rica, GA 30180 Ph. (678) 785-1002 www.villaricatourism.com

Attractions

Agatha’s A Taste of Mystery

161 Peachtree Center Ave. Atlanta 30303

Ph: (404) 584-2233 Fax: (404) 584-2233 www.agathas.com Contact: James Warren info@agathas.com

We are a murder mystery dinner theater that emphasizes comedy. Audience participation is optional. One price includes tip, tax, show, a five-course meal, ice tea, coffee and a complementary glass of wine at salad. Contact us for group prices for dinner and luncheons.

Alliance Theatre

1280 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta 30309

Ph: (404) 733-4690 Fax: (404) 733-4625 http://alliancetheatre.org Contact: Kate McNeely Contact: (404) 733-4605 kate.mcneely@woodruffcenter.org

Known as the lead producing theater in the southeast, Alliance Theatre puts world-class work on stage, but we’re so much more than that. We’re a community of artists, educators, administrators and business and civic leaders devoted to theater, arts and arts education. We’ve won awards for our work and our advocacy. We have the best facilities in the business. Tony Award-winning theater. Made in Atlanta.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games

11000 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell 30076 Ph: (770) 992-5688 Fax: (770) 992-6066 www.andrettikarting.com Contact: Sharon Bagley Ph: (678) 352-7674 sbagley@andrettikarting.com

Atlanta’s premier entertainment destination featuring Superkarts, arcade, Cosmic Rock Wall, Sky Trail Ropes Course, zipline, simulators and all new X-D Dark Ride Motion Theater. We can accommodate groups from 10 to 2,000 with a full restaurant and bar and over 10,000 square feet of event space.

Atlanta Ballet 1695 Marietta Blvd. NW Atlanta 30318 Ph: (404) 873-5811 Fax: (404) 874-7905 www.atlantaballet.com Contact: Myredith Gonzales Ph: (404) 873-5811, ext. 207 groupsales@atlantaballet.com

Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the country and the official State Ballet of Georgia. Atlanta Ballet’s eclectic repertoire spans ballet history, highlighted by beloved classics and inventive originals. After 83 years, Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance.

ATL Black History Tour 21 Larkin Place SW Atlanta 30313 Ph: (770) 374-7476 www.atlblackhistorytour.com Contact: Dwight McQueen mcqueen360@aol.com

We are Atlanta’s finest tour of AfricanAmerican history, which includes a threehour experience of historical locations, businesses, homes and museums. We can provide all transportation or provide toplevel tour guides.

ATL Civil Rights Tour 21 Larkin Place SW Atlanta 30313 Ph: (770) 374-7476 www.atlantacivilrightstour.com Contact: Dwight McQueen mcqueen360@aol.com

The ATL Civil Rights Tour is a three-hour tour of Atlanta’s civil rights history, including a tour of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Martin Luther Ling Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Oakland Cemetery. From Civil War to civil rights!

Atlanta Braves

755 Hank Aaron Drive Atlanta 30315

Ph: (404) 577-9100 Fax: (404) 614-1582 www.braves.com Contact: Dennette Thornton Ph: (404) 614-1493 dennette.thornton@braves.com

Make your next outing a memorable one at a Braves game! Turner Field provides the perfect setting to host a unique event for groups of 20 or more, including: company outings, religious associations, summer camps, school groups, client entertainment, family celebrations, non-profit organizations and youth and adult sports leagues. Get started now — tickets start as low as $5!

Atlanta History Center

130 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305 Ph. (404) 814-4000 www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

1280 Peachtree St. NE, Ste. 4074 Atlanta 30350

Ph: (404) 733-4848 Fax: (404) 733-4999 www.atlantasymphony.org

Contact: Pam Kruseck Ph: (404) 733-4958 pam.kruseck@woodruffcenter.org

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is one of America’s leading orchestras. It performs more than 200 concerts each year for a combined audience of more than a half million and also reaches more than 67,000 students and underserved members of the community through its education and community outreach programs. Performances are held at Atlanta Symphony Hall, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park and Chastain Park Amphitheater.

BGR Grille 1603 White Way East Point 30344 Ph: (404) 921-2288 www.bgrgrille.com Contact: Jey Jones Contact: (301) 648-6050 jameswjones1996@yahoo.com

BGR Grille is the ultimate burger experience. We have handmade craft ale burgers. Made from 100 percent Angus beef, 100 percent ground turkey and 100 percent all-natural chicken breast. We also carry a wide range of fresh from the farmers market choices for your choosing.

Braves Museum & Hall of Fame/ Turner Field Tours 755 Hank Aaron Drive Atlanta 30315

Ph: (404) 614-2311 Fax: (404) 614-1423 www.braves.com/tours Contact: Carolyn Serra carolyn.serra@braves.com

The Braves Museum & Hall of Fame is the starting point of Turner Field tours. Open year-round, tours take visitors to many areas off limits during games, including the Braves press box, broadcast booth, clubhouse and dugout. The museum traces the team’s history from its beginnings in Boston (1871–1952) to Milwaukee (1953–65) to Atlanta (1966–present).

The Breman Museum 1440 Spring St. Atlanta 30309

Ph: (678) 222-3700 Fax: (404) 881-4009 http://thebreman.org Contact: David Schendowich Ph: (678) 222-3732 dschendowich@thebreman.org

The Breman Museum, Atlanta’s Jewish museum, offers its visitors a wealth of experience spanning Jewish arts, history and identity with emphasis on the Holocaust and southern Jewish history.

Center for Puppetry Arts

1404 Spring St. NW Atlanta 30309 Ph: (404) 873-3391 Fax: (404) 873-9907 www.puppet.org Contact: Daniel Summers, Jr. Ph: (404) 881-5129 danielsummersjr@puppet.org

The Center for Puppetry Arts is a unique cultural treasure — a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened and entertained. Since 1978, the center has introduced millions of visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry and has touched the lives of many through enchanting performances, curriculum-based workshops and the hands-on museum as well as distance-learning and outreach programs.

Chick-fil-A Home Office Backstage Tour 5200 Buffington Road Atlanta 30349 Ph: (404) 765-8000 www.tours.chick-fil-a.com Contact: Juliet Hall homeofficebackstagetour@chick-fil-a.com

The Chick-fil-A Home Office Backstage Tour is a guided, cultural tour experience that highlights the story of Chick-fil-A founder, the late S. Truett Cathy, and the history of the brand. The experience is appropriate for all groups, including businesses. Free and paid tours are available with options that include Q&As with Chick-fil-A leadership. Reservations are required.

Gone with the Wind Trail 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305 Ph. (404) 814-4032 www.gwtwtrail.com

Inside CNN Studio Tour

One CNN Center Atlanta 30303 Ph: (877) 426-6868 Fax: (404) 827-4035 www.cnn.com/tour Contact: Marissa Creager groupsales@cnn.com

Bring your group to the Inside CNN Studio Tour in the global headquarters of the worldwide leader in news. Your group will get a firsthand look at how the news is gathered, written and reported by the inventors of 24-hour news.

College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-a Fan Experience

250 Marietta St. NW Atlanta 30313

Ph: (404) 880-4800 Fax: (404) 657-4100 www.cfbhall.com Contact: Jodi O’Gara Ph: (404) 880-4841 jogara@cfbhall.com

The College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience is an engaging and interactive attraction. This is a complete immersion into all things college football. From the 45-yard replica field to joining Chris Fowler and Desmond Howard at the ESPN College GameDay Desk and calling a legendary play in the Call the Play booth, guests will have a personalized experience every time they visit!

Crossland Karate, Inc. 2925 Headland Drive, Ste. 1700 East Point 30344

Ph: (404) 344-4366 Fax: (404) 349-0599 www.crosslandkarate.com Contact: Percy A. Brown crosslandkarate@aol.com

Crossland Karate Inc., a community leader recognized for innovation and quality in teaching and learning, provides community outreach programs and “green” initiatives. Programs focus on prevention and intervention for youth, misdirected youth and unskilled adults. They utilize high quality martial arts training, physical fitness, nutritional and vocational educational training focused on building the mind, body and spirit.

Dave & Buster’s 2215 D&B Drive SE Marietta 30067

Ph: (770) 951-5554 Fax: (770) 612-6970 www.daveandbusters.com Contact: Jennifer Wires jennifer_wires@daveandbusters.com

Today there’s only one place where you can eat new American, fun gourmet food; and drink your choice of fun, innovative beverages; and play the biggest and best arcade games around – all under one roof! That one place is your local Dave & Buster’s, where you always get great food, drinks and big-time fun served up by the friendliest people in town.

Dave and Buster’s 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy. Lawrenceville 30188

Ph: (678) 847-5400 Fax: (678) 847-5435 www.daveandbusters.com

Contact: Heather Montgomery Ph: (678) 537-8507 heather_montgomery@daveandbusters.com

Dave & Buster’s is the only place with a restaurant serving everything from wings to New York strip steak, a bar with the best drinks ever and the latest interactive and video games. Our Million Dollar Midway offers over 200 games to play with a rechargeable Power Card. In addition to we can host events for groups of 20 up to 2,000. So book your fun with us today!

East Point Corner Tavern 2783 Main St.

East Point 30344

Ph: (404) 768-0007 www.thecornertavern.com/east-point

Contact: Mike Rabb Ph: (404) 557-8449 mrcornertavern@gmail.com

East Point Corner Tavern was the first of this local chain. Second stop on the Marta from the airport. Extensive menu, pool tables, darts, large second-floor patio and drink, lunch and dinner specials every day. We love big groups!

Eddie Owen Presents @ Red Clay Music Foundry

3116 Main St. Duluth 30079

Ph: (404) 478-2749; (678) 892-6373 www.eddieowenpresents.com

Contact: Rhiannon Clark info@eddieowenpresents.com

EOP/RCMF’s tri-partite mission as presenter, educator and community-builder has evolved naturally and steadily since Eddie first began in the late ‘80s. We are able to evolve as the product of Duluth’s enthusiasm for celebrating the many musical forms and influences that shape entertainment value and music education in Gwinnett.

Edgewood Corner Tavern 464 Edgewood Ave. Atlanta 30312 Ph: (404) 577-2310 www.thecornertavern.com/edgewood Contact: Melanie Rabb Ph: (404) 759-6582 cornertaverns@gmail.com

Relax and have a delicious cocktail and peruse our extensive food menu. Play a game of pool or darts or just visit with friends.

The Corner Tavern is where you can become a regular, act the part of a pool shark and down some awesome cocktails or brews.

Locally owned and operated.

The Fox Theatre

660 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta 30308

Ph: (404) 881-2011 Fax: (404) 881-2008 www.foxtheatre.org Contact: Shelby Moody shelby.moody@foxtheatre.org

Historic theater in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. We offer group tours for $15 each. Join us for one of the great Broadway in Atlanta shows in 2015. Newsies, January 20-25; Wicked, February 18-March 8; Blue Man Group, April 7-12; Pippin, May 5-10; and Motown: The Musical, August 18-25!

Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta

215 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta 30303

Ph: (404) 688-7625 Fax: (404) 681-1025 www.hardrock.com/cafes/atlanta Contact: Kellie Brown Ph: (404) 688-7625, ext. 22 kellie_brown@hardrock.com

What’s better than enjoying your meal in the middle of a museum? Come see our more than 200 authentic memorabilia pieces and, who knows, maybe even see a rock star in person. We can seat groups up to 375 people and are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Come rock with us!

The Historic Marietta Trolley Co. 131 Church St. Marietta 30060

Ph: (770) 425-1006 Fax: (770) 425-1007 www.mariettatrolley.com Contact: Collin Cash Contact: (770) 425-1062 collin@mariettatrolley.com

With the only regularly scheduled trolley tours in the Atlanta Metro area, the Historic Marietta Trolley Company delights groups with one-hour sightseeing tours in Marietta and 90-minute tours in Atlanta (known as the Peachtree Trolley tour). Ghost tours in Marietta are also available as well as private and custom tours and transportation options.

Historic Oakland Cemetery

248 Oakland Ave. SE Atlanta 30312

Ph: (404) 688-2107 www.oaklandcemetery.com Contact Name: Mary Woodlan Ph: (404) 688-2107, ext. 15 mwoodlan@oaklandcemetery.com

Founded in 1850, Oakland Cemetery is one of Atlanta’s largest public parks and a unique oasis of history, sculpture, botanical gardens and wildlife. Located less than a mile from the heart of downtown Atlanta, historic Oakland is the final resting place for many of Atlanta’s pioneers, icons and leaders.

Impact Event Center

2323 Sylvan Road Atlanta 30344 Ph: (404) 577-2826 www.impacteventcenter.org Contact: Keosha Moon events@impactdcd.org

Impact Event Center is a convenient, flexible-use event space designed to accommodate many different types of events. We are uniquely positioned to provide you with a full suite of event services. With a strong focus on customer service and professionalism, our goal is to partner with you to meet and exceed your expectations.

KV’s Southern Cuisine, LLC 1509 Norman Berry Drive East Point 30344 Ph: (678) 592-9552 Contact: Barbara kvrestaurant@gmail.com

Open: Thurday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. under new management. Join us for KV’s Fish Fry Friday (FFF) Delivery is available. Call today for your holiday party.

Lake Lanier Canopy Tours

7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Buford 30518 Ph:(678) 622-3990 www.lakelaniercanopytours.com Contact: Shane Sullards info@zipllct.com

Only the most stellar zipline canopy tour in the great state of Georgia! Zipping over and around beautiful Lake Lanier.

At LLCT, our mission is to provide an unforgettable eco-adventure experience for people from all walks of life.

Main Event Entertainment 11700 Davis Drive Alpharetta 30009 Ph: (770) 521-9100 www.mainevent.com

Contact: Sean Arnold sarnold@mainevent.com

Guests can enjoy bowling, billiards, laser tag and ropes courses or choose from hundreds of interactive amusement games. Our multi-venue family entertainment centers feature full-service restaurants and bars as well as fast and casual restaurant offerings, great food and much more in a fun, clean and comfortable environment.

Main Event Entertainment 3101 Cobb Pkwy. SE, Ste. 104 Atlanta 30339 Ph: (770) 955-0717 www.mainevent.com Contact: Sean Arnold atlsalesmgr@mainevent.com

Guests can enjoy bowling, billiards, laser tag and ropes courses or choose from hundreds of interactive amusement games. Our multi-venue family entertainment centers feature full-service restaurants and bars as well as fast and casual restaurant offerings, great food and much more in a fun, clean and comfortable environment.

Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum 18 Whitlock Ave. Marietta 30064 Ph: (770) 794-5576 Fax: (770) 794-5139 www.gwtwmarietta.com Contact: Connie Sutherland Ph: (770) 794-5145 csutherland@mariettaga.gov

Tour an original collection of Gone with the Wind memorabilia including the original bengaline gown worn by Vivien Leigh in her role as Scarlett. Housed in a former cotton warehouse built in 1875, highlights include conceptual artwork, original scripts, costume pieces and a foreign edition library. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Saturday. Facility rentals, group tours and gift shop available. Special events annually.

Marlene Rounds School of Dance, Inc. 2048 Headland Drive East Point 30344 Ph: (404) 559-2956 http://marleneroundsdance.com Contact: Marlene Stevens marlenebstevens@bellsouth.net

Dance classes offered: liturgical ballet, tap, hip-hop, clogging and jazz. Performed at Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios. The dance school also has performed on eight cruise ships.

Medieval Times 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy. Lawrenceville 30043 Ph: (866) 543-9637 Fax: (770) 225-0235 www.medievaltimes.com/Atlanta.aspx

Contact: Shelley Korenbrot Ph: (770) 225-0492 shelley.korenbrot@medievaltimes.com

The Royal Court invites you to join in a spectacle from the Middle Ages. A four-course feast awaits as you watch the incredible pure Spanish horses and riders thrill with games as the pageant unfolds and cheers from the king’s noble guests fill the arena. Skill and strength are measured in the combat. Discover which of the knights shall become champion.

Millennium Gate Museum 395 17th St NW Atlanta 30363

Ph: (404) 881-0900 www.thegateatlanta.com

Contact: Jeremy Kobus Ph: (404) 446-4305 info@thegateatlanta.com

The Millennium Gate Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret Georgia history, art, culture and philanthropic heritage as well as highlight Georgia’s historical and aesthetic relevance to the United States and to the world.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia

75 Bennett St. NW Atlanta 30309

Ph: (404) 367-8700 Fax: (404) 367-1477 www.mocaga.org

Contact: Shana Barefoot sbarefoot@mocaga.org

MOCA GA showcases the best of contemporary visual art by Georgia’s emerging, established and legendary artists. With an average of 10 exhibitions each year and more than 100 exhibitions to date, MOCA GA presents work that is dynamic, challenging and innovative. MOCA GA is central to the arts in Georgia — investing in the community by preserving the legacy of the past, present and future of Georgia art.

The Painted Penguin

3333 Buford Drive Buford 30519 Ph: (678) 765-6835 www.thepaintedpenguinmallofga.com

Contact: Comfort Okpah copaintedpenguin@gmail.com

We are all about having fun. Visit our energetic art studio where you can paint your own pottery or design your own t-shirt. We cater to all ages. We have thousands of pottery pieces to choose from and a t-shirt design studio that lets you imagine it, design it and wear it in minutes!

Pittypat’s Porch Restaurant

25 Andrew Young International Blvd. Atlanta 30303 Ph: (404) 525-8228 www.pittypatsrestaurant.com Contact: Alyssa Bonzek alyssab@pittypatsrestaurant.com

Pittypat’s Porch has been a must-eat establishment since 1967. From the moment you arrive at our Rocking Chair Lounge you will be captivated by our porch-like feel and Southern hospitality. We take pride in always maintaining Pittypat’s Porch’s balance of old Southern charm and new Southern flavors. Restaurant can fit up to 300 guests.

Porsche Experience Center

1 Porsche Drive

Hapeville 30354 Ph: (888) 204-7474 www.porschedriving.com Contact: Caroline Battle infoporschedriving@porsche.us

Porsche is devoted to delivering the most exceptional experiences in the world. It is that drive and tireless ambition that has led to the new Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta conveniently located adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Offering Porsche driving modules, a state-of-the-art business center, fitness facilities, driving simulators, fine-dining restaurant and gallery of legendary Porsche vehicles. Opening spring 2015.

Road To Tara Museum 104 N. Main St. Jonesboro 30236 Ph: (770) 478-4800; (800) 662-7829 Fax: (770) 478-1888 www.atlantastruesouth.com

Contact: Beth Bailey Ph: (678) 610-4242 beth@atlantastruesouth.com

Original props, costume reproductions, complete collectible plate and doll collections, a foreign-edition library and an extensive photo gallery offer a glimpse into the remarkable writing of the book and making of the movie, Gone with the Wind. Scarlett’s pantalets and Rhett’s overcoat are just a few of the original costume pieces on display. Self-guided tours and costumed guides available.

The Southern Hollywood Film Tour 201 McIntosh Trail

Peachtree City 30269 Ph: (678) 216-0282 www.visitpeachtreecity.com visit@visitpeachtreecity.com

Peachtree City may be a long way from Hollywood, but the film industry has made the trip! We proudly share in the claim-tofame of the television series Drop Dead Diva and The Walking Dead. Our city is also spotted in high-budget films like Sweet Home Alabama and Joyful Noise. Celebrity sightings are becoming more frequent with stars like Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd keeping our city in the spotlight.

Stately Oaks Plantation

100 Carriage Lane Jonesboro 30236 Ph: (770) 473-0197 Fax: (770) 473-9855 http://historicaljonesboro.org Contact: Joyce Wright statelyoaks@historicaljonesboro.org

Built in 1839, this Greek Revival plantation home stands among several authentic outbuildings. The Bethel One-Room Schoolhouse, Juddy’s Country Store and the original log kitchen are among the historic buildings within this complex. Costumed docents delight visitors while educating them about the historic significance of plantations in the South along with the importance of the Civil War.

Tanger Outlets

1000 Tanger Drive Locust Grove 30248 Ph: (800) 406-5310; (770) 957-5310 Fax: (770) 957-6881 www.tangeroutlets.com/locustgrove Contact: Holly Duffey holly.duffey@tangeroutlets.com

Enjoy great savings in over 70 of the world’s most popular stores including American Eagle, New York & Co, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Banana Republic, COACH, Torrid, Lucky Brand Jeans, Levi’s, PS by Aeropostale, Old Navy, Nine West, Brooks Brothers, Under Armour, Clarks Bostonian, Chico’s, Columbia Sportswear, Gap, Gymboree, J.Crew, Nautica, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Stride Rite, Tommy Hilfiger, Kasper and many more.

Treetop Quest Gwinnett 2020 Clean Water Drive Buford 30519 Ph: (770) 904-3547 www.treetopquest.com Contact: Sara Baggett gwinnett@treetopquest.com

Treetop Quest’s adventure park will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and ziplines. With courses designed specifically for kids and more challenging courses for teens and adults, our park accommodates nearly any adventurer! Treetop Quest is a self-guided activity. Once you are equipped, we will teach you how to operate your equipment and you can swing through the courses for 2.5 hours.

Warren House 102 W. Mimosa Drive Jonesboro 30236 Ph: (678) 685-1821 www.warrenhouse.net Contact: Jack Farrar Ph: (770) 862-6519 farrar305@yahoo.com; info@WarrenHouse.net

The Warren House was built in 1840 by Guy L. Warren. The Warren House was used as a field hospital and headquarters by Confederate troops and the 52nd Illinois Infantry. Signatures of convalescing soldiers still appear on the walls in the house. The lawn in front of the Warren House was the scene of the historic Battle of Jonesboro, which led to the fall of Atlanta.

World of Coca-Cola 121 Baker St. NW

Atlanta 30313

Ph: (404) 676-5151; (800) 676-COKE Fax: (404) 598-1246 www.worldofcoca-cola.com Contact: Rumsha Hada Ph: (404) 676-6074 groups@worldofcoca-cola.com

Experience the history of the world’s most famous soft drink at the home of the 128-yearold secret formula for Coca-Cola. Get closer than ever to the vault containing the secret recipe; get an inside look at the bottling process; take a trip around the world in a thrilling 4-D movie experience; and tempt your taste buds with more than 100 flavors before taking home a commemorative glass bottle of Coca-Cola.

lodging

Baymont Inn & Suites 2170 Delk Road Marietta 30067

Ph: (770) 951-0026 Fax: (770) 952-5372 www.baymontinns.com/hotels/georgia/ marietta/baymont-inn-and-suites-mariettaatlanta-north/hotel-overview

Contact: Chirag Thakkar baymontmarietta@gmail.com

Located in Marietta, Baymont Inn & Suites is within convenient distance of major attractions. 129 rooms with free Wi-Fi and breakfast. Cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature shower/ tub combinations, complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks, coffee/tea makers and an outdoor pool.

Comfort Inn & Suites 5355 Stone Mountain Hwy. 78 Stone Mountain 30087 Ph: (770) 465-1888 Fax: (770) 465-3424 www.choicehotels.com/hotel/ga287 Contact: Barbara Mullin Ph: (678) 852-3258 sales@exceptionalhospitality.com

Comfort Inn & Suites is conveniently located right outside of the main gate to historic Stone Mountain Park. Our hotel would like to offer our groups free hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, heated indoor pool, free local calls, microwave and fridge in all rooms, free motorcoach parking and welcome bags. Our staff welcomes your group with Southern hospitality.

Comfort Inn & Suites Marietta 2221 Corporate Plaza Pkwy. Smyrna 30080 Ph: (770) 541-1499 Fax: (770) 541-0130 www.comfortinn.com/ hotel-smyrna-georgia-GA861

Contact: David W. Dopson comfortinnsuites.marietta@gmail.com

We would love to host your group. We have a full hot breakfast and a great staff to take care of your needs. Call us today and let us be your hotel of choice here in Smyrna.

Country Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport North 1365 Hardin Ave. Atlanta 30344 Ph: (404) 767-9787 Fax: (404) 767-8398 www.countryinns.com/atlantaairportga Contact: Shana C. Whyte scw@rossmoregroup.com

The Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Atlanta Airport North offers complimentary airport shuttle and our hot Be Our Guest Breakfast buffet. Located minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), we are easily accessible to many attractions. In addition you’ll enjoy free highspeed Internet access, an indoor pool with a sundeck, a business center, a fitness center and access to meeting facilities.

Country Inn & Suites/Stone Mountain 1852 Rockbridge Road Stone Mountain 30087 Ph: (770) 465-6515 Fax: (770) 465-4260 www.countryinns.com/stonemountainga Contact: Barbara Mullin Ph: (678) 852-3258 sales@exceptionalhospitality.com

Country Inn & Suites/Stone Mountain is located right outside of historic Stone Mountain Park and just minutes from downtown Atlanta. Free Internet access, free hot breakfast, microwave and fridge in all rooms, free local calls, heated indoor pool and whirlpool. Free motorcoach parking and welcome bags for groups.

Days Inn 2006 Glenn Club Drive

Stone Mountain 30087 Ph: (770) 879-0800 Fax: (770) 879-5674 www.daysinn.com/stonemountain Contact: Barbara Mullin Ph: (678) 514-1914 sales@exceptionalhospitality.com

Days Inn is conveniently located right outside of Stone Mountain Park, 13 miles from the heart of downtown Atlanta. Large groups welcome. Motorcoach Parking. Great hospitality.

Days Inn & Suites

3900 Fulton Industrial Blvd. SW Atlanta 30336 Ph: (404) 691-2444 Fax: (404) 691-7337 www.daysinnsuitesatlanta.com Contact: Sanjay Patel daysinnatl@gmail.com

Enjoy the best of convenience and comfort at our hotel. We’re only 1 1/2 miles from Six Flags and we’re only minutes away from downtown Atlanta.

Days Inn & Suites 5385 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Norcross 30092

Ph: (770) 416-9021 Fax: (770) 417-9512 www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/norcross/ days-inn-and-suites-norcross-atlanta-nepeachtree-ind-blvd/hotel-overview Contact: Navin petepatel1@yahoo.com

Indoor-corridor hotel with indoor heated pool and spa only in Norcross. Free Wi-Fi. Free hot breakfast. All rooms have microfridge. Major restaurant and shopping nearby. Downtown Atlanta only 25 minutes away. Free business center.

Days Inn-Marietta-Atlanta-Delk Road 2191 Northwest Pkwy. Marietta 30067

Ph: (770) 952-9863 Fax: (770) 988-0833 www.daysinn.com/hotel/15411 Contact: Sam Patel daysinndelkrd@gmail.com

Near I-75 exit 261. Free Wi-Fi, free motorcoach parking, free hot breakfast. Over 120 rooms available. Free room for motorcoach driver with minimum rooms booked.

Days Inn Douglasville 5489 Westmoreland Plaza

Douglasville 30134

Ph: (770) 949-1499 Fax: (770) 942-7861 www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/douglasville/days-inn-douglasville-atlanta-fairburn-road/hotel-overview Contact: Jackie or Ron Patel Ph: (678) 382-4433 daysinndouglasville@yahoo.com

Our Days Inn is located right of I-20 and exit 37. We have 54 rooms. We serve free continental breakfast with hot waffles and oatmeal. Our amenities consist of free Wi-Fi, LCD TV with over 120 channels, micro-fridge, hair dryer, in-room coffee, iron with board, large parking lots and a seasonal outdoor pool.

Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta Buckhead 3342 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30326 Ph: (404) 231-1234 Fax: (404) 238-0016 http://doubletreebuckhead.com

Contact: Pam Linder-N’Diaye Ph: (404) 238-0010 pndiaye@doubletreebuckhead.com

Enjoy the boutique style of this Buckhead hotel in the heart of Buckhead. Renovated in 2014, we offer Southern hospitality and welcoming service to business travelers and visitors on a weekend jaunt of shopping and dining. From our famous DoubleTree hot chocolate chip cookie to a 24-hour business center, our Atlanta boutique-style hotel offers a home-away-from-home experience. Unwind in a guest room with Wi-Fi, ergonomic workstation and 40-inch TV.

Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta-Marietta 2055 S. Park Place Atlanta 30339-2014 Ph: (770) 272-9441 Fax: (678) 252-5907 www.atlantamarietta.doubletree.com Contact: Kenneth Alcott Ph: (678) 426-4866 kenneth.alcott@hilton.com

Drury Inn and Suites Atlanta Northwest 1170 Powers Ferry Road Marietta 30067

Ph: (770) 612-0900 Fax: (800) 858-3851 https://www.druryhotels.com/ PropertyHotelServices.aspx?Property=0083 groups@druryhotels.com

This is what free tastes like! Wake up each morning to a free hot breakfast! Take your pick from a selection of great breakfast items including scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and make-your-own Belgian waffles. In the evening, join us at the 5:30 Kickback® for free hot food and cold beverages. Plus beer, wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks are served every day. There’s something for everyone!

Fairfield Inn & Suites Kennesaw 3425 Busbee Drive NW Kennesaw 30144

Ph: (770) 427-9700 www.marriott.com/atlnc Contact: Joanna Kyser Ph: (770) 820-4665 joannakyser@remingtonhotels.com

DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Airport 3400 Norman Berry Drive Atlanta 30344

Ph: (404) 763-1600 Fax: (404) 765-0200 http://atlantaairport.doubletree.com

Contact: Carita Montgomery carita.montgomery@hilton.com

Welcome to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta Airport, located one mile from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). Relax in our lobby featuring a cozy fireplace and cascading water wall. Savor Southern and traditional cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Seasons Bakery & Grille. Gather in the lobby lounge to enjoy a cocktail or watch a game on one of the widescreen televisions. In-room dining is also available.

The DoubleTree by Hilton AtlantaMarietta surrounds you with all the familiar features you will need during your trip. These include Mondo Mocha Restaurant, open 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner; DoubleTree Fitness Center, featuring the finest exercise equipment from Precor®; indoor heated pool and whirlpool and connecting outdoor pool; complimentary high-speed Internet access in public areas; business center with copying, printing, high-speed Internet and fax.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Kennesaw offers tour groups a great location when visiting north Georgia or Atlanta. With easy access to highways 75 and 575, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, express check-in features, the Fairfield Inn & Suites is the ideal choice for your tour group.

Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown 161 Spring St. NW Atlanta 30303

Ph: (404) 589-1111 Fax: 404-589-8999 http://atlantadowntownsuites.hamptoninn.com

Contact: Yvonne Sapp Ph: (404) 604-3765 yvonne.sapp@hilton.com

Located in the heart of the downtown area, this boutique hotel was created from an historic office building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Features include business center, meeting rooms, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet throughout hotel, complimentary hot breakfast buffet, Suite Shop with snacks/beverages and coin-operated guest laundry. Within a six-block radius of major venues/attractions and many restaurants. 100 percent Hampton Guarantee & Hilton Honors Rewards Points.

Hilton Garden Inn - Atlanta NE/ Gwinnett/Sugarloaf 2040 Sugarloaf Circle Duluth 30097

Ph: (770) 495-7600 Fax: (770) 495-7597 http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/georgia/hilton-garden-inn-atlantane-gwinnett-sugarloaf-ATLGSGI/index.html

Contact: Paula Williamson (770) 495-7600 paula.williamson@hilton.com

Situated off I-85 with a complimentary shuttle service within a five-mile radius. Complimentary Wi-Fi in every room. Fully equipped fitness center and heated indoor pool. Over 1,500 square feet of meeting space for business and social events. Breakfast and dinner served daily at the Garden Grille and Bar. Complimentary on-site parking.

Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center 501 Lake Hearn Drive NE Atlanta 30319

Ph: (404) 459-0500 Fax: (404) 459-0594 www.atlantaperimeter.hgi.com Contact: Georgette Lake-Hill Ph: (678) 802-0549 georgette.lake@hilton.com

Hotel with 193 sleeping rooms, which include 63 doubles. Two banquet spaces with 1,800 square feet each. Located in the heart of Atlanta and close to all attractions. Free shuttle service within a three-mile radius. Indoor pool and hot tub. Free Wi-Fi. We serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service.

Holiday Inn Express - Atlanta/Kennesaw

2485 George Busbee Pkwy. NW Kennesaw 30519 Ph: (770) 427-5210 Fax: (770) 425-4211 www.hiexpress.com/atl-kennesaw Contact: Donald Meksvanh donald@integrityhotels.com

Great hub hotel, minutes from most major attractions and downtown Atlanta, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Six Flags White Water, Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History and much more.

Holiday Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport North 1380 Virginia Ave. Atlanta 30344

Ph: (404) 305-9990 Fax: (404) 669-1209 www.hiatlantaairport.com Contact: Perry Tarleton Ph: (404) 669-1203 dos@hiatlantaairport.com

While staying at The Holiday Inn Atlanta Airport North in Atlanta, guests enjoy amenities including an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, onsite dining at our restaurant and bar or via room service and a 24-hour business center. Our hotel’s location near the Atlanta airport and a free, 24-hour shuttle ensure stress-free travel while conveniences like free wired and wireless Internet access.

Homewood Suites Atlanta Airport North 3405 Bobby Brown Pkwy. Atlanta 30344 Ph: (404) 554-9300 Fax: (404) 554-9301 www.atlantaairportnorth.homewoodsuites.com Contact: Shana C. Whyte shana.whyte@hilton.com

One mile from Hartsfield International Airport; take advantage of complimentary parking and shuttle service between the airport and the hotel. All of our suites feature complimentary Internet access, flat-screen TVs and kitchenettes. Host a meeting in our 1,560-square-foot room. Start each day with a complimentary hot full breakfast and complimentary evening dinner and drinks Monday–Thursday. Unwind at our indoor spa pool or fully equipped fitness center.

Holiday Inn Atlanta Perimeter

4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Atlanta 30341

Ph: (770) 296-6001 Fax: (770) 458-5282 www.hiperimeter.com Contact: John Reeve jreeve@hiperimeter.com

A premier perimeter location at an affordable price. Our beautiful, newly renovated hotel offers a great escape while still providing easy access to all major highways and tourist destinations throughout the city. The hotel offers complimentary parking (including buses), wireless Internet and special rates for groups.

Holiday Inn Express

1790 E. Park Place Blvd.

Stone Mountain 30087

Ph: (770) 465-8847

Fax: (770) 465-9184 www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/ en/stone-mountain/atlsm/hoteldetail

Contact: Barbara Mullin Ph: (678) 514-1914 sales@exceptionalhospitality.com

The Holiday Inn Express is conveniently located 1/4 mile from breathtaking, historic Stone Mountain Park. We would like to offer our groups free hot breakfast, free Internet access, free local calls, microwave and fridge in all rooms, free motorcoach parking, outdoor pool and welcome bags for all our groups. Our staff is waiting with Southern hospitality to welcome your group to our hotel.

Homewood Suites Atlanta-Cumberland 3200 Cobb Pkwy. Atlanta 30339

Ph: (770) 988-9449 Fax: (770) 933-9612 www.atlantagalleria.homewoodsuites.com

Contact: Relisha Newton Ph: (770) 988-9449, ext. 516 relisha.newton@hilton.com

Relax in our one- and two-bedroom suites near Cumberland Mall, which offer separate living areas for work, study and entertainment. Enjoy a free movie from the on-site shop in the lobby or watch HD television and premium cable on your suite’s flat-panel TV. Prepare a meal in your suite’s kitchen equipped with granite countertops, a two-range stove, microwave and full-size refrigerator. Homewood Suites is your ideal home-away-from-home!

Hyatt House Atlanta/Cobb Galleria 3595 Cumberland Blvd. SE Atlanta 30339

Ph: (770) 541-2960 Fax: (770) 541-2961 www.hyatthouseatlantacobbgalleria.com Contact: Jamie Krueger Ph: (770) 541-2960, ext. 5110 tania.price@hyatt.com

Hyatt house is the last new build in Cobb County since 1997, just and the first ever Hyatt House in Georgia! It features everything the name represents: a welcoming and warm environment that encourages guests to live like residents. We want each and every guest who comes through our doors to feel that they can let their real-life routines roll on, even when they’re on the road.

Morning Breeze Cabin Rentals 922 Thousand Oaks Bend Kennesaw 30152

Ph: (888) 875-5669 Fax: (888) 508-6869 www.morningbreezecabinrentals.com Contact: Mary Spencer Ph: (678) 773-6987 mary@morningbreezecabinrentals.com

Luxury cabin rentals in north Georgia. The five-star lodge and stables is a property that can accommodate up to 33 guests and it’s been used for corporate retreats, weddings and family reunions.

Radisson Atlanta Northwest (Marietta) 1775 Parkway Place SE Marietta 30067 Ph: (770) 420-3533 Fax: (678) 737-8008 www.radisson.com/atlantaga

Contact: Annette Cornely annette.cornely@radisson.com

We are a full-service hotel located right off I-75 at exit 261 in Marietta. Marietta is considered the sweet spot of greater Atlanta because it’s 15 miles or less from most major attractions — from Kennesaw National Battlefield to the World of Coke. Ample outdoor parking for motorcoaches, rates that include a hot full breakfast and concessions for tour guides and drivers.

Sheraton Suites Galleria - Atlanta 2844 Cobb Pkwy. Atlanta 30339 Ph: (770) 955-3900 Fax: (770) 916-3165 www.sheratonsuitesgalleriaatlanta.com

Contact: Sandy Shepard Ph: (770) 916-3168 sshepard@sheratongalleriaatl.com

Enjoy our newly renovated, all-suite accommodations and Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds. Complimentary Internet access at the Link@Sheraton and free limited shuttle service. At the end of the day, enjoy a swim in our indoor/outdoor pool or re-energize in our new, well-equipped fitness center. Grab a bite at The Grill or meet friends for a cocktail at Martini’s Bar.

SpringHill Suites Kennesaw

3399 Town Point Drive

Kennesaw 30144

Ph: (770) 218-5550 Fax: (770) 218-3554 www.marriott.com/atlkn

Contact: Joanna Kyser Ph: (770) 820-4665 joannakyser@remingtonhotels.com

The SpringHill Suites Kennesaw offers tour groups a great location when visiting north Georgia or Atlanta. With easy access to Hwy. 75 and I-575, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi and express check-in features, the SpringHill Suites is the ideal choice for your tour group. Our suites are 25 percent larger than the standard hotel room.

Wyndham Atlanta Galleria 6345 Powers Ferry Road

Atlanta 30339

Ph: (770) 955-1700 Fax: (770) 850-0444 www.wyndhamatlantahotel.com

Contact: Joyce Ngigi Ph: (770) 790-1009 jngigi@wyndham.com

Situated in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia’s business district, and within easy access of an array of attractions and upscale dining options, the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria is the perfect place for business and leisure travelers. Discover deluxe accommodations, renowned southern hospitality and convenient amenities.

Receptive operators/ tour companies

Atlanta Movie Tours, Inc. 327 Nelson St. SW Atlanta 30313 Ph: (855) 255-3456 Fax: (678) 668-7497 www.atlantamovietours.com Contact: Patti Davis Ph: (855) 255-3456, ext. 2 patti@atlantamovietours.com

Hollywood is closer than you think! Let us take you to the locations from the biggest blockbusters — right here in Atlanta. From The Walking Dead to Gone with The Wind, we would love to create a custom tour just for your group!

Bicycle Tours of Atlanta

659 Auburn Ave. NE Ste. G19 Atlanta 30312 Ph: (404) 273-2557 www.gabikeadventures.com Contact: Robyn Elliott Ph: (404) 273-2558 robyn@biketoursatl.com

There’s no better way to see this great city than on a bicycle! Guests will see many of the signature and historic sites of the city, beautiful in-town neighborhoods and hidden jewels off the beaten path. This tour takes guests where no other tour company can! Bikes, helmets, water and snacks provided for guests.

Lamplighter Tours of Atlanta P.O. Box 957718

Duluth 30095

Ph: (770) 814-9330 Fax: (678) 475-0655 www.lamplightertours.net Contact: Lee Klaer info@lamplightertours.net

Lamplighter Tours of Atlanta is the South’s most respected group tour receptive operator. In business since 1985, we are here to give you the most positive experience possible. Let us plan your tour with you and make arrangements for all your needs. One call does it all!