Georgia is known for the beauty and variety of its attractions. On the northern border, Georgia has some of the oldest mountains on earth. In the southeast corner is one of the nation's premier ecological treasures, the Okefenokee Swamp. Between them lie countless historical, cultural, and scenic attractions. Atlanta was showcased to the world during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. You’ll see beautifully preserved towns that shaped Georgia's history; miles of cold, clear trout streams; water sports on dozens of natural and manmade lakes; year-round golf on courses throughout the state; and more than 100 miles of pristine beaches. Whether your interest is history, art, cultural events, sports, entertainment, or just a quiet spot to prop up your feet and enjoy the scenery, Georgia offers you countless opportunities.

Mountains
Ready for adventure? Head north from Atlanta. Your destination: the Georgia Mountains. It's another world filled with spectacular sights, like the breathtaking view atop Lookout Mountain, the awe-inspiring face of Brasstown Bald, the rugged beauty of Tallulah Gorge, or the grandeur of Amicalola Falls. The mountains are alive with things to do during all seasons. Ride a white-water raft down the Chattooga River. Pan for gold in Dahlonega. Tour one of our many scenic wineries. Hike the Appalachian Trail. You might fish for bass on Lake Lanier. Explore the Etowah Indian Mounds or the Chieftains Trail. Shop for crafts and unique mountain gifts. Or celebrate Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia’s quaint Bavarian village.

Coastal
Leave the hurried world behind for one filled with grace and beauty: Georgia's coastal plain. One hundred miles of magnificent Atlantic coastline dotted with white sand beaches, barrier islands, historic places and world-class resorts. For the adventurous, there's also the famed Okefenokee Swamp: exotic, untamed, and mysterious. Enjoy the serenity and wildlife of Georgia's golden sea marshes. Bask in Savannah's architecture, history and charm. Relax on one of the barrier islands: luxurious St. Simons and Sea Island, unspoiled Cumberland Island, or Jekyll with its Millionaire's Row. Play world-class golf or tennis. Or just sit out on a sparkling beach. Explore pre-Revolutionary Fort Frederica. Or watch the shrimp boats come and go in Brunswick.

Metro Atlanta
Atlanta is a town full of Southern charm and cosmopolitan flair. It is the vibrant heart not only of Georgia, but also of the entire Southeast. It is a metropolis that's home to over 3 million people, host of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and a city with more trees per square mile than any other city in America. It is a place where history, culture and business converge. Stroll down Peachtree Street past the house where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With The Wind. Or discover traces of Tara in Jonesboro. Swing over to Buckhead for upscale shopping and dining. Spend some time in Centennial Olympic Park. Visit the Martin Luther King Center and Birthplace. Climb to the top of Stone Mountain.

Historic South
Come to the place where history, classic architecture, and Southern charm all intersect, where azaleas and magnolias fill the landscape. And great antebellum mansions welcome you with open doors. It is a place where scenic trails often lead to antique treasures. It is a place where American presidents once made history. And where today, onions and pecans do the same. Wherever you travel in the Historic South, there's always something worth stopping for, like gracious Pebble Hill Plantation in historic Thomasville, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Little White House in Warm Springs, and Callaway Gardens in nearby Pine Mountain. In the spring, there's the Peach Blossom Trail, and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon. Golfers have the Masters Tournament in Augusta, along with scores of other beautiful courses throughout the region. And history buffs have the Andersonville Civil War Prison Camp, a National Historic Site.

Recreation
Georgia has it all: hunting, fishing, rafting, canoeing, biking, golf, tennis, swimming, horseback riding, racing, soccer, hockey, basketball, football, baseball. Golf is particularly popular, as Georgia is a year-round paradise for the sport. Choose from a wide array of top-ranked public courses, or try one of the many outstanding private courses found at the numerous resorts and country clubs. And of course, don't miss the annual Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National.

If tennis is your game, you'll find plenty of public and private courts. Resorts and state parks offer a variety of choices: clay or hard court, indoor or outdoors. If you love the water, go to Georgia's famed coast and find swimming, sunning, sailing and shelling. There are plenty of luxurious resorts and exquisite beaches on the Golden Isles. Enjoy a hunting holiday at Henderson Village in Perry. Or fish thousands of acres of lakes, ponds and rivers throughout the state.

For bigger action, try your hand at deep-sea fishing. Or take in a major league game while you're in Atlanta. Be sure to tour Turner Field, site of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and for some interesting sports history, head south to Macon for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. NASCAR races are held at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lanier National Raceway, Petite Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and Bracket racing at the New Atlanta Drag Way. When the race is over, make a pit stop at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville.

Heritage
You're never far from the past in Georgia. There's something around every corner that links you to the rich history of the state, a history that stretches across centuries. You’ll see hints of the past from the dawn of civilization, when Creek and Cherokee Native Americans inhabited the area; to 1733, when Oglethorpe stepped ashore at Savannah; to 1863, when General Sherman's Union troops advanced from Tennessee. You can go back to the 1960's, when Martin Luther King, Jr. began his struggle for civil rights; to 1996, when Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympic Games. Today, Georgia takes its place among the international communities of the world. Here’s a sampling of popular historic sites to visit while in Georgia:

• Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
  Oldest and largest military park in the nation. Site of the second bloodiest battle in the Civil War.
• Georgia Historical Society
  Headquartered in Savannah as a memorial to scholar William Brown Hodgson. A repository for thousands of rare books, manuscripts, maps, and artifacts related to Georgia history.
• The Civil War Prison Camp at Andersonville and National POW Museum.
  One of the most infamous and important Civil War sites in Georgia. Now a National Historic Site and the designated United States memorial to all American prisoners of war.

Culture and Shopping
What will it be: a Broadway show at the spectacular Fox Theater in Atlanta, or a gala event at the Springer Opera House in Columbus? Perhaps make a stop at the High Museum of Art? Or, have dinner and take in a show at the historic Coffee Theater Company in Douglas? Maybe you'd like a day of shopping? In case you didn't know, Georgia has the 8th largest mall in the world. But that's not all. It also has many outlet malls, upscale malls, small town malls, antique malls, and hundreds of charming neighborhood shops.

Ecotourism and Adventure
Take your pick of hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, sea kayaking, white water rafting, sailing, bird watching, and just about anything else you can think of to do in the great outdoors. Whether you're into flora or fauna, rock climbing or hang gliding, you've come to the right place, Georgia. Here are a few highlights:

• Callaway Discovery Center
  11,500 acres of clear woodland streams, shady trails and native wildlife.
• Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
  Get an up close look at the 438,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp — the largest and most ecologically intact of its kind in America.
• Appalachian Trail
  Well known hiking trail originating in the north Georgia Mountains.
• Cumberland Island National Seashore
  Take the passenger ferry from the waterfront in downtown St. Mary’s. Numerous historic sites, pristine beaches, backpacking, camping, wildlife observation, salt water fishing. Reservations required.
• Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park
  A tranquil, natural setting only minutes from downtown Atlanta. The park features a variety of natural and historical resources, including Civil War textile mill ruins, nine miles of trails, streams, and a lake.

Entertainment and Attractions
Good times come in all shapes and sizes in Georgia. Which means there's something fun and exciting for everyone. Here's a small sampling of what you'll find in Georgia:

• The Swamp Gravy
  Georgia's official folk life play — blends music, story and dance into unforgettable theatre.
• The Fox Theater
  Fully restored 1929 Egyptian-revival Movie Palace offering a variety of live productions ranging from Broadway to Ballet, Rock to Opera.
• Stone Mountain Park
  Stone Mountain has the world's largest carving on its face. There's also a laser show, a sky lift, a train ride, a riverboat cruise, an authentic antebellum plantation and lots more.
• Georgia Music Hall of Fame
  A celebration of Georgia's music — and memorabilia from such Georgia music greats as Ma Rainey, Little Richard, REM and Trisha Yearwood.

Multicultural Experiences
Georgia has a rich and diverse heritage. It is a culture that comes from many cultures, a history written not by one, but by many different hands, and an ever-changing tableau of customs and traditions. Experience some of the remarkable people, places and events that help make us who we are. Here are a few suggestions:

• The Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site
  Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel Peace Prize recipient, began his fight for the civil rights of African Americans as a preacher in Ebenezer Baptist Church. This site commemorates the area where Dr. King was born, lived, worshiped and is now buried. Park Rangers are on site to provide information and conduct programs.
• Native Way Indian Festival & Pow Wow
  An opportunity to interact with Native American dancers, singers, artists and craft persons. Georgia's largest public gathering of Native Americans.
• Indian Springs Scottish Festival
  Featuring Scottish athletic events, clan tents, bagpipers, weavers, dancing, and a living history group.
• The Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve
  Guided ecological and cultural tours by water and bus. Tour the island, the African-American community of Hog Hammock, and the Reynolds Mansion.

Area: 59441 sq.mi, Land 57919 sq. mi., Water 1522 sq.mi.

Location: 33.76290 N, 084.42259 W.

Coastline: 100 mi., Shoreline 2,344mi.

Border States: Alabama - Florida - North Carolina - South Carolina - Tennessee.

Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, peanuts, cattle, hogs, dairy products, vegetables.

Industry: Textiles and apparel, transportation equipment, food processing, paper products, chemical products, electric equipment, tourism.

Flag: Having two fields, one of deep blue and the other dark red, the Georgia flag showcases the Battle Flag of the Confederacy and the state seal. On the state seal is the year 1776, the date of the Declaration of Independence. The three pillars stand for the three branches of government Legislative, Executive and the Courts. The arch above the pillars stands for the constitution. A ribbon expresses the ideals of the constitution "wisdom", "justice" and "moderation".

State Capital: Atlanta

Population: 7,788,240; 10th, 12/99.

Largest City: Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Macon, and Albany.

Geographic Center: Twiggs, 18 miles southeast of Macon.

Highest Point: 4784 feet, 25th Brasstown Bald.

Lowest Point: Atlantic coast; Sea level, 3rd.

State Bird: Brown Thrasher.

State Flower: Cherokee Rose - Rosa laevigata.

State Nickname: Peach State.

Origin of state's name: Named for King George II of England.

Statehood: January 2, 1788.

Topography: Most southerly of the Blue Ridge Mountains cover northeast and north central; central piedmont extends to the fall line of rivers; coastal plain levels to coastal flatlands.

State Song: Georgia on My Mind.

State Motto: Wisdom, justice, and moderation.

State Tree: Live oak - Quercus virginiana.