Georgia's Antebellum Trail Tour

Georgia’s Antebellum Trail stretches from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Athens through the heart of Georgia to Macon, 100 miles south. A celebration of a region that survived the Civil War relatively unscathed, the trail travels through seven cities in the state’s “Historic Heartland,” but not all of the trail’s attractions focus on the war. Plan on spending at least a few days exploring historic homes, museums and natural areas.

Cities on the Trail

• It’s a short hop between cities along the trail, and each has a visitor center with tourist information, maps and the official Antebellum Trail brochure. Athens, site of the first state-chartered university in the United States, has four historic house museums and the state botanical garden. Classic antebellum architecture graces the Watkinsville Historic District. Madison calls itself the “Town Sherman Refused to Burn” because a resident convinced the Union general to spare the village. Eatonton is home to the Uncle Remus Museum, and Milledgeville was Georgia’s capital during the 19th century. Gray/Old Clinton is laid out like a New England village. The Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame are in Macon.

Things to See

• Each city offers so many historic sites, museums and examples of Southern architecture that visitors may do well to focus on an area of interest rather than trying to see them all. In Athens, stop by the Morton Theatre, the oldest surviving vaudeville house in the country built and operated by African-Americans. A covered bridge 4 miles south of Watkinsville was built in 1897. Rock mounds in the shape of birds in Milledgeville were built by Native Americans more than 2,000 years ago. Old Clinton saw heavy action in July 1864 when Confederate troops captured 500-plus Union soldiers. More than 3,000 cherry trees form the backdrop for an annual cherry blossom festival in Macon.

Literary Connections

• Flannery O’Connor, author of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and other short stories featuring decidedly Southern characters, lived at Andalusia, a 544-acre farm near Milledgeville, until her death in 1964. The farm is open for tours. Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus tales, and Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize winner for “The Color Purple,” called Eatonton home. The Uncle Remus Museum is housed in two slave cabins, and a driving tour explores places of significance in Walker’s life. Perhaps less well known, Sidney Lanier was a 19th century poet, linguist and musician. His cottage in Macon, a designated Landmark of American Music, is open for tours.

Where to Stay

• Travelers on the Antebellum Trail will find plenty of standard motel accommodations, but if you’re visiting for a taste of the Old South, the Colonels B&B in Athens is housed in an 1860, columned plantation home. Two-bedroom suites in the mansion have private baths with whirlpool tubs. Celebrity chef Hugh Acheson’s 5 & 10 restaurant is a short drive away. The Victorian-era Ashford Manor overlooks Watkinsville’s Main Street. Built in 1893, the bed-and-breakfast has themed rooms like the White Room, furnished with a four-poster bed, or the Safari Room, with a private entrance and clawfoot tub.

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Things to Do Around Juliette, Georgia

When you're walking along McCrackin Street, the main thoroughfare through tiny Juliette, Georgia, you may feel like you've left the modern world behind and stepped onto a movie set. In a way, you have. This town without traffic lights (because there's no traffic) served as the set of a major Hollywood production in the early 1990s, which in turn served as a rebirth to this community forgotten by time. There's not much to do in Juliette proper, but some notable sights are close by. And the city of Macon with its cherry trees, historic architecture, soul food and rich musical heritage is only 20 minutes to the south.

See Famous Movie Sites

• Juliette is perhaps most well-known in the modern age as a primary filming location for the hit 1991 movie "Fried Green Tomatoes." The building that served as the Whistle Stop Cafe in the film still stands on McCrackin Street. It served as a general store for decades. Today, it's a restaurant called -- you guessed it -- the Whistle Stop Cafe, serving up fried green tomatoes and other Southern delicacies to tourists and locals. Fans of the film may also recognize other spots in town used in the movie.

Tour a Historic Plantation

• A few miles down a rural two-lane highway outside of Juliette, the Jarrell Plantation Historic Site is well-worth a visit for history buffs. Don't expect to see a Grecian white-columned mansion here. Jarrell is a rare surviving example of a middle-class plantation from the antebellum era, with a modest wooden house and outbuildings surrounded by fields. Costumed guides working with period equipment help give a feel for what 19th century farm life was like for most people. Jarrell Plantation is open only Thursday through Sunday each week.

Fish on the Lake

• Lake Juliette south of town is popular with anglers. In fact, fishing is the only thing you're allowed to do on this lake owned by Georgia Power. No swimming, no power boating, no water skiing or any other kind of water recreation is allowed. This likely has something to do with the fact that one of the country's largest coal-fired power plants is adjacent to the lake, with cooling towers and smokestacks looming like skyscrapers above its pine-forested shores. While the sport fishing is good on Lake Juliette, it might be in the best interest of anglers to catch and release the fish rather than cook it, since many residents claim their drinking water is contaminated by toxic waste from the plant, according to a 2012 report by CNN.

Visit State Parks

• Two Georgia State Parks are within a half-hour drive of Juliette. High Falls State Park is just off of Interstate 75, and Indian Springs State Park is close to U.S. 23. To view a long cascading waterfall -- a rarity in these parts -- and do some hiking in the woods, head to High Falls. For a good dose of Native American history, visit Indian Springs, where the the springs the Creek Indians used as a watering hole still bubble up from the ground and there's a museum containing artifacts from the time when this was the wild frontier. Campgrounds are available at both parks. Indian Springs also has cottages and High Falls lakeside yurts -- circular wood-framed tents with floors, furnishings and porches.

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Things to Do on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia

Georgia's Hutchinson Island lies in the Savannah River, just south of the South Carolina border and directly across the water from downtown Savannah's historic River Street. The narrow island, consisting largely of marshes and swampland, was once the site of rice plantations in the 19th century. It was later used primarily for industrial activities and Port of Savannah support operations until redevelopment began in the late 1990s. Today, Hutchinson Island is home to a convention center, golf resort, racetrack and water taxi service to downtown Savannah.

Attend a Convention

• The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, which opened in 2000, is the venue for dozens of conventions, trade shows and other special events every year. The center is composed of a 330,000-square-foot facility that includes 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, 50,000 square feet of meeting space, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom and a 367-seat auditorium. The convention center, which sits adjacent to the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, is a short ferry ride across the river from downtown hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Savannah and Savannah Marriott Riverfront.

Relax at a Resort

• The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa on Hutchinson Island is a 16-story luxury hotel with more than 400 rooms and a number of amenities, including a spa, a deepwater dock and marina, a golf course, several pools, and a selection of restaurants and bars. Other attractions include a fitness center, tennis courts, bicycle rentals, bocce court and croquet lawn. Regularly scheduled events at the resort include nature tours, stargazing and various children's activities. The Club at Savannah Harbor's 18-hole championship golf course is open to public play; there is also a nine-hole short course perfect for families and beginners. The resort is home to the PGA's Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf tournament each April.

Take a Ride on a Race Track

• Hutchinson Island is home to the Grand Prize of America Road Course, a 2-mile-long race track that includes pit and paddock areas. The road course, located just east of the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, can be used for private rides, product demonstrations and car shows. It is also the site of the Savannah Speed Classic, an annual vintage car race. The race is part of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concourse d'Elegance, typically held in late October. For an extra fee, race attendees can have access to the pit and paddock areas. There are also opportunities to take lap rides with professional drivers, test the track in your own car or take a test drive in a sponsor's vehicle.

Hop a Ferry to Downtown Savannah

• The most relaxing Hutchinson Island activity might be simply sitting along the banks of the Savannah River and watching the huge cargo ships, tug boats and riverboats ply the waterway. But if you want to visit Savannah's riverfront shops and restaurants or stroll through the city's market, gardens and cobblestone streets, downtown is only a short boat ride away. Indeed, the Savannah Belles Ferry runs shuttles every 10 minutes between Hutchinson Island and River Street. Downtown Savannah attractions include the Georgia State Railroad Museum and the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Or take a tour of Old Fort Jackson, a brick garrison used in the War of 1812 and Civil War. The fort is located 3 miles east of River Street, just across the river from the eastern tip of Hutchinson Island.

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State Fair in Hiawassee, Georgia

Not to be confused with the Georgia State Fair -- a fall event that moved to Atlanta Motor Speedway after more than 160 years in Macon -- the Georgia Mountain Fair is held each summer along the banks of Lake Chatuge in the quaint town of Hiawassee. A north Georgia institution for more than six decades, the Georgia Mountain Fair includes a variety of entertainment.

Fair Facts

• Founded in 1950 as a simple, three-day agricultural showcase, the Georgia Mountain Fair has grown into a nine-day celebration with carnival rides, entertainment and demonstrations of mountain life that typically attract 100,000 or more attendees each July. The fair has been held at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Towns County since 1978. A daily admission fee is charged for the craft show and concerts, with children ages 9 and under admitted free. Carnival rides cost extra, with one-price midway wristbands available weekdays. Parking is free, and trolleys are available to take you from the parking lot to the fairgrounds.

That Good Old Mountain Music

• One of the highlights of the Georgia Mountain Fair is its musical concerts, most of which are bluegrass and country acts. In the past, the lineup has included heralded performers such as Mel Tillis, John Anderson, Neal McCoy and the Bellamy Brothers. The fair also has a Sunday-afternoon gospel music show that follows an interfaith worship service that morning. Most performances are held in the 2,900-seat Anderson Music Hall or the fair's outdoor amphitheater.

Food and Fun

• During your visit to the Georgia Mountain Fair, be sure to browse through the 60 or so arts and craft booths. Don't miss the Pioneer Village, home to a one-room schoolhouse, old-fashioned general store, blacksmith shop and a moonshine still. Living-history demonstrations are given for activities such as cooking hominy, wood carving and soap making. Other attractions include fly-fishing demonstrations, a children's train, pig races, a cooking contest and the Miss Georgia Mountain Fair pageant. After working up your appetite, you'll no doubt want to partake of the offerings from the fair's numerous food stands, including smoked trout, beef jerky, cider and fried apple pies.

Overnight Options

• If you'd like to stay on site during your visit to the fair, the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds has nearly 190 year-round campsites for tents and RVs, including many that provide scenic views of Lake Chatuge. Campsites include water and electric hookups, cable service and access to amenities such as Wi-Fi, a boat ramp, tennis courts, playgrounds and picnic tables. Other nearby accommodations include hotels, resorts, bed-and-breakfasts and rental cabins.

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Slow Water Kayaking in Royston, Georgia

Kayak down the meandering Broad River near Royston as it winds along the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains. See mountain laurel and other wildflowers blooming on the hills during spring and summer, and enjoy autumn foliage from the unique perspective of the river. Slow Water Kayaking, a local mom and pop livery along the river, takes you to some of the river's most scenic stretches to enjoy paddling or floating back down to your car.

River Characteristics

• The Broad River meanders slowly through the Appalachian foothills, with waters running about one mile per hour. The glassy water is occassionally punctuated by small rapids rated as class 1 or 2 on the International Scale of River Difficulty, making it a famiy-friendly trip and an ideal journey for first-time kayakers. The river passes through heavily-wooded state land as well as private property on its course from your drop-off point back to Slow Water's take-out point.

Choose Your Journey

• Beginners and families with younger kids can enjoy a two- to four-hour trip covering four miles. To make a day of it, bring a picnic lunch and go for the eight-mile trip. The sit-on-top kayaks are easy to maneuver and you won't have to worry about mastering Eskimo rolls or other techniques to steer them down the Broad. Slow Water Kayaking also has canoes for those who wish to share a boat as well as two-hour inner tubing trips. Reserve your trip seven days a week between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Overnight Accommodations

• Extend the adventure for days on end with on-site camping at Slow Water Kayak's primitive campground. Ptich a tent or park your RV at a campsite with river frontage where you can access the river from your site. You'll be close to conveniently situated bathrooms and outdoor showers where you can rinse away evidence of the day's adventure. Build a campfire using wood available onsite. If you bring your own firewood, make sure it originates no more than 50 miles away to prevent spreading tree-destroying pests.

Play by the Rules

• While Slow Water provides all your basic equipment, you'll want to bring your own snacks and drinks. Don't bring a polystyrene foam cooler, as broken coolers become pieces of trash impossible to fully remove from the environment. Bring straps to lash it to one of the storage areas on your canoe or kayak. Inner-tubers can rent a canvas-covered tube with a bottom in which to strap your plastic cooler. Slow Water's regulations prohibit opening your cooler while actively floating down the river. Bring a mesh sack with a drawstring closure -- such as a laundry sack -- to strap to your watercraft to deposit your trash for disposal when you exit the river.

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Romantic Stuff to Do in Savannah, Georgia

Named one of the most romantic U.S. cities, Savannah, Georgia, has plenty to keep you and your sweetie in a romantic mood. Lovebirds by the thousands have enjoyed the sultry beauty of Savannah’s Old South charms, whether by strolling through the many squares and parks, enjoying a romantic meal or touring the historic district by carriage. Take advantage of Savannah’s storied past by partaking of a unique romantic activity during your next visit with your special someone.

Inns and Hotels

• Set the romantic mood from the beginning by choosing the right accommodations. Savannah is seemingly overflowing with romantic hotels, inns and bed and breakfast establishments. Choose a room at the Olde Harbour Inn that has a balcony overlooking the riverfront. The bed and breakfast is in the ideal location along the Savannah River close to many city attractions you’ll want to explore and is supposedly haunted as well; maybe you can catch a glimpse of “Hank” in the halls. The Foley House Inn is actually two grand mansions on Chippewa Square with private carriage house rooms in addition to rooms overlooking romantic gardens. Enjoy evening wine and hors d’oeuvres in the secluded courtyard before heading out to explore the city’s Historic District right outside the inn’s doors.

Tours

• One of the best ways to explore Savannah, especially if your time is limited, is with a guided tour. Trolley tours allow you to jump on and off at different stops, but sharing a trolley with dozens of other people isn’t conducive to romance. A walking tour can give you a peek into Savannah’s historic homes or allow you to get to know the city’s many ghostly inhabitants. Couples can enjoy the city’s fascinating and romantic history on a private, evening horse-drawn carriage tour. Don’t be afraid to ask your guide to customize the tour for you. You can arrange for the carriage to pick you up at a romantic restaurant and deliver you to your inn at the end of the night.

Squares and Parks

• Majestic oak trees, fountains and monuments fill the green spaces of the 22 city squares. Stroll through and appreciate the fountains in Orleans and Columbus squares, or enjoy a quiet moment in the gazebo in Whitfield Square. Several monuments, fountains and secluded benches make the 30-acre Forsyth Park on Bull Street an ideal way to cap a romantic evening or to enjoy a private picnic lunch. Enjoy river breezes while strolling through Morrell Park on the riverfront. The city is also home to many pocket or vest parks tucked into side streets and just off cobblestone streets. Discover them while strolling through the city.

Restaurants

• Savannah is home to many romantic restaurants, including the Olde Pink House in Planters Inn on Reynolds Square. Head down to the tavern bar in the basement and relax on the couch with a drink from the bar while you listen to the pianist. For an especially romantic touch, have one of the singers serenade you both at your table. Piano players and ghostly visits are common at the quiet and romantic 17Hundred90 Inn restaurant. Fireplaces and brick floors help create a cozy atmosphere for intimate meals. Dinner at the Sapphire Grill means a secluded, candlelit table where the servers are knowledgeable and quick to suggest the perfect wine pairing. A converted building on Congress Street, the Sapphire Grill is within the Historic District and within an easy after-dinner stroll of the riverfront.

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Covered Bridges in Georgia

Covered bridges were designed for purely functional reasons, and the first bridges were made from wood, which rapidly deteriorated from the weather. Covering the exposed wood protected the bridges, extending their usefulness. Today, covered bridges exude a certain romantic quality by evoking simpler times. That makes them irresistible to some filmmakers. The 1995 movie "The Bridges of Madison County" featured a photographer on assignment in Iowa to capture the beauty and mystique of the covered bridge. Although Georgia was not the first state to have a covered bridge -- New York was -- that fact in no way diminishes the rich history of the covered bridges left intact statewide. Georgia has more than a dozen covered bridges, so if you have time to visit only a few, plan to see some that are notable for having a certain distinction.

Oldest Covered Bridge

• Georgia's oldest covered bridge, Big Red Oak Creek Bridge, was built in the 1840s and is still in use today. It is just 12 miles from Warm Springs, Georgia, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt vacationed to take therapeutic baths in the mineral springs for his polio. The bridge, in Meriwether County, is the only covered bridge left standing in the state that was built by Horace King, the most famous covered bridge builder in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. King was a slave who learned to build bridges from his owner. After King was freed, he continued to build bridges and started a construction company with his three sons. The Big Red Oak Creek Bridge spans 252 feet, is supported by a town lattice truss, and is the longest wooden bridge, but not the longest covered bridge, in the state. Some of this bridge is not covered. King is now recognized as being an engineering genius.

Most Visited Covered Bridge

• Washington W. King, Horace King's son, built the covered bridge now called Stone Mountain Bridge. It was originally named Effie's Bridge in honor of a popular area bordello in Clarke County, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia in Athens. The bridge features a beautiful lattice design and is supported by a town lattice truss. It was closed because of flood damage done to it and was moved to a safer place in 1965: DeKalb County's Stone Mountain Park, the most visited attraction in Georgia, which sees millions of visitors every year. Stone Mountain Bridge is currently 151 feet long, shortened from its original 162 feet. It was built in 1891.

Longest Covered Bridge

• Washington W. King also built the Watson Mill Bridge, famous for being the longest covered bridge in Georgia at 229 feet. The strikingly beautiful bridge, built in 1885, is the featured attraction in Watson Mill Bridge State Park in Comer, Georgia, not far from the University of Georgia. The bridge was named after Gabriel Watson, who built a sawmill and a gristmill; the bridge provided water needed to power the mills. A town lattice supports this bridge. Children delight in playing in the shoal beneath the bridge.

Shortest Covered Bridge

• The Stovall Mill Bridge is in White County, near Helen, Georgia, a popular re-creation of an alpine village. It is the shortest covered bridge in Georgia at 36 feet. This bridge is named after Fred Stovall, who bought the gristmill, shingle mill and sawmill on the property in 1917 and ran it for many years. The bridge was built in 1895. The Stovall Mill Bridge, built by Will Pardue, features a queen-post truss and runs across the Chickamauga Creek in northeast Georgia -- not the more famous Chickamauga Creek in northwest Georgia. A nearby bed-and-breakfast inn, the Stovall House, provides convenient lodging for visitors to take in the area and see the bridge that appeared in the 1950s film "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain," starring Susan Hayward and William Lundigan.

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Haunted Trails in Savannah, Georgia

According to the American Institute of Parapsychology, Savannah is America’s most haunted city. Within its city limits are haunted houses, taverns, graveyards and places so odd that they inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write “Treasure Island” and John Berendt to pen “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” And since seeing is believing, this historic slice of the Old South abounds with a whole plethora of ghost tours to introduce you to all those “ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night.”

Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Ectoplasm

• One of Savannah’s most infamous locations is the Pirates' House in Old Fort, near the Savannah River. Built in 1753, this restaurant and inn was frequented by sailors, privateers and pirates. The brick-lined tunnel beneath the house that leads to the river was used to "shanghai" unwary patrons into impressment for sea duty. Savannah Tours offers dinner at this notorious eatery complete with a visit to the rum cellar to glimpse the secret passageway. Savannah Tours also has several narrated walking tours of the Bonadventure Cemetery, including an after hours tour where guests are locked inside the graveyard for two full hours.

Terror in Stages

• You can take on the ghosts in stages with Ghost Tours of Savannah, which offers tours that are family friendly, spooky and mysterious or just plain frightening. The family friendly "Grave Tales" tour visits ghosts in residence at the Kehoe House followed by a trip to the Pink House, an eatery plagued by troublesome spooks. The "Beyond Good and Evil" tour visits the Hampton-Turner Inn along with the Mercer House which was made famous in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” For the especially brave, the "Dead of Night" tour slips down Savannah's alleyways to the darkest trails in town.

All Aboard the Trolley of the Doomed

• The Ghosts and Gravestones tour group takes guests past ancient cemeteries and antebellum mansions aboard a “trolley of the doomed” to visit two haunted locations exclusive to the company: the Gribble House and Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery. The Gribble House was the scene of a triple murder in 1909, described by the Savannah Morning News as the most diabolical crime ever committed in town. And if the vivid orbs and electric pulses regularly felt there aren’t enough, the tour continues to Perkins and Sons, said to be the paranormal epicenter of the city. If you think your heart can take it, these fully narrated tours are over an hour in length.

One for the Road

• For something a little more novel, Hearse Ghost Tours cruises the cemeteries in otherworldly style by packing guests aboard its fleet of real hearses. Each vehicle was in service for at least 15 years before being refitted to carry living passengers. Another quirky option is the adults only “Boos and Brews” tour. Offered by Tara Tours, “Boos and Brews” is a narrated excursion through the haunted Moon River Brewing Company building, established in 1821 and “notoriously haunted” by a plethora of angry ghosts. If that’s a little hard to swallow, adult beverages are available for purchase on site in special cups so that guests can carry their own "spirits" along with them.

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Things to Do in Moultrie, Georgia

For under 15,000 residents, Moultrie suffers no shortage of fun and amusing attractions. The small town in southwest Georgia is steeped in history, culture and festivals. Downtown Moultrie, a recognized historic district, remains largely untouched from turn-of-the-century times. On these streets, antique shops, an arts center and community events thrive.

Shop for Antiques

• An abundance of antique shops line the streets of downtown Moultrie, Georgia. Market on the Square, with more than just antiques, houses more than 30 vendors in a 20,000-square-foot building on East Central Avenue. Around the corner on 1st Street Southeast, Sid's Antiques and Gifts sits next door to Henson Sewing and Antiques, providing a close, convenient vintage shopping experience. Nearby, on 2nd Avenue Southeast, the unassuming window sign at Olde Harmony Antiques beckons customers to "Come See What We Got."

Tour Historic Buildings

• Since 1994, Moultrie's downtown has been recognized as a historic district by the National Registry of Historic Places. Within this recognized area, 61 buildings and one object are listed on the registry. Many of the buildings are faithful in style to turn-of-the-century small town commercial building styles, such as Beaux Arts Late, Art Deco, Neoclassical Revival and Colonial Revival architectural classifications. Carnegie Library of Moultrie on North Main Street, Colquitt County Jail on 1st Avenue Southeast and Colquitt County Courthouse on Courthouse Square are included on this list.

Attend a Festival or Celebration

• Every year in October, 1,200 farm-related exhibitors descend on Moultrie for the nation's largest agriculture fair, the Sunbelt Ag Expo. In addition to the exhibits, the farm show features demonstrations, seminars and an adjacent 600-acre working research farm. Many smaller events occur in Moultrie throughout the year. For one weekend each November, Calico Arts and Crafts showcases a juried selection of handcrafted holiday items from more than 200 vendors in southwest Georgia. One day each October, residents of Moultrie gather to sell their gently-used goods in the shadow of the Colquitt County Courthouse on courthouse square for the 100+ Mile Peanut Pickin' Yard Sale.

Embrace the Arts

• Since 1977, Colquitt County Arts Center has acted as a cultural resource to the Moultrie community. The center offers art classes for different age groups, ballet classes for Moultrie's youth and a variety of music classes including violin, piano and drums. In addition, the Colquitt County Arts Center showcases pieces of art for sale in the Artists Gallery and hosts a movie night showing cult classics such as "Charade" and "Night of the Living Dead."

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Suspended Walking Bridges in Georgia

The Appalachian Mountains stretch into northern Georgia, endowing the landscape with dramatic gorges, raging rivers and steep valleys. Throughout the region, suspension bridges afford panoramic views of waterfalls, rock formations, woods and other scenery. While you have to pay to access most privately owned bridges, those on public lands often link hiking trails, providing you with more opportunities to explore the lush Georgia environment on foot.

Traveling Over Toccoa

• Near Blue Ridge, just south of the border with Tennessee and North Carolina, you can find the longest swinging suspension bridge east of the Mississippi. The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge spans 270 feet across the Toccoa River, and you can reach it by walking a few minutes from parking areas on both the north and south sides. The Benton MacKaye and Duncan Ridge hiking trails also cross the footbridge. Access is free.

Tallulah Gorgeousness

• Tallulah Gorge State Park in northeastern Georgia surrounds a 1,000-foot-deep, 2-mile gorge and has a suspension bridge that crosses 80 feet above the Tallulah River. Park rangers sometimes lead full-moon hikes to the bridge; you can find a schedule on the park’s website. During hunting season -- mid-September through December -- you should wear reflective orange if you plan to hike. You must pay a nominal fee to enter the park.

Botanical Bridge

• When you visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden, you can stroll along the 600-foot Canopy Walk suspension bridge, which reaches an elevation of 40 feet. The bridge crosses through the Storza Woods, a mature, 15-acre hardwood forest that includes beech, black cherry, dogwood, maple oak and other trees. You must pay an admission fee to access the garden's grounds.

Lullwater Link

• In Decatur, the Lullwater Bridge runs 210 feet over Peachtree Creek’s South Fork. The bridge, part of Emory University’s Lullwater Estate, serves as a pedestrian route for researchers, doctors and students traveling between the university campus and the Veterans Administration Hospital. You can visit the bridge anytime between dawn and dusk.

Chicopee Charm

• The Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville, northeast of Atlanta, has a 150-foot suspension bridge. The bridge spans Walnut Creek and connects hiking trails on the center’s east and west sides. You don't have to pay admission to hike the Elachee's 10 miles of trails, which which pass around Chicopee Lake, through forests and wetlands, and over the suspension bridge.

Scenic Swing-a-Long

• At Rock City Gardens in Lookout Mountain, just over the border from Chattanooga, you can cross the 180-foot-long Swing-a-Long suspension bridge. During your visit, you can also climb to an overlook with views of seven states, see geological formations along a self-guided trail, and tour gardens filled with native plants and trees. Rock City Gardens is a privately owned, and you must purchase a ticket to access the premises.

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