Overview
Georgia is a multifaceted state, ranging from mountains and rapids to forested ridges riddled with caves and low-lying swamps. Located in the southeastern United States, Georgia was founded in 1735 by Englishman James Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe landed in Savannah and created the 13th New World colony. From the farms and orchards in the south to the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp in the southeast and the tidal march along the Atlantic Seaboard, there’s plenty to explore. Georgia has an eventful history. So the state saw the emergence of the tribes of the Creek and Cherokee Indians, the miserable “Trail of Tears”, the fat times on the cotton plantations, which were only made possible by the labor of the slaves, and the battles of the bloody civil war that took place in the devastating Union General Sherman’s “March to the Sea” and culminating in the burning of Atlanta. Southern hospitality is still a priority here, and the refined homes, rich history and culture are proudly preserved. The heyday of the city of Atlanta—known as the “City in the Woods”—shows very clearly the transition from the Old South to the New. Magnolias and dogwoods still line the pretty Georgia-style houses. At the same time, just a few blocks away, dazzling, modern buildings to the ever-expanding skyline of Atlanta. Atlanta’s climate ranges from low humidity in the Blue Ridge Mountains to subtropical in the southern coastal region.
- Travelationary: Covers basic information about Georgia geography and economy.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) flies non-stop from Amsterdam to Atlanta. Delta Airlines (DL) offers, among other things, service from Zurich to Atlanta.
Flight times
Atlanta – Frankfurt: 8 hrs 40; Atlanta – London: 9 hrs 15; Atlanta – Miami: 1 hr 40; Atlanta – New York: 2 hrs 20; Atlanta – Washington DC: 1 hr 30;
Arrival by car
Greyhound serves locations in Atlanta, Norcross, Hapeville, Decatur and Marietta (More information: www.greyhound.com). Documentation: Travelers whose national driver’s license is not in English must also have an international driver’s license.
Note on arrival by car
Average travel times by car: Atlanta – Birmingham: 3 hours; Atlanta – Charlotte: 5 hrs; Atlanta – Nashville: 5 hrs; Atlanta – Tallahassee: 6 hrs; Atlanta – Jacksonville: 7 hrs; Atlanta – Charleston (South Carolina): 6 hrs; Atlanta – Memphis: 8 hrs; Atlanta – New Orleans: 9 hrs; Atlanta – Cincinnati: 9 hrs; Atlanta – Charleston (West Virginia): 10 hrs; Atlanta – Miami: 13 hrs; Atlanta – Chicago: 14 hrs; Atlanta – New York: 17 hrs; Atlanta – Dallas: 17 hrs; Atlanta – Los Angeles: 45 hrs; Atlanta – Seattle: 53 hrs. All non-stop travel times within speed limits. Average bus travel times: Atlanta – Birmingham: 3-6 hrs; Atlanta – Charlotte: 4-5 hrs 30; Atlanta – Chattanooga: 2-4 hrs; Atlanta – Jacksonville: 8 hrs; Atlanta – Miami: 15-21 hrs; Atlanta – Mobile: 6-10 hrs; Atlanta – New Orleans: 12 hrs; Atlanta – Philadelphia: 18 hrs 30; Atlanta – Chicago: 18 hrs 30; Atlanta – St. Petersburg: 12-16 hrs
Arrival by train
Amtrak connects New York with New Orleans and Mobile, stopping in Atlanta. Trains from New York to Miami stop in Savannah (see New York for times) (More information: www.amtrak.com).
Passport and visa regulations
Entry with children
Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Contact addresses
Savannah Visitors Bureau
101 East Bay Street
US-31401 Savannah, Georgia
United States
(912) 644 64 00, (877) 728 26 62 (toll free within the US).
http://www.visitsavannah.com/countries/eng.aspx
http://www.visitsavannah.com/countries/eng.aspx Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau
300 North Thomas Street
US-30601 Athens, Georgia
United States
(706) 357 44 30, (800) 653 06 03 (toll free within the US).
http://www.visitathensga.com
http://www.visitathensga.com Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1400
US-30303 Atlanta, Georgia
United States
(404) 521 66 00, (800) 285 26 82 (toll free within the US).
http://www.atlanta.net/de/
http://www.atlanta.net/de/ Georgia Department of Tourism Germany
c/o LMG Management
(also responsible for Austria and Switzerland)
Bavariaring 38
D-80336 Munich
Germany
(089) 98 68 60.
http://www.georgia-usa.de
http://www.georgia-usa.de
Attractions
Atlanta
Atlanta (Internet: www.atlanta.net/ACVB/index.html ) is a busy industrial city with a population of over 4 million. There was a dramatic change from the old Southern style to the new. Picturesque Georgia-style houses in the residential areas are shaded by magnolia and dogwood trees. A few blocks away, modern skyscrapers form the beautiful Atlanta skyline.
The Georgia State Capitol, Georgia Hall of Fame, and Hall of Flags are located on Washington Street at Capitol Square. The Zero Mile Post under the Central Avenue Bridge is the cornerstone of the city. In the Ebenezer Baptist Church American civil rights activist Martin Luther King is buried here. The 14-storey Omni Megastructure houses offices, a hotel, international boutiques, six cinemas, an ice rink and sports facilities. Underground Atlanta is a restored four-block neighborhood near downtown Atlanta. Grant Park includes the Atlanta Zoo, the restored Confederate Fort Walker, and the Cyclorama, a famous 400-foot (123 m) painting of the Battle of Atlanta. Swimming, tennis and golf can be found at Piedmont Park.
- Usaers: Provides a full list of major rivers and mountains in Georgia.
Trips:
Stone Mountain is 15 miles east of Atlanta’s CBD. Here figures of the three Confederate heroes Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and “Stonewall” Jackson were carved out of the rock. Not far from Atlanta is Augusta, home of the Masters Golf Tournament (April). Visitors can pan for gold in the former mining town of Dahlonega. Historic Madison survived the Civil War unscathed. The nearby Pine Mountains region is known for Callaway Gardens and President Franklin D. Roosevelt ‘s Little White House in Warm Springs.
Savannah
Savannah (website: www.savcvb.com ), located 400 km southeast of Atlanta on the Atlantic coast, is the first US city to be built on the drawing board. Today it is largely a listed building. Much of Savannah’s original beauty remains. There are many historically significant buildings, such as These include the Regency-style Owens Thomas House and the Davenport House, one of the finest examples of 18th-century English architecture in the New World. Fort Pulaski, one of the city’s five forts, is open to the public. It was named after the Polish hero of the American Revolutionary War. At Savannah Beach there are beautiful sandy beaches, boardwalks, fishing piers and an amusement park.
Excursions
The Golden Isles, south of the city, are famous for their resort towns with beautiful white sandy beaches and golf, tennis and fishing. St. Simons is the largest island with extensive forests and unspoilt marshes and coastline. Waycross is one of three trailheads to Okefenokee Swamp, one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the country. The swamp is home to exotic plants and wildlife, including alligators.
Shopping
Overview
Peachtree Center and Omni Center have a number of elegant boutiques. Lennox Square Hall and Phipps Plaza are good shopping centers in the suburbs accessible by MARTA buses.
Nightlife
Introduction
The Academy Theater performs new and experimental plays. The Alliance Theater Company at Woodruff Arts Center runs August through June. The Atlanta Children’s Theater performs on various stages around the city. The Atlanta Ballet’s season runs from fall through spring. The range of evening entertainment is varied and ranges from quiet piano bars to concerts and restaurant theatres.
Culinary
Overview
Creole specialties and delicious Cajun dishes can be found everywhere in Georgia.
Climate
Best travel time
Humid and hot in summer, often rainy, mild winters. It’s cooler in the mountains.
Country data
Area (sq km)
152732
Population
10,617,423
Population density (per square km)
67
Population statistics year
2019
