You may not think of the state of Georgia as the world's most ideal vacation destination - especially since we spend much of our time on this site taking about extreme weather - but sometimes when you need to get away, a trip to Georgia can be just what the doctor ordered. This guide will introduce you to some of the fun and exciting ways to spend your vacation time here in Georgia. We hope it encourages you to come to our fair state.

Georgia is a state with a lot of history, much of it connected to the old South and the Civil War. You can explore forts and historic monuments such as the Stately Oaks Plantation, which inspired Gone With the Wind, Fort King George, an old British garrison, and see what life was like before today. If you time your visit just right, you may even be able to take in a Civil War battle re-enactment at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park or the Andersonville National Historic Site. The panorama at is open year round.

If you're looking to get back to nature, there are plenty of national parks full of great trails and spectacular views. You can hike, boat, and see bald eagles along the Altamaha River Trail, rated one of the 75 Last Great Places on Earth. You can turn your vacation snaps into framed works by visiting the Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest peak, where you can see into four states, go fishing in Blue Ridge lake, camp in the national forest, or take a glass bottomed boat out to see the Grey's Reef marine sanctuary.

For those who like a little more urbanism, there are plenty of things to do in Atlanta. There's a museum dedicated entirely to Coca-Cola, a zoo full of exotic animals like pandas and gorillas, as well as theaters, art museums, a Martin Luther King historic site, and of course shopping! Atlanta is a great place to go if you want to buy something exciting. You can even take a studio tour at CNN or visit the Jimmy Carter presidential library and museum.

If you're letting your kids set the agenda while you and your spouse just observe, there are three major theme parks in Georgia. Six Flags over Georgia has nine roller coasters and a tower drop while Six Flags White Water has 40 acres of water attractions, including slides, pools, and waterfalls. At Valdosts's Wild Adventures, you get rides and roller coasters but also an ice show, a zoo, concerts, and a water park all in one.