Ever since Georgia hosted the Olympic Games in 1996, Georgia’s attractions became well-known around the world and not surprisingly, the state has become one of the top tourist destinations. Folks simply love the year-round calm balmy weather that induces total relaxation, most especially in the nights of spring and fall. During the day, the colors of fall and the new greens of spring, while ruffled by the gentle breezes, project a universe of change and renewal, and thus of hope for a tomorrow.

But aside from the weather’s effect, there are several very interesting places in Georgia you may want to visit, along with the kids especially; they will undoubtedly enjoy the excursion. Top places in the itinerary should include the Georgia aquarium, the Coca-Cola plant, the mountains and the theme park. It can be an exhausting but nevertheless an exhilarating voyage of discovery for the children and most probably the adults, too.

Taking a look at Some of the Top Georgia Destinations

* First stop is the Georgia Aquarium. Built several years back, it offers a plethora of underwater scenes and views of various fishes in their simulated habitat. So many people from other states or countries tour the aquarium —it being the largest aquarium in the world today— that it is best to go there weekdays, when there are relatively fewer number of visitors. The Georgia Aquarium is probably the only place in the country where you can see the largest number of fishes without getting yourself wet!

* Next to the Aquarium is the Coca-cola Museum, and often Coke gives the visitor a free taste of its products. If you like soda pops, you can have a drop of Coke right at the Museum while unraveling the history of the development of Coca-cola and Coke, which can also be a nostalgic trip down the days past.

* If you love spectacular vistas you can drive up the Georgia mountains. Go to Mt. Helen, shop and dine in fine restaurants there, including the famous, evilly delicious fudge. A trip to Mt. Helen with the popular fudge will be something to remember. Or, if it is summer, you can get into a tube and float down Chattahooche River, exploring its wilderness scenes while bumping about the waves. It can be revealing from a fish’s point of view.

* Afterwards you can hike all the way up Stone Mountain, famous for its granite rocks and beautiful park. You can explore them, then wait for nightfall to see from the mountain’s roads the laser show. You can’t miss the Stone Mountain: it can be seen from many places in Atlanta, Georgia. Alternatively, Savannah is a historic city filled with museums, old houses, great restaurants, and beautiful beaches.

* Lastly, there is Six Flags, a contemporary theme park. If you love wild rides, Six Flags is the place to go to; if you prefer tamer ones and great shows, Six Flags is still the place to visit. Either way, one day at Six Flags may not be enough to savor all it can offer.

Tourists in their millions visit Georgia every year, mostly for its comforting weather, random snippets of history, spectacular highland views and superb dining. But there are others reasons besides, and at least one of them may be yours to discover.

Among the millions of tourists that flock to Georgia each year are entire families, complete with children and parents. They come because Georgia offers a hundred and one ways to let the kids enjoy the day, from riding wild rides at the theme park, to exploring the eerie cemeteries; from understanding its history, to kayaking the river estuaries. Savannah Gardens, one of the top Georgia destinations, can offer an educational, exhausting, adventurous and exhilarating day for children as well as parents.

A day tour of the city can, first, be arranged just to get the feel of the place. There are the architectural wonders and landmarks of history to see, the cobblestoned streets to clatter on, the carriage tour and the trolley rides to enjoy. More than 50 tour operators are ready to offer you their services, all of them reliable and experienced. Don’t forget to include the Savannah Gardens in your itinerary: it is a semi-wilderness for children to explore and wonder at. Don’t leave them alone for too long, though.

Then a river tour aboard an authentic riverboat can give you and your children a taste of the old times when steam was king, as well as show you the coastal views of the city. Alternatively, kayaks are available for exploring the coasts and estuarine areas. Perhaps you can even troll a line or two while exploring, or maybe cast a few lures to likely places, if you love the piscatorial pursuits, so to speak. Savannah, Georgia is a fine place for passing on the fishing tradition.

Meanwhile, antique shops and galleries abound in Savannah containing different items for children to gawk at as part of their education. Maybe some can also be bought as mementoes of the trip, and the children will definitely treasure them. Gallivanting among the antique stores will also introduce you to the historic squares of the city, and each has its fascinating story to tell. If you research them beforehand you can be the tourist guide to the children and that can be a great way of bonding with them.

Lastly, of course, there are conventional modern shops to purchase your needs, and with pleasure.

For evening entertainment, there is the Johnny Mercer Centennial for starters. Johnny Mercer is noted for his music, songwriting talent, creativity and appeal, and of course because he was a local son. The year 2009 has been dedicated to the celebration of his music and legend and periodically, there will be events to be held in his name.

Next is the “All You Need is Love” event that began February 9. The festival celebrates the love songs of the past 60 years in the genres of jazz, pop music and Broadway, performed by orchestras, singers and dancers. Another festival that will last up to April 15 collects famous music performers in fields of jazz, bluegrass, blues, classical and gospel music. At the very least, the festivals can introduce the children to new sounds beyond mere rock and rock ‘n roll.

So do not forget the children when planning your next vacation. Make it Savannah, Georgia and you’ll be sure to have a grand time there.

John Denver specified the Blue Ridge Mountains as his home in his song, “Country Roads”, perhaps not only because of its natural beauty but because it is welcoming as a vacation destination. Its atmosphere is ‘homey’ to the nature-loving active visitor as well as the pedestrian tourist out simply for the view. Even those who long for the peace and quiet can find them at the Blue Ridge Mountains in varying moods, none of them vexatious to the spirit. This makes Blue Ridge Mountains one of the top Georgia destinations.

It is easy to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains. Mountain cabins that look over the mountain ridges and valleys may be rented, so that you can stay put and maybe just read a book, enjoying the mountain vista each time you lift your eyes, keeping your privacy and engendering romance. Or, a quiet day camping beside Lake Blue Ridge or Toccoa River can be meditative while being nature-revealing as well. Solitude at the Blue Ridge Mountains can be rewarding for the soul.

There are of course bed-and-breakfast hotels, regular inns, motels and lodges and campgrounds for the intrepid or adventurous. Some conventional lodging facilities also offer spectacular views of the mountains, so you don’t have to be out of modern conveniences to enjoy a Blue Ridge Mountains vacation. There are also stores, galleries and shops where you can buy antiques and local craft items to take home as mementoes, or even to showcase to friends. Some antiques or crafts can be quite interesting and unique.

Aside from the passive enjoyment, active tourists can enjoy various activities. There is the Ocoee River whitewater rafting for one, mountain hiking for another, horseback riding, and trout fishing for two more. In fact, a fishing festival is periodically held at the Blue Ridge Mountains, because trout fishing in its streams and rivers is quite excellent and challenging. Other events that gather the locals and visitors alike include the Adventure Race held every April; Arts in the Park that feature arts, food and crafts; Pickin’ in the Park that run May to September; Old Timer’s Day and Lake Fireworks on Independence Day; Concerts in the Park held in July and August; Smokey Bear’s Birthday and the Kiwanis’ Rodeo, both in August; the Labor Day Barbecue, and the Fishing Festival and the Arts Festival in September. So there is something for everyone in almost any month of the year to enjoy at the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Blue Ridge Mountains is a top tourist destination in Georgia not only because its nature is largely unspoiled and spectacular, but also because one can find his own mood and meaning there. There is no lost moment or boring day, as one can choose his activity for the day or even night as he sees fit and he is sure to enjoy it. No wonder John Denver can mention Blue Ridge Mountains as his home: it can be anyone’s.

So choose Georgia next vacation time, specify Blue Ridge Mountains and lose yourself in it for at least a few days of your own. Then maybe, just maybe, you can discover yourself, too.

Are you are keen on going on a safari? Not a hunting safari but a trip through the wilds to see many strange and exotic animals not usually seen locally, which is what a safari is all about. One of the top Georgia Destinations is Pine Mountain, a 500-acre park that feature water buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, wildebeests, camels, rhinoceroses, zebras, and even a liger or two. A liger is a cross of a lion and a tiger, so it looks half-and-half of both.

The park’s denizens come from all over the world, many from Africa, a few elsewhere. There are hundreds of them, more than that of Atlanta Zoo, and thus some will be unfamiliar to many visitors. All animals are free-roaming in the wild preserve, and they may be found at the swamps, streams, wooded parts, plains and grassy ranges. To see them you need a vehicle, but if you do not have a car, there is the Zebra van to ride in. The van roams the place so you can spot the animals better than using an unguided car. It is also much safer and affords best views through its large glass windows.

Many animals are rather familiar with humans, and any may just suddenly pop his face at the vehicle window, looking for food or petting, and that can be scary. However, most animals are tame, and those that are not tame do not go near people. Nevertheless, staying within the vehicle is advised when exploring the reserve.

Entrance may cost $14 for each child between two years and teens as well as the senior citizens, while teeners and adults pay $17 per head. Kids below two years old are free, and group visits like school class tours are sometimes discounted. Ditto for family visits, although it may not always be so. Inquire beforehand if possible via their website, also for best times to visit the park.

Aside from the free-roam areas, there are also enclosed parts where visitors can be nearer some animals. These sections are walk-through, such as Petting Zoo, where tourists, especially children, can actually touch the animals. There is also MacDonald Farm of familiar animal species, the Alligator Pit and the Monkey House. Restaurants and picnic facilities have also been provided for refreshing the hungry and thirsty visitors through with the tour.

The park also offers visits to the Callaway Gardens and hot air balloon flights, while the town has stores where the more conventional tourist can go shopping.

The Pine Mountain Animal Safari park tour is something totally unique, most especially for children open to the wonders of the animal kingdom. Here they can see animals found mostly only in Africa and other exotic far away places, and they can be familiar with animals normally only seen in farms. So the tour is an educational trip as well as a voyage of discovery for the kids, something they can enjoy and remember for a long time.

So if you are planning a vacation with the children, go to the Pine Mountain in Georgia, and for a few hours live in the plains and jungles of Africa on a safari, and enjoy it there.

Among the many developments the Olympics left Georgia is the Centennial Olympic Park. Not only was the edifice significant in its sense, but more importantly, the opportunities having the building opened to the city and the state. For one it has turned the city of Atlanta into a top tourist destination because of the activities held at the Park. For another, the Park gave the city a tremendous boost in terms of employment, economy and business. For that alone, the Park is a magnet for tourists, in- and out-state alike and is one of the top Georgia destinations.

The Centennial Olympic Park was developed more than 20 years ago, and opened everyday from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. including holidays except when a private event was being held. Entrance is free unless a special event requires fees or tickets. The park is also near the Coca-cola Museum, the Georgia Aquarium, the Children’s Museum and several others, all of which can be sidetrip destinations after visiting the park.

Among the events that will be held at the Centennial Olympic Park are the ING GA Marathon and Hal Marathon, on March 29. After that is the Wednesday WindDown in April 1 then Music@Noon the next day. Every fourth Saturday is Family Fun Day, which is regular, and so are the yearly Fourth of July celebrations, the Fountain of Rings, and the winter shows Holiday Lights and Skating on Ice. Any season is a good season to visit the Centennial Olympic Park.

For the unscheduled visitor, there are features in the Centennial Olympic Park that may be enjoyed everyday. These are the Fountain of Rings Visitor Center, the Water Gardens, Paralympic Legacy, Allen Family Tribute, Garden Pavilions, Children’s Gardens, Fountainside Café, Amphitheater, Gateway of Dreams, Centennial Plaza, Androgyne Planet, Quilt Plaza, Belvedere, and others. Each of them offers a distinct attraction probably not found elsewhere, one reason tourists come back to them every now and then.

Outside the Park in Atlanta are the CNN Studio, Underground Atlanta and the Dome Tour, which are likewise interesting places to go to on their own.

Georgia is a state filled with exciting places to visit on a tour or vacation. The Centennial Olympic Park is just one of them, although enjoying its offerings can mean more than one day. It can be reached via the Interstate Route 75/85 north to Andrew Young Boulevard then right to Marietta Street. From the north, exit I-75/85 to Williams Street then right to Baker Street. From the west, use I-20 then exit to Spring Street and left to Marietta.

Exploring Atlanta could use up another day at least, so if you are planning to take a vacation, plan on going to the Georgia Centennial Olympic Park and Atlanta, Georgia. In it you will many places and pleasures to discover, in even limit4ed number of days you may have. Exploring both will give you more than several days of tour pleasure and vacation, and let you understand why Atlanta, Georgia and Centennial Olympic Park remain to be top tourist destinations in the country today.