Want to get out of Woodstock for the weekend or just the day? There are many places in Georgia that can satisfy one’s need to escape for awhile. Although Woodstock has its perks, there are sites all over Georgia so unique that everyone should visit them and can anytime they want.
For the more adventurous out there, Wild Adventures is a fun-filled theme park located in Valdosta, Georgia, where there are rides, daily shows, and animals. In the rides portion of the park, Boomerang is a thriller that will make anyone’s stomach drop; although it is only 1 minute and 45 seconds long, it is full of many loops, inversions, and hills. While many children would not want to ride these wild attractions, kid friendly rides, such as Ant Farm Express and the Rio Grande Train, are available to provide excitement for younger adventurers. On a hot, dry day, occasionally splashing around in water can be an enjoyable break; the Tasmanian River Rapids or Sea Turtle Cove are some of the best way to cool off. Wild Adventures offers a day that park-goers of any age in the family would relish.

    While screaming all day long may sound like a great time for some, others prefer a day filled with cute (although slightly unpleasant smelling) animals. Bird watching in Kingsland, Georgia, is a quiet but exciting day for these individuals, who get the opportunity to see and take pictures of many different species while on a guided tour. Watching animals from a distance is enjoyable, but being up close with them can be even better. A Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia, offers an experience that can never be forgotten. “It’s so interesting and fun to be able to interact with all the animals,” junior Abbey Rogers attests. A guided tour is available, but for the brave souls who do not mind being on the receiving end of animal spit and occasional horns aimed at the car, one’s own vehicle can be driven. With over 65 different species and more than 650 wild animals ranging from African Spur Tortoises to Wildebeests, this five-mile long tour will fascinate animal enthusiasts, all wrapped up with a coffee and gift shop at the end of it all. The Wild Animal Safari is only one of many exotic places in Georgia to interact with animals.

    Among all the animal farms to visit in Georgia, Goats on the Roof is one of the most riveting sites of the bunch. Just as the name suggests, Goats on the Roof has the unusual signature of, yes, goats walking around on the top of the building. However, not only are there animals on the roof, there is also a quaint shop underneath with homemade jellies, fudge, rocking chairs, gem mining, and other small gifts. With its grass-covered roof, Goats has yet another quality that makes it unique: bicycle feeding. Sophomore Jaclyn Chiesa praises the attraction for its uniqueness: “It’s the fact that you wouldn’t be able to feed goats on a roof anywhere else” that makes it is so fun to visit. In bicycle feeding, an individual puts food onto a vertical conveyor belt, mounts a bike, pedals, and the food is promptly borne up to the roof for the goats to enjoy. Math teacher Coach Katie Hawter agrees with Chiesa about the unique charm of Goats; after all, “how often do you get to see goats on a roof?” Goats on the Roof has two locations, one in Tiger and the other in Helen, Georgia, and is open seven days a week from 10 am to 6 pm. It is a remarkably unique and intriguing place and is especially great for a day visit at any time of the week.

    While watching goats walk around on top of a roof could keep many people entertained for hours, there are also the active nature-loving folks. The great outdoors has many astonishing sites, some not too far from home, while others require a road trip. Amicolola Falls is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from Woodstock in Dawsonville, Georgia, which is only about a one hour trip. Once there, an individual can choose to make the venture to the noteworthy Hike Inn. After hiking up to the top of Amicolola Falls, the hikers take a five-mile trek to the Inn, which has guest rooms, hot showers, family-style dining and remarkable views. Once there, family and friends are able to spend time together enjoying the beauty of nature. Another wonder in Georgia is the Tallulah Gorge in Tallulah Falls, Georgia, which is about two hours from Woodstock. Running an astonishing length of 3 miles and depth of 1,200 feet, the gorge was manmade, but it is still a stunning setting and worth the car ride. Hikes can be taken around the bridge, and 100 people per day are allowed to hike along a trail to the bottom of the gorge floor after obtaining a hiking permit. The hike to the bottom of the gorge is rated as difficult because it consists mainly of boulders and rocks and very little soil. Rogers believes that no matter what hike it is, “the view is always calming and serene once you get to the top.” So whether it is extreme hiking or just a quick, simple trek, both preferences can be satisfied at either Amicolola Falls or Tallulah Gorge. Whichever choice is made, it is sure to be an enjoyable experience.

    After a day full of hiking and sweating, a nice tour of a museum or historical site would seem pleasant to just about anyone. The Cannonball House is a fascinating place known for its displays of antebellum furnishing and military artifacts in Macon. The house itself is a piece of history, getting its name, in fact, from a cannonball that struck the house in the Civil War; there are plenty of artifacts to view at this unique house. Although it is not a museum, the Springer Opera House, in Downtown Columbus, Georgia is also a historical phenomenon, dating back to 1871. It has been remodeled several times because of expansion or storm damage, but people have been coming to the opera house for over 141 years, and it has not lost its beauty. It is a live performance theater, and shows are conducted year-round on two stages. Available shows can be viewed online on their website, and tickets can be purchased there as well. Many people, especially those who enjoy history, would definitely be fond of these two antiquated locations.

    These are only a few of the thousands of spectacular places in Georgia, but there are so many more that are just as worthy of appreciation. Take a weekend or a few days off to see the sights; go out and explore the magnificent state of Georgia. There is so much more than the eye can see in each and every town, big or small.