Georgia

6 things only Georgia locals know

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2024

I can still hear my parent’s voices after we moved to the state of Georgia when I was a child. They couldn’t believe the way Southerners pronounced DeKalb County (the L is silent), and that was only the beginning of the way things sound different in the Peach State.

After spending most of my life living in and around different parts of the state, I now call myself a true Georgia peach. I’m astute in our cultural and conversational ways. I’ve helped colleagues from other parts of the country adjust to living in Atlanta, and given a few lighthearted pointers about our local words and phrases.

Here are the six most important things you should know before visiting Georgia, especially if it’s your first time in the state.

You’ll thank yourself for packing lightweight, breathable clothes © Yellow Dog Productions / Getty Images

1. Pack plenty of lightweight clothing

There’s a reason why those of us who live in Georgia prioritize linen, cotton and other lightweight fabrics, especially in the summer months. Average temperatures dance in the lower 90s (Fahrenheit), but locals are quick to tell you, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Around 70% humidity is the average for the state. If you’re not used to what that may feel like, “soupy” is a great adjective to describe the feeling of Georgia’s humid summer air. If you visit during the summer, plan to drink plenty of water – it’s necessary to fight heat exhaustion.

Outside of summer, temperatures and humidity levels are much more mild and pleasant.

2. Don’t forget your allergy medicine

If you’re planning to visit in spring, prepare for allergies, or at least the occasional sneeze. Cities throughout the state have landscaped public areas with too many male trees and not enough of their female counterparts, so many parts of Georgia get covered in pollen. If you see a yellow coating of dust, you’ll know it’s springtime in Georgia, when most locals hope for rain to wash it all away. Even if you’ve never really experienced allergies before, sometimes the intensity of the pollen here can affect you.

Three women are sitting around a table in a tea parlor, while another woman stands next to the table, talking to them — Y’all are bound to hear some common phrases in Georgia © MoMo Productions / Getty Images

3. We love y’all and bless your heart

Travel across the state and you’re likely to come across a number of different southern accents, but there are a few phrases that are universal no matter where you visit. The most common colloquialism is the contraction of “you” and “all.” Use it and y’all will see how it comes in handy. (If I were talking to someone from Georgia, I’d combine “y’all” and “will” to say “y’all’ll,” but that’s an intermediate level of southern speak, so we’ll save more of that lesson for another day.)

Pay close attention if someone tells you, “bless your heart.” Depending on their tone and the context, this could mean they truly wish the best for you, or that they’re showing you sympathy. However, a slight change in tone changes the intent; it could also be used to say they think you’re stupid.

4. Some local name pronunciations are unexpected

I shared how my parents were surprised by the pronunciation of DeKalb County many years ago. There are many more counties, cities and street names with unexpected pronunciations. For example, Houston County in middle Georgia is not pronounced the same way as the city in Texas. The “Hou” is pronounced as “how,” so Houston sounds like “How-ston.”

Even the way locals pronounce the name of our capital city, Atlanta, is a little different than other parts of the country. Most people in metro Atlanta will drop the second t (some drop both), so the city is pronounced more like “Atlanna” or “Alanna.” Most people will know you’re a visitor by the way you pronounce these names. No one expects you to know these – just make sure you don’t say “Hotlanta.”

A couple have their arms around each other while they stand and chat to a street performer next to a river — Don’t be surprised if strangers make friendly conversation with you © Boogich / Getty Images

5. Acknowledging strangers is common

What do you do when you’re walking on a sidewalk and pass by someone walking in the other direction? In many parts of Georgia, the customary thing to do is to make eye contact with them and give a nod or smile. Some people will take the greeting a step further with a quick verbal greeting. None of this is intended to stop or even slow down your stride; it’s all done in passing.

This is one of the ways Georgia residents express southern hospitality, but there are many ways you could encounter this while visiting the state. A stranger could start a friendly conversation with you while waiting in line. Or if passersby perceive you need help, such as if you’re having car trouble or a flat bike tire, some people will stop to offer assistance.

None of these examples are universal, especially in the cities. But if you do run into a stranger who offers a friendly hello, don’t think it’s strange! It’s part of Georgia’s local culture.

6. You’ll never be too far from a Waffle House

My last tip won’t make or break your trip, but it is an observation many people who aren’t from Georgia find amusing. Georgia is the land of Waffle House. The first one opened in 1955 in Avondale Estates, Georgia, so we naturally embrace our home state’s diner. We also have more than 400 of the restaurants in the state. Get off any highway exit in Georgia, and you’ll probably spot a Waffle House, or even two.

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Georgia

Georgia group reacts to Trump’s executive order that could reclassify marijuana

Published

8 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Georgia group reacts to Trump’s executive order that could reclassify marijuana

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — One metro Atlanta organization is weighing both the potential benefits and risks following President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order Thursday aimed at expediting the reclassification of marijuana.

Atlanta News First spoke with Michael Mumper, executive director of Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy. He emphasizes this action is about research – not legalization – and said the science surrounding marijuana use remains unsettled.

“There are a lot of results, research that says that it has benefits and a lot that says it has harms,” Mumper said. “We need to dive into those much more before we rapidly expand marijuana access. This research will allow us to dig deeper into the real benefits and harms of marijuana.”

He adds that this action will also reduce paperwork for researchers and change how the drug is regulated by both the FDA and the DEA.

This order makes marijuana a schedule three classification under controlled substances, putting it in the same category as some steroids. Drugs that can be used in different situations based on the type and severity of pain.

Mumper shares his deep concern after this decision on Capitol Hill.

“Most important message to the public is that it normalizes marijuana as a product for consideration,” Mumper said. “For us, that’s a bit premature and dangerous because youth are still being harmed at alarming rates.”

The move does not change Georgia law and does not fully legalize the use of cannabis.

In Georgia, multiple efforts to legalize or decriminalize marijuana at the state level have failed. Under current state law, patients may access low-THC oil strictly for medical use if they have one of the qualifying medical conditions approved for treatment.

“Will be pressure on states to expand medical marijuana programs,” Mumper said. “But our argument has always been we have to stick to the science.”

President Trump has also directed his administration to work with Congress to “ensure seniors can access CBD products they have found beneficial for pain.”

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Georgia

Georgia Tech Athletics Receives a Pair of $10 Million Gifts

Published

20 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Georgia Tech Athletics Receives a Pair of Million Gifts

THE FLATS – Two generous, anonymous families have each given $10 million gifts to support Georgia Tech athletics’ Full Steam Ahead initiative and the Yellow Jackets’ football program, Tech vice president and director of athletics Ryan Alpert has announced.

“We’re incredibly grateful to these two generous families for their investments in Georgia Tech athletics and a championship-level football program,” Alpert said. “Led by these families, their relentless investments in our mission and their belief in our upward trajectory, support of Georgia Tech athletics and Tech football are at unprecedented levels.”

With these transformative gifts, Georgia Tech athletics is well on to set a new fundraising record in the 2026 fiscal year, as donor participation is up 21% in just six months since the fiscal year began on July 1.

Additionally, in just 14 months since the public launch of Full Steam Ahead in October 2024, Tech athletics has received nearly $90 million in new commitments to the initiative. In total, nearly $400 million has been raised towards Full Steam Ahead’s $500 million goal, which is a part of the Institute-wide Transforming Tomorrow campaign.

Georgia Tech continues to display its commitment to fielding nationally prominent, championship-level athletics programs. Notably, Tech athletics has committed to making more than $150 million in investments to its football program over the next several years, which includes the opening of the Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center in the spring (a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit Georgia Tech’s full body of 300-plus student-athletes), a renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field that will be completed prior to the 2027 season, a continued pledge to provide maximum revenue sharing to student-athletes and significant new resources devoted to expand and enhance staff.

To fulfill these commitments, enhanced engagement and support from the Georgia Tech community is vital.

“We still have progress to make to achieve our goal of consistently competing for championships at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics,” Alpert continued. “Never in the history of college athletics has success been so closely tied to resources, and now is the time to seize the opportunity to take advantage of the great momentum and energy that we’re experiencing on The Flats.

“Every member of the White and Gold community can play a part. We urge fans to get in the game. Whether it be through gifts to the A-T Fund, purchasing tickets and merchandise, corporate sponsorships – every manner of support is vital to the success of Tech athletics.”

For more information and to make a year-end gift to the A-T Fund, visit atfund.org.

Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.

Fourth Quarter

Less than two weeks remain for the Georgia Tech community to take advantage of the A-T Fund’s year-end Fourth Quarter Initiative, which gives supporters the opportunity to receive four A-T Fund priority points for every $100 donated to the Athletic Scholarship Fund through Dec. 31. The Athletic Scholarship Fund provides direct support for student-athletic scholarships and is one of the A-T Fund’s highest annual priorities, as it helps bridge the gap between endowment returns and scholarship costs.

Fourth Quarter gifts to the Athletic Scholarship Fund will provide donors with four A-T Fund priority points per $100 donated, which is double the two points normally allotted per $100 given. A-T Fund priority points are used to allocate benefits such as seat locations and parking for Georgia Tech athletics home events, as well as access to tickets for away games and postseason events, including ACC and NCAA Championships, bowl games and the College Football Playoff. To contribute to the Fourth Quarter Initiative and begin collecting four A-T Fund priority points for every $100 donated, click HERE. For more information, visit atfund.org/4th-quarter.

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Georgia

DA Fani Willis appears before Georgia Senate panel

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

DA Fani Willis appears before Georgia Senate panel

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies before a Georgia State Senate committee in Atlanta as she ends her year-long legal fight over a subpoena and defends her actions in the Trump election interference case.

Posted December 17, 2025 10:39pm EST

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