Best downtown in Georgia? WorldAtlas recommends visiting 8 small towns

Downtowns are a rich tapestry of local history, unique businesses, and fun places to hang out. Some of the best examples are in Georgia’s small towns, with WorldAtlas recently releasing its list of recommendations.

Here are the eight highlighted and excerpts of what the platform said about them:

Athens GA

“The student crowd packs the independent restaurants, bars, and record stores past midnight. The grid stays flat and walkable….Live music drives the strip. The 40 Watt Club on West Washington Street launched R.E.M. and the B-52s. It still books shows most nights. The Georgia Theatre stages concerts a few blocks over. Its rooftop bar overlooks the streets. Mama’s Boy serves Georgia peach French toast to the morning crowd.”

Blue Ridge GA

“Blue Ridge grew up around a working rail line….Independent shops, galleries, and restaurants line both sides of the rails. The Swan Drive-In has operated since 1955. It still shows double features on summer nights. The Chattahoochee National Forest closes in on three sides. The mountains stay in view down every cross street.”

Dahlonega GA

“Dahlonega built its square around the oldest surviving courthouse in Georgia. The 1836 building now holds the Dahlonega Gold Museum….The shops sell gold-panning kits, fudge, and mountain crafts. Tasting rooms pour wine from the Dahlonega Plateau.”

Darien GA

“Scottish Highlanders founded Darien in 1736….They laid the town out on a grid of Oglethorpe squares. The riverfront is still the heart of it. Skipper’s Fish Camp on Screven Street pulls shrimp and oysters off the local fleet….The Old Jail Art Center fills the 1888 county jail on North Way. Galleries and a small history museum share the cells. Fort King George stands just east of the squares.”

Helen GA

“The only Main Street in Georgia that looks airlifted from the Alps. Helen now hosts the longest-running Oktoberfest in the country….The Chattahoochee River cuts through the middle of the village. Tube rentals crowd the water all summer. Bakeries, beer halls, and candy shops line the cobbled side streets.”

Madison GA

“Madison wraps its core around the 1905 Morgan County Courthouse. The town holds one of the largest historic districts in Georgia….The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center fills the arts calendar from an 1895 schoolhouse….Galleries and a performance hall sit inside it now. Heritage Hall opens its 1811 Greek Revival rooms for daily tours on South Main Street. Antebellum and Victorian houses line the blocks in every direction.”

Senoia GA

“Film crews have used the streets as a backdrop since the late 1980’s. ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ shot scenes here in 1989. ‘The Walking Dead’ rebuilt the streetscape into the fictional Woodbury in 2012….Nic and Norman’s stands at 20 Main Street. Actor Norman Reedus and producer Greg Nicotero opened it in 2016. It feeds fans and locals the same burgers. The Veranda Historic Inn rents 1906 rooms a block off Main, in the former Hollberg Hotel. Maguire’s and the Senoia Coffee and Cafe handle the regular lunch crowd. Boutiques and antique shops fill the rest.”

St Marys GA

“St. Marys ends its main blocks at the waterfront. The daily ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore loads at the foot of the street….Seagle’s Restaurant has served seafood on the waterfront since 1926. The St. Marys Submarine Museum stands a block away….The First Presbyterian Church has held its corner since the early 1800s. Brackish Beer Company pours local brews a few blocks back.”

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.