Georgia

Memorial Day 2025 trip ideas: Georgia’s eight most overlooked towns

Published

7 months ago

May 24, 2025

Memorial Day 2025 trip ideas: Georgia’s eight most overlooked towns

Memorial Day is Monday, marking the end of a three-day weekend. Want to visit a hidden gem?

WorldAtlas released a guide of the most underrated small towns in Georgia “where a vibrant sense of community and exploration awaits.” Below is a look at which towns they highlighted and excerpts of what WorldAtlas had to say about them:

Blue Ridge

“Tucked away in the mountains, Blue Ridge is a sweet little railroad town with a vibrant artistic community and a burgeoning adult beverage scene that is often overshadowed by those of larger cities such as Atlanta. Beverage enthusiasts will find a haven here, with innovative wineries, breweries, and distilleries around every corner. … Tipsy or not, a performance at the Blue Ridge Community Theater is always a good time. … Outdoor enthusiasts can hike at the nearby Chattahoochee National Forest, take a scenic train ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, or frolic in the tranquil waters at Lake Blue Ridge Dam Recreation Area.”

Dahlonega

“The town features a lovely historic downtown where you can embark on a haunted walking tour (or a wine tour) with Dahlonega Walking Tours before diving into the region’s gold mining history at the Dahlonega Gold Museum. … Nature seekers can trek through the breathtaking Chattahoochee National Forest, which provides ample hiking trails, camping, and gushing waterfalls. … Afterward, savor a wine tasting at Frogtown Winery, one of the most awarded wineries outside California.”

Ellijay

“Celebrated as Georgia’s Apple Capital, the area is home to numerous farms and orchards that welcome eager apple pickers. … Beyond apples, Ellijay features a growing wine scene. Local vineyards like Cartecay Vineyards and Chateau Meichtry offer tastings, winery tours, and summer concerts. … Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy, as Ellijay is the gateway to Springer Mountain, the starting point of the Appalachian Trail, and features numerous hiking trails for all skill levels. The nearby Cohutta Wildlife Management Area offers fishing, birdwatching, and mountain biking, while the Cartecay River provides tubing opportunities during warmer months.”

Lumpkin

“While unassuming at first, nature lovers are in for a treat, as Lumpkin is a gateway to the stunning Providence Canyon State Park. Spanning 1,000 acres, this breathtaking park features a remarkable collection of canyons and gullies. … Plus, the park is home to the largest natural collection of plumleaf azalea in the world. … While Georgia is overflowing with historic significance, Lumpkin was the first small town in the state to successfully complete a historic preservation project aimed at encouraging tourism. The result? The beautifully restored/preserved Bedingfield Inn on the town’s central square.”

Madison

“It boasts one of the state’s largest historic districts despite its small population. … Visitors can explore historic homes like the Rogers House, which illustrates early 1800s middle-class life, and Rose Cottage, which shares the story of a slave who built her own laundress business. … Outdoor lovers can head to Hard Labor Creek State Park, home to two peaceful lakes, an 18-hole golf course, multi-use trails, and campsites. Additionally, just 30 minutes away is Lake Oconee, a vast reservoir perfect for swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing.”

Tybee Island

“Unlike more crowded coastal spots in Georgia, Tybee Island offers a serene atmosphere for visitors to relax and unwind. … One of its iconic landmarks is the Tybee Island Lighthouse, the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia, alongside the smallest lighthouse in the state, the Cockspur Island Lighthouse. After taking in views of the Atlantic from the lighthouses, embark on a deep-sea fishing tour with Brown’s Reel ‘Em N Deep Sea Fishing. Nature lovers will also enjoy birdwatching, as Tybee is positioned on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.”

Thomasville

“While Atlanta is known as the food capital of Georgia, Thomasville’s restaurant scene is giving it a run for its money. Visitors can enjoy the Taste of Thomasville Food Tour, where local cuisine and stories that highlight the town’s rich history are brought to life. … After you’ve had your fill of delicious food, rent a bike from Hubs and Hops and pedal through the town’s red clay roads. … Nature lovers will also appreciate the Birdsong Nature Center, where miles of trails wind through wildflower meadows, forests, and swamps, showcasing diverse wildlife.”

Tallulah Falls

“The town is home to the breathtaking Tallulah Gorge, a 1,000-foot chasm carved by the Tallulah River, featuring six cascading waterfalls. Hikers can trek along the breathtaking Tallulah Gorge Rim Trails for breathtaking views of the gorge and waterfalls, while Tallulah Gorge State Park is home to picnic areas, a beach, tennis courts, and campgrounds along the shores of Tallulah Lake. … The community spirit in Tallulah Falls shines during Saturday Night Bluegrass Jams, where locals bring their instruments to Main Street for a night of music and camaraderie. Families can sprawl on the grass around a communal bonfire and soak in twangy tunes.”

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

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Georgia

Georgia Lottery Powerball, Cash 3 results for Dec. 6, 2025

Published

2 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

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The Georgia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 6, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

13-14-26-28-44, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

Midday: 5-0-8

Evening: 1-6-8

Night: 7-2-9

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

Midday: 2-3-5-1

Evening: 2-9-2-5

Night: 7-7-2-2

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

02-06-41-48-52, Cash Ball: 03

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

Early Bird: 01

Matinee: 02

Drive Time: 06

Primetime: 03

Night Owl: 09

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Georgia FIVE numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

Midday: 6-5-7-5-4

Evening: 1-3-9-0-6

Check Georgia FIVE payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from Dec. 6 drawing

11-22-28-35-36

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes under $601: Can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retail location. ALL PRIZES can be claimed by mail to: Georgia Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 56966, Atlanta, GA 30343.
Prizes over $600: Must be claimed at Georgia Lottery Headquarters or any Georgia Lottery district office or mailed to the Georgia Lottery for payment.

When are the Georgia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 3 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 3 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Early Bird): 8 a.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Matinee): 1 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Drive Time): 5 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Primetime): 8 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Night Owl): 11:59 p.m. ET daily.
Georgia FIVE (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
Georgia FIVE (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
Fantasy 5: 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
Jumbo Bucks Lotto: 11 p.m. ET on Monday and Thursday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Georgia editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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‘College GameDay’ Week 15 picks for Alabama-Georgia, Ohio State-Indiana, more

Published

12 hours ago

December 6, 2025

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‘College GameDay’ Week 15 picks for Alabama-Georgia, Ohio State-Indiana, more

By the end of the day, five conference championship trophies and four spots in the College Football Playoff will be handed out.

Kicking off conference championship weekend is the Big 12 championship game between No. 6 Texas Tech (No. 4 in CFP rankings) and No. 11 BYU (No. 11 in CFP rankings). This game could impact the rest of the day and how the field is set up on Sunday, Dec. 7 — if the Cougars can pull off the upset.

There’s then the SEC championship game between No. 3 Georgia (No. 3 in CFP rankings) and No. 10 Alabama (No. 9 in CFP rankings), the site of “College GameDay” in Week 15. The Crimson Tide will need to replicate its game plan — a big passing game from Ty Simpson — from earlier this season to beat Georgia again. A win for Alabama will be its first SEC title in the post-Nick Saban era, while a win for Georgia will give Kirby Smart’s squad back-to-back SEC titles and three titles in the last four years.

The nightcap features No. 1 Ohio State (No. 1 in CFP rankings) and No. 2 Indiana (No. 2 in CFP rankings) clashing in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis, and No. 16 Virginia (No. 17 in CFP rankings) and Duke meeting up in the ACC championship in Charlotte. A win by the five-loss Blue Devils would create chaos in the 12-team CFP field, potentially admitting two Group of Five programs into the CFP field.

Host of TNT’s “Inside NBA” Ernie Johnson is the celebrity guest picker for Week 15. Here’s a look at how “College GameDay” picked each of the conference championship matchups in Week 15, including the Army-Navy game next weekend:

Big 12 championship game: Texas Tech vs BYU

Desmond Howard: Texas Tech
Pat McAfee: Texas Tech
Ernie Johnson (guest picker): Texas Tech
Nick Saban: Texas Tech
Kirk Herbstreit: Texas Tech

SEC championship game: Georgia vs Alabama

Desmond Howard: Georgia
Pat McAfee: Georgia
Ernie Johnson (guest picker): Georgia
Nick Saban: Alabama
Kirk Herbstreit: Abstained (calling game)

Big Ten championship game: Ohio State vs Indiana

Desmond Howard: Indiana
Pat McAfee: Indiana
Ernie Johnson (guest picker): Ohio State
Nick Saban: Ohio State
Kirk Herbstreit: Ohio State

ACC championship game: Virginia vs Duke

Desmond Howard: Virginia
Pat McAfee: Duke
Ernie Johnson (guest picker): Virginia
Nick Saban: Virginia
Kirk Herbstreit: Virginia

MAC championship: Miami (Ohio) vs Western Michigan

Desmond Howard: Miami (Ohio)
Pat McAfee: Western Michigan
Ernie Johnson (guest picker): Western Michigan
Nick Saban: Western Michigan
Kirk Herbstreit: Western Michigan

Army-Navy Game

Desmond Howard: Navy
Pat McAfee: Navy
Ernie Johnson (guest picker): Navy
Nick Saban: Navy
Kirk Herbstreit: Navy

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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Georgia Republicans back resolution condemning video on illegal military orders

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2025

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Georgia Republicans back resolution condemning video on illegal military orders

article

The U.S. Capitol, pictured during sunset on November 12, 2025 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – Four Georgia congressmen are backing a new House resolution that denounces a group of fellow lawmakers for appearing in a video about refusing unlawful military orders. Republicans say the video amounted to “dangerous and seditious rhetoric.”

Georgia congressmen sign on to resolution

What we know:

Reps. Rick Allen, Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, and Andrew Clyde are among 27 GOP members who signed onto the measure, which criticizes six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in the video. Those six are Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Christopher Deluzio, Rep. Maggie Goodlander, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. All have backgrounds as veterans or former members of the clandestine service.

In the video, the lawmakers advise current service members about their duty under U.S. military law to disobey illegal orders. The resolution argues the message created “an environment placing troops and their loved ones at risk of harm, compromising and undermining the national security.”

At least fourteen of the 27 co-signers report prior military service, including Georgia’s Rep. Clyde.

What the resolution states

What they’re saying:

The resolution condemns six Democratic lawmakers for a video urging service members and intelligence personnel to refuse what they called illegal orders.

The measure argues the lawmakers offered no evidence that such orders exist and says their message encourages insubordination, threatens the chain of command, and violates long-standing military law.

It accuses the group of undermining confidence in the armed forces and asserts their statements place troops and their families at risk.

The proposal reaffirms the President’s authority as commander in chief and denounces the remarks as dangerous and seditious rhetoric.

Pentagon probes video

The backstory:

The video at the center of the controversy was released Nov. 18 by six Democratic lawmakers, all of whom previously served in the military or intelligence community, who told service members they could refuse illegal orders. In it, the group tells service members they have a duty to refuse illegal orders, framing the message as a reminder of their oath to the Constitution.

According to the Associated Press, the Pentagon opened a preliminary investigation because Rep. Mike Kelly is a retired Navy captain and remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Defense officials said they were concerned the message could erode the chain of command, noting that military orders are presumed lawful unless clearly illegal.

The AP reports the lawmakers provided no examples of unlawful orders, and Kelly later said he had not witnessed any. Critics argue the video could undermine discipline, while the lawmakers say they were reminding troops of their duty to uphold the law.

What is Article 92 of the UCMJ?

Dig deeper:

Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice makes it a crime for a service member to fail to obey a lawful order or regulation.

Military orders are presumed to be lawful, and service members who refuse them risk court-martial unless the order is clearly illegal under U.S. or international law.

The standard is intentionally strict in order to protect the chain of command and ensure that individual service members are not left to interpret orders based on personal beliefs or political views.

Congressional in-fighting

Why you should care:

It is rare for the House to formally rebuke sitting members of Congress, particularly over matters involving national security.

Disputes between lawmakers are typically handled through floor debate, committee oversight, or public statements rather than resolutions denouncing specific colleagues.

The move highlights the degree of concern some Republicans say they have about the potential impact of the video on military discipline and the chain of command, and reflects an unusually direct confrontation between members of Congress over how their words may influence active-duty troops.

Will it reach a vote?

What’s next:

The proposal was introduced Thursday and sent to the House Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for review. No word on if the resolution will ever reach the House floor for a full vote.

The Source: The details in this article come from the congressional record and the U.S. Code. The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.

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