Georgia

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

Published

8 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 Men Defeat Florida State; Women Take Down Florida State and Arkansas

Published

43 minutes ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Men Defeat Florida State; Women Take Down Florida State and Arkansas

Georgia vs Arkansas vs Florida State

January 10, 2026
Athens, GA — Gabrielsen Natatorium
SCY (25 Yards)
Full Meet Results
Team Scores Women
- #14 Georgia 170 — Florida State 116
- #14 Georgia 169 — Arkansas 124
- Arkansas 195 — Florida State 101
Team Scores Men
- #4 Georgia 183.5 — #10 Florida State 114.5

The Georgia Bulldogs swept Florida State and the women also took down Arkansas in their first dual meet of 2026. The Arkansas women beat Florida State in their dual, 195 to 101.

Women’s Meet Recap

The #14 ranked UGA women easily defeated Florida State and Arkansas in their double dual meet on Saturday, outscoring Florida State by more than 50 and Arkansas by more than 40.

Despite earning the overall win, the Georgia women did not take home either relay titles, but they had the fastest times in most of the individual events.

Freshman Kennedi Dobson continued to build on her strong NCAA season, taking home three event wins with the top times in the 1000 free, 200 back, and 500 free. In the 1000, she swam 9:29.05, a new personal best time and the 3rd fastest time in the country this season.

She also swam the 200 back and 500 free double, which sees only the 200 breast come in between, setting a new best time in the 200 back of 1:53.66 and in the 500 free, she swam 4:39.48 for the win.

The only other Georgia swimmer to set the fastest time in multiple events was Ieva Maluka. She won the 200 fly in 1:56.29, a new season best time. She also had the fastest time in the 200 IM, touching in 1:58.11, but the Bulldogs exhibitioned the last event to allow Arkansas and Florida State to score more points.

Charlotte Headland and Elizabeth Nawrocki split the breaststroke events for Georgia. Headland swam the 100 breast in a personal best 1:00.50, building on her progression this season. She came into the year at 1:01.39, and has dropped three times since then.

Nawrocki, a freshman, swam 2:11.48, just missing her personal and season best of 2:08.44 This swim was still more than a second faster than the 2:13.00 she started college with.

Marie Landreneau won the women’s 200 freestyle for Georgia, touching in 1:44.46 to beat teammate Shea Furse‘s 1:46.77 by a little over two seconds.

Finally, senior Olivia Della Torre won the 100 fly in 53.09, just off her season and personal best of 52.95 from the UGA Fall Invitational.

Arkansas bested Florida State in their dual meet, due, in part, to the strong performance from Harriet Rogers. Rogers won both the 50 and 100 free, swimming 22.23 in the 50 and 48.77 in the 100 to earn the top spots.

Holly Robinson won the 200 IM with her 2:03.06 coming in as the fastest non-Georgia swimmer, so she won the event, picking up nine points for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas also won the 400 free relay. Tammy Greenwood led off in 49.69. Rogers swam 48.38. Delaney Harrison was 3rd in 49.54, and Viola Petrini swam 49.73.

They also had the top two divers at the meet with Lotti Hubert earning the top spot on the 1 meter board in 314.75, leading three other Razorbacks to take the top four overall spots in the event. The 3 meter went to Maria Jose Sanchez in 348.00, more than 20 points ahead of 2nd place Kayleigh Clark from Florida State.

Florida State won one individual event and one relay. They started the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay with their team of Alice Velden (24.50), Martina Fanunza (28.07), Maryn McDade (22.95), and Mary Leigh Hardman (22.20) swimming 1:37.72 to beat the Georgia ‘A’ team by half-a-second.

Velden also won the 100 backstroke in 53.76, missing her season best of 52.40 by about a second.

Men’s Meet Recap

The men’s meet was just a dual meet between Georgia and Florida State, and the Bulldogs came out on top, scoring 183.5 points to Florida State’s 114.5.

Georgia won both relays, starting with the top time in the 200 medley relay where they swam 1:24.38 to come in just two tenths ahead of Florida State. Luca Urlando led off for Georgia, splitting 21.10 to earn the Georgia team a near seven tenth lead. Elliot Woodburn was 23.94 on the breaststroke, Ruard Van Renen split 20.18 on the butterfly, and Tane Bidois was 19.16 on the freestyle.

Florida State’s relay consisted of Max Wilson (21.77), Tommaso Baravelli (23.72), Michel Arkhangelskiy (19.91), and Sam Bork (19.20), and they touched in 1:24.60.

The 400 freestyle relay was made up of Van Renen (43.26), Tomas Koski (42.81), Bidois (43.04), and Luke Sandberg (43.21) swimming 2:52.32 to win the event by more than two seconds.

Luca Urlando won three events for the Bulldogs, swimming 1:39.59 in the 200 fly to win by almost four seconds over teammate Drew Hitchcock. He also won the 100 fly in 45.27, coming in more than a second ahead of Florida State’s Michel Arkhangelskiy‘s 46.72

Urlando also swam the 200 IM for the first time this season, touching in 1:42.95, the 15th fastest time in the country this season.

Georgia freshman Sean Green won two events, swimming 8:57.64 in the 1000 and 4:19.57 in the 500.

Hayden Meyers and Ruard Van Renen split the backstroke events. Van Renen won the 100 back in 44.68 and Meyers won the 200 back in 1:41.66.

Florida State picked up event wins in both distances of breaststroke and the 50 and 100 freestyles. Michel Arkhangelskiy won the 50 free in 19.64 and he won the 100 free in 42.92, off his season best times in both.

Tommaso Baravelli won the 100 breast for the Seminoles in 53.63, coming in more than half-a-second ahead of teammate Liam O’Connor‘s 54.26 in 2nd.

Mathias Christensen won the 200 breast in 1:57.15, just 17 hundredths ahead of Georgia’s Cale Martter, who swam 1:57.32.

Up Next

Georgia will race Tennessee on January 24th in Knoxville.

Florida State will host Florida on January 30th.

Arkansas will race kansas on January 23rd in Kansas.

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Georgia

Alabama linebacker to transfer to Georgia Tech

Published

13 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Tech

Pro Football Focus graded Noah Carter Alabama’s third-best tackler this season.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton runs against Alabama linebacker Noah Carter during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (Mike Stewart/AP)

A third Alabama player is transferring to Georgia Tech for the 2026 season.

Noah Carter, a 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker, intends to transfer to Tech, On3 reported Saturday. Carter spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide.

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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Georgia

Arsenal lead hunt for Georgia Stanway with England midfielder to leave Bayern in summer

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Arsenal lead hunt for Georgia Stanway with England midfielder to leave Bayern in summer

Arsenal are among the leading candidates to sign Georgia Stanway this summer after Bayern Munich confirmed the England midfielder would leave the German club when her contract expires.

According to sources, the north London club are understood to be one of a number of teams interested in acquiring the 27-year-old on a free transfer, but Renée Slegers’ team are leading the running having tracked Stanway’s progress and are eager to add a world-class midfielder to their squad.

Stanway helped England win back-to-back European titles as well as being part of a Bayern Munich team that have won three consecutive Frauen Bundesliga titles since she arrived in the summer of 2022.

Bayern’s director of women’s football, Bianca Rech, praised her “commitment and character”, adding in a statement on Saturday: “As the first English player at FC Bayern Women, Georgia Stanway not only made history but also stole our hearts. We talked a lot and openly about her future, and when she told us that she now wanted to try something new, her reasons were completely understandable.”

Stanway posted on social media that she had made lifelong friends at the German club and told the club: “I will give everything for the club and its sporting success until my very last day, just as I have for the past three and a half years. And I want to say goodbye to the club and the fans at the end of the season with as many titles as possible.”

Aston Villa are set to sign the France midfielder Oriane Jean-François from Chelsea for £450,000 in a club-record fee for a sale by the London side. It is understood that the deal is agreed and the 24-year-old’s move should be finalised in the coming days. The former Paris Saint-Germain player has been with Chelsea since 2024.

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