Ready to hit the road and find places in Georgia that look like they jumped straight out of a storybook?
This fairytale road trip is packed with lovely castles, dreamy forests, stunning beaches, and tiny villages you’d swear were made by fairies.
You’ll see giant tree tunnels dripping with Spanish moss, hidden stone towers, and charming towns where it feels like time froze a hundred years ago.
Get ready because this adventure will take you to 11 of the most magical spots in the state that’ll leave you wide-eyed and grinning from ear to ear.
1. Historic Banning Mills (Whitesburg)
Historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg is home to the world’s longest zip line, stretching about 11 miles through treetops and over the Snake Creek Gorge.
Aside from zip lines, you’ll also find a huge climbing wall, a crazy sky bridge, cute mystic cabins and hiking trails that wind past mill ruins and waterfalls.
If you’re into fun records, Banning Mills holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest free-standing climbing wall at 140 feet!
Located just an hour southwest of Atlanta, it’s the perfect spot for heart-pounding adventures, stunning forest views, and a touch of 1800s history.
2. Clock Tower (Rome)
Next up is Rome’s iconic Clock Tower, a 104-foot brick beauty that’s been keeping time from its spot on Neely Hill since 1872.
Climb the 107 spiral steps to the top, and you’ll score epic views of the city’s three rivers (Etowah, Oostanaula, and Coosa), plus the cute historic downtown.
You can also stay inside and admire the giant clockwork or explore a mini-museum filled with old photos and interesting artifacts from Rome’s past.
Fun fact: The Clock Tower was originally built in 1871 as a water tower before it got its famous clock face.
3. Old Mill Wheel (Berry College, Mount Berry)
Afterward, head over to Berry College in Mount Berry to see the Old Mill Wheel, one of the world’s biggest working waterwheels at 42 feet tall.
Built in 1930 by students at Berry College, this wooden giant still spins today above a peaceful pond surrounded by lush forest.
You can stroll right up to the wheel, snap awesome photos, and check out the old stone mill building for a cool blast from the past.
The best part? The entire campus is open to the public, so you can roam the world’s largest college grounds (27,000 acres) and spot wildlife along the way.
4. Rock Garden (Calhoun)
Up next is Calhoun’s magical Rock Garden, where you’ll find over 50 tiny castles, cathedrals, and fairytale scenes built from pebbles, shells, and tiles.
This whimsical wonderland was created in 2007 by local pastor DeWitt Boyd, who spent years with his family building each mini masterpiece by hand.
You can stroll along the winding paths to see stone replicas of famous landmarks like Notre Dame, Neuschwanstein Castle, and even the Roman Colosseum.
They’re all tucked into a quiet garden behind Calhoun Seventh-day Adventist Church.
It’s free to visit, and if you go in spring or summer, the blooming flowers around the tiny villages create an extra dreamy experience.
5. Helen
From the Rock Garden, make your way to Helen, a lively town that looks like a Bavarian village planted in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Every building on Main Street is decked out with timbered facades, colorful murals, and flower boxes overflowing with vibrant blooms.
Here, you can tube down the Chattahoochee River, munch on giant soft pretzels at Hofer’s Bakery, or ride the Alpine Coaster for some mountain thrills.
Don’t miss Oktoberfest if you visit in the fall – it’s the longest-running one in America, with oompah bands, lederhosen, and enough bratwurst to feed an army.
6. Château Élan Winery & Resort (Braselton)
If you want some fancy fun, continue to Château Élan Winery & Resort in Braselton which is a French-style castle located 50 minutes northeast of Atlanta.
This sprawling estate offers award-winning wines you can sip in their giant tasting room, along with two championship 18-hole golf courses right on site.
You can also tour the 3,500 acres of vineyards and learn how they turn muscadine grapes into their famous local blends.
The château’s marble halls, grand staircases, and fountains will let you live your royal dreams, especially if you book a spa day or stay overnight in their inn.
7. Gnome Castle (Alpharetta)
Then there’s the super unique Gnome Castle, also known as Dwarf Castle, a fairytale-style stone house on Arnold Mill Road in Alpharetta.
With its pointed roof, stone walls, and whimsical design, it looks like it was plucked straight from a European storybook.
It’s a private residence, so you can’t tour the inside, but the unique architecture makes it worth a quick drive-by or photo stop.
This little castle has become a local curiosity, and it’s one of those “only in Alpharetta” landmarks you’ll want to see for yourself.
8. Swan House at Atlanta History Center (Atlanta)
After the whimsy of the Gnome Castle, swing into Atlanta for the Swan House, a 1928 mansion and the crown jewel of the Atlanta History Center.
This grand home is famous for its marble staircases, swan-themed carvings, and manicured gardens.
It was even featured in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as President Snow’s mansion!
Inside, you can tour rooms with vintage furniture, artwork, and stories of Edward and Emily Inman (they built this estate during Atlanta’s Roaring Twenties).
If you prefer the outdoors, wander the 33-acre grounds to find historic farm buildings, nature trails, and the Smith Farm.
9. Rhodes Hall (Atlanta)
Next is Rhodes Hall, a real castle built in 1904 and nicknamed “The Castle on Peachtree” for its spiky turrets and fortress-like stone walls.
This Romanesque Revival mansion was built by Amos Rhodes, a furniture tycoon.
It has a show-stopping stained glass window with 1,000 pieces that depict the Confederacy’s rise and fall, stretching 70 feet up the main staircase.
You can check out the lavish rooms filled with carved mahogany and marble fireplaces or join their evening ghost tours if you’re feeling brave.
10. Wormsloe State Historic Site (Savannah)
Then it’s on to Wormsloe State Historic Site, where a 1.5-mile avenue of moss-draped live oaks creates one of Georgia’s most iconic photo ops.
At the end of that mossy tunnel, you’ll find the tabby ruins of Noble Jones’ estate which is Savannah’s oldest standing structure made of shells, sand, and limestone.
The site offers seven miles of winding trails through marshes and forests, where you might spot deer, armadillos, and bright green tree frogs along the way.
Don’t skip the museum near the entrance if you want to learn all about the Jones family and the Guale people who lived here before European settlers arrived.
11. Driftwood Beach (Jekyll Island)
Lastly, head to the hauntingly beautiful Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, where sun-bleached trees sit on the sand like natural sculptures.
This must-see spot stretches for about a mile along the island’s north end, perfect for sunrise photos as skeletal driftwood glows golden in the first light.
You can climb on the massive fallen oaks, picnic under tangled branches, or just walk barefoot along the tide pools, searching for crabs and shiny seashells.
It’s a short walk from the parking area, and visiting at low tide gives you plenty of space to explore without the waves chasing you back to shore.
Related Posts
