Georgia Florida Line

A metropolis that attracts the height of culture, sport, shopping and rock and roll, Atlanta is the crossroads of the South and is growing and changing at a constant rate. One of Atlanta’s most famous attractions is the World of Coca-Cola where you can taste over 100 varieties of the drink from different countries in their Sampling Room. Also here is the CNN Centre as well as the Centre for Civil & Human Rights, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Georgia Aquarium. Much of mid & downtown Atlanta has undergone renovation and is now an interesting area with great shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.

Augusta is probably best known as the host of one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world; the annual Masters Golf Tournament, which was first played in 1934. Augusta was founded on the banks of the Savannah River and the Riverwalk serves as the central point in the city. The park hosts the Augusta Market every Saturday throughout most of the year and is a great place to pick up a souvenir to take back home. The Morris Museum of Art and Augusta Museum of History are also within walking distance of the park. The latter offers an interesting insight into the colonial history of the town, dating back to the 18th century.

Charleston boasts 73 pre-Revolutionary buildings, 136 late 18th century structures and over 600 others built prior to 1840. You can wander cobblestone streets lined with antique shops and boutiques and browse the Old City Market. Take a guided horse drawn carriage tour and learn tales of Charleston’s more infamous characters. House museums, plantations and gardens recall the city’s antebellum period and the role of African-Americans in shaping the state’s history. Neighbouring resort islands offer miles of unspoiled beaches and marshlands, superior golf and tennis, and fine dining. Look for Southern favourites such as Charleston’s she-crab soup and shrimp and grits at local restaurants.

Savannah: Rows of European townhouses border cobblestone streets and shady squares full of Grecian fountains, obelisks, and towering magnolias. You will see gold domes and Corinthian columns, wrought-iron balustrades and sweeping staircases. Savannah is a walker’s town; a good variety of lively, good-time entertainment is available in Savannah from cultural arts to melancholy karaoke at the bawdy sailors’ dives. Savannah’s answer to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, River Street, fills with partygoers walking along the pedestrian promenade popping into bars and clubs offering live music; a giant party is held on the first Saturday of every month from February to December – an event not to be missed. Savannah is famous for its upscale dining; try “gourmet Southern” concoctions such as broiled flounder in cream, crab and sherry sauce, pecan-almond tart topped with praline ice cream and Gentleman Jack caramel sauce are just a few favourites.

The southernmost island of the Golden Isles. This 5,700 acre island started as a private retreat for some of America’s most influential families; by 1900 the Jekyll Island Club could count the Rockefeller, Morgan, Crane and Gould families among its members, representing over one-sixth of the world’s wealth. Today, much of the island is still filled with many of the opulent mansions of the time, which can be visited on a tram tour of the area. The island also has 10 miles of white sandy beaches, the largest public golf resorts in the state, with 63 holes of golf to be played. There is also the Summer Waves Water Park, opportunities to embark on horse-riding or dolphin watching tours and the Georgia Sea Turtle Centre, a place for the rehabilitation of injured turtles.

Saint Augustine is a luxurious, romantic holiday spot but what sets Saint Augustine apart is its history—it’s the oldest European settlement in the U.S. and much of the influences left behind by the Spanish, English and Native Americans can still be seen today. Nowhere else in the world can you taste the waters of the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, where Juan Ponce de Leon is thought to have landed when he arrived in Florida in 1513. You can also visit the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the country. If history isn’t so much your thing, take the children to swim with dolphins at Marineland Dolphin Adventure Park, take a walking tour or simply relax at the beach.

Cocoa Beach, along Florida’s Space Coast, makes for an out-of-this-world family holiday; ride the waves, check out the world-famous pier, marvel at Ron Jon’s, the world’s largest surf shop, hike through nature preserves, and explore mankind’s greatest journey at the nearby Kennedy Space Center. NASA’s launch headquarters is the only place on Earth where you can tour launch-pad areas, meet a veteran astronaut, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators and – if your timing is just right – even view a launch. Don’t miss Historic Cocoa Village, a revitalized, nostalgic riverside community with more than 50 shops, restaurants, galleries and artist studios.

Miami’s South Beach is one of the coolest destination in Florida. Enjoy your pick of stylish boutique hotels all within walking distance of the wide, white sand beach. Dance ‘till dawn in many of the latino-influenced bars and nightclubs and experience a fantastic range of restaurants, from ocean-front 24 hour eateries to some of the new fusion restaurants on Lincoln Road. Bal Harbour is just a short drive up the coast from Miami and home to designer boutiques, fabulous restaurants and great beaches. Spend the day soaking in the sights and sounds of Little Havana, explore the Art Deco District or take the children to the zoo.