Quaint American towns attract visitors to their cleanliness and respect for history. These areas often revere their historic buildings, preserve their main streets and locally owned shops; they typically feature scenic pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths. In these towns, people often know and care about each other. Many of Georgia's quaint places played an important role in the nation's history and today continue a rich tradition of Southern hospitality.
Jekyll Island is a quaint beach getaway on the Georgia southern coast, the majority which, or 65 percent, is preserved in its natural state by law. Jekyll Island has its own airport and state park. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is situated in the large, 240-acre historic district and contains many rental suites, featuring late 19th century turrets. A bike path surrounds the island that offers views of tropical vegetation and the Atlantic Ocean. "Glory," a movie set during the Civil War, was filmed on Jekyll Island's beaches.
Dahlonega, in the north-central part of the state, has a tradition; the town holds a three-day festival in April called "Bear on the Square," which marks the day a black bear wandered into town. The festival features bluegrass music and celebrates southern Appalachian culture, with local artists and craftspeople. On the third weekend in October, Dahlonega celebrates Gold Rush Days, which attracts more than 200,000 people yearly to celebrate the importance of gold mining to this area. The Gold Rush in the 19th century helped create the wealth here, and the town has preserved much of its history. Dahlonega features a town square with local shops and well-preserved early 19th century buildings.
Madison was such a pretty town that Civil War Union Commander William Tecumseh Sherman ordered its center spared from the torch as his troops made their historic destructive path to the sea. Today, Madison has experienced intensified growth since the 1970s, when Interstate 20 was completed just south of town. With more than 100 antebellum homes, Madison has the second largest historic district in the state of Georgia.
Savannah was founded in 1733 by colonists led by James Edward Oglethorpe, and it too was spared from Civil War destruction; it now stands as the oldest city in Georgia and a national example of Southern heritage. Live oaks covered in Spanish moss line the walkways, with historic landmarks and city parks to explore on foot. Savannah has one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts in the United States.
