The 4.5-Hour Trip Around The Peach State's Prettiest Gardens Is A Glorious Spring Adventure In Georgia
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Spring in Georgia is great. It’s the perfect opportunity to see colorful critters like hummingbirds and butterflies, and beautiful blooms everywhere you look. Sure, the pollen is a drag, but enjoy the gorgeous sights and keep your allergy medication on hand! If you’re looking to check out some of the prettiest spring attractions in the Peach State, why not take a two or three-day road trip? We’ve got one planned that’ll show you some of the most stunning gardens in Georgia. Check it out:
The entire trip will take about 4.5 hours of driving. You can edit or add stops on Google Maps if you'd like to adjust the itinerary.
Middle Georgia State University, 100 University Pkwy, Macon, GA 31206, USA
Your first stop will be in Macon, at the Middle Georgia State University campus. The Waddell Barnes Botanical Gardens span this campus, with a variety of gardens spread all over the area. You'll see everything from maples to fruit and nut trees to Asian gardens. Check out the full map on the university's website.
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Macon, GA, USA
While you're in Macon, make sure to make a quick stop downtown to see the cherry blossoms! Did you know Macon is the cherry blossom capital of the world?
Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
A couple of hours north and you'll hit Atlanta. The Atlanta Botanical Garden a 30-acre garden right next to Piedmont Park. A walk through the garden will take about two hours or so. Springtime brings all kinds of great events to the Atlanta Botanical Garden: you can check out a calendar on the garden's website.
Georgia Governor's Mansion, 391 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
While you're in the area, make a quick stop to see the Governor's Mansion. The 18-acre property is open for self-guided tours, and while most enjoy touring the huge home, the gardens are what we'd like to focus on in the spring! The main garden is part of Georgia's Camellia Trail because it has so many of the beautiful flowers. For hours and more information, check out the Georgia state website.
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605, USA
Hop on the highway and head to Athens: your next stop is the amazing State Botanical Garden of Georgia. This 313-acre preserve is free and open to the public. It's a great attraction for the whole family.
University of Georgia, University of Georgia Chapel, Herty Dr, Athens, GA 30602, USA
The University of Georgia campus is just a few miles away from the State Botanical Garden, and there are all kinds of beautiful gardens there. The Founders Memorial Garden (pictured) is one of our favorites. It houses over 300 species of plants.
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Lockerly Arboretum, 1534 Irwinton Rd, Milledgeville, GA 31061, USA
For our final stop, we'll head back down south a little ways to Milledgeville. This one's another free attraction and it spans about 50 acres. The property includes a beautiful antebellum mansion as well as lots of colorful flowers, and there's even a cactus greenhouse. You can find out more on the arboretum's website.
Still itching for more flowers? Check out Hamilton Gardens at Lake Chatuge!
How many of these gorgeous gardens in Georgia have you visited? Any others you’d recommend? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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