Georgia

Georgia spans the southern Appalachians, the Atlantic coast, and the great Okefenokee Swamp, offering hiking (including the Appalachian Trail's southern start), paddling, and barrier-island exploration. Springer Mountain, the Okefenokee Swamp, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Tallulah Gorge, and Providence Canyon anchor it.

Spring (March–May) brings wildflowers and waterfalls in the mountains; fall offers excellent Appalachian color. Summer is hot and humid; the coast and barrier islands are pleasant much of the year.

Black bears in the mountains, white-tailed deer, alligators and wading birds in the Okefenokee, and nesting sea turtles and wild horses on Cumberland Island define Georgia's range of wildlife.

Appalachian hardwood forest, longleaf pine savanna, blackwater swamp, and coastal salt marsh (Georgia has a third of the East Coast's salt marsh) make up the state's ecosystems.

The Blue Ridge Mountains rise in the north (4,784-ft Brasstown Bald is the high point), descending through the rolling Piedmont and the fall line to the flat coastal plain and barrier-island-fringed Atlantic shore, with the vast peat-based Okefenokee in the south.

The Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) peoples lived here before removal on the Trail of Tears. Founded as the last of the 13 original colonies in 1733, Georgia became the 4th state in 1788.

The Appalachian Trail's southern start draws thru-hikers each spring, and a strong tradition of swamp paddling, coastal fishing, and barrier-island preservation shapes the outdoors.

Protecting the Okefenokee Swamp (threatened by proposed nearby mining), conserving coastal marsh, and longleaf pine restoration are leading priorities.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport and the main gateway; Savannah serves the coast. A vehicle is essential for the mountains, swamp, and islands.

Summer heat, humidity, and thunderstorms, plus alligators in southern waters and ticks in the woods, are the main concerns. Watch for venomous snakes and check river and swamp conditions.

State parks charge a parking fee, and the Georgia DNR administers licenses; Cumberland Island requires a ferry reservation and caps daily visitors.

Respect alligator distance in the Okefenokee, and reserve the Cumberland Island ferry ahead.

Hike to Springer Mountain for the AT's start, paddle the otherworldly Okefenokee, and take the ferry to wild Cumberland Island for beaches, wild horses, and ruins. Visit the mountains in spring or fall.

Georgia borders Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama, linking the southern Appalachians, the Atlantic coast, and the Florida line.