Explore Georgia’s Heartland for Free or Cheap
Looking for a fun way to explore Georgia’s Historic Heartland region – affordably – this summer? Here are eight ways to pinch a penny without sacrificing any fun with the family.
Dauset Trails Nature Center (FREE). Visit the animal trail and the barnyard animals. Enjoy hiking or mountain biking on over 20 miles of trails (dogs welcome.) Don’t skip the Wonder Room of animals located under the visitor center. More info on our visit here.
Go Fish Education Center ($5 per person – less for kiddos). See trout, bass and more in the large freshwater aquariums. Watch alligators and turtles, try out the interactive exhibits, and catch fish in the stocked pond.
High Falls State Park ($5 per car or FREE with a Friends of Ga State Park Pass). Hike the trail along the falls, or follow the History Falls Trail for beautiful views of the ruins. Our favorite part? Staying in one of the yurts with a view of the lake. More pictures from our stay here.
Lane Packing Line Tour and Peach Ice Cream ($2 per person). From May through August, you can tour Lane Southern Orchards, which has been growing peaches and pecans for more than 100 years. Don’t miss their delicious peach ice cream.
Ocmulgee National Monument (FREE). This park and museum are dedicated to preserving the mounds of the Mississippian Culture, built around 900. Families can climb stairs to see views from the tops of several mounds and walk the trails, which include a boardwalk section over the wetlands filled with wildlife wonders.
Museum of Aviation (FREE). Do you have a want-to-be pilot in your life? The Museum of Aviation at Warner Robins will elicit a full day’s worth of grins and giggles. It is one of the largest aviation museums in the U.S. See over 90 different aircraft, spread over four hangers and 51 acres. More pictures from our first visit.
Covington Self-Guided Movie Tour (FREE). From "Dukes of Hazzard" to "In The Heat Of The Night," you can tour numerous television and movie locations by picking up a map at the Clark Street Visitor Center.
