Southwest Georgia is made up of dozens of communities from the outskirts of metro Atlanta to the state line with Florida. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll be including mostly the towns included in the state of Georgia’s “Presidential Pathways” region.
There are, however, some that have been left out but we included the most notable with the most to offer visitors. Locals call the area “Sowega,” which represents 14 counties and the least populous region of the state.
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LaGrange
LaGrange is home to one of the state’s largest lakes and a number of attractions. The town was spared during the Civil War and later became a hub for the South’s textile industry. The most well-known family to come out of LaGrange is the Callaways of textile, agricultural, and five-and-dime fame.
What to Do in LaGrange
The Biblical History Center, also known as Explorations in Antiquity, is the most unique attraction around. It’s home to artifacts from the Holy Land and interactive experiences to teach visitors what life was like then from the food to the living arrangements. Wild Leap is a popular local craft brewery.
Hills and Dales is the former home of the Callaways and is now a museum and gardens open to the public. The LaGrange Art Museum features works from artists from the region, in particular, a collection of works by outsider and folk artists like Howard Finster and St. EOM.
Where to Eat in LaGrange
LaGrange has a thriving restaurant scene for such a small area. Start with a hearty breakfast at greasy spoon Guss’s Grill. Charlie Joseph’s Downtown is known for its hotdogs and has been around since the 1920s.
Taste Of Lemon Restaurant is a favorite of ladies who lunch, serving chicken and dumplings, hamburger steak, and macaroni and cheese.
Cart Barn Grill is a no-frills eatery with golf cart seats is attached to a driving range. It’s a bit off the grid, but worth the detour.
Brickhouse Grille serves American classics and tavern favorites like burgers and beer. They have one of the cheapest happy hours in town. For something different, the town’s Korean population makes Keum Soo Kang San Korean Restaurant a popular choice.
Where to Stay in LaGrange
Wingate by Wyndham LaGrange was my home for a few nights, located near the highway with free WiFi and breakfast. Highland Marina Resort is set on the lake with cabins, RV sites, and even boat slips. LaGrange is also home to Great Wolf Lodge, a resort and indoor theme park popular with families.
Warm Springs
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called Warm Springs his second home while he was being treated for polio. His house is now a museum, which is the town’s main attraction, and the downtown area has shops and restaurants to keep visitors entertained.
What to Do in Warm Springs
A visit to the Little White House is the most important part of a trip to Warm Springs. At the historic site, you’ll see the visitor’s center, the home itself, and a small museum with the unfinished portrait of Roosevelt.
Nearby, you can see the Roosevelt Pools that became the president’s polio recovery center. Once you’ve visited all the shops downtown, stop by the Warm Springs Winery for a sip of local wine.
Where to Eat in Warm Springs
Dining options are limited in the small town, but the top recommendation is The Bulloch House Restaurant, a family-style Southern eatery with a menu that changes daily. Mac’s Barbeque is a casual option with pulled pork and all the sides.
Where to Stay in Warm Springs
Meriwether Country Inn has amenities like in-room microwaves and free breakfast daily. Ramsey RV Park is another option for travelers who are camping or pulling RVs. Mountain Top Inn & Resort also has accommodations.
Pine Mountain
Originally settled in 1882, Pine Mountain became a tourist destination with the opening of Callaway Gardens, which has multiple hotels, restaurants, and activities. The town itself has shops, restaurants, and other amenities for visitors.
What to Do in Pine Mountain
Callaway Gardens is the main attraction with its own hotels and restaurants as well as the gardens themselves. The property also includes walking trails, golf courses, boating, fishing, watersports, a spa, and even a ropes course.
Nearby, Wild Animal Safari gives guests the opportunity to drive through a safari with giraffes, zebras, and other animals. Chipley Historical Center, located in the town’s old jail, has exhibits on the area’s history.
Where to Eat in Pine Mountain
Callaway Gardens has 11 restaurants, including some only open seasonally, but the town of Pine Mountain does as well. Most don’t require garden admission to dine there.
Carriage & Horses offers fine dining in a historic setting. Located in nearby Hamilton, Hunters Pub and Steakhouse is a surprising find with steaks and other dinner options. The Oyster House serves seafood, including oysters, shrimp, fish, and more.
Where to Stay in Pine Mountain
You won’t have any trouble finding a place to stay in Pine Mountain. Callaway alone has Mountain Creek Inn, Mountain Creek Villas, Southern Pine Cottages, and the Lodge and Spa.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park is another favorite option with standard campsites, backcountry campsites, and cottages. Campgrounds include Blanton Creek Park and Pine Mountain RV Resort.
Columbus
Once a significant stop on the road to Atlanta, Columbus is located on the Chattahoochee River and the state line with Alabama. Here you’ll find major museums, restaurants, hotels, and plenty of activities to keep all ages active.
What to Do in Columbus
Chattahoochee Riverwalk has paths for walking and biking and entry to the river for kayakers and paddleboarders. The Columbus Museum is free to visit and combines both history, culture, and art in one location.
Go on a rafting trip with Whitewater Express, who also runs zip lines and ropes courses between Columbus and Phenix City, Alabama. At Fort Benning, The National Infantry Museum is an important attraction, which details the history of the military, specifically infantry divisions, in America’s wars.
Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center is an educational nature center that teaches about the nearby ecosystems and the creatures that call them home. National Civil War Naval Museum has artifacts like cannons, weapons, and even a Civil War ironside.
The Springer Opera House is a historic theater that hosts plays and musical performances. Kids will love the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, which has a number of NASA artifacts from the end of the shuttle program.
First an antique store, the Columbus Collective Museums include the world’s largest exhibit of lunchboxes and information on Columbus-founded soda and snack brands.
Where to Eat in Columbus
Downtown Columbus has plenty of great restaurants, including the waterfront favorite 11th and Bay Southern Table, which serves Southern food with a contemporary twist. Country’s On Broad is a barbecue chain set in an old Greyhound bus station.
Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits is a breakfast joint that gets popular on the weekend with chicken and biscuits, as the name implies. Nonic is the city’s favorite beer bar, now with a full-service restaurant and rooftop bar.
Grab your morning jolt and pastries at Iron Bank Coffee, a former bank, and dinner at The Black Cow includes Southern comfort food. Jarfly is a tropical-inspired bar and restaurant with boozy slushies and local beer.
Mercy’s Jamaican Kitchen is to-go only but has outdoor seating to enjoy the authentic jerk chicken. Dishoom Bistro on multicultural Manchester Expressway has traditional Indian dishes, including vegetarian options.
Where to Stay in Columbus
The Marriott Hotel is one of the few downtown with hundreds of rooms and suites in a historic brick warehouse. Home2 Suites by Hilton Columbus, GA is a comfortable hotel near Fort Benning with pet-friendly amenities.
Rothschild-Pound House Inn is a historic inn downtown that has hosted celebrities and politicians over the years. City Mills Hotel is set in a former mill building with daily breakfast and Riverwalk access.
Lake Pines RV Park and Campground is not far outside of town and has nature trails, playgrounds, and laundry facilities.
Buena Vista
The small town of Buena Vista is perhaps most associated as being the home to folk artist St. EOM. In addition to Pasaquan, which you can visit, the town has a number of shops and restaurants. Called “America’s Front Porch,” they host the Rural America festival every year.
What to Do in Buena Vista
Buena Vista has a number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, but it’s Pasaquan that really brings in visitors to the small town. The former home of St. EOM was restored with support from the Kohler Foundation.
Where to Eat in Buena Vista
Dining options are limited in Buena Vista, but there are a few to choose from. A&R Barbecue comes highly recommended so don’t let the shabby exterior fool you. J&L Front Porch Pizzeria serves pizza, pasta, and wings, and Los Aztecas Mexican Restaurant is a standard Mexican eatery.
Where to Stay in Buena Vista
Sign of the Dove B&B is one of the few places to stay and also serves meals. Buck Creek Campground has RV and trailer campsites.
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My visits to destinations in Southwest Georgia were supported by Explore Georgia, Visit Albany, LaGrange Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Laurie Rowe Communications.
We would love to visit this area. Need more info.
Southwest Georgia has a lot more to offer than most people think! We have family that lives in the area so we are down there quite often. Always enjoy our stay!