Leslie GeorgiaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Leslie, Georgia.
1. Georgia Rural Telephone Museum
VINTAGE TELEPHONES AND MORE
The Georgia Rural Telephone Museum features a unique collection of antique telephones and telephone equipment. Visitors can explore the evolution of telecommunications through the decades with thousands of well-preserved artifacts. The museum also houses antique cars and other historical items that add to its charm.
2. Antique Dogwood Festival
ANNUAL APRIL CELEBRATION
The Antique Dogwood Festival is a beloved annual event held each April in Leslie's civic center. The festival attracts antique dealers from across Georgia, showcasing a wide range of collectibles and vintage items. Visitors can enjoy browsing through unique finds while experiencing the small-town charm of Leslie.
3. Leslie Historic Downtown
SMALL TOWN AMERICANA
Leslie's Historic Downtown offers a glimpse into classic small-town Georgia with its preserved architecture and quiet charm. Visitors can stroll along the streets to experience the relaxed pace of rural southern life. The area includes several historic buildings that showcase the city's heritage.
4. Georgia Veterans State Park
RECREATION AND MILITARY HISTORY
Georgia Veterans State Park honors U.S. military veterans while offering extensive recreational opportunities near Leslie. The park features a military museum displaying aircraft, armored vehicles, and uniforms from the Revolutionary War through the Gulf War. Visitors can enjoy camping, boating, golfing, and hiking across the park's beautiful Lake Blackshear setting.
5. Lake Blackshear Resort Golf Club
LAKESIDE GOLFING PARADISE
Lake Blackshear Resort Golf Club offers an 18-hole championship course with stunning views of Lake Blackshear. The course features well-maintained fairways, challenging water hazards, and pristine greens that attract golfers of all skill levels. After a round, players can relax at the clubhouse restaurant overlooking the picturesque lake.
6. Forsyth Park
HISTORIC URBAN OASIS
Forsyth Park is a 30-acre urban park featuring the iconic fountain that has become a symbol of Savannah. The park offers shaded walking paths, recreational areas, and a fragrant garden for visitors to enjoy. Throughout the year, the park hosts various events, concerts, and farmers markets that showcase local culture.
7. River Street
HISTORIC WATERFRONT DISTRICT
River Street runs along the Savannah River, featuring historic buildings converted into shops, restaurants, and galleries. Visitors can watch massive cargo ships pass by while exploring the cobblestone streets lined with 18th-century cotton warehouses. The vibrant area offers live music, street performers, and stunning waterfront views that capture the essence of Savannah.
8. Rousakis Riverfront Plaza
BUSTLING RIVERSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
Rousakis Riverfront Plaza serves as Savannah's premier waterfront destination with shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The plaza features beautiful landscaping, benches, and swings where visitors can relax while enjoying river views. Throughout the year, the plaza hosts festivals, concerts, and events that showcase the region's culture.
9. City Market
ART AND DINING HUB
City Market encompasses four blocks of shops, restaurants, and art galleries in Savannah's historic district. Visitors can browse works from local artists, enjoy live music, or dine at one of the many restaurants featuring southern cuisine. The pedestrian-friendly marketplace has been a center of commerce and social activity since the 1700s.
10. The Olde Pink House
HISTORIC SOUTHERN DINING
The Olde Pink House is housed in an 18th-century mansion and serves refined Southern cuisine in an elegant setting. The restaurant features multiple dining rooms with period furnishings, working fireplaces, and a tavern in the cellar. Guests can enjoy signature dishes like crispy scored flounder and shrimp with grits while soaking in the historic ambiance and possible ghost encounters.
11. Americus Historic Downtown
VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE SHOWCASE
Americus Historic Downtown features beautifully preserved Victorian architecture and a charming main street filled with local businesses. Visitors can explore unique shops, restaurants, and the historic Windsor Hotel, which dominates the skyline. The walkable downtown area hosts community events year-round and serves as the commercial heart of Sumter County.
12. Jimmy Carter National Historic Site
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY EXPERIENCE
The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site preserves locations significant to the 39th President of the United States, including his boyhood farm and high school. Visitors can tour Carter's campaign headquarters, the Plains Train Depot, which served as his presidential campaign office. The site offers insight into how Carter's early life in rural Georgia influenced his character and presidency.
13. SAM Shortline Excursion Train
VINTAGE RAILROAD JOURNEY
The SAM Shortline Excursion Train takes passengers on a nostalgic journey through rural Georgia aboard vintage 1949 rail cars. The train travels between Cordele and Plains, making stops at charming small towns and attractions along the way. Themed rides throughout the year include murder mystery dinners, holiday events, and special tours that make each journey unique.
14. Andersonville National Historic Site
CIVIL WAR PRISON MEMORIAL
Andersonville National Historic Site preserves the former Camp Sumter, one of the largest Confederate military prisons during the Civil War. The site includes the National Prisoner of War Museum, which honors American prisoners of war throughout history. Visitors can walk the grounds where nearly 13,000 Union soldiers died during the war and visit the adjacent Andersonville National Cemetery.
15. Habitat for Humanity Global Village
INTERNATIONAL HOUSING SHOWCASE
The Habitat for Humanity Global Village educates visitors about poverty housing conditions worldwide through life-size displays of homes from various countries. Founded in Americus, Habitat for Humanity's interactive exhibit demonstrates how the organization works to eliminate substandard housing globally. Visitors can tour replica homes from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas to understand different cultural living conditions and building techniques.