Looking for a quiet family getaway in Georgia with a lot to offer? Look no further than the Pine Mountain, Georgia neck of the woods. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in west central Georgia is an outdoor oasis rich in natural history and charm.
Pine Mountain is centrally located among a variety of family-friendly places to visit. We have traveled here multiple times and visited most of the places I am about to share with you now. Our favorite thing to do in this area is ride bikes through the woods at Callaway Gardens.
Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain is a charming southern town known across the South as the “Gateway to Callaway Gardens.”. Located just an hour southwest of Atlanta, just under two hours from Macon, just under an hour from Columbus, about an hour and a half from Montgomery, Alabama, and less than four hours from Tallahassee, Florida. Its location makes it an ideal spot for a vacation or a day trip.
FDR State Park
FDR State Park is Georgia’s largest State park, coming in at almost 11,000 acres. As you might imagine, there is plenty to do, such as tent, trailer, and RV camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, paddling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, birding, Geocaching, and stargazing. There is also a playground and a gift shop. Wifi is available when you visit the office. If camping isn’t for you, reserve one of the 21 cottages for rent.
Visit the life-sized memorial statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States. The statue is located at the FDR overlook, where the President had a picnic area built so he could relax and enjoy the views.
Roosevelt’s Little White House
Roosevelt’s Little White House was a retreat for FDR because of Warm Springs, where he hoped to find relief or perhaps a cure for the polio he had contracted in 1921. The Little White House is now a National Historic Landmark. You can tour his home, preserved almost exactly as he left it, with memorabilia and his furnishings.
The museum is a newer addition and includes his car with hand controls built specially for him. The famous Unfinished Portrait is also on display. He was posing for the portrait when he became ill and later passed away at his Little White House.
Callaway Gardens and Resort
Callaway Gardens: Since 1952, Callaway Resort & Gardens has welcomed visitors to the serene southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where founders Cason and Virginia Callaway envisioned a timeless retreat into nature for families.
Callaway Gardens has much to offer. You could easily stay here to explore the area while also enjoying all that Callaway has to offer. There are seasonal events you should experience, such as Pumpkins at Callaway and Fantasy in Lights. Activities include: bike trails with bike rental available, fishing, paddleboats, a golf course, Treetop Adventure Ziplines, Butterfly center, Birds of Prey, the Gardens, a Pioneer log cabin, and a beach, plus more.
Callaway offers lodging at their cottages, the Lodge, or the Villas. We have stayed at the Lodge. I do recommend it, our stay was wonderful.
You can also tour the Callaway family home, Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange. See more information below.
Downtown Pine Mountain
Downtown Pine Mountain: Established around 1879, Pine Mountain is a quaint, charming downtown where southern hospitality abounds. Browse antique shops, boutiques, and specialty stores. Take a break and dine at any of the local favorite restaurants. Visit the Chipley History Center to learn the history of Pine Mountain.
Dino Village: Located in downtown Pine Mountain is this super cool place for the littles to have a blast. A light and sound adventure with over 30 dinosaur exhibits. two large fossil digs, a gift shop, and Trike or bike rides. They also do a light show after dark.
LaGrange
Planning to explore the area? LaGrange makes a perfect home base, offering plenty of charming and comfortable places to stay as well as things to see and do. LaGrange and Pine Mountain are about 18 miles apart, making it easy to visit as much as possible in the area.
Great Wolf Lodge
- Great Wolf Lodge: GWL is a great place for families with kids because they have a spectacular indoor water park, climate-controlled year-round. If an indoor water park isn’t enough, you can enjoy the mini golf, arcade, ropes course, or MagiQuest. There is also an arcade, a few dining choices, and shopping. Check out the themed suits, too!
Biblical History Center Living Museum
- Biblical History Center: The Biblical History Center is a living museum that allows people to encounter the ancient biblical world through its history and culture. Through authentic archaeological replicas, Biblical meal presentations, daily life artifacts in the Biblical Life Artifacts Gallery, lectures, and other personal experiences, ancient Middle Eastern life comes alive.
Hills and Dales Estate
- Hills and Dales Estate: The Callaway family home. The home is about 13,000 square feet. The gardens include their notable signature plant, which is the dwarf English boxwood. The dwarf English boxwood encompasses about 2 1/2 acres. There are a myriad of other gorgeous species in the garden, including 33 different maidenhair ferns, Southern Magnolia, calla lilies, 23 different species of Camellia japonica, magnolia, and Tea Olive, to name a few. You can tour the house and garden, or only the garden if you like.
West Point Lake
- West Point Lake: West Point Lake is a man-made reservoir with approximately 525 miles of shoreline. The lake is a popular place to fish for bass, catfish, crappie, and bream. There are two commercial marinas, beach areas, boat launch ramps with courtesy docks, fishing piers, and nature trails. There are also day use parks with picnic areas and campgrounds.
Sweetland Amphitheatre
- Sweetland Amphitheatre: The 2,500 seat amphitheatre is located where the former City Park was built back in 1935. A lush 40,000 square foot greenspace has decorative lighting, power, and water to accommodate festivals, fairs, and other events. Check their website for concerts and events during your stay in the area.
Wild Animal Safari
- Wild Animal Safari: This is a must-do! We have been here several times and would go again. I recommend renting their van for the drive-thru Safari. Wild animals are rather large and could possibly dent your car as they reach their faces to your window for goodies. Check their site for ticket prices and hours.
Day Trip Idea 1: The History Tour
Begin your day by visiting Hills and Dales Estate, allowing yourself about 2 hours for the tour.
Then take a lunch break in downtown LaGrange. We enjoy having a hot dog at our local favorite, Charlie Joseph’s, downtown. There are plenty of other restaurants to choose from in the downtown area.
After you eat, take a walk around Lafayette Square downtown. Strike a pose and share the vibe on Instagram in front of the magnificent fountain. Pop into a couple of the boutique shops downtown. Take the kids to the big playground in the park on Bull Street.
After you enjoy lunch and explore historic downtown LaGrange, continue your adventure at The Biblical History Center. Plan for a 2–3 hour tour and make it a memorable day trip for the whole family.
Day Trip Idea 2: Outdoor Adventure
Begin your day at FDR State Park. Take a hike. The Dowdell’s Knob Loop will take you to the highest point where the life-size statue of FDR stands.
If you would like to pack a picnic, there are nice picnic shelters at FDR State Park. You can also rent a paddle boat, go fishing, or participate in many other outdoor activities. Since this is a Day Trip, you will need to narrow down how many activities you can do in a day.
Do some Geocaching in the park. You can also do some bird watching on your hike.
After visiting FDR State Park, give yourself a real treat by visiting the Wild Animal Safari in LaGrange. I recommend renting their vehicle for the drive-thru wild animal part of the park.
Weekend Trip Idea
Day 1
Begin your weekend trip by checking into any of the accommodations at Callaway Gardens. Go ahead and start having fun by visiting places on your to-do list for Callaway Gardens. Biking is especially fun in the Spring and Fall. I recommend visiting the Butterfly Center for sure.
If you have kids, check into The Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange and start having fun immediately at the water park.
Day 2
Have a good breakfast because this will be a full day. Spend the first half of your day at Callaway Gardens. Have lunch at Callaway before heading out to the next adventure.
Drive over to Wild Animal Safari after lunch. Be prepared to take lots of pictures. The drive-thru park and the zoo visit will take several hours. It depends on how fast the traffic moves through the drive-thru area.
If there is a concert taking place during your visit, spend your evening at Sweetland Amphitheatre. Check their site, linked above, for their calendar. Have your evening meal in LaGrange.
Day 3
After breakfast and check-out time, make the 20-minute drive from Callaway Gardens to the Little White House for a tour. If you’re staying at The Great Wolf Lodge, it will be about a 27 mile drive to the Little White House.
Head home with a happy heart, tired feet, and unforgettable memories. Don’t forget to share your adventure on Instagram! #callawaygardens #pinemountainga
The southeastern United States has a lot of rich history and adventure to explore.
