Why take a Peach State road trip (or more than one) this winter? Because there are so many great colder-season destinations throughout the state of Georgia, that’s why. Once you’ve made sure you have the auto insurance you need, you’ve got places to go.
We can even direct you to mountains in Georgia with snow. Yes, snow. That fluffy white stuff your Yankee cousins tell you about. (Our state averages less than an inch of snowfall annually, in case you were wondering.)
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Here are five Georgia road trips — including ones to snow places — we think you’ll love to consider taking this winter.
Holly Jolly Jekyll Island
We’re not sold on the name. But Jekyll Island, the festive all-season barrier island in the Atlantic, knows how to celebrate the season. For starters, island hosts welcome winter visitors by stringing up more than one million lights. From there, it’s all light parades, fireworks, live music, and beverages of all kinds for this late November through early January holiday scene. Go online for a schedule of seasonal events.
The Hostess City of the South Is in Savannah
It’s a no-brainer to celebrate the holidays in Savannah this winter. It is, after all, a city made for celebrations of all kinds. The all-out winter festivities in the Hostess City of the South include the Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights trolley run, waterfront shopping, live music, and food vendors. The fun lasts all season long.
License to Chill Snow Island
Cute name, huh? You don’t have to take the kids to the North Pole or even visit their cousins in the blustery Midwest to experience an authentic postcard winter. Just go as far as Margaritaville in Lanier Island, outside of Buford, Georgia, in the northern part of the state. You’ll find the North Pole to be imported here for your family’s pleasure. Festivities take the form of Blizzard Mountain Snow Tubing, Frosty’s Ice Rink for skating, a winter carnival with a carousel, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, and other amusement park rides, and much more.
Brasstown Bald
Even in a state famous for its mild winter climate, you can experience traditional winter elements if you climb to a high enough altitude. Hike or drive up to Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald Mountain, in the Blue Ridge Mountain chain, and you’re likely to find snow during winter months. Brasstown Bald gets some 30 to 40 inches of the fluff annually. That’s a lot for Georgia. If on foot, the trek up to the Visitors Center at the summit takes about an hour. If your kids have never seen snow, bundle ’em up, bring their boots, and make Brasstown Bald your next winter road trip.
Brasstown Bald is only one of many north Georgia destinations where you might find snow. You can also introduce the kids to the white powder by heading to Sky Valley, Rabun Gap, Clayton, and other locales not far from Atlanta. According to the experts, Mountain City in Rabun County is the snowiest destination in the state. However, snow is not guaranteed. Catch the weather reports before heading out with a carload of eager kids.
St. Simon Island
Eager to leave all of this snow, ice, and winter nonsense behind? An old-fashioned winter ain’t for everyone, after all. St. Simon Island, in the Golden Isles, doesn’t even pretend to offer an old-fashioned, postcard Christmas. That’s not the point here on the coast, where winter temperatures average in the sixties.
You might not spend a lot of time frolicking in the Atlantic waters during the winter months on the island (or maybe you will). But you’re likely to be wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts as you stroll the beach, ride bikes, and take part in other decidedly summerish activities. As we said, a traditional winter’s not for everyone.
Before Road-Tripping Out, Review Your Auto Insurance
Take out your policy and give it a quick read before heading out on that first winter road trip in Georgia. Does it contain roadside assistance benefits? Are you still comfortable with the deductible level? Do you have both comprehensive and collision protection? Do you even fully understand these and other insurance terms and buzzwords you’ll find in your contract and realize their importance to your road trip and bottom line?
If you have any questions, concerns, or confusion about your auto insurance and what it does and doesn’t cover, contact your insurance agent and ask questions until you’re satisfied. If you’d like to consider an upgrade or you think you’re paying too much for your coverage, check in with an independent insurance agent.
Independent agents don’t work for just one insurance carrier. Instead, they’ve contracted to represent the offerings of multiple leading brands of coverage. What that means is that they can go shopping on your behalf for the best coverage at the most affordable rates.