Georgia

Currency: Georgian lari

Official language: Georgian

In 1731, Georgia was established to serve as a buffer between the Spanish territory of Florida and the booming tobacco state of South Carolina. The English king commanded General James Edward Oglethorpe to create a new colony modeled after England, but without Catholicism, slaves, or liquor. It wasn’t until the first African slaves arrived in 1750 that Georgia’s economy began to thrive.

The colony quickly divided into two distinct regions. The eastern coast lowlands prospered with huge rice, tobacco, cotton, and indigo plantations that helped create the wealthy towns of Savannah and Charlestown. The farmers who did not own slaves moved inland to the hills. They remained poor and were called ‘up country’ folk by the richer ‘low country’ folk along the shorelines.

The residents of Georgia sided with the patriots to declare war on the English. They gave General Cornwallis, the British commander, a tough time in Charlestown by building Fort Moultrie to protect the valuable harbor. In the years that followed independence, African slaves did almost all of the labor on Georgian plantations. That changed in 1793 when Georgian Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin outside of Savannah. Huge plantations gave way to small farms with fewer slaves.

Georgia was one of the first states to secede from the Union in 1861. The Civil War that resulted was fought hard in Georgia. Union General Sherman’s famous March to the Sea cut a swath of devastation across the central and eastern regions, burning Atlanta to the ground and taking Savannah soon after. The destruction and devastation was immense and can still be relived today in one of the many historical museums or monuments.

Racial tension and segregation became a normal way of life in Georgia after the Civil War. Though most of the violence of the Civil Rights Movement happened in neighboring states, Georgia was slow to accept change. It wasn’t until native Jimmy Carter became President that Georgia truly began to embrace equality. Today, Atlanta is one of the country’s most popular and successful cities for African Americans, which make up more than half the city’s population.

Southern culture runs deep in Georgia. Major events like slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement have all shaped the modern face of this state’s people. They are typically very religious and known for their good manners and hospitality.

Much of Georgia’s economy comes from forestry, and its cuisine has many local flavors such as grits, peaches, cornbread, and seafood. Georgia has always played a starring role in American pop culture as a representative of the South. From Gone with the Wind to Sherman’s March through Atlanta, there is a certain romanticism about the low country region. Georgia has also birthed some impressive musical talent over the years, including Ray Charles, the Allman Brothers, and rockers R.E.M.

In general, Georgia enjoys mild weather all year round. The average annual temperature in Atlanta is around 70°F. Summers tend to be hot and humid throughout most of the state, with daytime highs hovering in the upper 80’s (°F) and into the low 90’s (°F) from June to August. In the mountains, the temperatures are about 5 to 10°F cooler all year round. Rain falls frequently in summer and throughout the whole year in general.

Winters are pleasantly mild with temperatures ranging from 50°F to 60°F. In the mountains, it can be a bit colder with even an occasional snowfall. Spring and fall are both excellent seasons in Georgia, with temperatures sticking in the comfortable 70°F range and lots of pretty scenery.

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter Georgia generally must first obtain a Georgian visa, which is placed in the traveler's passport (a visa blank) or is issued electronically (electronic visa).

While you can tour the country by bus or rent a car from Avis or Europcar, it's a better idea to book a driver through a reliable outfitter. The mountain roads are steep, the local drivers unpredictable, and the wine plentiful. Plus, most visitors find Georgian, which has no roots in any language spoken outside of the area, impenetrable—and Russian is more commonly used as a second language than English is, especially among people over 30.

Before you leave on your holiday, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

DO

• Do purchase your parking online at a discount and print it out before you arrive.
• Do buy your ticket online; you will skip the long line and get a discount. They also give you an extra discount for entry times before 11 a.m.
• Do avoid the full parking lots and traffic by arriving when they open OR arrive an hour or so after lunch. According to an Aquarium employee, the aquarium is least busy between 3-5 p.m. However, if you leave at 5 p.m. make sure you have dinner plans downtown so you don’t have to sit in rush-hour traffic.
• Do go on a weekday. It is less busy.
• Do make sure you look at the attractions and shows ahead of time and plan your day. There is so much to do at this aquarium you don’t want to miss out on epically if you are only in town for a few days.
• Do enjoy every moment and take it all in! There is so much to do and see and they are only expanding. Enjoy yourself and your company during your visit. Crowds can be stressful, but I find it helpful and less stressful when I am prepared for it.

DON'T

• Don’t just plan on finding cheap parking when you get there.
• Don’t purchase your ticket at the gate.
• Don’t go in the middle of the day.
• Don’t go on the weekend if you can help it.
• Don’t skip the shows! They are Disney-quality performances.
• Don’t forget the camera! The shot of the shark swimming over your head is a moment that you won’t want to forget, so be ready the snap a photo.