Three Georgia outdoor destinations are gaining national recognition as adventure-seekers increasingly trade beach vacations for adrenaline-pumping getaways.
🏞️ Why It Matters: The growing popularity of Tallulah Gorge, Providence Canyon, and the Okefenokee Swamp could bring significant tourism dollars to these smaller Georgia communities while highlighting the state’s surprisingly diverse natural landscapes.
🧗♀️ What’s Happening: A new survey by BetterNurse.org reveals three Georgia destinations ranked among America’s most coveted active vacation spots for 2025, with Tallulah Gorge leading at #21, followed by Providence Canyon (#67) and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (#69).
🌄 Georgia’s Adventure Trio: The survey respondents chose three dramatically different Georgia landscapes that adventure travelers are eyeing:
- Tallulah Gorge: The nearly 1,000-foot deep canyon in northeast Georgia features challenging trails, suspension bridges, and permit-only gorge floor access. The survey notes it “demands your attention—and your energy.”
- Providence Canyon: Often called “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon,” this Lumpkin attraction offers hikers a maze of colorful gullies and cliffs formed by erosion, creating what the survey describes as a “surreal landscape of orange, pink, and red clay.”
- Okefenokee Swamp: Near Folkston, this ancient wetland provides paddlers with cypress-lined canoe trails where “alligators sun themselves and sandhill cranes call from the trees,” according to the survey.
🌎 The Big Picture: While traditional vacation hotspots like Yosemite National Park (#1), Hawaii’s Haleakalā National Park (#2), and Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains (#3) topped the national list, Georgia’s strong showing demonstrates the state’s growing reputation as an adventure destination that can compete with more established outdoor meccas.
The Sources: BetterNurse.org survey.
