5 Things to Do Near Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia

Looking for peace and serenity among the well-chronicled Georgia pines, with a little bit of outdoor adventure, southern hospitality, and old-town charm thrown in for good measure? Plan a stay at Pine Mountain RV Resort and prepare to be stunned by the beauty of nature found in this western Georgia gem of a location.


Just an hour from Atlanta, 45 minutes from Columbus and only three miles from the amazing Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain RV Resort has it all when it comes to location, amenities, and cool glamping accommodations. Cabins, yurts, and brand-new glamping tents are options as well as tent and RV sites. Plus, the resort is pet-friendly so all pets, not just Georgia Bulldogs, are welcome here.

Pine Mountain RV Resort
Pine Mountain RV Resort


As for nearby attractions, we found 5 things to consider when enjoying a glamping getaway here! We don’t include Callaway Gardens, because no visit to this area should not include time spent at this magical attraction that features botanic gardens, nature trails, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, and several special annual events like “Pumpkins at Callaway,” which runs through October 30, and the holiday event “Fantasy in Lights,” which is scheduled for November 18 through January 1, 2023. Visit callawaygardens.com for more information.

Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center
Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center
  1. Little White House and Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park: FDR came to the area in 1924 looking for relief from his polio in the waters of nearby Warm Springs. He returned many times throughout the years and the home where he stayed, dubbed The Little White House, is now a National Historic Landmark (visit gastateparks.org/LittleWhiteHouse for details on visiting). When in the area, he often picnicked at Dowdell’s Knob, which is now part of Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park at 9,049 acres. The Park includes the very popular 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail, which offers views of plenty of pines and several waterfalls. The Park also has 42 miles of hiking trails, 28 miles of horseback riding trails, and swimming, birding, fishing, and geocaching opportunities, plus canoe, kayak, and aqua cycle rentals for water fun. Don’t miss the photo op with the statue of FDR which can be found at Dowdell’s Knob.
  2. World of Coca Cola: From sampling to smelling to trying your hand at creating your own version of the famed soft drink, World of Coca Cola has something for everyone. There’s the history of how local pharmacist John Pemberton first invented the drink to a detailed tour of the bottling process. Then there’s the vault where the secret recipe is kept and loads and loads of pop culture items featuring Coca Cola. Take a pic with the Coca Cola Polar Bear, view historic artifacts from the soft drink’s international promotions and purchase personalized items at the Coca Cola Store. Located in Atlanta, World of Coca Cola is open 7 days a week. Details can be found at worldofcocacola.com.
  3. College Football Hall of Fame: Since it was founded in 1951, the location of the College Football Hall of Fame has been passed around more than a game-day fumble but has called Atlanta home since 2014. Spread over 3 floors with themed galleries, the HOF is home to more than 50 interactive exhibits and includes a 47-yard football field. The Quad features the three-story Helmet Wall with helmets displayed representing 755 schools. All players inducted into the Hall of Fame are recognized with an augmented reality display with stories and video. Every Saturday during college football season, the HOF hosts their GameDay Tailgate with games, prizes, and of course, football action. For information visit cfbhall.com.
  4. Odds and Ends: Some unusual things to do the area could include a visit to (and lunch at) The Lunchbox Museum in Columbus, which features over 5,000 pieces of lunchbox memorabilia. And, since 2021, the museum houses several other collections including the Nehi Drink Museum, the Royal Crown Cola Museum, and the Tom Huston Peanuts Museum – all contained in one spot. Visit thelunchboxmuseum.com for details. Want to see Atlanta in a unique way? Take a stroll around the city and look for the tiny doors. There are 20 7-inch tiny doors created by artist Karen Anderson Singer to “reflect the spirit, architecture and other unique elements of the surrounding community” hidden around the city. To find a map of the tiny doors, visit tinydoorsatl.com.
  5. Movies and More: Are you a fan of the Marvel Universe, or perhaps the creepy gang of zombies from The Walking Dead are more your cup of tea? Have you watched Sweet Home Alabama more times than you can count? If any of this is to your liking, you may enjoy the Southern Hollywood Film Tour, a two-hour driving tour with plenty of photo ops (southernhollywoodfilmtour.com/tours) that highlights filming locations for the above-mentioned faves. Viator also offers several celeb-related tours including the Touring Dead Walking Tour or one centering on the Bravo TV hit, The Real Housewives of Atlanta (viator.com). Or, seek out famous locations on your own! Fans of The Hunger Games movie series will recognize President Snow’s mansion (really The Swan House at the Atlanta history Center) or the futuristic interior of Atlanta’s Marriott Marquis that doubled as the Tribute’s quarters in the film. If you liked the Vampire Diaries, a drive to nearby Covington (about 75 miles from the resort) might be of interest. Here you’ll find locations that served as the Mystic Falls Clock Tower (actually the historic Newton County Courthouse), both Lockwood mansions, and Gram’s House. For location details, visit screenrant.com/the-vampire-diaries-filming-locations-sets-fans-visit-explore.
Pine Mountain RV Resort Glamping Tent
Pine Mountain RV Resort Glamping Tent

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