ThomasvilleUnited States of America

Thomasville is a city of wide avenues and brick-paved streets framed by graceful buildings, galleries, museums and shops. It’s called the City of Roses, for the colorful flowers blossoming throughout its parks each spring. The city grew in popularity during the Victorian period, when affluent residents from northern states visited for the pleasant climate. See the architectural grandeur the Victorians created on display today.

Downtown Thomasville presents a great snapshot of the city’s treasures. Stroll along Jackson Street and Broad Street to find dozens of boutiques, handicraft stores, cafés and restaurants. Pick up brochures and maps at the Thomasville Visitor Center. A major landmark is Thomasville’s Historic Big Oak, a tree dating back to about 1680.

Travel to the late 19th century at Lapham-Patterson House, a house-museum built by a survivor of the Great Chicago Fire and filled with eccentric features. Nearby, the Thomas County Museum of History promotes the history of Thomas County via photography exhibitions and guided tours of relocated heritage homes. Learn about the battles and accomplishments of regional African-Americans at Jack Hadley Black History Museum. The Thomasville Center for the Arts provides a platform for local artists to showcase their work.

Enjoy boating, fishing, picnics and other recreational activities at Cherokee Lake Park. Next to the park is the Thomasville Rose Garden, acclaimed for its displays of abundant rose species. In April, the city celebrates the annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival.

Southern Georgia’s fertile countryside is scattered with plantations. One of the most famous is Pebble Hill Plantation. Take guided and self-guided tours of the gardens, grounds and mansion. Built in the 1800s and reconstructed in the early 1900s, it operated as a working farm, a plantation employing slave labor and a hunting estate before becoming a museum.

Drive to Thomasville from Athens or Atlanta in about 3 hours. Alternatively, fly to Albany International Airport and rent a car. Valdosta, home of the Wild Adventures Theme Park, is a good destination for a daytrip from Thomasville.