What's better than a low cost day trip? A free one! The Georgia Department of Economic Development has published a free Georgia Travel Guide that lists 100 Free Things to Do With Your Family.
There is a self guided walking tour of the places in Covington, where well known movies like The Vampire Diaries were filmed. Covington is a quaint, picturesque town that has been the location for a variety of movies as well as the long running TV series In the Heat of The Night.
In Cleveland, Georgia Cabbage Patch Kids are drawing a new generation of visitors to Babyland General Hospital, which has been newly built and is open to the public. Free tours show visitors where Cabbage Patch Kids are "born."
Fort Valley offers a true Peach State experience: tours of the Lane Southern Orchards. "It's a peach packing plant where you can see them pack peaches and try some peach ice cream," said Georgia Department of Economic Development spokesman Kevin Langston.
Kids can watch milk and ice cream production at the Mayfield Dairies in Braselton. The dairy has free tours all year.
For quick weekend getaways, Langston said both Tybee and Jekyll Islands offer affordable family fun. "Tybee Island is a great unexplored beach but lately it's popular because Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear recently filmed the Disney movie, The Last Song on Tybee," said Langston. "You can find great deals on Tybee and right now and also Jekyll," he said.
Langston said the Okefenokee Swamp is a big draw for tourists from around the world. Visitors can kayak through the swamp and even camp out on elevated platforms.
The Georgia Vacation Guide, which is free at exploregeorgia.org, lists accommodations at hundreds of Georgia destinations and also specials.