Things to Do in Valdosta

Go from sitting under a tree with your hook in the water at Chitty Park to sipping coffee in a sidewalk cafe admiring the historic downtown architecture. Get heady on the aroma of azaleas while enjoying the ideal backdrop for relaxation. When you're ready for activity, you'll find plenty to keep your family busy during your stay.

Go Wild

Wild Adventures Theme Park combines the best of an amusement park, water park and zoo all rolled into one. Plummet from a height of five stories on Viking Voyage while the roller coaster throws in unexpected turns and dips. You might grab a glimpse of a giraffe or zebra down below as you rocket along the Cheetah roller coaster at speeds exceeding 60 mph. For a better look, take the Safari train to see elephants and other creatures from the African Savannah up close. Cool off with water rides like the Tasmanian River Rapids or bring your suit and rocket down a tube or body slide at the adjacent Splash Island Water Park.

Go Artsy

Browse through Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts' six galleries featuring both regional and national artists. The center has an extensive collection of East African artwork in a permanent display and fine porcelain from Europe. In the gift shop, you can commemorate your trip to Valdosta with a one-of-a-kind souvenir designed by a local artist. You'll find even more artistic treats for the eyes at Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery at Valdosta State University. The gallery showcases the work of university students as well as work from artists from outside the region.

Go Back In Time

Wander through two floors of local history at the Lowndes County Historical Society Museum and learn about Valdosta's growth from a small southern town to the thriving city it is today. Head out the back door for even more displays—you'll see a pioneer cabin, historic caboose, and an old belfry housing a former school bell. Browse through the outdoor gardens filled with heritage plants and specimens from the area's original ecosystem. You'll find even more historic gardens at the Crescent at Valdosta Garden Center. Set on the grounds of an 1800s mansion, you'll find formal gardens maintained by the city's eight local gardening clubs.

Go Out to Eat

Try a fresh twist on classic Southern cooking at Steel Magnolias Restaurant (132 N. Patterson St., Valdosta). Sink your teeth into a bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, shrimp and grits with Andouille sausage, or chicken and dumplings paired with sides such as honey-pecan fried okra or yellow squash casserole with basil pesto. You'll also find new twists on classic grits: Try jalapeno gouda grits with pineapple gastrique, smoked gouda grits or Gayla grits with blue cheese, walnuts and honey. For classic Southern cooking, grab an oyster po' boy or buttermilk fried shrimp at 306 North Restaurant (306 N. Patterson St., Valdosta). Both restaurants use fresh, local ingredients.

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