ATTRACTIONS
There is always a lot to see and do all year long in Harris County. Springtime offers colorful vistas and beautiful flowers. Fall brings gorgeous leaf color on Pine Mountain Ridge, Winter brings a wonderful holiday light show; and year round activities such as golf, tennis, hiking, boating, fishing, horseback riding can be enjoyed all twelve months of the year.
Nearby Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park is Georgia's largest state park at 9,049 acres. There is plenty to do at the park, including year-round fishing and boating on Lake Delanor and hiking the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail. The park also has a variety of scenic spots; one popular spot is Dowdell’s Knob where FDR frequently picnicked.
In addition to the many events at Callaway Gardens during the year, the downtown area hosts both the "Taste of Pine Mountain" (February) and "Pine Mountain Spring Festival" (April).
Hamilton, the seat of Harris County, is just down the road from Pine Mountain. This quaint and picturesque town is the location of the neoclassical style courthouse built in 1908 which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visit Hamilton during the annual Harris County Cattlemen's Association PRCA Rodeo and Agricultural Fair (September), or the Ossahatchee Indian Festival and Pow Wow (October). The Wheels O'Fire Century Cycle Tour begins in Hamilton and blazes through the county in March.
SHOPPING
Pine Mountain hosts more than 20 unique shops. These shops are locally owned, and much of the merchandise is made by local craftsmen and artisans. Shoppers will not find these shops replicated in malls across America. Each one is different, with their own distinctive charm and personality.
It is also an antique lover's paradise. Discover beautiful furniture, hard to find china and silverware and delightful collections of all kinds. Come spend a day in downtown Pine Mountain and Chipley Village's unique shops and boutiques.
Waverly Hall offers shopping with small-town charm. Head to the Village Green to relax in the gazebo or walk the one-mile lighted track.
DINING
You can find unique restaurants in any of the small towns and off the highways that run through Harris County. Everything from BBQ to down-home cooking to international cuisine is available.
LODGING/ACCOMMODATIONS
Harris County's accommodations for you visit include Resorts, Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, and campgrounds. There are 140 camping sites with hot water, showers and electrical hook-ups. Rental cottages are also available. Horseback riding is offered at the Roosevelt Stables, and rides coupled with a meal and overnight trips are offered.
ART & CULTURE
There are many artists living and creating their art in Harris County, and many young artists are coming into their own through the excellent instruction in Harris County School System art classes. The local art gallery, Art Works, offers classes to children and adults and attracts a large number of exhibitors as well.
The art forms created by these artists are varied, as one might expect in a county that is known for its rapid rise in new residents over the past generation. Local artists include landscape painters, watercolorists, silversmiths, blacksmiths, jewelry makers, potters, illustrators and folk artists. Many artists work from home studios and draw inspiration from the rich culture and beauty of the area. Their work can be found in downtown Pine Mountain galleries and shops and at local shows and fairs. An annual Spring Festival in Pine Mountain features such work.
To the south in nearby Columbus, the Springer Opera House (the state opera house of Georgia) offers continuing programs of drama classes for youth and excellent dramatic presentations. The Columbus Museum is the second-largest art museum in Georgia and one of the largest in the Southeast. The Museum is known for its focus on the art and history of the Southeast and the Chattahoochee River Valley. The Columbus Symphony Orchestra (housed in the new RiverCenter for the Performing Arts) performs in the Bill Heard Theatre, which seats 2,000 and provides a state-of-the-art visual and acoustical experience.
Performances by the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and LaGrange Ballet can be enjoyed directly north of Harris County in LaGrange. Several museums are also in LaGrange, which is just a short drive away. |
