Growing up, summers for me meant visiting the family farm in Forsyth (that’s the town just north of Macon, not the county north of Atlanta!). Fishing with my grandfather, four-wheeling with my dad, gardening with my grandma, eating wild muscadines and watching the sun go down from the porch rocking chairs… The TV only had one channel and the internet didn’t reach as far as our property, so we occupied ourselves the old-fashioned way out in the great outdoors. Surrounded by lakes, rivers and forests, there certainly was never a shortage of places to explore! Though the town is a bit more built up these days with eclectic shops and restaurants and the pandemic had fiber internet spreading like wildfire, Forsyth still very much feels like a step back in time, a place where the pace is just a bit slower and the best way to spend the day is out in nature.  

Two of my favorite places to visit near Forsyth are High Falls State Park and Indian Springs State Park. High Falls is just a 15-minute drive up I-75, and Indian Springs is just 15 minutes east of that! Both parks are steeped in history and full of natural beauty.

High Falls State Park

If you’re a fan of waterfalls, then High Falls is a must! The tumbling cascades pour over the rocky beds of the Towaliga River (pronounced tye-lag-ee by us locals) for a span of 135 feet, forming the largest waterfall south of Atlanta. You can hike the Falls View Trail, a 1.5-mile trail following alongside the falls and taking you through a rocky forest apace with the riverbanks downstream. The trail is a seamless blend of natural assets merging into wooden staircases and viewing platforms, the forest floor littered with boulders. For this reason, the trail is labeled strenuous, but the falls part of the trail starts right away—just across the street from the parking lot—and you can see quite a bit of the falls without having to go too far into the trail. Please note, while you may see people walking out on the rocks in the river, I don’t recommend following suit—the park asks that we stay off the rocks and out of the water for safety reasons.

There are two other trails in the 1,050-acre park, including an ADA-accessible trail to the remains of an early 19th-century industrial town: a powerhouse, grist mill and old bridge. There is also a 650-acre lake that allows fishing (it’s actually one of Georgia’s top fishing spots for hybrid and white bass), boating (up to 10 horsepower) and paddling (rentals available); mini golf; geocaching; playgrounds; several picnic shelters; and numerous campgrounds including yurts and a paddle-in primitive campsite if that’s more your thing! 

Indian Springs State Park

Once an important site for the Creek Indians, who used the springs’ natural mineral water for centuries to heal their sick, the 765-acre Indian Springs is one of the oldest state parks in the United States. During the 1800s, the area was a bustling resort town, and during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a stone spring house to help visitors easily sample the water—something you can still do today! (Be warned, though—the water has an awful sulfur smell and taste, like rotten eggs. *shudder*)

Within view of the spring house is Sandy Creek, a popular shallow wading basin sprinkled with boulders (and people!). The creek can get crowded in summer, so I prefer to wait until the off-season which may be a bit cooler but infinitely more peaceful. There is also a small museum at the park highlighting Indian Springs’ rich history, as well as walking and biking trails, playgrounds, campgrounds, picnic shelters, geocaching and a miniature golf course. And like High Falls, there is a 105-acre lake that allows fishing, boating and paddling!

While You’re There

Eats

• Yahola Creek Restaurant: Just before you reach Indian Springs coming from High Falls, you’ll pass one of my family’s favorite restaurants, Yahola Creek! We love the casual atmosphere.
• Grits Cafe: Casual restaurant serving comfort food, including popular shrimp and grits, plus wine, beer, and cocktails.
• Whistle Stop Cafe: Fans of the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, come from around the world to try the famous fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette!

Sip

• Fox City Brewing: After a long day of hitting the trails, a beer and a burger may be more your speed.

Explore

• Downtown Forsyth: From shopping the historic square to exploring local black history at the award-winning Wiliam Hubbard Complex, there is much to see!
• Juliette: Whether or not you’ve seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, Juliette’s charming streets of small shops are worth a visit.

All Photos Courtesy of Visit Forsyth CVB