Fodor's Compass GeorgiaCreated by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations. Covering everything there is to see and do as well as choice lodging and dining, these gorgeous full-color guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of the region they're visiting. Georgia -- An Insider's Guide Written and photographed by local experts Outstanding color photography, plus a wealth of archival images Topical essays and literary extracts Detailed color maps Great ideas for things to see and do Capsule reviews of hotels and restaurants Unique coverage includes: Walking tour of beautiful Savannah: shady square and historic homes, magenta azaleas and live oak draped with Spanish moss Classic barbecue and New Southern cuisine Coastal islands -- white sand, secluded resorts, tranquil evenings Middle Georgia -- small towns, courthouse squares, antebellum mansions Quirky Appalachia -- cabins, pine forests, lakeside resorts Modern Atlanta's restaurants and nightlife Georgia music -- rock bands in Athens, freedom singers in Albany, blues guitarists in Macon, the balladeers in the Appalachians And much more. Lively, insightful writing and splendid illustrations make this guide a standout. Dividing Georgia into six regions, it gives Atlanta and Savannah their due without overlooking farther reaches of the state. Leading off with a 30-page historical and cultural overview, the content moves from north to south by region, pausing to cover individual communities and attractions much as a AAA tour book would. Page design and the integration of all types of full-color visual material (maps, charts, photos, paintings, etc.) plus literary excerpts make guides in this series unique. As far as practicalities, the attractions don't list hours or admissions, and the beautiful maps don't plot or reference attractions, hotels, or restaurants. Listings for food and lodgings are selective and should please choosy travelers. This good pretrip reading is recommended for public libraries. -Megan S. Farrell, Univ. of Louisiana Lib., Lafayette Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Fodor's Compass GeorgiaCreated by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations. Covering everything there is to see and do as well as choice lodging and dining, these gorgeous full-color guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of the region they're visiting. Georgia -- An Insider's Guide Written and photographed by local experts Outstanding color photography, plus a wealth of archival images Topical essays and literary extracts Detailed color maps Great ideas for things to see and do Capsule reviews of hotels and restaurants Unique coverage includes: Walking tour of beautiful Savannah: shady square and historic homes, magenta azaleas and live oak draped with Spanish moss Classic barbecue and New Southern cuisine Coastal islands -- white sand, secluded resorts, tranquil evenings Middle Georgia -- small towns, courthouse squares, antebellum mansions Quirky Appalachia -- cabins, pine forests, lakeside resorts Modern Atlanta's restaurants and nightlife Georgia music -- rock bands in Athens, freedom singers in Albany, blues guitarists in Macon, the balladeers in the Appalachians And much more. Fodor's Compass Georgia HISTORY & CULTURE Georgia was conceived as a social experiment to lessen crowding in England's debtor prisons, realized as a military buffer between colonial Spain and England, tortured like much of the American South by more than two centuries of slavery, and finally heralded as the jewel in the crown of the Sunbelt economy. Thus Georgia's history is not easily encapsulated. Nor is the physical landscape of this, the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Whether your destination be the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, the stooped irregularity of the red clay Piedmont, the piny woods of the sandy lowlands, or the wetlands and inlets of the seashore, Georgia's landscape is as diverse as its people. Utopian Experiment Created by royal decree in 1732 and entrusted to the care of British parliamentarian James Edward Oglethorpe, the colony of Georgia was, at its outset, an experiment in utopian idealism. The poor and downtrodden (including those so down on their luck that they were indeed in debtors' prison) were recruited. And in the interest of avoiding temptation, all manner of suspicious persons were prohibited, including attorneys and Catholics. Because Georgia's founders were idealists, slavery was forbidden; because they were entrepreneurial, they embarked on silk production,