Take a Fall Getaway to Henry County, Georgia

Photo © Courtesy of Henry County, Georgia

Take a Fall Getaway to Henry County, Georgia

September in the south means corn mazes, pumpkin spice everything and perfect weather for enjoying the outdoors. Henry County, Georgia, located 20 miles south of Atlanta on Interstate 75, is at its peak during the fall season. Whether traveling for business, pleasure, or visiting friends and family, a trip to Henry County won’t be complete without a few key stops.

Despite its name, Atlanta Motor Speedway is not located in Atlanta. It is actually in Hampton, Georgia, a city 30 miles south of Atlanta. In addition to the two NASCAR races each year, it hosts the Spring and Fall Georgia State Fair, offers daily track tours, is home to a stunt driving school, and has a drive-through holiday lights show.

Southern Belle Farm in McDonough is an agricultural playground during the fall. Pumpkins and a corn maze are staples, but Southern Belle offers even more unique activities like pig races, a corn cannon, and you-pick flowers. Do not forget to get delicious treats like homemade ice cream or apple cider doughnuts.

While the squeals elicited by the sight of swimming pigs delight, the thrill of the whomp whomp sound of a Huey and the wind in your hair as you soar through the air on a military UH-1 Bell helicopter are indescribable. The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation in Hampton, Georgia, is a 27-year-old non-profi t dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of army aviation. Free hangar tours are available by appointment, during which a veteran walks guests through the role of each aircraft in military combat. The organization is primarily supported by its ride program, which offers public rides in its Huey or Cobra helicopters on select Saturdays throughout the year and at air shows.

For those who want a more sedate, scenic ride, Tier-1 Helicopters offers private tours. Book a sunset tour, watch the sunset over the Atlanta Skyline, and see the city’s lights twinkle as you circle various landmarks. These flights are approximately an hour long and can accommodate three people. They must be booked in advance.

Fall foliage is always a fan favorite. On a guided hike to the summit, get an up-close look at the flora and fauna that sets Panola Mountain State Park apart as a conservation park. Plan your visit around their Sunset Mountain Hike to enjoy not only phenomenal views of the changing leaves but also a stunning sunset over the Atlanta skyline. Panola Mountain is what is known as a monadnock or a granite outcropping. The ecosystem on the mountain supports life that can exist nowhere else.

It wouldn’t be a trip to the south without some delicious barbeque. Sweet Auburn offers Texas-style barbeque with an Asian twist. The brisket egg rolls and pimento cheese wontons are a must. What started in a little shack in McDonough is now a national barbecue chain. The Original Shane’s Rib Shack is still operating and dishing out huge portions of delicious barbeque and their famous peach cobbler. The new kid on the block, Carr-BQue, is quickly making a name for itself with its slow-smoked meats and homemade potato salad.

For sweet treats, Henry County has some truly hidden gems. Elf’s Cakery is a Christmas-themed bakery with cakes featured on Braxton Family Values and Real Housewives of Atlanta. Nicole Silva, a two-time Food Network Christmas Cookie Challenge champ, runs Crumbles by Nicole. They serve delicious cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, and a wide selection of Keto-friendly treats.

In Hampton, Welcome Home Creamery and Coffee boasts the third-place winner in the National Ice Cream Association’s 2022 Flavor of the Year competition with their seasonal Banana Pudding Ice Cream. While their banana pudding ice cream is nationally recognized, all their ice cream and baked goods are homemade and utterly delicious.

The milder temperatures of Fall mean the animals at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary are more active. The 250-acre sanctuary is home to close to 100 different species of animals, including lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, and more. For $5, visit this beautiful forever home to animals that came to Noah’s Ark as surrendered exotic pets, injured wildlife, or were seized from abuse, neglect, or the illegal animal trade.

While Atlanta is known for its role in Civil Rights history, much of that history has its roots in Stockbridge, Georgia. On First Street in Stockbridge’s historic district sits Floyd Chapel Baptist Church. This small church was where Martin Luther King Sr. attended services as a child. It is also where he fi rst heard civil rights leaders speak and became passionate about the cause. At 15 years old, King Sr. received his call to ministry and preached his fi rst sermon at Floyd Chapel. While the original building has been replaced with a concrete structure, the congregation and legacy of the church are still strong. Visitors can attend Sunday services or stop outside the church to take photos and read the historic marker.

Just down the street from Floyd Chapel is a different page from the civil rights story. In the late 1940s, Stockbridge residents Carrie Mae Hambrick and her husband, Hime Hambrick Sr., opened their home to people wanting a hot, homecooked meal. Carrie Mae welcomed everyone—black and white—under the condition that anyone who wanted food had to behave and treat each other respectfully. After more than 50 years of serving the citizens of this historically Black neighborhood, Carrie Mae retired and closed the Green Front Café. In 2023, entrepreneur Diane Miller and her family reopened Green Front. They still welcome anyone for lunch and dinner, serving up soul food with a taste of Jamaica.

These are just some hidden Henry County gems that even the locals might not know! If you are passing through or in town for several days, make sure to check at least a few of these places off your bucket list.

Start planning your trip at VisitHenryCountyGeorgia.com