Shop at independent boutiques and galleries, enjoy Southern hospitality and visit museums celebrating agricultural traditions in this small Georgia city.
Tifton is the Friendly City, a family-friendly destination that thrives on its South Georgia charm and the individuality of its artisans. Spend your days poking around quaint shops, visiting historic buildings and touring excellent museums. Named after lumberman Henry Tift, Tifts Town developed in the late 1800s and became Tifton in 1890. It’s one of several towns that form the Georgia Grown Trail 41, an agri-tourism highway that promotes and preserves Georgia’s agricultural customs.
Set around Main Street and its connecting streets, Downtown Tifton is the city’s heart. Cute bakeries and cafés sit next to antique stores, art galleries, fashion outlets and heritage buildings. Admire architectural landmarks such as Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton County Courthouse and the former Myon Hotel. Relax in the shade at Veterans Memorial Park, which has an M60A3 tank.
See displays of train-themed art, trains and a model railway at the free Tifton Terminal Railway Museum. From June to October the museum grounds host a regional farmer’s market. Find rotating art exhibitions at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage, located inside a beautiful early 20th-century Victorian-Gothic church. Attend concerts and theatrical shows at the Tift Theatre.
A short walk north of the downtown district is Fulwood Park. Join locals basking in the sunshine and picnicking on the tree-lined lawns. Events take place here throughout the year. Among them are March’s Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, April’s Arts in Black Festival and September’s La Fiesta del Pueblo celebration of Latino/Hispanic culture.
About 2 miles (3 kilometers) northwest is Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. Here experience the lifestyles of 19th-century farmers, ride a steam train and tour the National Peanut Museum. Drive 1 hour south of Tifton to Wild Adventures Theme Park, with fairground attractions, a waterpark, roller coasters and a wildlife reserve.
Reach Tifton by flying to Atlanta and renting a car or catching a Greyhound bus. Alternatively, fly to Albany’s regional airport, a 1-hour drive west.