Georgia factories to visit and tour

Georgia has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in Georgia and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Georgia

Chick-fil-A® - Chicken restaurant chain
5200 Buffington Road, Atlanta, GA 30349. Email: chick-fil-abackstagetour@chick-fil-a.com. Map: Click here for direction to the Chick-fil-A campus. Open: tours are offered Monday - Friday and booked on their website. In 2023, the tours are $10 and $20 per person, depending upon the tour you choose. The Chick-fil-A® Backstage Tour is a walking, guided cultural tour. The central focus is S. Truett Cathy, Founder of Chick-fil-A®. Throughout the tour, you will get to experience our most valued company assets: our hospitable people, and our unique story.
The regular tours include the history of Chick-fil-A founder, S. Truett Cathy, and the core value of the company. Visit the History Museum, Car Museum and Truett’s Office
The deluxe tour includes the History Museum, Car Museum, Truett’s Office and take a quick shuttle ride to see new product development in "The Kitchen" and visit the Nest, the training center.
Both tours include 1 to 2 miles of walking, so they suggest you wear comfortable shoes, as well as business casual.
They also have VIRTUAL tours, hosted live by our tour guides. There is no cost for Virtual tours.
Georgia Dept of Transportation Lab - Road construction lab tour
Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Materials and Testing, 15 Kennedy Drive, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. Phone: (404) 608-4788. Open: Call to arrange a tour; Tour should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Confirmation of the tour date and time should be made with the tour coordinator the day before the tour. Punctual arrival is requested. Fee: All tours are provided free of charge. General age requirement: 10 years old and up. Group size: 10-50; groups larger than 20 will be divided into two groups. Tour duration: 2 hours, including 30-minute orientation. Tours of OMAT consist of a brief orientation to GDOT and OMAT, followed by visits to several testing units within OMAT. Visitors are asked to remain together at all times. Also, it is requested that quiet be maintained throughout the course of the tour. Questions are welcomed in each of the units visited during the tour consist of a brief orientation to GDOT and OMAT, followed by visits to several testing units within OMAT. Directions: From I-75, take Exit 237 (Forest Parkway/State Farmer's Market) and proceed east. Turn right at first light (Frontage Road). Proceed 0.6 mile to Kennedy Drive and turn left. The Office of Materials and Research is the last building on the left.
Kia Georgia - automobile factory
7777 Kia Parkway, West Point, Georgia 31833. Phone: 706-902-7771. Email: tours@kiageorgia.com. Open: Plant Tour; Please see this Kia Tours link to book your visit. Join us for a comprehensive look inside one of the most state-of-the-art, advanced automotive manufacturing facilities in the world nestled in West Point, Georgia!
Itinerary
Morning Tours: 8:45 to 10:30 am, including Introduction video/ presentation, Vehicles/ lobby/ restroom, Site Tour, Guests returned to Visitor's Center and departure
Afternoon Tours: 1:15 to 3 pm.
Visitor Guidelines
1. Children under 6 are not permitted; ages 6-10 are permitted only when accompanied by an adult;
2. Groups 5th-8th grade must be accompanied by 1 adult chaperone to every 8 children; 9th-12th grades require 1 adult chaperone to 18 children;
3. Please ensure all guests wear long pants and enclosed shoes;
4. Tobacco products are prohibited at Kia Georgia unless in designated smoking areas (when available);
5. Firearms are strictly prohibited on site at Kia Georgia;
6. Photography is prohibited inside Kia Georgia’s plant;
7. All tours are subject to cancellation with little or no notice due to changes in Kia Georgia’s production schedule;
8. Please take note of weather conditions on the day of the tour. While we do anticipate this tour being conducted on multi passenger trams and most of it will be inside, there will be a portion that is outside and you may want to dress with that in mind (rain coat, etc.).
Lane Southern Orchards - peach packing tour demonstration
50 Lane Road, Fort Valley, GA 31030. Phone: 478-825-3362. Alternate phone: 800-27PEACH. Email: wendybarton@southernorchards.com. Open: daily from 9 am to 5 pm; Memorial Day through September, daily from 9 am to 7 pm;. Directions: click here for a map. Southern hospitality will greet you at Lane Southern Orchards, where Georgia's most famous product is being harvested and processed only 5 short minutes from I-75. Directions: From I-75, take Exit 142 Georgia Hwy 96 and go west. Lane Packing Company is only 5 minutes away. Formerly called Lane Packing Company. Lane Southern Orchards Facebook page. There also already picked (not U-pick) crops, like peaches, and pecans. We grow over 10,000 acres of peaches and pecans! Our Roadside Market has fresh produce, gourmet items, craft beers and wine! While you're here, enjoy lunch at our Peachtree Cafe. Lane Southern Orchards is dedicated to planting, growing and harvesting the best-tasting peaches and pecans in Georgia. Around here, that's something to be proud of. To keep things friendly, we give each crop the same amount of special attention. The farm has grown over the years to include 5,000 acres of peaches, 5,000 acres of pecans and 5 acres of strawberries.
Museum of Aviation - museum with actual planes
1942 Heritage Blvd, Robins AFB, GA 31098. Phone: (478) 926-6870. Email: information@museumofaviation.org . Open: Mon to Sat Hours 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, Sunday Hours 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. The Museum of Aviation is situated on 51 acres next to Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. The facility includes four climate controlled exhibit buildings which house some of the 85 historic U.S. Air Force aircraft, missiles, cockpits and award-winning exhibits. The Museum of Aviation is home to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, STARBASE Robins and partners with the Georgia World War II Heritage Trail.
FREE Admission, FREE Parking. The Museum has its own gate and is open and available to the public during regular visitor hours. For information regarding Guided and Self Guided Tours, Scavenger Hunts, and History Programs
Nora Mill Granary Grist Mill & Country Store - operational gristmill demonstrations
7107 South Main Street, Helen, GA 30545. Phone: 800-927-2375. Phone: 706-878-2375. Open: Mon-Fri 10:00AM - 4:00PM, Sat-Sun 10:00AM - 5:00PM. Call to find when they have tours or demonstrations, there is no longer anything about it on their website. Nora Mill Granary was established in 1876,is next tothe Chattahoochee River in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains. They still use the original 1,500-pound French Burr Mill Stones powered by the Chattahoochee River to grind and produce corn and wheat-based products such as stone ground grits, cornmeal, pancake & waffle mixes, flours, biscuit & bread mixes, pioneer's porridge, etc. They also have an old-fashioned country store and gift shop, "Nora Mill General Store”. The General Store is stocked with thousands of old fashioned items such as candy, jams & jellies, cast iron & speckle ware, honey, and various kitchen items. They have a kitchen in the mill to cook and serve samples of their mill & store products. You can purchase their products at their mill and/or on-line from their site.
Porsche Experience Center, Atlanta - car dealership
One Porsche Drive, Atlanta, GA 30354. Phone: (888) 204-7474. Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. Porsche Cars North America opened its headquarters in Atlanta in 2016, featuring the exciting $100 million Porsche Experience Center. At the center, you can select the Porsche model of your choice and then spend 90 minutes behind the wheel with a drive coach at your side. Hone your driving skills on test track modules and off-road courses that are purpose built to demonstrate the power, responsiveness and safety at the core of Porsche engineering.
Rock House Creamery - farm and dairy tour
2471 Broughton Rd, Newborn, GA 30056. Phone: 678-729-1459. Email: wholesale@rockhousefamilyfarm.com. Open: see their page. Map: East of Atlanta, south of Athens. They say, "Meet our beautiful dairy cows, learn about the cream line milk process from cow to bottle and sample Rock House Creamery’s delicious cheese curds and milk. Following the dairy fun, you’ll visit the extensive vegetable gardens of The Garden at Broughton, adjacent to the creamery, where you’ll get a hands-on, up-close experience with all aspects of the garden, and possibly even help harvest a vegetable or two!" In 2023, Tickets are $12 for a single ticket, or $40 for a four pack. Suitable for all ages, but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Not all areas of Rock House Creamery and Garden are wheelchair accessible, but we do have handicap accessible restrooms.
SELECT A TOUR DATE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS!
DON'T SEE A DATE THAT WORKS FOR YOU? NO WORRIES! IF YOU'D LIKE A PRIVATE TOUR, PLEASE CONTACT US!
WE REQUIRE A TWO-WEEK NOTICE ON ALL PRIVATE TOURS.
Water Treatment and Waste Water Treatment Plants - water treatment facilities
Many locations, Most towns and cities in, GA. Most water treatment plants and waster treatment facilities have tours that show you how they purify and treat water, how domestic waste, stormwater and sewage are treated, and how they conserve water resources. Here are some of the major facilities around Atlanta (but simple Google your local city name and "water treatment tour". .
Atlanta Clean Water,
Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority.
Fulton County
World of Coca-Cola - Museum,, free samples
121 Baker Street NW, Atlanta GA 30313. Phone: (404) 676-5151. Open: Sunday to Thursday : 10:00am - 5:00pm, Friday : 9:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday : 9:00am - 6:00pm.
It's an interesting self-guided tour. Certainly, it is HEAVY on the promotion of Coke products, so it is one giant advertisement, but given the long history of the company and the many historical artifacts present, it is also interesting.
Experience the history of the world's most famous soft drink at the dynamic, multimedia home of the 125-year-old secret formula for Coca-Cola. As one of Georgia's most iconic brands, Coca-Cola offers guests a behind the drink tour to get your taste buds tap dancing through the entire experience. Get closer than ever before to the vault containing the secret recipe, and see the fully functioning bottling line that produces a commemorative glass bottle of Coca-Cola for every guest. View more than 1,200 never-before-displayed artifacts, take a trip around the world in a thrilling 4-D movie experience and tempt your taste buds with more than 60 beverages from around the globe. Inside, you'll discover there is a secret formula for everything we do! 2023 Rates: Adults: $17.00 Seniors (65+): $15.00 Youth (3-12): $13.00 Toddler (0-2): $Free with Adult.
Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate - Chocolatier, Chocolate Factory Tour, Chocolate Tastings
448 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, Bldg 5, Atlanta, GA 30312. Phone: (404) 333-8562. Map. They walk you through their chocolate making process from bean-to-bar inside our factory. Then in the tasting room for a guided tasting of single origin dark chocolates made from ethically sourced cacao from around the world. Each tour and tasting is approximately 1 hour. In 2023, cost is $30 per person. Note: due to the factory setting of this event, they cannot admit children under 7 years of age. They also request that you arrive prepared to put your hair in a hair net during the factory tour portion of the event.

Georgia Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Andersonville - Civil war prison camp
Andersonville, GA.
Nearly 13,000 men died on these grounds, a site that became infamous even before the Civil War ended. Their burial grounds became Andersonville National Cemetery, where veterans continue to be buried today. This place, where tens of thousands suffered captivity so others could be free, is also home to the National Prisoner of War Museum and serves as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.
Fort Frederica - British fort
St. Simons Island, GA.
Georgia's fate was decided in 1742 when Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island. Fort Frederica's troops defeated the Spanish, ensuring Georgia's future as a British colony. Today, the archeological remnants of Frederica are protected by the National Park Service.
Fort Pulaski - Civil war faot
Savannah, GA
For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority to these forts. The Union army used rifled cannon and compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention.
Ocmulgee Mounds - Prehistoric native American site
Macon, GA
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American Indians first came here during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and people constructed mounds for their elite, which remain here today.
Sope Creek Paper Mill Ruins - This is a hiking area and ruins 19th century stone paper mill that was destroyed during the Civil War
Paper Mill Rd SE, Marietta, GA 30067. Phone: (678) 538-1200. (Park phone). Map. The 182 acre park is located at the intersection of Paper Mill Road and Sope Creek in Cobb County, Georgia. These ruins are the remnants of a larger manufacturing complex which drew on the waterpower that the creek produced. See this page for a Google map.
The GPS coordinates are: 33°56′26″N 84°26′16″W / 33.94056°N 84.43778°W.
Vickery Creek Trail - ruins of a water-powered mill that produced cloth until the 1970's
Vickery Creek Park Trail, Roswell, GA 30075. Map. There is a covered pedestrian bridge, a large water fall, and miles of hiking trails. It's very popular for wedding photos.

Georgia State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement.

See this page for a map of all of the Georgia parks and historic site locations

Camping in Georgia

If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.

Georgia's state parks have a campsite for you. Forty-one parks offer more than 2,700 campsites, including tent-only areas, RV pull-thru sites, primitive camping and group camping areas. Rates average around $30–$35 per night. Most state parks have laundry facilities and sell camping supplies. If you've never camped before, don’t let that stop you. Several parks offer "glamping" yurts (a cross between a tent and a cabin).

Tent, Trailer and RV Campsites

These developed sites offer electrical and water hookups, grills or fire rings, and picnic tables. Some are specially designed just for tents, while others have curved pull-thrus for large RVs. Modern comfort stations with hot showers, flush toilets and electrical outlets are conveniently located. All campgrounds have dump stations, and several offer cable TV hookups.

Camping Hookups At Parks

Sewer Hookups

Cable Hookups

There are both state parks and private campgrounds in Georgia.