Georgia offers a variety of opportunities to enjoy art in traditional museum settings. But Georgia also has notable folk-art destinations that allow visitors to see art off-the-beaten path. I’ve experienced Georgia’s art scene in both ways, wandering the halls of its art museums and exploring everyday locales transformed by a folk artist’s imagination. In this post, I’ve described a few of my favorite places in both categories, along with tips for visiting.

As the second-largest city in the state, Columbus, Georgia offers experiences and amusements for any type of visitor who enters its borders. Come solo, with a travel buddy, or in a group – this eclectic town has so much to offer, you and your companions are guaranteed to find something to suit your individual sightseeing wants and needs. Enjoy the great Georgian outdoors; dive into museums filled with history and education; treat your senses to sights, cultures, and tastes that you’ve never experienced before; and simply enjoy exploring a town that’s not your own.

More than ever, I understand the desire of legendary curator and artist guru Walter Hopps, who told me 30 years ago that his taste in art was catholic—at any given moment there were more than 200 artists whose work interested him deeply. My roundup this fall is definitely catholic, brimming with shows I must see, hope to see, or wish I could see.