One of the best parts of back-to-school is the prospect of field trips. Those special days where you get out of the grid of everyday work, visit somewhere with all your friends, and get a little hands-on education. But why should kids have all the fun? Here are five field trips in Georgia, by subject, that are worthy of a visit, even if you aren't in the second grade anymore.

History
Walk along the same paths as American Indians at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon.
Walk along the same paths as American Indians at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon.
There is no shortage of history in Georgia, but the earliest known history can be seen at the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon. There is nowhere else in the country where you can walk into an authentic earth lodge with an original earth floor that is carbon dated to the year 1015. The renovation of this lodge and the construction of the visitors center is another history lesson from a much later time, the Great Depression. The Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) employed locals to build the visitors center and renovate the historic mounds.

English
Peacocks at Andalusia Farm in Milledgeville, Georgia
Peacocks at Andalusia Farm in Milledgeville, Georgia
Be inspired by the same views as Flannery O'Connor, considered one of America's greatest fiction writers. Andalusia Farm just outside Milledgeville was her home on and off from 1938 until her death in 1964. It is where she wrote all her published work and where she kept her beloved peacocks. Showcase your own literary works the third Thursday of each month April through September during Thursdalusia, an open mic night for reading, storytelling and more.

Math
Ziplines at Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia
Ziplines at Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia
Nine skywalk bridges. 19 zip lines 100 to 2,000 feet in length. Two aerial towers 25 to 100 feet high. Two courses. Those are the numbers for the zip line and aerial adventure park at Unicoi State Park in Helen. Use them all to calculate a great day soaring through the trees. We highly recommend Course 2, which goes over the river five times. You may also want to take in a few of the five hiking trails at the park, or do the 7.5-mile Mountain Bike Trail, which takes about 2.5 hours and makes a figure 8.

Religion
Grape presses at the Biblical History Center in LaGrange.
Grape presses at the Biblical History Center in LaGrange.
Why just read about religion when you can experience it at the Biblical History Center in LaGrange. Walk through the ancient city, experience the marketplace, relax under a goat haired tent. The center has guided tours, or you can do-it-yourself with a self-guided walking tour from the front desk. For an even more in-depth experience, book a Passover Meal and learn the customs of the time, as well as the tastes. For more religious-based travel in Georgia, you may want to read this blog post too.

Science
Sunset on Jekyll Island. Photo by Solitary Traveler Photography
Sunset on Jekyll Island. Photo by Solitary Traveler Photography
Couple a science lesson with a walk along the beach at Jekyll Island. The Tidelands Nature Center does educational beach walks that explore the hard-working marshes of Glynn County, as well as the effects of erosion on the beach. At the same time, get your toes wet and pick up shells. Your guide will identify them and let you know if they are safe to take home. If you are real lucky, you might see sea turtles. August is when the baby sea turtles hatch and head to the sea to start their lives. To be sure you get a glimpse of these prehistoric looking creatures, visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center located on Jekyll Island. Here, the science lesson can continue by watching vets operate on injured turtles.

Music
Rock, roll and stroll through Macon's legendary, notorious music history with Rock Candy Tours.
Rock, roll and stroll through Macon's legendary, notorious music history with Rock Candy Tours.
See the crash pads of Southern Rock legends like the Allman Brothers at The Big House. Hear the stories behind the music of greats like Otis Redding and Little Richard. It's all mixed in with a bit of Macon history. Rock Candy Tours in Macon has walking and shuttle tours that give a glimpse of why Macon is where soul lives. While you are there, eat at H&H Soul Food. In addition to delicious fluffy biscuits and crisp fried chicken, this is a mini-museum to the many Capricorn recording artists who dined here.


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