Valdosta
Small-town Southern charm merges with a Florida vibe in this laid-back South Georgia college town.
Photographs by Rebecca S. Campbell
With towering oaks draped in Spanish moss, rustling palm trees, and mission-style architecture, the flat, sandy-soiled Southern city of Valdosta is a town where the air-conditioning is always on and residents refer to mosquitoes as “the other state bird.” Students flock to Valdosta State University for a dose of Southern small-town charm as well as a well-rounded college experience. The classes and campus are a comfortable size, big enough for variety and diversity yet small enough to have professors know you by name. For interior design major and senior Catherine Nellans, choosing VSU was easy: “I saw the campus and fell in love.” The beautiful landscaping on the university grounds is echoed throughout the city in a multitude of azalea bushes planted Johnny Appleseed–style and giving Valdosta its nickname, The Azalea City.
Where to Eat and Drink
Hildegard’s (101 East Central Avenue, 229-247-6802) is a nonprofit coffee lounge in the heart of historic downtown that offers hot beverages, tasty sandwiches, and climate-appropriate desserts (milkshakes, sundaes, and floats). One can expect bright, open space, free wireless access, perusable books, and acoustic performances by local musicians. With its exposed brick walls lined with oil paintings, dark marble-top bar, and excellent American cuisine, The Bistro Restaurant and Bar (132 North Ashley Street, 229-253-1253, bistrovaldosta.com) is the ideal place for some family bonding during parents weekend. The unique Giulio’s Greek and Italian Restaurant (105 East Ann Street, 229-333-0929, giuliosrestaurant.com) provides Mediterranean cuisine in a large house that has been successfully divided into intimate dining areas, giving you the feeling you’re a guest in the home of a host with major kitchen prowess. To see and be seen, look no further than the row of establishments in Remerton, the tiny city within the limits of greater Valdosta (remerton.georgia.gov). Try the longtime favorite pizza place Mellow Mushroom (1905 Baytree Place, 229-293-9503, mellowmushroomvaldosta.net) for a pie and a pitcher of brew. Or visit newer joints, such as Flip Flops (1923 Baytree Place, 229-242-7881), for dancing and live music.
Where to Shop
Operating under the model of a French marketplace, City Market (101 North Patterson Street, 229-219-0007) displays the wares of independent vendors, including fair-trade and organic products, clothing, home decor items, and gourmet foods; it also supports local artists by selling their original works. The Vintage Dragonfly (114 North Patterson Street, 229-244-0570, thevintagedragonfly.net) is like grandma’s attic without the mothball smell. It has antique furniture, handmade quilts, vintage clothing and jewelry, linens, baby gifts, and candles and soaps. It’s your best bet for those little comfy house (or dorm) warming gifts.
What to See and Do
Take a walk through The Crescent House (904 North Patterson Street, 229-244-6747), the historic neoclassical mansion shaded by massive mossy oaks. It gets its name from the wide colonnaded front porch, the perfect place to relax in a rocking chair. For an experience closer to nature, check out Grand Bay (on Highway 221, 229-333-0052), a wetlands area of forested swamp. The boardwalk takes you right into the marsh to see carnivorous plants, water lilies, cypress trees, and even the occasional gator. Or for the nautically adept, launch a boat or canoe at the ramp and follow marked trails through Blackgum Swamp. For the prudent student on a budget, a variety of free activities and camaraderie can always be found by taking a short stroll to the Front Lawn (1500 North Patterson Street). The expanse of green in front of West Hall is almost always dotted with students sunning, studying, tossing a Frisbee, playing a game of flag football, or walking their dogs. Invite your friends, bring a picnic, and let the people-watching begin!