b'ALBANYAt the center of Southwest Georgia,the legendary musician that spent part of his childhood in Albany. In 1960, Albany is where you will find plentyCharles first recorded Georgia on My Mind, a song written by Hoagy of outdoor activities, arts and culture,Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. In 1979, Charles performed the iconic song shopping and dining options for allbefore the Georgia General Assembly; later, it became the states official ages. song. This Georgia town woos visitorsCome face-to-face with creatures of the deep at the Flint RiverQuarium, with historical sites like the Albanywhere the fascinating story of the Flint River and the mysterious blue-hole Civil Rights Institute (ACRI) andsprings is told. The 175,000-gallon, 22-foot-deep RiverQuarium Blue Hole Thronateeska Heritage Center. is filled with fish, reptiles, and plants native to the Flint Rivers ecosystem. Located in the restored 1906 Old Mt. Zion church, the ACRI contains oral histories, photographs, documents and artifacts, and educational exhibits to detail civil rights struggles. The institute also serves as a center for ongoing research, school programs, and public forums and lectures. The Thronateeska Heritage Center serves to preserve historic preservation and science education throughout the region. The centers campus includes separate history and EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORGscience museums, a rail car display, and a planetarium. Along the Flint River, visitors can view a life-size sculpture of Ray Charles, Georgia On My Mind: Visitors can view a life-size sculpture of Ray Charles, Georgias legendary musician.A trip to Albany is not complete without a visit to Radium Springs Gardens. Considered one of Georgias seven natural wonders, the springs pump 70,000 gallons of clear, 68-degrees water per minute from an underground cave. Stay a few days and add Chehaw Park & Zoo and the Albany Museum of Art to your list of must-see attractions.Looking for some places to eat, the locals will tell you a trip to Albany is not complete without getting a hot dog on a toasted bun from Jimmies. Considered a mainstay in the community, Jimmies has been serving their famous hot dogs since 1940. A no-frills set-up, the hot dogs come with a choice of chili, cheese, coleslaw, relish, mustard, and onionand if you can handle it, order it all the way. Gardens: A tripvisitalbanyga.comto Albany is not complete without a visit to Radium Springs Gardens, considered on of Georgias seven natural wonders.BUSINESS + CULTURE 43PHOTO BY: THE GEORGIA PHOTOGRAPHY FANATIC'