The Best Sports Sites in Georgia

"The Peach State," which along with its touted fruit brought Coca-Cola and Chick-fil-A to the world, has also contributed significantly to the sports world in that it has provided the scenery for many historic events.

The state of Georgia has a lot to offer sports fans with its four major professional teams, as well as a rich tradition of collegiate and high school sports that have garnered national attention.

Georgia is a great sports state that has seen the likes of Hank Aaron, Dominique Wilkins, and Herschel Walker and has been the host of events such as the World Series, the Super Bowl and the Olympics.

With no further ado, here are the locations that could very well be on any sports fan's bucket list, but are a must-visit for all Georgia sports fans.

Augusta National Golf Club—Augusta, GA

Home to the Masters Golf Tournament each season, the Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most anticipated events not only on the PGA Tour, but also in the entire sports year.

The great tradition of awarding the green jacket to the Masters champion, combined with Georgia's beautiful spring weather and the blooming azaleas, make the Masters one of the nation's top-notch sporting events.

Turner Field/Atlanta Fulton County Stadium—Atlanta, GA

Home to the MLB All-Star Game during the 2000 season, Turner Field has served as the home of the Atlanta Braves since 1997.

Often referred to at "the Ted" in reference to the venue's namesake, former team owner Ted Turner, Atlanta's baseball stadium has fielded nine division-winning Braves teams, including the 1999 National League Champions.

However, the most fascinating landmark is the parking lot across the street where Atlanta Fulton County Stadium once stood.

Although it now serves as a parking lot, a special section of the wall from the former stadium, as well as a mock baseball diamond, commemorate Braves legend Hank Aaron's then record-setting 715th home run.

Georgia Dome—Atlanta, GA

Arguably one of the nation's finest venues, the Georgia Dome has not only been the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, but it has also hosted many other prominent sporting events.

Among the events hosted at the Georgia Dome are two Super Bowls, the Final Four from both men's and women's college basketball, the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly the Peach Bowl), and several events from the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The Georgia Dome also houses numerous championship games in football and basketball both on the collegiate and high school level.

In addition, the Georgia Dome holds the distinction of being the largest domed structure in North America with a diameter of 256 meters.

Sanford Stadium—Athens, GA

Whenever teams play "Between the Hedges," they are immediately at a disadvantage, facing a raucous crowd and an intimidating mascot in Uga VII.

Sanford Stadium holds 92,746 fans and always puts Georgia's opponents at a disadvantage, helping the Bulldogs become a perennial power in the SEC.

Former Bulldog and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Fran Tarkenton may have summed up the aura of Sanford Stadium best when he said, "There is no place in the world precisely like the grass that grows between the hedges in Athens, Georgia."

Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field—Atlanta, GA

Also known as "The Flats," Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field has been the home stadium of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets since 1913 and the site of its games since 1905.

Although Bobby Dodd Stadium holds fewer fans than many other rival stadiums, "The Flats" give the Yellow Jackets one of the best home field advantages in the ACC.

Additionally, Bobby Dodd Stadium has been home to many historic games including a 222-0 Georgia Tech victory over Cumberland College (a.k.a. the most lopsided game in American football history) and a 7-6 Yellow Jacket victory over Joe Namath and No. 1 Alabama in 1962, ending the Crimson Tide's 26-game unbeaten streak.

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium at Cleveland Field—Valdosta, GA

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium at Cleveland Field is the home of the winningest high school football team in the United States—the Valdosta Wildcats.

With 834 wins, 23 state championships, and six national championships, the Wildcats play in the 11,249-seat Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Friday nights in the fall, continually adding to a rich winning tradition that is documented in a museum within the stadium's gates.

However, the most intriguing aspect of Cleveland Field may be the ghost that haunts the east end zone and has helped many key plays go Valdosta's way.

Bazemore-Hyder Stadium is also the home to Division II football powerhouse Valdosta State University.

Centennial Olympic Park—Atlanta, GA

When the 1996 Summer Olympics came to Atlanta, Georgia, the whole world had its eyes on "the Peach State."

Centennial Olympic Park, constructed as a center for Olympic spectators and visitors, serves as one of the major landmarks left by the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta.

The park features the Fountain of Rings, as well as a large-scale Olympic torch monument and many surrounding venues including the World of Coke museum and the Georgia Aquarium.