Georgia Road Trip with Kids: Wings, Wonder, and War Stories (Day 9)
Welcome to Day 9 in Central & Eastern Georgia
Travel central & eastern Georgia with kids on Day 9 of our road trip! Explore the Museum of Aviation, Ocmulgee Mounds, presidential boyhood homes, and the Morris Museum of Art with hands-on learning, and faith connections.
If you’re reading along with Ethan and Oliver, today blends sky-high adventure, centuries-old earthworks, presidential boyhood homes, and art that tells the South’s stories. From the roar of an F-15 overhead to the quiet creak of floorboards under the feet of history, the day moves between big moments and small, weaving together courage, creativity, and perseverance.
Itinerary Overview
Route: Warner Robins ➡ Macon ➡ Augusta, Georgia
Total Drive Time: ~3 hours, 15 minutes
Activity Time: ~8–9 hours
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Stop 1: Museum of Aviation – Warner Robins
What to Expect
One of the largest aviation museums in the country, the Museum of Aviation houses more than 85 historic aircraft, ranging from World War II bombers to Vietnam-era helicopters and modern fighter jets. Families can explore multiple hangars, climb into a replica space capsule, and even try flight simulators. Exhibits highlight everything from the Tuskegee Airmen to the evolution of military aviation.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In
- STEM Connection: Basics of flight, aviation history, and aeronautical engineering.
- History Focus: The Tuskegee Airmen’s service and breaking racial barriers in WWII.
- Civics Link: How military service shapes leadership and community.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
- If you had a challenge coin made for you, what would it represent?
- How do challenge coins and stamps both serve as “story keepers”?
Faith Connection
Discuss how courage often comes from preparation and conviction—linking the Airmen’s perseverance to Hebrews 12:1: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Stop 2: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park – Macon
What to Expect
Ancient earth mounds rise from the Georgia landscape, some over 1,000 years old. The visitor center showcases artifacts from the Mississippian culture, including pottery, tools, and ceremonial items. Visitors can climb the Great Temple Mound for sweeping views.
NPS Stamp: Yes
Educational Tie-In
- Archaeology: How mounds were built basket by basket.
- Math & Measurement: Estimating labor and time for ancient construction.
- Cultural History: Life in Southeastern Native American societies before European contact.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
- Imagine you lived here 1,000 years ago. What would you see from the top of the mound?
Faith Connection
Talk about stewardship—how God calls us to care for creation and protect history (Genesis 2:15).
Stop 3: Meadow Garden – Augusta
Website: historicaugusta.org/meadow-garden
What to Expect
The home of George Walton, one of Georgia’s youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence. A small, simple colonial home filled with artifacts of the 1700s, Meadow Garden offers insight into the personal lives behind America’s founding.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In
- American History: Declaration of Independence signers from Georgia.
- Character Study: Courage in young leaders.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
- What does Meadow Garden teach us about humility in leadership?
Faith Connection
Link to Micah 6:8: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Stop 4: Morris Museum of Art – Augusta
What to Expect
A gallery dedicated to Southern art, with works spanning folk traditions, historical depictions, and modern expression. The museum offers a scavenger hunt for kids to keep young visitors engaged.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In
- Art Appreciation: Learning how to interpret visual storytelling.
- Cultural Identity: How art reflects the values, struggles, and joys of a region.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
- Choose one piece of art from the museum and write about what it makes you feel.
Faith Connection
Reflect on Ephesians 2:10—how we are God’s workmanship, each telling a unique story.
Stop 5: Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson – Augusta
Website: historicaugusta.org/wilson-boyhood-home
What to Expect
The childhood home of America’s 28th president, preserved with Civil War-era furnishings. Learn about Wilson’s early life, his struggles in school, and how his experiences shaped his presidency.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In
- Presidential History: Life and leadership of Woodrow Wilson.
- Civics: Peacebuilding after war—Fourteen Points and the League of Nations.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
- How can early experiences shape the way someone leads as an adult?
Faith Connection
Tie in Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
What We Learned
- Aviation history is about more than machines—it’s about the people who flew them and the courage they carried.
- Ocmulgee Mounds shows how human hands can shape the land for generations.
- Great leaders can come from the humblest homes.
- Art can capture the soul of a place in a single image.
- Even presidents start out as children with questions, dreams, and challenges.
Did We See State Symbols Today?
- Georgia State Fruit: Peach (served in dinner salad)
- Georgia State Bird: Brown Thrasher (seen near Meadow Garden)
Plan It Yourself
You can map this exact route — and customize it for your own family’s adventure — using Roadtrippers Plus. It’s our favorite trip-planning tool for finding kid-friendly stops, tracking drive times, and keeping everything in one place.
View our full trip on Roadtrippers: Ethan & Oliver Adventures Georgia’s On My Mind Road Trip Map
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Unless otherwise noted, all destinations, attractions, and resources mentioned here are places we’ve personally chosen to visit and recommend. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by these locations — including Roadtrippers. We simply use and enjoy their trip-planning tool and share it as a resource for fellow travelers.
