Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Peachtree City: A Great Place to Live, A Great Place to Visit

Nancy Price
By Nancy Price, Executive Director Peachtree City CVB

1981 was a very cold winter in New Fairfield, Connecticut. Our young family was having a  difficult time adjusting to the cold temperatures and high cost of living. After back-to-back Navy tours in Florida, California, and Texas, the brisk northeastern air seemed to be especially bitter. After enduring one whole winter, we decided to pack our bags and head south. We were Atlanta bound, and everyone told us that the north side of Atlanta was where we needed to be. Later we learned that the best kept secret for housing and community was actually located on the south side. Wow! It was perfect, and the airport was such a convenient commute. Why didn’t the rest of the world know about Peachtree City? It was this amazing, safe, beautiful city with an active lifestyle and excellent schools.   

Thirty-three years later, Peachtree City is still all of that and more. I still live here, and better yet, I have grandchildren growing up here, too! Peachtree City has grown from a master planned town of about 5,000 to around 35,000. Now, there are more than 90 miles of multi-use path, prestigious recreational facilities, and some of the best public schools in the nation. In the last few years, Peachtree City has received numerous accolades: Georgia's Best Place to Raise Kids 2013, BusinessWeek, 2012; Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U. S., CNN/Money Magazine, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011; Top 10 Cities for Families, Family Circle Magazine, 2011; and Most Airport Friendly Atlanta City, KNOW Atlanta Magazine, 2010. 

My hometown has evolved into a wonderful shopping and dining destination with six hotels and two hotel/conference centers to accommodate visitors. It hosts numerous national and regional sporting events each year and is recognized as a desirable location for all types of family and social reunions. Incredibly, Peachtree City and Fayette County are emerging into a major center for film and television production with the completion of Pinewood Studios just a few miles away. 

In my roles as Executive Director of the Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau and Director of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, I have had the gratifying opportunity to be a part of Peachtree City’s growth. “The Fred” is celebrating its 20th year as a premier entertainment venue that draws thousands of visitors for its summer concert series. The CVB has a newly renovated Visitors Center with videos, displays, and all types of information for our guests. We have recently established the Peachtree Fayette Sports Alliance (PFSA) to solicit, promote, and facilitate regional and national sporting events locating to Peachtree City. Our Southern Hollywood Film Tour is drawing more and more excited visitors everyday who want to see where some of the most popular movies and TV shows are shot in our area. 

Our new Visit Peachtree City website and our presence on FaceBook, Twitter, and Pinterest lets the world know that Peachtree City has much to offer as a travel destination. I hope to see you in Peachtree City soon. I know you will love visiting Peachtree City just as much as I love living here.