So, I’m really depressed because summer is starting to wind down, and I have exhausted all of my options (i.e. money) for taking another beach vacation. Primarily because I just returned from two weekends in a row of beach-luvin’ fun, and after checking our bank account, we’re definitely beach-luvin’ broke. Not to mention that I’m finding sand and tiny seashells on places in and around my body where sand and tiny seashells should nevah be found. And I’m starting to wear coconut shells for a bra.
Regardless, I was going to write my Thursday Thirteen in relation to this past weekend’s trip, but because I mainly just lounged on the beach, read, and ate an entire key lime pie almost single-handedly, I thought that I would instead pay tribute to some places in Georgia that I would like to visit this fall. You see, I’m a forward-thinkin’ gal…
When making this list, I decided to list only places that one could make as a day trip from the Atlanta-metro area. And since this blog is all about me, me, me, (did I mention me?) I listed the places that I (me!) am interested in visiting. Come to think of it, I’m going to set a goal for myself to visit each and every place on this list before the end of the year. Even if I have to go by myself! Even if I have to live off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the next three months! So there.
And here is my list…
1. Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway along the Toccoa River. This one I’m doing in October when my mom comes to visit from Florida. One of the things that she misses about living in Georgia is visiting the North Georgia mountains in the fall. Personally, I’ll take the sand dunes over mountains any day of the week.
2. Visit the Callaway Gardens resort and recreation area in Pine Mountain. This beautiful resort area was founded in 1952 to “promote and protect native azalea species.” There’s an 11-mile bike trail with bike rentals, a walking trail, a butterfly farm, various lake activities at Robin Lake Beach (the world’s largest manmade white sand beach), and many seasonal events. From September 8 through November 4, you can take part in Callaway’s Autumnfest.
3. Go on a Wild Animal Safari! This park, also located in Pine Mountain, allows you to get up close and personal with “animals from every continent except Antarctica.” You can actually drive your own car through 3 1/2 miles of paved road and feed the animals from your car window! Or for a nominal fee, you can rent a van as shown in the following picture. But then again, where’s the fun in that? Doesn’t everyone want a yakatusi poking around in their car?
4. Rejuvenate at Warm Springs and Roosevelt’s Little White House. The village of Warm Springs became well-known in the 1920s when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came here looking for treatment of his polio. It was also here that he built his small cottage, which became known as the Little White House.
5. Eat lunch at the The Whistle Stop Café in Juliette. Made famous by the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, this structure was built in 1924, but served as a general store, real estate office, and antique shop before opening as a cafe after the movie was made. That kind of makes me sad, so I’ll just pretend that Idgie and Ruth really did run this place…
6. Buy a pumpkin at Burt’s Pumpkin Farm. Located in Dawsonville, this place is a mecca for all preschools and elementary school field trips in the entire metro-Atlanta area. Maybe even the state. And on weekends in the fall, you must have the patience of a saint to fight your way through the crowds of traffic and screaming children (and parents) to pick out your pumpkin. I probably shouldn’t have included this place on my list; however, there’s some kind of crazy Georgia law that dictates you must buy your pumpkin from Burt at least once. But I’m here to tell ya, you’ll be buying your pumpkin at Publix thereafter.
7. Visit the Kangaroo Conservation Center. Since I won’t be traveling to the Australia Zoo anytime soon, I’m pretty anxious to visit this place. The conservation center is home to over 300 kangaroos, as well as a collection of birds and reptiles.
8. See Rock City at the top of Lookout Mountain. This American icon was open for business as a tourist attraction in 1932, and was made ever-popular by the three words—See Rock City—painted on the roofs of barns alongside of highways. You can see seven states from Rock City!
9. Go trout fishing. Actually, GR has been chomping at the bit to do this for years. And in doing research for this post, I found that Unicoi Outfitters in North Georgia has a guided tour that I think will make a great present for his upcoming birthday. But we’ll just keep that between you and me, mkay?
10. Pick apples at the Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge. Or eat fried apple pies. Either one will suffice.
11. Milk a cow at Cagle’s Dairy Farms. Okay, maybe not so much milking the cow part, but I sure could go for some cheese…
12. Explore the Chieftains Trail. According to this site, there are nine landmarks that represent the Indian cultures that once lived at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Cowboys and Indians in Georgia package tour includes admission to these landmarks and overnight lodging (if needed) in the Cartersville area.
13. Visit BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, birthplace of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Okay, I know that this is hokey, and I’m the biggest sucker in the world, but I just love this place. Back in the early 80s, way before the uber-hip American Girl, we had the cute and cuddly Cabbage Patch Kids. Every time I visit the “hospital,” I have to talk myself out of throwing down the huge wad of cash it costs to adopt one of these kids. Did I mention that I’m certifiably insane?
Happy travels, y’all! I’ll keep you posted on my travels these locations…
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Okay I have to tell this joke based on something you said at the beginning of your post — “Did you hear about the girl who was drinking beer at the beach all day? She got sand in her Schlitz” Sorry, kind of crude, but one of my favorite oldies!
This is a great list. I’m going to have to put some of these on my “to see” list. I think a whole bunch of us should plan a “Georgia Blogging Girls” trip to the mountains this fall!
Lulu – I have been trying to find a place to pick apples for years! Count me and Phoo in on this trip! And p.s. I LOVE Babyland General Hospital! I’ll also join you in that one…maybe I’ll adopt to quell my baby fever! (Phoo would appreciate that!) Glad you’re back in town!
OK, well I will be joining you on trip #1, Mr. Dewers & I just got back from an all day trip to #2. We both will be going with you & GR on #3, cannot wait to see GR’s face whne the animals poke their heads threw the zebra bus! And then we will talk about the rest, we have looked into #7 and it is kinda pricey for a bunch of kangaroos!
I had no idea that there was an actual Whistle Stop Café that one could visit – very cool!
The Wild Animal Safari looks like a blast!
Happy Thursday.
It all looks worth seeing. I like the look of the gardens
I love Cabbage Patch Kids too. When I was younger I remember my parents could only afford to buy my sister and I one, so we shared it and changed her name from Vivienne Hortense to Loribeth a combination of the two of us.
Later on we got another. My daughter has about ten now. Some were given as gifts.
Just discovered your website, Lulu! I was born and raised in Georgia, and have lived here all my life. I currently live in Athens, and my family lives in the Dalton area. All these trips sound like great things. I’ve done some of them myself.
Hey, I’ll second Leandra’s idea. Wait, the one about a Georgia Bloggin’ Gals trip.
You are going to do all of this by the end of the year? Wow, you are ambitious! I’ll go to the Little White House with you. That would be fun!
Ah, I just love the thought of sitting in the Whistle Stop Cafe! That’d be great.
And Rock City rings a bell, because it was mentioned in a Neil Gaiman book I read a while ago (American Gods, I believe). I didn’t really like the book, but Rock City seemed like a place worth visiting. Especially since I take mountains over sand dunes any day.
Thanks for your comments over on my page. I don’t know if you noticed it when you were there, but I played around with a couple new templates today. I finally settled on one I like, and guess what? It looks almost exactly like the old one…
I love this post!! I always forget about all the neat things there are to do in Georgia…Babyland General with my mom is one of my favorite childhood memories. Im gonna have to take Ladybug there soon.
I want to go to Rock City so bad! It looks gorgeous!
What a great list! Now I wanna go to Georgia! I’ve never been and it seems I am missing out.
My list is up too if you wanna come by!
We have a wild animal safari here in Israel, but you definitely can’t leave your windows down! Forget the rhinos, it’s the ostriches who go after you! One even left a mouth print on the glass LOL.
Great TT! I had a huge post here.. but moved it to my blog, cuz it was a definite hijacking!
I’m fascinated to know there is a kangaroo conservation center in Georgia.
I think we all need to vacation in our own country a little more…there really is SO much to do and see!
I’m going to have to reread and play with all the links tomorrow when I have more time.
I wanna milk a cow…I think I do…or just tip it over..oh wait, I’ve done that.
Wow, sounds like fun! I’d like to do a lot of these things too. Good luck on getting to all of these places by the end of the year. You’re going to be busy!
Did I tell you that my youngest son is named after my Cabbage Patch kid? Indeed. I ‘legally’ changed the name of my Cabbage Patch kid because even at 10 y.o. I was a name snob and didn’t like the original.
Looks like you have a beautiful and busy Fall planned. I love this time of year!
#3 We did something like this in Florida (I think) on a family vacation and it was so much fun. Thankfully nothing ate my little sister!
#5 I
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