Atlanta folks - weekend trips nearby| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

OHSCrifle New Reader
10/29/12 6:37 p.m.

Seems to be lots of Atlantans round here...

What's a good weekend trip within a couple hours drive from Atlanta? I have a wife and elementary and middle school kids. Outdoor stuff is good. Pretty much anything's good, honestly.

Looking for ideas.

noodle New Reader
10/29/12 7:36 p.m.

Ashville, N.C. Leave the kids at home, stay downtown, walk around and enjoy the hippy wildlife and enjoy an adult beverage.\

Chattanooga. Plenty of things for everyone,,,,,

Barber Motorsports Park....Need I say more?

Pensacola......

friedgreencorrado PowerDork
10/29/12 7:43 p.m.

Couple of hours? Hit the mountains. Helen is a Faux-German Alpine tourist trap, but with some great local scenery. Make sure you hit Anna Ruby Falls (twin falls).

http://www.helenga.org/

On your way, you can hit Dahlonega, home of the first "gold rush" in the US (1828). It has also recently become the hub of Georgia's wine country (no, seriously! ).

http://dahlonega.org/

Nice roads up there, as well.

friedgreencorrado PowerDork
10/29/12 7:44 p.m.

noodle wrote: Ashville, N.C. Leave the kids at home, stay downtown, walk around and enjoy the hippy wildlife and enjoy an adult beverage.\ Chattanooga. Plenty of things for everyone,,,,, Barber Motorsports Park....Need I say more? Pensacola......

Pensacola rocks, but it's about 6hrs. (My mom lives in Ft. Walton Beach)

nderwater UberDork
10/29/12 7:47 p.m.

Some good recommendations so far... We've not been to Asheville yet, but the Biltmore is on our list to visit next year. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is worth the drive, even if there's not a race to see that day.

There are lots of lakes, hiking/biking and mountain driving north of the city.

poopshovel UltimaDork
10/29/12 7:53 p.m.

We own a business in Blue Ridge. Nice old-timey Mayberry-esque downtown. Hiking on the Benton-Mackaye (A/T) and Cohutta Wilderness is awesome. Amicalola falls is also nice, and easy for the kids. Tons of cabins for rent. A lot less goofy than Helen or Gatlinburg.

SVreX MegaDork
10/29/12 8:08 p.m.

Rock City & Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga. Have lunch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Chattanooga Aquarium.

Go a little past Dahlonega for a great driving road (Highway 60)

River rafting on the Ocoee.

Brasstown Bald.

Warm Springs and FDR's Little White House.

Lumpkin GA (historic village)

Providence Canyon (Lumpkin)

Plains, GA (3 hrs south- home of Jimmy Carter)

Americus, GA (3 hrs south- see Habitat for Humanity's Global Village, the Windsor Hotel, and a show at the Rylander Theater (old vaudeville house)) Great historic architechture too.

Center for Puppetry Arts

Atlanta Aquarium

Fernbank Museum

Warner Robins Air Force Museum

Civil Rights Museum, Birmingham

US Rocket and Space Museum, Huntsville

GA National Fair, Perry, GA

Andersonville Civil War Museum (2.5 hrs)

Lake Lanier

We home school- I could keep going, but that should get you started. All are good family friendly educational weekend trips mostly outdoors.

Anti-stance SuperDork
10/29/12 8:20 p.m.

I've gotta find out the name, but a friend of mine from New Orleans is completely jealous that I am so close to some white water spot up in Tennessee. I think it starts with a "N", can't remember the name though.

clownkiller Reader
10/29/12 8:26 p.m.

http://www.noc.com/whitewater-rafting/nantahala-river/

Anti-stance SuperDork
10/29/12 8:28 p.m.

clownkiller wrote: http://www.noc.com/whitewater-rafting/nantahala-river/

BAAAMM!!! That's it!

Nice!

SVreX MegaDork
10/29/12 8:47 p.m.

I like the Ocoee better than the Nantahala for family white water.

If you are gonna do FL, I'd choose Destin over Pensacola with the family.

SVreX MegaDork
10/29/12 9:00 p.m.

Forgot the Legoland Discovery Center in Atlanta

DoctorBlade SuperDork
10/29/12 9:02 p.m.

There's always Stone Mountain, they did have a great lazer show there once.

ScottyB New Reader
10/29/12 10:34 p.m.

going in the opposite direction, Callaway Gardens south of LaGrange can be a good relaxing time. bike paths, fishing, swimming, golf, and they do some pretty cool nature shows (free-flying hawks and owls).

for my money though, i used to love to head north. Asheville is a great ride and worth it to see Biltmore, and we enjoyed staying at the Unicoi Lodge if you do head through Helen (awesome whole fried trout). 129 or 60 up to Blairsville to see Brasstown Bald is a fun drive. Elijay has some nice orchards for apple picking but that's already passed unfortunately.

OHSCrifle New Reader
10/30/12 12:07 p.m.

thanks everybody!

don't tell my wife where I got all these ideas