Clay Perry just posted a great article on restaurants in Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. I’ll go ahead and warn you that this post will make you hungry.
Read more
Picture of The Lady & Sons Restaurant in Savannah by Rory Finneren
|
||||||
|
Macon, Georgia is located almost in the geographic center of Georgia. Its central location to everything else in Georgia and its location on the Ocmulgee River made Macon a booming town in the 19th century. As time passed the state capital was moved from Macon to Atlanta and the city slowed in growth. It is still, however, a thriving Georgian city that is actually more “Southern” in mannerisms than Atlanta. If you are coming to Georgia to see “the real South” Macon is a must see city. There are some great sites to see in Macon and it is easy to spend a day or two touring the museums and old homes. Spring is the best time to see this beautiful city. That’s when the dogwoods and azaleas are in bloom.
Just 15 miles east of Atlanta is the town of Stone Mountain and Stone Mountain Park. Believed to have been first seen by the Spanish explorers, it has continued to draw visitors eager to view Stone Mountain, the worlds largest exposed granite mountain. On one side of the 825 foot tall mountain is a Confederate memorial carving of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. The entire carved surface of the Memorial Carving measures three acres, and the carving towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. There are a variety of seasonal laser shows projected on the mountain, so be sure to check out stonemountainpark.com for information concerning show times and dates.
There are many North Georgia cabins and lodges, each one designed to meet the various needs and desires, as well as accommodates groups or provide a weekend away for two! In Helen, there are many things to do, as well as places to stay. Located in Coweta County, just 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, is Newnan and its surrounding areas, are in one of the state’s fastest growing counties. However, the rapid growth has not taken away its hometown feel. There are many opportunities for fun– you can go shopping, enjoy great food at local eateries like Sprayberry’s Barbecue or Loco’s Deli & Pub, or you can spend a day on the greens at Summer Grove Golf Club, to name just a few of the many ways you can spend your time.
In Pine Mountain, Georgia is the legacy left by Cason and Virginia Callaway. The 13,000 acre Callaway Gardens is one of the most extensive and successful gardens in Georgia. Callaway Gardens’ acreage has lakes, woodlands and wildlife within artfully landscaped gardens that will delight even the most experienced gardener. “Come all you rounders if you want to hear “…Casey’s body lies buried in Jackson, Tennessee If you love history or perhaps have a train aficionado in your family, then perhaps you know that April 30, 1900, is day that was not easily forgotten by many in the railroad industry. After all, it is the day that Casey Jones became a hero. If you want a chance to learn more about this brave American then don’t overlook Jackson, Tennessee. This gem of Tennessee tourism is a great place to spend a day. Located between Memphis and Nashville, this Tennessee town offers two locomotive related attractions. The Casey Jones Village offers turn of the century shops, buildings and hands on history. Be sure to check out the Brooks Shaw & Son Old Country Store has more than 15,000 antiques on display. More fun and locomotion facts can be had by visiting the Casey Jones Amphitheatre, touring the Judge Milton Brown Pullman Railcar or touring the Wildlife in Wood Studio. More fun can be had playing a round of mini-golf at the course by the Country Store or shopping at the many shops in the Casey Jones Village. There is also a restaurant, a confectioners shop and an ice cream parlor to visit here. The Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum gives guests a peak into the past. You will find railroad memorabilia like the railroad passes, timetables, steam whistles and other related items. Don’t forget to check out the 1890s steam locomotive and coach cars on display! Jackson, Tennessee is just the spot to spend a day with your family. Come make some memories. Perhaps one of Tennessee’s most visited places is the mountain town of Gatlinburg. Located convenient to the Great Smokey National Park, Gatlinburg has accommodations for up to 40,000 guests, despite being a town with a population of around 3,500. And, with its quaint shops, quiet bed and breakfasts, great restaurants and ski lodges there are plenty of reasons that people come to Gatlinburg each year. Matter of fact, Gatlinburg has been called the “Honeymoon capital of the South” because so many choose to get married her than spend time her after the wedding. Once in Gatlinburg, you can choose to spend your days in a variety of fashions. There is exploring the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, taking river walks along the Little Pigeon River or wandering around shops selling mountain art, pottery and other local favorites ranging from clothing to local food items or home décor to custom jewelry. If you want to see the Smoky Mountains as the birds do, then be sure to head to the Gatlinburg Space Needle. This glass enclosed elevator, rises 342 feet to an observation deck proving you with a panoramic view of the region. The Space Needle is an especially delightful activity during the fall when the splendor of the trees is enough to make one think that God poured out His paint box and shared the colors with us. Gatlinburg is best known, however, for its skiing. You will find the Aerial Tramway-Ober Gatlinburg Ski to provide easy access to the top of Mount Harrison and the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort with its ski runs of as much as 5,000 feet and vertical drops of 600 feet. The ski resort also has a restaurant, a ski school, an alpine slide and an indoor ice skating rink. More sightseeing fun can be found on the double chair lift ride up Crockett Mountain via the Sky Lift. Gatlinburg is a beautiful town that guests have enjoyed for years. Should you have the chance to spend some time there, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity. It is sure to become a favorite. Ever wanted to see dolphins up close? If so then plan your next trip to the South Carolina coast for a Myrtle Beach dolphin watch tour. I’ve had the pleasure of swimming with dolphins before when I was in the Florida Keys and it was a rush and a spiritual experience. Of course, if you go out with a group looking for dolphins, sea turtles, and other sea life be sure to pick a company or boat that doesn’t do anything like feed the animals. This will only destroy their natural ways and only benefit you in the short term. We just got back from a few days in Surfside Beach and Myrtle Beach and updated the South Carolina Tourism site. We try to get to each state every few months to take pictures and write on-site reviews and updates. One new page added on this expedition is the Surfside Beach, SC pictures page. If you have any pictures or trip reports you would like to share from SC (or any Southeast state) please send them. |
||||||
|
Copyright © 2012 Southeast Travel Guide - All Rights Reserved |
||||||
house—The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center. The Butterfly Center has over 1,000 species of butterflies which you can see up close as they flutter by, or as they light on the many flowers or sugar water trays throughout the center. And, if you stand real still and quiet, they might even land on you!