Georgia - ilivetotravel's travel log

Chattahoochee River Hikes: Vickery Creek Trail in Roswell

23 May 2016 by Raul Leave a Comment

Right by old town Roswell, a few miles outside of Atlanta‘s “perimeter” (an interstate highway that rings the city), is the Vickery Creek Trail. There are about 7 miles worth of trails in this pocket of nature in the middle of Roswell. A portion of the trails are near the creek (also named Big Creek) which hits the Chattahoochee River right by the entrance to the parking lot I used to hit the trailhead. This area is also part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a collection of parks along the river which crosses Atlanta from the NE to the SW (sort of!).

The trail offers moderate hiking, with some fairly flat portions and a few climbs that I would guess are not too strenuous to the average person. The trails are well marked (the blue square spray painted on trees) and well signed so one can make one’s way around pretty easily. Because of the time of the year, what seemed to me to be mountain azaleas were in bloom (pinkish flowers).
What is cool about this trail is seeing the two waterfalls created by a small and a large dam. The area around the larger waterfall is not large and one has to watch one’s step but it is a pretty spot.

There are also a covered bridge and a large span bridge further down which facilitate cross the creek to other trailheads and parking areas. Whether you are here in Atlanta to go up to the mountains or just visiting the city, this trail is one of many easy to visit and yet offering a unique hiking experience!

Filed Under: Georgia, Hiking, North Georgia, US & Canada Tagged With: Atlanta, Georgia, hiking, hiking in Georgia, nature, outdoors, Roswell, trails near Atlanta, where to hike near Atlanta

How Can You See Atlanta’s Carpet of Green? Pine Mountain!

26 April 2016 by Raul 3 Comments

Atlanta is known for its crazy traffic and challenging airport. But it is also known for the carpet of green that covers the city far and wide. A week ago (or so), I was looking for a new hike not too far from the city and new to me. Thankfully, we are not lacking for good hikes within 30 mins of the city (and if you expand that to 1.5 hrs, the possibilities are endless it seems!).

I opted to go north on I-75 to climb Pine Mountain in Cartersville. The 4.6 round-trip hike was of moderate difficulty and not heavily trafficked. When I arrived around 9:45 AM, the small parking lot of Main St. (not even a quarter mile from I-75) was pretty full.

The trail has a West Loop and an East Loop connected by a pass where the summit is found. We hiked the southern end of both loops and the returned via the northern loops. It was beautiful terrain and, with trees still not fully covered with leaves, one could see much further around which is one of the things I enjoy about hiking in colder weather.

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Trail Map

What I enjoyed about this hike, beyond its accessibility for this city dweller was that it offered a great view of the carpet of green that is the greater Atlanta metro area. In the distance I could see the faint skyline of downtown, Midtown, Buckhead and Sandy Springs with Lake Allatoona in the foreground. I have to say, this was a neat hike easily fitting in a half day. I leave you with pictures from the hike and the view though the skyline is too small for it to show well on the photos so may not even see in these photos. Beware: a lot that looks like just green forests actually hides neighborhood after neighborhood in greater Atlanta!

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The double hump mountain is Kennesaw Mountain, a famous Civil War battlefield

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Of course, the highway (I-75) is not too far away!

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Lake Allatoona

Filed Under: Georgia, Hiking, North Georgia, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: Georgia, hiking near Atlanta, hiking trails in Atlanta, nature, north Georgia mountains, outdoors, what to do near Atlanta

In-and-Out: Brunswick in Coastal Georgia

1 April 2016 by Raul 1 Comment

While many of my travels allow me to spend time in a city or country for a long enough time, sometimes that is not the case. And that is usually when I go on business trips. It has been quite common for me to travel for long periods of time with work but, especially in the case of domestic travel, trips can be quite short. That means either the ability to explore is limited to off work hours or to just one evening. In the spirit of still sharing what I see, it makes sense to do an “in-and-out” series where I can share the small windows I get to see a place with you. My hope is that it may show glimpses of places, however limited in scope. So here goes the inaugural post – and please let me know if you like the idea.

Coastal Georgia – Historical… at least for Georgia

The state of Georgia does have a coastline, on the east along the Atlantic Ocean. That coast is dotted with many islands like Jekyll, Cumberland, St. Simons, etc. South of the middle of that coastline is the town and port of Brunswick. Now, I know it may not be much to be excited about given Boston, Philly, Paris, London or Athens but in this part of the Southeast, Brunswick goes “far” back as 1738, depending on how you count. Supposedly, around that time, the British set up something in the peninsula where Brunswick sits to almost face the Spanish who were in nearby Florida (credit Oglethorpe) AND who had laid claim to lands in this area too (the boundary between modern-day Florida and Georgia not existing back then). In the end, it is funny to think about that this all would have ended up being Florida has the Brits not initially colonized the area… Brunswick as a town did not get founded until the 1850s but still, its history goes back to colonial times and that fascinates me. It was designed, though, in the late 18th century in a layout similar to Savannah with many squares (14 of them, large and small) almost mathematically laid out in a grid of streets.

Brunswick, Georgia, parks, squares, layout, map

Map of downtown and its squares and parks

One of the smallest squares

Downtown , square, Hanover, Brunswick, Georgia

One of the larger squares: Hanover Square

I wonder if Savannah won some battle against Brunswick to become the premier coastal Georgia city. Brunswick certainly is gifted in terms of its setting. Perhaps Savannah had some edge with the river and better fit for a port? But Brunswick was a very important port in the shipping of lumber abroad. England, Cuba and Brazil were among the destinations for lumber that made it out of the continental U.S. through this port. It is also incredible to learn that the largest blimp base during WW II was located in Brunswick since there was threat of German U-boats along the southeastern U.S. coast.

Approaching Brunswick – Golden Isles Airport

I had a choice to drive for 5 hours or take a short flight. Because of the short duration of the visit, a 10-hr round-trip did not make sense. Now, if the plane had been a larger plane, the flight may have been 30 minutes but it took about 50. That’s OK. On my flight in, I got some good views of the land around, with rivers or creeks and perhaps marshes. I never got to see the ocean as the approach did not require to go past Brunswick towards St. Simons and a turn back.

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Lots of tree farms near Brunswick

Downtown Brunswick

I did not have much time in the area and, because of closing hours, I could not visit places like Fort Frederica. But I decided to, at least, make the short drive from my hotel near the tiny airport to the downtown area. The town proper is quite small but it was very charming. And the time of day for visiting, right before sunset was just perfect for the best light.

Old homes in downtown Brunswick

I loved seeing old homes not immaculately restored but kept up. Clearly, Brunswick is not a ‘happening’ place that pulls visitors in left and right but that, perhaps, has kept it more authentic or reflective of how places ‘used to be’ since it is not corrupted by out-of-control development nor by anti-septic ordinances that force artificial curbs, sidewalks, etc.

Coastal sunset in Georgia

The skies were a little dark because it had just rained. You may appreciate in a couple of photos the rainbow coming out. But the best was left for my drive out of Brunswick: a beautiful sunset as a backdrop.

Filed Under: Georgia, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: architecture, Atlantic coast, Brunswick, clouds, Georgia, river, sky, sunset

2015 – A Year in Review

22 December 2015 by Raul Leave a Comment

2015 is almost over and it is time for the year in review which, I think, is an exercise not just in writing but in re-living the many blessings the year bestowed on me. Here it goes and share with me some of the travels in your 2015!

In the city of brotherly love – Philadelphia, USA

My first trip of the year was to Philadelphia where family and friends live. It is a place I love to visit though I do not get to do so often. I welcome the opportunity whenever it comes though as I greatly enjoy spending time with my aunt and uncle who make me feel so at home whenever I go. Though I got to see many, I did not get to see all my relatives nor all my friends which was a bummer – but good reason to go back! As usual, my uncle likes to show me around places historical to both country and family. I had not visited Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell since the early 90s and I enjoyed my visit there. We also went to Valley Forge which had a special look since it was winter-time (and was also very cold!).

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Liberty Bell with Independence Hall behind it

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Independence Hall across the mall

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Valley Forge in winter – reminder of the cost of our freedom

Now, those places are not where the family history comes from 🙂 instead this building served as their home right after they moved up there from Miami.

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House where my parents and relatives lived

My first hike of the year – Blood Mountain, Georgia, USA

My first hike of the year was a training hike as I was going on a trek to Patagonia with Trekking for Kids. My friend Phil who also enjoys hiking and I decided to do a hike near Blood Mountain that ended up -accidentally- in a climb of Blood Mountain. While it was unplanned, it was a fortunate ‘accident’ as it all ended well and we enjoyed great vistas and trails.

Freeman Trail, Appalachian Trail, Georgia, photo, hiking, winter, outdoors

Entering Freeman Trail from the Appalachian Trail

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Along Jarrard Gap, the start of our hike

An amazing metropolis – Buenos Aires, Argentina

The orphanage work related to my trek to Patagonia was going to take place on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. So I knew I was going to be spending time in this great city – and more importantly, eating the best beef in the world paired with great wine! I enjoyed walking about town and having nice meals with my fellow trekkers (some which I knew already and some which I met there).

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The parrillada at Campo Bravo

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Don’t forget dessert: this beauty courtesy of Cabaña Las Lilas

But the best part was meeting the children and staff of the two homes we worked with on our projects which included repairing a very leaky roof and damaged walls and furniture. Much as I loved spending time in BB.AA., this work was the highlight of my time there!

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Painting new furniture with the kids was an adventure onto itself!

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These kids were hard workers and also great with the soccer ball!

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At Temaiken, Buenos Aires’ zoo

Back in time – Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

When planning my Buenos Aires travel, I decided to add an extra day to cross the river by ferry and spend half a day exploring a town that was a good throwback to the colonial period of the region: Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. I sold three other trekkers on doing this short trip with me and we had a great time walking the streets of this easy-going town. I highly recommend making the crossing if you ever have time in Buenos Aires!

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One of the MANY vintage vehicles in town – an Austin

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Basilica del Sagrado Sacramento

My favorite spot on Earth – Chile’s Patagonia

As I wrote earlier this year, I loved Patagonia when I first visited the Perito Moreno glacier and Chile‘s amazing Patagonia in 2010. I’d always hoped I could return some day and that did happen… in 2015, much sooner than I’d ever thought possible. I returned to hike around Fitz Roy in Argentina, re-visit the Perito Moreno glacier, and then trek through the Torres del Paine National Park – which I had not done in 2010. And it was a rewarding effort for sure with great vistas and a glacier hike to boot. Memorable is not a good enough word for the experience. And, secretly, I hope I get to return a second time for my third visit!! (click on the hyperlinks above to see more photos from each of the visits)

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Grey glacier, where we hiked

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On the trail to Fitz Roy

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The Torres del Paine massif

The great northwest – Portland, Oregon

Thanks to work, I spent five days in Portland, Oregon. I had never been to Oregon so it was cool that I got to go there. I arrived at mid-day on a Sunday and decided to take a walking tour of Portland as it would be the most effective way to see the highlights of the town while enjoying the great weather.

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Portland street

Mercifully, daylight went on late so I got to take advantage of it to take a drive along the Columbia River to see the waterfalls that dot the riverside. I also got to enjoy dinners in establishments along either side of the river which was a phenomenal day to end the workday.

Family, friends and food fest (4 F’s) – Spain, olé!

Friends of mine were going to hike the Camino de Santiago, a hike I did in 2014. I thought it would be cool to combine my wish to meet relatives I had not met who live in the outskirts of Santiago with my friends’ arrival in Santiago de Compostela. My grandmother has two surviving cousins she never met in person who live in Bastavales. I had met one of them last year when I finished the Camino walk but I had not met the other. So I met María and her son, grandkids and great-grandkids for the first time and enjoyed their warmth and sharing special memories and photos of the family. I also visited time with Flora, the cousin I had met last year. It was really cool.

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With Maria, my grandmother’s cousin

I then welcomed my friends and their fellow trekkers as they arrived in Santiago at the end of their Camino. It was wonderful seeing them glow in joy as they wrapped their long walk. After they got their Compostela and going to Pilgrim’s Mass, it was time to celebrate with some cañas (beer) and tapas in one of the many beautiful old streets of this phenomenal city. We also took a day trip to Finisterre on the Atlantic coast, a nice place.

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Beer and tapas in Santiago de Compostela

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The left side of the Cathedral

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With friends Phil and Tommy at Finisterre

The visit with my friends continued in Madrid and, after they left, I got to spend time with madrileños friend of mine, enjoying good drinks, food, and atmosphere around town. It was fun spending more time in Madrid (check out “6 Cool Things to Do in Madrid“!). I love Spain but I loved more the opportunity to be there with friends!

Reuniting with dear friends – California

In late May, dear friends left Atlanta to head to California due to a job opportunity. It was hard to see them go as I spent many a Friday night over ten years hanging out with them pre-kids and after-kids. So, it was great when work offered me the opportunity to go to San Francisco so I could spend the weekend after the conference with them in their home outside of San Jose. They took me to two great Mexican restaurants, one of them right by where they live. I enjoyed a drive down Pebble Beach on the famous 17-mile drive (which I still have to write about!). And we visited the charming coastal town of Carmel – and its impressive mission.

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Glorious skies at the Carmel Mission

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Waters along the 17-Mile drive

Up-north (WAY up north) – Duluth, Minnesota

Work took me for a brief business trip up north, to a small town 45 mins north of Duluth, Minnesota. Driving along the coast of Lake Superior was very nice and peaceful. We only had one night in Duluth but enjoyed a nice breakfast at a mom-and-pop type of place and dinner at a pub. Of course, being the traveler that I am, never having gone to Wisconsin, and realizing I was just a bridge-crossing, I just had to do it… We had mostly an open morning so, along with a colleague, I drove across the water to a coffee shop I found online in the town of Superior, Wisconsin! A coffee later, we crossed the bridge again and back in Minnesota!

Wisconsin, interstate, I-535, highway, travel

Wisconsin, here we come!

Returning to one my favorites – Chicago, Illinois

I first went to Chicago in a bitterly cold January in 1991 with company for training. And I kept returning over the years mainly in winter. This year I got to go in August for pleasure, after spending a few days in Minnesota for work. I got to enjoy walking everywhere, getting to the lake, which I had never done. I also explored new parts of town thanks to friends (including little gems in terms of eateries). Overall, what I enjoyed most about this trip was a first for me in Chicago: going to a museum! The Art Institute of Chicago was right up my alley as very much an amateur in terms of art. It made it all approachable and enjoyable without overwhelming. I highly recommend it. I look forward to returning to Chicago and having more time to see all the friends who live there (this was practically a day-and-a-half visit) – and explore a new museum or two!

An epic trek to close the year – on the route to Everest Base Camp, Nepal

I was not planning any other hike on 2015 after having done Patagonia earlier in the year. However, I found out that several folks I knew from prior treks were going to do the trek to Everest Base Camp and I started wondering if I could go… I was generally fit even if not well-trained, it was a generally good time to go from a work standpoint, and though I did not have vacation time to be able to go to base camp, the trek offered a shorter itinerary. So, I went for it. I had a great time and was thrilled to having seen the Himalayas, Mt. Everest, and the hamlets and people of the highlands of Nepal. I am still writing about the trek so I will just point you to a couple of the writings: flying into scary Lukla airport to begin the hike, day one of the hike (you can keep going from there to later days), and one of the neat sites I saw in Kathmandu. The best part of the trek was the work done before the trek in the village of Kumari. Check out the work we did with Trekking for Kids here.

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The prayer wheels

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Kids from Kumari

Epilogue to a year that ends…

2015 was an epic year. From great hiking experiences, time with family and friends, new destinations, and good food and drinks, it had it all. I got to step in South America, North America, Asia, and Europe all in one year! However, as the year came to a close, we lost my stepdad, Rubén. It was a bittersweet time as he had been suffering from Alzheimer‘s and his last week was one full of suffering. So his passing offered him rest that we were thankful for, sad as it was to not have him around us any more. Rubén, as my Mom, loved to travel. They traveled across Europe and other places many times. I got to travel with them and my sister and her family in several cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Baltic Sea, as well as explore places like Copenhagen, Panama, and Paris (where they visited me in 1999 when I was living there). Though we will sorely miss him in this final journey he has undertaken, I know I will see again at the final destination. Until then, I will continuing journeying here. Rest in peace, Rubén!

In Panama in 2009

Filed Under: Travel Journal, Year in Review Tagged With: argentina, Blood Mountain, Chicago, Chile, Colonia, Compostela, food, Georgia, hiking, Madrid, Nepal, Oregon, Patagonia, Pebble Beach, Philadelphia, Portland, Santiago, spain, trekking, Trekking for Kids, Uruguay, Wisconsin

A Hike in Tallulah Gorge State Park

1 November 2014 by Raul 2 Comments

Tallulah Gorge State Park is located pretty much in the northeast corner of the state of Georgia. The park centers around the Tallulah Gorge around the – guess what- Tallulah River. The river starts in North Carolina and eventually makes its way to the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a series of waterfalls which are collectively called -wait for it- Tallulah Falls! It is supposed to be the most scenic canyon on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with a depth of about 1,000 ft. A hike in Tallulah Gorge is a must while in the area!

I visited the canyon around mid-October. It was an unusually warm October so the leaves had not begun to change yet for real. Driving to the park from Atlanta takes about 1.5 hrs, slightly less if you live or are staying at in the northern suburbs of the metro Atlanta.

The park has an Interpretive Center with information and exhibits for the young and the not-so-young. These cover the history of the former resort town, local wildlife, and other topics. The staff at the center is quite helpful and knowledgeable about the park and its vicinity.

Going for an easy hike in Tallulah Gorge

For the non-hiker or those who are interested in seeing some of the waterfalls but not climb steep staircases, the park has natural paths along the north and south rims of the gorge that are pretty easy to walk through. These paths offer various vantage points, or overlooks, from which to soak in the view. Walking along the north rim you can see the tower that held the tightrope Karl Wallenda used when he crossed the gorge in 1970!

Tallulah Falls, Tallulah Gorge, Georgia, canyon, hiking, north rim, south rim, photo, outdoors, nature, Samsung Galaxy 4

The view from the north rim near the Interpretive Center

Checking out the gorge from one of the overlooks on the north rim

The north/south rim hike is about 3 miles long round-trip. Depending on the pace, the hike along the Tallulah Gorge should be doable in a couple of hours. From the first overlook, closest to the start of the trail at the Interpretive Center, there is a great view of the L’Eau d’Or (Ladore) waterfalls where yours truly had his pic taken!

Looking down at L’Eau d’Or waterfalls from the overlook

Going for a deeper hike down the gorge

For those wanting to get closer to the waterfalls, the river and the bottom of the gorge… there are stairs!! Over 1,000 steps!

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Let the stairs begin!

From the first overlook where my picture was taken, you can proceed to the Devil’s Pulpit where you get a great face on view of L’Eau d’Or.

L’Eau d’Or

From this point the large staircase takes the hiker to the suspension bridge that connects the south and north rims of the gorge.

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Crossing the bridge

Once on the south rim, one can access the bottom of the gorge. On some days, it is possible to go further at the bottom of the gorge but only the first 100 people get the needed pass. However, because of the water release schedule for the upriver dam, the bottom of the gorge is not always open. It was not when I went. That was unfortunate because I would have loved to jump into the pool!!

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Pool at the bottom of the gorge

Once you reach the bottom, you can take a look at Hurricane Falls and dream of sliding down those rocks!

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Hurricane Falls from the bottom of the Gorge

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Signs a-plenty – “rattlesnake” weed doesn’t sound good, does it??

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The view you are rewarded with from the rim!

A hike in Tallulah Gorge is very enjoyable and quite doable as day trip from Atlanta or from places in Tennesse and North Carolina. Do not miss this chance to see an amazing setting, whether for an arduous hike or a stroll!

Read about these other great hikes in Georgia:

Sope Creek

Sweetwater Creek

Island Ford

… and more to come!

Filed Under: Georgia, Hiking, North Georgia, US & Canada Tagged With: canyon, Georgia, hikes near Atlanta, hiking in Georgia, hiking trails in Georgia, nature, outdoors, photo, Samsung Galaxy, Tallulah Falls, Tallulah Gorge

Sope Creek: A Hike, a Creek, and an Old Mill

8 May 2014 by Raul 3 Comments

I was looking for another spot in Atlanta to hike while also hitting some waterway AND hitting history after having enjoyed going to Sweetwater Creek and to Island Ford (on the Chattahoochee River). Tall order, huh? NOT in Atlanta! Plenty of spots along creeks and rivers to find great hiking and reminders of the life in the South back when mills ruled the day. Enter, stage left, Sope Creek.

I am training for hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain with Trekking for Kids, an organization that took me to Transylvania’s “Alps” in Romania and to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. As part of my training, I want to do more than Kennessaw Mountain or Stone Mountain. So after some research and talking to friends, I discovered the many trails that are right within 15 miles of the city, like Island Ford, for example.

But on another weekend, I wanted to try something new. I was taking friends’ kids out on this hike so it also had to be friendly enough for me and three other kids 🙂 That’s when a co-worker recommended Sope Creek, a creek where a Civil War era mill use to operate and whose ruins you can not only see but also get up close and personal with!

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The old mill ruins

The kids, aged 14, 10, and 8, were excited to come for the hike. I decided to take the longer way to the creek so that the “hard work” took place before we saw the creek and the mill which I figured would be the highlight of the hike.

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Early on the hike, we ran into a small lake.

The park has both hiking-only trails and hiking/biking trails so we did have to keep our eyes and ears open to approaching bikes but the mountain bikers were pretty much nice and careful which we appreciated. The trails are well-signed and the younger kids enjoyed trying to figure out which way to with the map and the signage while the older kid and I allowed ourselves to be guided.

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Tadpoles in our midst!

The trail approached the creek by going almost parallel to it but up high. It was a nice view and trail which then went away from the creek for a little bit. We ended up crossing a trickle of a creek right after spotting three deer.

Eventually, we made it to the old mill and the creek.

Looking south

The kids explore the ruins of the mill and then proceeded to walk towards the large rocks at the edge of the creek.

Kids climbing around the old mill ruins

It was fun climbing and walking on the rocks.

Two of the three climbing around the rocks

We hung there for a little bit enjoying the scenery and the climbing. It was also a great spot for pictures and for a snack.

I love this shot: She looks Photoshopped in!

All that done, we proceeded to exit the park by following the trail that is parallel to the road. It deviated from the road a little bit because the trail was under repair but it was easy to make it back to the parking lot.

After the hike, we were hungry and the kids had asked for Cracker Barrel (they love it because I keep calling it Crate & Barrel, accidentally!). It was the perfect ending for a great hike! The kiddos are definitely hikers and explorers!

Yours truly

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Read about these other great hikes in Georgia:

… and more to come!

Filed Under: Georgia, Hiking, North Georgia, Travel Journal Tagged With: Atlanta hikes, Civil War ruins in Atlanta, Georgia, hiking, nature, old mill, outdoors, Paper Mill Road, rapids, Sope Creek, tadpoles, trails in Atlanta

Chattahoochee River Hikes: Island Ford

14 April 2014 by Raul 9 Comments

Atlanta is well known for traffic, a massive airport, CNN, Coca-Cola, conventions, and Gone with the Wind. It seems almost cliche-ish when defined in these terms and I can certainly understand that these form or inform people’s image of the South’s “Gate City,” as it was known in the mid 19th century. What local residents and frequent visitors know, though, is that the city is a vibrant and diverse collection of areas. The international farmer’s market by I-285 is a great example of this diversity that visitors don’t often get to see.

Another fact that may be surprising is how this city, so built up and loaded with cars, is actually in the midst of the great outdoors. I shared already about how close Sweetwater Creek State Park is to the city (only 15 miles). Here I want to shared another great nature spot, right within and right outside the city’s ring road (I-285): the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, part of the U.S. National Park Service.

The lay of the Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River, or the “Hootch“, starts up in the North Georgia mountains where the Buford Dam was established to control its flow and accumulate water to provide for the city. It then makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico via western Atlanta then Alabama, then Florida. The river does not cross the modern city center as rivers tend to do in other cities. The city’s location was driven by railroad lines connecting the Gulf, the Atlantic ports and the Midwest back in the first half of the 19th century. So, we did not end up with a river going through the city center (a shame!).

However, it does go through urban areas right outside the city of Atlanta proper and we were lucky that it became a protected area in the 1970s so we could enjoy this bit of nature. All along the river, as it courses through metro Atlanta, there are parks and trails, offering great walking, running, mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, etc. Here I want to share with you about one of them and hope to continue sharing other spots in the future.

I bet it looks very different in the middle of summer!

Island Ford

A few miles outside of I-285, as you head up on GA-400, you reach the headquarters of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s headquarters. As with many parks, friendly staff and rangers are a phenomenal source of information and advice, both of which we enjoyed getting.

Park rangers are a great source of information to those visiting the park

Again, as with other parks like scene, they park service charges a nominal fee for use of the park in the form of a parking permit that costs only $3. Bring singles as you make payment by putting the three dollars in an envelope and drop it in a box!

Incredible stones everywhere in the area, including in the river!

The trails around Island Ford provide both flat areas as well as steep hills to challenge hikers. The circuit of trails here could take around 1.5-2.5 hours (depending on how many of the trails you hit and your speed!) and they are suitable for beginners. Apparently, it is also a good spot for trout fishing – who knew!

trout, fishing, Chattahoochee River, Island Ford, Atlanta, Olympus, photo, hiking

Trout fishing fun

The trails ford a couple of creeks that feed the river and offer great views of the river but also of rock formations that natives are said to have used for shelter as far back as 1,000 years ago!

The star of the show working his way over a log

The Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy supports parks along the river in many ways to ensure our enjoyment of these natural areas. Visit their site and become a member or supporter!

Read about these other great hikes in Georgia:

… and more to come!

Filed Under: Georgia, Hiking, North Georgia, US & Canada Tagged With: Chattahoochee river, Georgia, hiking in Atlanta, hiking trails in Atlanta, Island Ford, National Park in Atlanta, nature hikes in Atlanta, outdoors

The Spared Town in Georgia: Madison

27 December 2013 by Raul 2 Comments

Madison, Georgia is a town not terribly far from Atlanta. Just about an hour east of the city, it offers a different view on the South than Atlanta or towns north may offer. Madison, founded on 1807 (a couple of decades before Atlanta), was spared destruction as the Northern armies moved towards the Atlantic coast after taking Atlanta by the simple request from a woman appealing with all her charms to General Sherman. True or half-true or not-true (the stronger theory is that Sherman had a friend with connections to the town), Madison survived the destruction that was usually meted out to Southern towns rather crassly: 100 Antebellum or “pre-war” houses survive today, quite a number for the South! And we are thankful for that as we can admire beautiful architecture and maybe begin to feel what places around the South looked like. Georgia has a lot of interesting places off the beaten path and Madison is definitely one of those towns! Check out some of this charming southern town…

Madison, Georgia, Morgan County, South, architecture, antebellum, photo, travel, Canon EOS Rebel

rocking chair, Madison, Georgia, Morgan County, South, architecture, antebellum, photo, travel, Canon EOS Rebel

Rocking chair at the Rogers House (from the first decade of the 19th cent.)

Madison, architecture, Georgia, Morgan County, South, architecture, antebellum, photo, travel, Canon EOS Rebel

Morgan County Courthouse

Heritage Hall (circa 1811)

architecture Madison, Georgia, Morgan County, South, architecture, antebellum, photo, travel, Canon EOS Rebel

Heritage Hall (circa 1811)

Filed Under: Georgia, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: Civil War, Georgia, historical town in Georgia, history, Madison, southern architecture, southern charm, southern cities

A Fall Outing that Helps Keep the Doctor Away?

15 October 2013 by Raul 5 Comments

Fall is here and it is time for lots of good things: cooler temperatures, awesome colors of the trees as they move to winter “mode”, and apple picking!

Apple, picking, mountains, fall, red, photo, Canon EOS Rebel, outdoors, nature

Beautiful day and beautiful apples

I was invited by friend to join them in taking their young daughters for a fun outing of apple picking about an hour or so north of Atlanta in the north Georgia mountains at Hillcrest Orchards. This is something I was highly unlikely to ever put on my quite-full to-do or want-to-do list but the opportunity to be with friends and see the kids do something like this was something I did not want to miss.

I have no mind for types of plants or fruits. I know an apple is an apple but if you put three different apples in front of me, I’d be hard pressed to tell you if they are this or that. So that’s my way of saying don’t ask me what types I saw or which was my favorite 🙂 It will also explain why no photo caption will say anything more specific than “apples.”

An apple… or an apple cam??!!

The girls had a lot of fun going around the multiple aisles of different kinds of apples and picking them from the tree (not the ground!).

A busy little picker, being picky about her apples

They left with greatly loaded bags, too heavy for them to carry. But the important part is they had fun! And so did we watching them enjoy themselves though I may also add the beautiful day up in the north Georgia mountains was quite enjoyable.

Leaving the grounds after a successful picking…

Do you have other fall traditions? – or other traditions that help keep the doctor away? 🙂

Filed Under: Georgia, US & Canada Tagged With: apple, Atlanta, blue sky, Canon EOS Rebel, fall, Georgia, kid-friendly, north Georgia mountains, picking, red apple

Right in My Hometown… Atlanta – What to See

3 August 2011 by Raul 7 Comments

Someone suggested on a blog I read that reading a blog about a place written by a local can be better for a visitor than a blog about the place written by a visitor. I agree that a local can give a unique perspective though I still like hearing a visitor’s perspective about a place. Regardless, I thought I’d give my hometown, Atlanta, a crack in my blog though these entries will not be about a trip for me. Well, it was the first time I got here as a teen in the 80s…

Atlanta Skyline 1984

Getting Around

Back then, Atlanta felt sleepy. Everything closed at 10PM including McDonalds. One or two shopping malls within my reach. Taking the subway (MARTA) to the Arts Center station and from there connect to a bus to get to Lenox Mall or Perimeter Mall. Boy, how things change: the subway now goes to those places and beyond. MARTA does not have a great metro network unfortunately due to small-mindedness and the high cost of digging into solid rock. But at least it does cover a good distance in the lines it does have. The best part was when they finally extended MARTA to the airport. Brilliant. But stay tuned, there is a project called the Beltine (www.beltline.org) which promises to add a circular route, intown, connecting at 5 places with the various MARTA lines. That long-term project will begin to impact how we rely on public transport, at least for those of us who live intown for whom the Beltline may be just a walk away.

Or that’s the hope in this car-loving city. Because if you come, I’d strongly recommend right now to rent a car. Else, you are stuck to downtown and the MARTA line or hard-to-hail taxis.

Downtown Points of Interest

Atlanta is a wonderful place to live but I would not place it in a top 5, perhaps even top 10, places to visit in the U.S. if you come from abroad (my fellow locals may kill me for saying that… or do I just want a good secret kept secret??). However, there is a lot of charm and things to discover in and around the city for those who can forgive it for not having the scale and worldliness of NYC or the beautiful natural setting of San Fran… Nightlife is pretty limited in downtown proper unless there are a few conventions concurrently taking place. But I define downtown as a very small part of the city. A few blocks away begin neat parts of the city!

Despite all that, it has some cools to see and do.

In this part of town, you must definitely see the Aquarium – an impressive colossus best seend during a weekday (www.georgiaaquarium.org). Right next to it is the new Coca-Cola Museum (www.worldofcoca-cola.com) (true Atlantans know to put the dash between Coca and Cola!). I haven’t seen the new one but the old one was on the fascinating side so this must be too. CNN is located on the opposite end of Centennial Olympic Park and its tour can be interesting. Finally, the MLK Memorial is on the opposite end of downtown and an important historical site (http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm). Underground Atlanta unfortunately became a massive souvenir shop SLASH smaller crime center so it is hard to recommend except you can see what are old buildings for Atlanta and imagine how it used to be end of 19th century which is of some value.

Oh, one more thing. If you like a good view, go up to the rooftop bar at the Westin Peachtree for a phenomenal set of views of the city. But no need to walk around, just plop down, have a drink and the place will rotate for you. ‘Cause that’s how we roll.

Just Outside Downtown and Beyond but Still in the City

Just outside of downtown, a few gems to check out.

First, the Fox Theater dating from the 1920s has really interesting architecture (this is not where “Gone with the Wind” had its premiere; that theater is now the site of the Georgia-Pacific skyscraper in downtown right across from where Margaret Mitchell, the author, was struck by a bus leading to her eventual death…).
Second, the Oakland Cemetery (http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/). One of the oldest places in town and with some famous people buried there (e.g., Bobby Jones). The Jewish sector of the cemetery speaks to the long-standing presence in the city of the Jewish community and has some of the most interesting tombstones. Go and walk about. And bring your camera for some photo opps within the cemetery and of the downtown skyline, one of my favorite places to photograph it! Also, it seems to put on a good tour during Halloween but I haven’t been to it…
Third: Piedmont Park, our Central Park (or is Central Park NYC’s Piedmont Park?). Expansive, with great views of the Midtown skyline, and plenty of people watching to do as you relax in this urban oasis.
Fourth: the Inman Park neighborhood. What used to be the suburbs in the 1910s, where the original owners of Coca-Cola (after the druggist who developed the formula) lived, and site of some beautiful turn of the century homes (19th to 20th turn of the century!). As old as Atlanta gets for the most part and especially fun in April when a tour of homes is held.
Fifth: The Fernbank Museum of Natural History (www.fernbankmuseum.org) in the beautiful neighborhood around Ponce de Leon Ave. with its exhibits and IMAX museum. Granted, just about every city has one but it can be a nice break plus if you drive around the neighborhood you will see something a lot prettier than downtown!
Sixth: Get lost in the neighborhoods just east and west of I-75, inside the perimeter (I-285, the ring road around the city) and north of the Chattahooche River. You WILL get lost without a GPS or map. But the houses go from impressive to almost Versailles itself. Not a piece of Atlanta people get to see or understand when just coming for a convention and a MANDATORY part of the tour I give friends and family when they come. These neighborhoods are part of Buckhead and Vinings but very different than Buckhead as you may know it by Peachtree Street.
Seventh: Shoot the Hootch! Or, get on a raft and go down river down the Chattahoochee River. A typical summer outing for me when I was in college and right after but fun for families. The river is pretty mild – but wear a lot of sunscreen!

Fox Theater

If you have children and all this sounds too adult, the Children’s Museum (www.childrensmuseum.org) right near the Aquarium could give the kiddos a good target place. So mix the Aquarium and this museum (which is very much about hands-on activities and perfect for kids up to 7 years old) in on your schedule for the kids’ sake!

What Else Can You Tell Us, You Ask, about Things not in but Near Atlanta?

Stone Mountain Park (about 20-25 mins away) has what is supposed to be the single largest mountain of granite. This mountain is walkable up the side or one can go up using a cable car. Back in the 1930s a giant, football field-sized carving of Confederate heroes was made on the flatter side of the mountain and, whether you like the people depicted or not, it is something to see. In summertime, a laser show takes places at night against it that is worth watching. Stone Mountain, among many other attractions, features a model of a real life Southern plantation. They moved structures from several plantations around the state to depict life on a plantation. It is very much worth seeing.
For fun in the park, Six Flags over Georgia west of the city is ideal. I am not much for this type of parks but it is good if you like ’em!
Callaway Gardens south of the city offers very nice, obvious, gardens but also things like butterfly exhibits and golf. It is a family resort for those seeking that type of environment. (www.callawaygardens.com)
North of the city, you can head up the North Georgia mountains where towns like Dahlonega & Blairsville offer a great view into the south and mountain living (a lot of retirees from other states landing up there! it is a choice spot for retirement in the corner of North Carolina, Tennesee and Georgia, 2 hrs away from Atlanta’s airport and less from Chattanooga). Helen, GA is a pseudo-German town with fun Oktoberfest though a little cheesy overall for me.
Though I haven’t been to it, I have heard good things about Sweetwater Creek Park (http://gastateparks.org/info/sweetwater/) which sounds like nature’s oasis within a stone’s throw of the city. Just like that you will find fascinating gems of nature and history (another example, the town of Madison about an hour plus east of Atlanta).
About an hour north on I-75, there is a true jewel of a museum. It was quite unexpected when I heard about it and I was very impressed with its modernity, and the quality and contents of this museum given the setting in Cartersville, GA: The Booth Western Art Museum (http://www.boothmuseum.org/)
Further north and getting close to the Tennessee state line are Rock City and Ruby Falls. Pretty neat places to explore and fun for the kids.

Rock city (photo from http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/rockcity)

Within the metro area, going to towns like Decatur with its diverse scene and great places to eat and Marietta with its old style town square and shops are great places to discover on your own.

Packaging It All Up

It is all fine and good to list all the things that can be done but how to package it and get it organized for execution? Well, I can provide a strawman of how I would package up all the things to see and do. Maybe a topic for a future blog if that is of interest!

What About Food?

In a later installment, I will discuss food and try to identify places near the stuff I have mentioned here so you can plan. This will be my favorite section for sure! But I must do LOTS OF research so it may be awhile 🙂

Other thoughts on things to do in Atlanta? There is plenty more especially right outside the city. Pipe in and help inform others on your recommendations!