The second stop on my year of travel adventures was Atlanta, GA. I have fond memories of Atlanta. At one point, I even considered moving there. It seemed like a number of my friends and family were relocating and the appeal of living in a thriving urban city was calling me. However, God had other plans and I ended up moving to New England. Having been to most of the “tourist” spots before, this trip was more about finding quiet, quaint places that inspired me to write. So, if you are looking for the usual top things to do you won’t find them here.
Uncommon Places
I have the hardest time concentrating on writing at home (or the place where I am sleeping). There is something psychological about going to a coffee shop or cafe that motivates me. Anyway, Blume is one of the cutest little cafe’s I’ve been to lately. Located in Peachtree city it was close to where I was staying. I stayed with a family member while I was in town so I don’t have many suggestions on accommodations. However, I was able to stay at the Whitley hotel for a weekend and it is right in the heart of Buckhead. The Sunday brunch here was amazing. More on good food below!
You can spend hours shopping in the boutique at Blume alone. There were so many great gifts (many of them were faith-themed). They have a thriving online business so feel free to click on the link above. The art and home decor were fabulous! This was indeed my type of place, I went a couple of times during my visit and spent numerous hours.
This hidden gem is an intentional community tucked just outside of Atlanta in Chattahoochee Hills, GA. My cousin and I stayed overnight at one of their beautiful properties. The Inn boasts an award winning restaurant, where everything is farm-to-table. The farm is literally a few feet away. Guests of Serenbee can feed and care for farm animals during their stay.
There is horseback riding, shopping, a spa (the hot stone massage was INCREDIBLE), several restaurants, coffee shops, a book store, a general store, a theater, a pool, a lake for fishing and kayaking, and a labyrinth. It was such an oasis from the hustle and bustle of city life. I had a blast driving a golf cart through the community!
Food
No visit to the South is complete without a commentary on places to eat. I’ve included the restaurants that tipped my foodie scales and made me do a “happy food dance”.
Picture from the gallery of the Cowboy Ribeye Steak
When I tell you this is one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, BELIEVE IT! It is a bit pricey, but SO worth it. Afterwards, we walked around a bit downtown and enjoyed Atlanta’s nightlife.
We went here on a Saturday morning for brunch. Let me tell you, brunch is an institution in Atlanta. However, the Chicken and Waffles here will make you want to jump up and shout “Hallelujah!” The homemade biscuits were great as well.
Grand Lux is located in Phipps plaza in North Buckhead and I spent a few hours catching up with a girlfriend I’ve known for 25 years. Our waiter was AMAZING and gave us hugs at the end of our extended lunch. The food and atmosphere made you want to invite your bestie and hang out all day.
Regrets
Even though I’ve been to Atlanta numerous times, there is always something I regret not doing. This time, I really wanted to visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The rain made it impossible to visit the gardens and The CCHR was sold out when we went. We tried to catch the last “free” day of Black History month and didn’t realize others had the same idea.
Also, make sure you follow your favorite artists and find out if they are playing in Atlanta. Atlanta has great venues and chances are you’ll find someone you like in concert. I had an AMAZING time at a gospel concert while I was in town (see my blog entitled, “Sometimes I forget . . . “ ).
Stay tuned for more travel adventures: Next stop – Las Vegas!
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