Day trip close to Atlanta: Suggestions please!

We'll be taking a roadtrip next next monday, leaving from atlanta...we'd leave at about 7am.
I originally figured we'd drive 2 or 3 hours in one direction, and see what we find.

I want to go off the beaten path. I want to find fruit stands, and road trippy type museums, and flea markets along the way.
Any suggestions?
I thought maybe Helen, or TN....

Ideally I'd want to go down south towards the islands, and just chill on a beach, but, there's not enough time for that bc I want to get back to the city by 9pm at the latest...

there's a beach there isn't yes?

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

I went down to Georgia a couple of years ago, going west to east a bit south of Atlanta. I was particularly struck by southwest Georgia, and I think it has much to offer that would fulfill your desires. You could use I-85 to get out of Atlanta and as far as Newnan, then strike out south on Alt-US-27. There are, then, a few 'RoadTrippy' type attractions in an area around Pine Mountain and Warm Springs as well as great back roads so that I think this is a place you would do well to look into. A few of the attractions are Callaway Gardens, FDR's Little White House, and F.D. Roosevelt State Park. The last two are joined by a GA-190, a great bit of road through pine forested mountains. Then, depending on how your time was holding out, you could either hop on I-85 for a quick trip home if need be, or meander north on more two lane roads through farming country, like GA-74 or GA-85.

AZBuck

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Originally Posted by misslocs

]I want to go off the beaten path. I want to find fruit stands, and road trippy type museums, and flea markets along the way.

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When I lived in Atlanta, I used to escape town on the weekends by zipping up 400 and meandering through the mountains. You'll find plenty of flea markets on US19 south of Dahlonegah and there are some decent gold mining museums up that way.

As for getting off the beaten path, you can never go wrong by exploring the waterfalls in North GA.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/21...732791b56f.jpg

I think this qualifies as "off the beaten path". (taken while exploring falls in the Rabun area)

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Originally Posted by kitsune

When I lived in Atlanta, I used to escape town on the weekends by zipping up 400 and meandering through the mountains. You'll find plenty of flea markets on US19 south of Dahlonegah and there are some decent gold mining museums up that way.

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Thanks for both this suggestion and the dope on the WDW restaurants.

Wow! What a great photo!

Mark

That is an interesting site, Kitsune, thanks for the link! I'm gonna be in that vicinity myself in August... do these falls dry up in the summer? Perhaps you could pop by this thread and maybe offer a couple of ideas?

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Craig Antill

That is an interesting site, Kitsune, thanks for the link! I'm gonna be in that vicinity myself in August... do these falls dry up in the summer? Perhaps you could pop by this thread and maybe offer a couple of ideas?

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The falls are spring-fed so they tend to keep flowing despite lack of rain. The waters that feed them, even in the peak of summer temperatures, are cool and refreshing, which is something greatly desired come August!

One note: if you want to get your feet wet, you'll have to find falls that are on National Park land as opposed to state or county parks. All of the falls under state/county control have railings, boundaries, and are very strict about people crossing them (rightfully so -- they tend to be dangerous areas). If you have kids or aren't feeling terribly adventurous, Amicalola Falls and Tallulah Gorge are good for comfortable family walks with plenty of parking and easy access. Other falls, including the set pictured above, have little or no parking, are sometimes difficult to find, and are easy places to sustain reasonable injury up to and including death. (hint: those are the best kind!)