experience more:
We recently took a long weekend trip (we like to call them side quests) to Atlanta, Georgia. Last year we purchased tickets to a concert and decided to pack in a couple of extra adventures while we were there. That’s one of the beauties of the semi-nomad life we live; we can jet off for a weekend and find whatever adventure waits around the next turn. What we found was there is abundant beauty to Atlanta in the fall.
01. See Rock City
Our trip wasn’t a long drive, but we wanted to break it up just a little bit, and it’s always good to get out and stretch your legs. Our first stop took us to Rock City at Lookout Mountain, Georgia. It’s a beautiful arboretum-style area with pathways and amazing rock gardens. Pathways are well maintained and the views are spectacular.
If you’re in the area or simply passing through, you might consider a slow afternoon visit. Word to the wise, if you purchase tickets online you will save a considerable amount. The day we went there wasn’t a waiting line, but they are gearing up for their pumpkin fest, so check the website for peak hours and extra suggestions.
02. Atlanta Aquarium
We found ourselves with a little time to spare while in Downtown Atlanta, and decided to add in a day trip the Atlanta Aquarium. Let me just say, “Go!” It’s really beautiful. We’ve visited many aquariums over the years, Ripley’s in Gatlinburg, The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and the Newport Aquarium near Cincinnati. But the Atlanta Aquarium was something spectacular.
Everything from sharks to stingrays, puffins and duck billed flamingos, and even a couple of rare white alligators. We went on a Sunday and did not encounter unbearable crowds or long lines. In fact, we breezed through each exhibit without any delays. And the staff… they were so courteous and helpful.
If you’re in the area – with our without children – we highly recommend a visit to the Atlanta Aquarium.
03. RH Gallery
What’s a trip to Atlanta without visiting the RH gallery? Of course, we have visited many RH galleries during our side quests in Nashville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and West Palm, so adding the Atlanta gallery to the list was a must-do.
If you’re familiar with RH, you know the allure: the music, the gallery, and the sheer enormity of it all. It was a great way to spend an hour or so before we grabbed a quick lunch.
04. A Few of Our Closet Friends
The highlight of our trip was meeting up with new friends for coffee, and attending the Dua Lipa concert.
We attended the second night of her Atlanta tour with a few thousand friends. It was a night we will never forget. We sang. We cheered. We danced like we were 25. Then we woke up the next morning and our bodies reminded us we were in our early 50’s. But it was worth it. It was a concert for the record books.
05. Opportunities of the heart
The next day was an absolute treasure in our list of lifetime experiences. We have been online friends with a very special couple for a few years now, emailing correspondence back and forth like digital pen pals. Isn’t what all email is? Well, we have been online fans of Jack and Valentina from TheHouseOfValentina for what feels like years.
I made a random post to Facebook about the concert and Jack responded that their daughter also was there. After a couple of quick emails, we decided to meet up for coffee the next day. It was such a sweet time with people we didn’t know, but felt as if they had been part of our lives forever.
What is amazing about them is that they took time out of their busy schedules to meet two random people from the internet. They have just finished filming with Amazon and MGM studios an upcoming decorating show that will air starting October 9th at 8:00 p.m. EST on Amazon and Amazon prime. If you have trouble finding them, the shows will air on their Amazon Livestream channel linked here. They are quite a fun couple, both online and in real life. It was our pleasure and honor to get to share a coffee with them… and we needed it after all that dancing!
05. Forward Our Mail Travel Log
While we aren’t travel bloggers, we do find adventure in every trip we get to take. Each one is precious to us because we know how fragile life can be. Whether it was a day spent window shopping, exploring a rock garden or aquarium, having coffee with ‘famous’ people, or dancing the night away with a pop star…. this trip was one we will remember for a very very long time!
Until the next adventure,
