Notes on Georgia: High Falls State Park

If you are looking for something interesting to do in Georgia, perhaps on a lazy Sunday afternoon, it may be worth it to take the drive to High Falls State Park.
We found this park in our favorite hiking trail guide. It's about a 45 minute drive from Atlanta, but worth it!

We arrived close to the end of the day, so families were wrapping up their picnic spreads and fishermen were getting ready to tow their boats home. We got out of our car and surveyed our surroundings. The parking lot provides a nice view of the man made dam and falls. But of course, we wanted a closer look.

Matt and I wandered down to the edge of the river, and noticed an overlook a few hundred feet away. We ventured up towards the highway and back down again to gain access to this wooden 1/2 bridge overlook. There are a few postings here stating the history of the area, the old mill, and the mill stones that are strewn about pretty much everywhere.

The view from the overlook was gorgeous. To our left, the dam. To our right the rocky river and moderate rapids. I noticed a well hidden trail head across the road. We felt adventurous and headed in. There were quite a few people exiting, so I didn't feel too apprehensive about going into the forest in the middle of no where.

Much to our surprise we saw a flight of wooden stairs heading down towards the river, and providing an awesome view of the natural waterfalls this park is actually named for.

These falls are not your average 'straight over the edge streams of water'. They are more like multiple levels of rock formations creating a spectacular base for the rushing water to escape over.

Here you have to raise your voice a bit to have a conversation. As always, I'm in awe of the power of rushing water. The sound it makes is unmistakable, and the ground almost feels like it's vibrating besides the falls.

If you follow the stairs all the way down to the last step and take off on the dirt trail, more surprises await!

You will find the ruins of a mill on your left. On the right, the ruins of the cement track that was used to push lumber down the hill to the mill. These pieces of cement now blend into their surroundings. Covered in plants and dirt they are barely noticeable.

You can climb down the steep hill next to the Mill Ruins to get a closer view. At the very base you can see the Mill's outlet into the river. The moss and water damage to the old brick is reminiscent of a different time period.

So, we were able to add another small adventure to our list. Try visiting in Spring, because the wildflowers here are abundant!

Who decided the Atlanta Dogwood Festival was amazing?

Seriously? Who decided the Atlanta Dogwood Festival was amazing?

Set in Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta, hundreds of vendors set up tents, hoping to sell their goods to the hundreds of thousands of visitors this festival draws in every year.

First, let me point out on major issue. By the time the Dogwood Festival takes place, about 92.6%(sarcasm) of the Dogwood trees throughout Atlanta have lost their blooms, or are in the final stages of blooming. So....there weren't many actual Dogwood trees presentat the Dogwood Fest.
And to top that off, since it's the end of their cycle they are dumping their pollen, literally in clouds, all over anything beneath them. That included us! So, it was officially attack of the allergies.

The vendors that were there to sell their art were interesting enough. I always appreciate unique creativity. But for each lovely booth filled with abstract color, there were 4 selling junk, or trying to get people to sign up for something.

And whoever decided to place the food vendors next to the Porto-potties. Well, need I say more?

We paid $14 for two "freshly squeezed" lemonade, from a man who had about three teeth.

I was also quite surprised at the amount of alcohol being sold at the festival. For a state that doesn't sell alcohol on Sundays and won't allow gambling, there certainly plenty of alcohol options.

I won't say I'll never return. But it's not likely.

Notes on Georgia: Atlanta Botanical Garden

Sitting in the midst of the hustle and bustle of downtown Atlanta is a secret garden, a fairy haven. Well, the truth is it's not a secret garden per-say.

Atlanta's Botanical Gardens are completely worth the price of a ticket. The whole environment reminded me of zen. I went in happy, came out happier and almost centered, relaxed and inspired.

The first impression of The Gardens is magical. After paying for your ticket, you walk into a large and modern building. From the ceiling a giant whimsical green glass chandelier hangs proudly.

A short winding walk takes you to The Garden's lunch spot. A small Hippie-Bo-Ho stand serves gourmet sandwiches and salads, and exotic teas and beverages. While you pay a bit more than average for a sandwich and chips, it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had.

The rest of your trip is filled with winding paths through overgrown vines and small open ceiling gardens. It truly had the feel of a Secret Garden. You constantly encounter iron gates, which in themselves were lovely pieces of art, shaped like butterflys and other creatures. Behind every gate lies some mysterious secret. Whether it's just a large space covered in tulips of all colors, or a fantastic fountain in a cobblestone courtyard, your imagination is never at rest. It's hard to not feel like a child in this amazing space.

The best part of The Gardens, for me, was the strange tropical house. You walk through a tropical jungle setting. We spotted tons of quails and heard what we later found out was the song of frogs. There are thousands of tendrils coming down from the ceiling, which we also learned were roots of a tropical plant running rampant.

The tropical jungle leads into a desert room with cactus and through a narrow hall filled with trees that produce some well known flavors-cinnamon, chocolate, etc. And at the end, the Orchid rooms. Truly amazing design, amazing care-takers, amazing budget...all these elements equal stunning Orchids like I've never seen before.

I am definitely a fan. It would be worth it get a season pass to this wonderful place. I officially dub this one of my personal "Gems" of Atlanta!

San Diego Gems

Each city has something special. Something unique that makes it's residents proud. Something that makes them think "yep, that's where I live". I can only think to call these somethings a city's "Gems".

I've spent the last year discovering Atlanta's "Gems" with my husband and family. And boy have I found them. And through all this searching, I forgot about San Diego. The home sick feeling went away. The nostalgia faded.

As my husband and I began planning our vacation to (Vegas) San Diego, and the countdown suddenly got down to single digits, the "Gems" started popping up in my head once again.

So we had a list of things we had to see. And we saw most of them. And as we checked off the list, we began to realize the only thing San Diego holds for us anymore is our family and friends. While we still found it beautiful, it was lacking.....something.....personality maybe.

None the less, we had a wonderful trip. We filled each and every day with lovely memories, and I snapped over 400 pictures.

So, my list of the top 5 San Diego "Gems"!

1) Balboa Park

2) La Jolla Cove-specifically the Children's Pool and the Water Walk

3) Petco Park
4) Sunset Cliffs

5) Sea World

See Rock City........or don't...whatever.

One of the best things about living in Atlanta, is the ability to drive to other states in under 2 hours. Our favorites have been The Smokey Mountains in North Carolina and Chattanooga in lovely Tennessee.
Last year we made the drive to Chattanooga with my husband's parents. We went to Ruby Falls and then to the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg. We loved Ruby Falls, and saw all the signs pointing to Rock City.
So, after we returned home, we put Rock City on our list of "to-do's".

I suggested Rock City to my sister, who was looking for a family outing. We looked it up on the Internet (http://www.seerockcity.com/) and got pretty excited about what we were going to see.

It's a pleasant drive to Chattanooga. I hold a special place in my heart for Tennessee. We've had nothing but good experiences there, and it's such a gorgeous state. The Volunteer State.

It's a nice winding drive up Look Out Mountain, with some heart pounding views down the side of the mountain. From the outside, Rock City has all the web site promises.

One adult ticket runs about $18. It's do-able, though I can't imagine many large families can afford the ticket costs. There is one main restaurant at the entrance. The food here...well, maybe I should just say..."don't waste your money". Bring your lunch. We saw one family BBQ-ing out of the back of their truck.

The park is not exactly stroller and wheelchair friendly either. With my 16 month old niece in tow, in her comfy stroller, we were forced to take to the abridged tour of the park. We snuck into some areas were weren't supposed to. We went into the exit of the children's area.

The park's map makes it appear much larger than it actually is. This combined with our tiny tour really just had us frustrated. The spots we did see, like Lover's Leap, were amazing. And from one point you can see all the way to 7 states. I can certainly appreciate the amazing geological oddities, and I snapped quite a few pictures.

The children's area is a different story. This is a cave of scary. I'm an adult and I was disturbed. So I can't imagine what this must look like to children. It was a psychedelic interpretation of all the classic nursery rhymes. Topped off with a strange fairytale castle. Perhaps I'm just California biased when it comes to fairy tales, having lived an hour and a half from Disney Land the majority of my life.

I wouldn't take this particular trip again. I'll head back to Chattanooga. I'll head back to Pigeon Forge. I won't take that twisty trail up Look Out Mountain.

So, in my opinion: "See Rock City.........or don't....whatever.

An ode to Summer

Living in San Diego, Summer doesn't mean much weather wise. It's gorgeous year round.

But there is a difference in the ambiance during the Summer months. The beach calls you, the delicious smoke from charcoal barbeque's fills the air. Coconut scented sun block seems to never leave your nose.
San Diegans make their way to their favorite beach spots. We always made our way to Sea World.

Summer in Southern California means swimming, 4th of July get togethers and riding the Big Dipper in Belmont Park.

There's quite a difference in the "feel" of Summer in Georgia. I've come to love and appreciate this difference, even though I've only experienced one Southern Summer.

Here, Summer means humidity. A strong musty smell from the abundant trees mix with honeysuckle. The sky is clear, but Thunderheads constantly sit on the horizon.
A Summer thunderstorm is constantly in the forecast.

The wildlife is constantly chattering, after staying dormant for the Winter months. The baby chipmunks have emerged. The birds are hungry for seeds.
And the cherry on top? Lightening bugs. They slowly begin to flicker in the dusk hours.

Today I feel optimistic about the approaching season. I'm soaking up the rays and only slightly missing the beach.

Here's to Summer in the South!

Arabia Mountain

Perhaps it's obvious at this point that I'm looking for the strange and unique, lesser known Georgia "gems" to explore. For the most part, I explore a couple of different places each weekend. Most don't end up on my Blog. I attempt to pick the most interesting of the places I've been, ones that I hope readers will be inspired to check out for themselves.

Arabia Mountain is definitely one of those lesser known gems.

It's a State Park and a wildlife preserve. It's not too crowded and it's beauty is truly spectacular. It's a place to check out on a lazy weekend afternoon. It's not too far from Atlanta (about 20 minutes or so) and it's free!

So, drive on out and take a look for yourself! The following is just a tiny bit of what you have to look forward to!
The mountain itself is actually the tip of a giant piece of granite and stone. You might know it's sister: Stone Mountain. The main difference is Arabia Mountain is still natural, untouched for the most part while Stone Mountain is...well we all know how tacky and dirty it is. Arabia Mountain is not as large as Stone Mountain, but it's just as unique and gorgeous!

After parking in a very small lot (don't park at the Nature Center, go about a mile further and park in the main lot-it's only about 10 spots, but it's a very direct entrance to the mountain)you will pass through the trail head kiosks and read about the red moss that grows there, then cross a short wooden bridge into another world.

This place is truly alien. You are walking on stone the entire trail (unless you enter the woods). You can see the grooves and lines in the stone and water and other elements have caused discoloration in many places. It doesn't sound like it, but it's an amazing array of color and design. I can only equate it to walking into an abstract painting.

There are natural dips and craters everywhere. Vibrant moss has grown in some of the holes. Others are full of standing water. I felt as if I had stepped out onto the rocks at La Jolla Cove (San Diego, CA) and half expected to see crabs and fish in the water holes. In my mind I could almost hear the rush of waves and smell the salt in the air. In reality, there isn't anything in this water. Except more moss and plant life.

My husband and I climbed up to the peak easily (it's really a moderate climb). From the top, the view is trees and more trees. It's nice to feel secluded and "one with nature" after being in the bustle of the city every day. We spent about 20 minutes exploring the top. You can see the too perfect "shelves" in the rock where the mountain has been quarried. The debris from the quarrying is still scattered near the "shelves". You'll know it when you see it. It's the strangely rectangular pieces of rock.

We wandered into the woods at the base of the mountain and turned around and went back up Arabia Mountain. You can go further. At the base of the mountain, in a clearing, is a small lake and Panola Mountain (the 3rd sister rock).
I recommend climbing the peak at dusk and watching the sun set. It reflects off the puddles of water, making the mountain appear to have spots of fire.

This is an amazing place to bring your family, but be aware that there is quite a bit of broken glass (partiers?) scattered about. Arabia Mountain is sure to stick in your memory. Take a break from the shopping and spending and experience Georgia's diverse ecological wonders. Because that's what Arabia Mountain is. An ecological wonder.

In the land of the sparkling waters.........03/01/2010

3 lakes. 1 park. Beavers. Otters. Bald Eagles. Wild Hogs. Quails.

Nope, it's not the zoo. It's rural Georgia, specifically the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and it's surrounding trails.

Today we discovered one of Georgia's many best kept secrets. 45 minutes south of Atlanta, tucked back behind the tiny railroad town of Mansfield lies a land of sparkling water. This preserve was founded by Charles Elliot, a conservationist and the founder of Georgia's state park system. His ashes are buried at a white oak tree in the center of the preserve.

This 3 mile loop trail within the preserve follows creeks, watershed areas and circles 3 lakes. With the gorgeous weather today, it seemed as if the place sparkled. Warm sunlight streams through the tree tops and reflects off hundreds of surfaces, from wet rocks to tiny trickling streams. The park is completely secluded. You won't hear cars on the highway from here. And the park's location has made the foot traffic on the trails minimal. We passed a man and his son playing in the creek, but they were the only other adventurers we saw.

The 3 lakes within the park are pristine and reflect the trees on their shores creating a stunning mirror effect.

Towards the end of the trail we followed Murder Creek for quite awhile. The creek's water is perfectly clear and painfully cold. The creek also has multiple small cascades. We mused to each other about the creek's name, of course. My husband's theory is it's named after the large amount of crows that live in the park. My theory is the creek's reddish tint caused by Georgia red clay.

This preserve is known for it's amazing wildlife. There are countless species of birds, including bald eagles and wild turkey. This is a bird watcher's paradise. We kept our eyes open for turtles, otters, beavers and wild hogs to no avail. Perhaps we'll see some of these animals on our next trip to these trails, but today we only saw 2 blue herons, quails and birds of prey circling far off in the distance.

We left the park with our minds centered. I can only attribute this to the naturally spiritual ambiance this amazing preserve possesses. It's amazing in Winter so I can only imagine what it must be like in Spring. I will just have to wait (impatiently) and see!

Haunting hike. 02/24/2010

My husband and I have been very fitness oriented lately. As of the 1st of the year we made the chronic resolution to lose weight. It's one we've made before. It's also one we've broken before. This year, something snapped in both of us. We've stuck with it and have lost a combined weight of 50 pounds so far! We frequent a small local gym and have recently started hiking.

As a reader of my blog would know, the first hike was a bust! Big Trees Forest Preserve was downright disappointing. So, I kept my expectations low as we headed to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield in Marrieta, GA. The drive wasn't promising. The road leading in runs right through an industrial area. But let me tell you, as we rounded the corner and caught our first glimpse of the park....my spirits lifted!

Our first view was of a large open field leading up to a heavily wooded mountain. To the right a huge hibernating tree stands watch, heavily armed with Civil War cannons. We entered the Visitors center first, hoping for a map. The attendant was very friendly and we got to see a few Civil War artifacts and items found on the mountain. There is also a small museum in the gift shop, which we didn't go into. He handed us a map and we were on our way.

Initially, we entered the woods and the sharp mountain trail loomed ahead. A few hundred feet up we stopped to read a sign that stated the trenches we were seeing all around us were actually rifle trenches, used by the Confederate Soldiers that guarded this direct mountain path to Atlanta. I had though the terrain was naturally uneven, as it is covered in leaves and foliage. At about .2 miles up the mountain, we were completely enveloped with mist and barren trees. Looking up the hills, I imagined what it must have looked like during the Civil War. Men hiding in trees and shadows.
The mist definately added to the haunting feel of the woods.

Another aspect of the mountain that I found amazing was the amount of bright green moss covering just about everything the eye could see. Rocks and trees and fallen branches had been taken over by this sea of amazing green, which contrasted with the black and white of the winter forest.

At our first overlook, once I finally caught up to my husband (I'm not quite in hiking shape yet!) I rounded a corner and found him stopped, silent and staring into a mass of trees. He shushed me as I approached and I tiptoed to where he was standing. He had spotted a deer. She was grazing quietly just a few feet away from us, completely unaffected by our presence. I was exited of course. You just don't see that in San Diego! I saw perhaps 3 deer the entire time I lived in California, and they were always up in the mountains and usually out at night.

I snapped a ton of pictures and we moved on. Together we rounded the next corner and there were 4 more deer grazing on the path, right there in front of us! Again, they were not disturbed by us and continued nibbling. They kept a close eye of course. We watched them a while longer. I especially enjoyed watching one deer stretch her neck and head way above her body to nibble on a leaf hanging above her head.

While I was taking pictures of the deer, I looked down to see a huge centipede gliding along near my feet. It was neon pink and green and had what looked like hard plates all over it's body. I'll never tire of seeing these beautiful creatures.

After plenty of huffing and puffing, we finally reached the top of Kennesaw Mountain. The point has been made into a memorial to the Georgia born soldiers who lost their lives in this place. There are several more cannons at the top, surrounded by "earthworks" created again by the Confederate soldiers. From the top of the mountain there is a 360 degree view of surrounding areas, including downtown Atlanta. However, on this day you could not see anything past the edge due to thick fog.

I did some research after leaving the park. I'm drawn to the history of the place, because I felt what I can only describe as a connection to the place. The top of the mountain has been dubbed the "Dead Angle" because the battle at that spot turned into hand on hand combat. Many men lost their lives. 4000 or so, in fact. I can't help but believe that there has to be something left of those souls on the mountain. It feels like a cemetery. Not creepy, necessarily...but mournful.
Needless to say, the place is beautiful. It's serene, calm, isolated and peaceful. I imagine it's even more amazing in the spring and summer. I've read that there are several birds that live in the woods and one hiker claims to have seen a bald eagle at the top. I felt emotional when I thought of all the souls that had been lost in this place.

This hike is a bit difficult. It's steep in most places and you have to climb between rocks and roots. But the prize at the end of the trail is something you will keep with you forever. I know I will always keep Kennesaw Mountain in my "amazing file".

Notes on Georgia: Sandy Springs, Big Trees Forest Preserve. 02/21/2010

I've lived in Sandy Springs, GA for 8 months. I've passed the sign about 500 hundred times. Off Roswell Road next to the Fulton County Government Annex Building (they literally share a parking lot) is the large and professional looking sign boasting: "Big Trees Forest Preserve".

Out of curiosity I googled it a few months ago. It has it's own website that tells readers of the history surrounding the preserve, and directions and rules of course. It sounded interesting but it took us all this time to actually stop and check it out.

With very low expectations, we ventured into the strange little preserve. The parking is free and ample, and there were plenty of visitors. This makes sense. I assume they were all there for the same reason we were. Today was absolutely gorgeous. Sunny and 60 degrees. I know my California readers are chuckling as they regularly let me know how wonderful the weather is in San Diego. But after snow and cold for weeks and weeks in Georgia, 60 degrees is perfection.

We quickly took off on the first trail we saw. It was pretty much completely flat and covered in soft wood chips. It rounded the preserve and took us over several man-made bridges stretching about 6 feet over a tiny brook. Ok, it might have been a creek. Or as some Georgians might call it, a "crick".

It was quite pretty, except that from any point on any trail you could look to your right and see the road or parking lot, or buildings in the distance. You could also hear the traffic on Roswell very clearly. A small jet even went right over our heads. It made the whole place feel....almost fake. I started to call it the "Disney Land of hiking trails". It felt like everything was man-made, not nature's handiwork.

The man-made features I speak of included: several bridges, a stone walkway over the creek, and several "fallen" trees which looked like they were placed strategically. I couldn't help but wonder if the preserve has been overly planned. There was something missing. It lacked the isolated feeling of other trails I've been on. And the overall ease of the hikes made this a place I wouldn't ever return to, for fitness anyway. I like a trail that makes you work for the natural wonder at the end of the trail. Like the moderate hike through a dense forest that leads to a waterfall. This is a easy walk that leads you in a small cirle back to your car.

I don't knock the place for being a park. I mean, it's a nice place to walk your dog or stroll with a friend. It's not a place to go and become "one with nature".

There is a notebook at the beginning of the trails where people have shared their own insights on the preserve. I may have entered the only entry that wasn't positive. I was honest.

I welcome any comments about the preserve of course. I'd love to hear someone else's point of view on what exactly draws people to the park. And the people who said the preserve "re-centered their souls". Please explain! I must have missed that part of the walk.

http://www.bigtreesforest.com/

Notes on Georgia: Has Spring Sprung? 02/2010

Has Spring sprung? One week ago, I would have laughed this question off. Atlanta received record snow fall, blanketing the city in puffy snow and leaving the streets a slushy mess. Matt and I headed straight to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, hoping for snow play time. The park was gorgeous. The lights from the buildings downtown reflected off the ice and it truly seemed as if the trees were sparkling. It was quite cold obviously, but Matt and I forgot about the temperature for awhile, and walked through couples making snow men, groups of kids having snowball fights and others who like us, were looking for white zen.

The snow started melting away the next day, and each day throughout the week seemed colder and colder. The prospect of Spring seemed so far away.

Yet Spring seems to have appeared suddenly, as if trying to prove us all wrong. The sun shines, there are Robins and Woodpeckers galore and people seem to be walking with a little more bounce in their step. The magazine covers all boast Spring decorating ideas, and I even read an article about forcing Spring blooms on tree branches to open!

I understand the romance of Spring a little more. In California there really is little to no distinction between seasons. Here, after several month of real cold, Spring seems like a warm and fresh gift from Mother Nature.

The forecast claims rain will begin again early next week, and maybe it will go back to being frigid outside. But today it feels like the world is flowering around us. The trees are still barren, but the kudzu is turning green. I've gotten a taste of the upcoming season and now I really can't wait for the sun to come out of hiding.

"Light Snow" 01/07/10

Starting yesterday evening, the major news topics here have been snow, snow and more snow. Each weather station claimed snow would begin to fall Thursday afternoon.

A severe weather warning has been running all day. Schools have closed in most counties and my husbands building may close as well.

As promised the snow did fall today. It started at about 3 p.m. We rushed out into the cold to be apart of this weather apparition! It was like a light sprinkling of snow. Tiny balls of ice blanketed the ground outside our home for about a half hour.

Schools are still closed, but weather forecasts now show "light snow" around Atlanta. It's still coming down here, but looks more like frost than anything else. Our entire neighborhood must know by now that we are from California. We stood out in the cold in jammies and took multiple pictures.

Tomorrow the snow should be gone, until further notice. We now deal with the other problems that come with freezing temperatures: black ice, ice in general on the roads, frozen pipes and hefty energy bills.

Snow days? 01/06/10

Once again I'm back to the topic of weather in Georgia.

If you had told me one year ago that I would be living in a place with temperatures that reach the low teens, I would have shrugged the idea off. However, here I am.

The temperature has reached the low 20's and into the low teens consistently for several weeks. The air is like something I've never felt before. Five minutes outside and my hands are frozen to the bone. The cold gusts of wind take your breath away and dry out my skin and throat. I'm constantly thirsty as a result.
As of recently, there is ice everywhere on the roads. Pipelines have burst all over the city and several freeways have been shut down because of the dangerous conditions.

I've personally come to appreciate a few items much more in the past weeks:

1) Slippers- I owned them but never wore them in San Diego. Here I wear them all day and night to keep my toes toasty.

2) Hot beverages- I'm loving the Chai Latte from Starbucks right now! The cup serves dual purposes. Hand warmer/tummy warmer.

3) Fleece- I'll buy anything made out of fleece at this point. It really keeps me warm! I tried to buy a set of fleece sheets to no avail. The Hubby quickly vetoed that idea.

4) Scarves, hats, ear muffs, mittens- It's not for fashion here people.

5) Vitamin C- in the past month I've had two colds and a stomach virus! The cold breeds germs apparently!


Tomorrow the weather forecasts snow. I'll be sure to take pictures and update the blog if this actually does occur!