Places to Visit Listed A-Z

North Georgia, Helen experience:

1. Helen, Georgia [picturesque Bavarian village]
2. Anna Ruby Falls [beautiful hike to this amazing waterfall]
3. Chattahoochee River "shoot the 'Hooch" tubing experience {Cool River Tubing}
4. Unicoi mountain-top lodge and cabins

North Georgia, Atlanta experience

1. Arabia Mountain (near Stonecrest, GA) {beautiful hike over a double stone mountain to amazing overlook to a lake}
2. Marriott Marquis Hotel (Atlanta, Georgia) {ride one the elevators 500 feet up to the top of the hollow tube}
3. Peachtree Tower and Sundial Restaurant (Atlanta, Georgia) {ride the elevator 700 feet up along the outside of the building until you reach the rotating restaurant at the top}
4. Six Flags Over Georgia (Atlanta, Georgia) {amusement park}
5. Taiyo Sushi & Ramen (Lawrenceville, Georgia) [Asian restaurant]
6. Varsity (near downtown Atlanta) {naked dogs, slaw dogs & the freshest Coca-Cola from HQ right across the street}

North Georgia, Athens experience:

1. Choo Choo Grill Express (Asian restaurant, Gainesville School Road, Athens, Georgia) {best Bulgoki (sweet & savory beef) and clumping fried rice, with cabbage and veg, and a reasonable price]
2. Scull Shoals (near Penfield, GA) {ghost town, once the largest settlement in Greene County (consisting of over 500 homes) was finally abandoned when their covered bridge was swept two miles downstream}
3. Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe (Athens, Georgia) {they have an amazing Greek salad; it is a chain restaurant, but the building this one is in is very beautiful}

Middle Georgia:

1. Buc-ee's (near Warner Robins, Georgia) [feels like you're driving up to an amusement park: cheapest gasoline; 125 gas pumps; biggest bathrooms; delicious brisket sandwiches, jerky, beaver chips & nuggets, and store full of tasteful merchandise]

North Florida, Lake City experience:

1. Lake City Fairgrounds (Lake City, Florida) {when the show is in town: boasts two Ferris wheels, helicopter rides, and the staging area for Florida hurricanes}
2. Farm Stand (near Branford, Florida) {Mexican restaurant and fresh produce stand, surrounded by strawberry fields}
3. Little River Springs (near O'Brien, Florida) {Colosseum-like concrete seating around the always-clear-blue, 72-degree springs that join the Suwannee River}
4. KC's Produce (Lake City, Florida) {the most amazing little grocery store that I've ever seen}
5. Royal Springs (near O'Brien, Florida) {round diving pool springs drain along a rocky creek to the Suwannee River}
6. Sakura Sushi (Live Oak, Florida) [Asian restaurant] {best bang-for-your-buck sushi on planet Earth}
7. Suwannee Springs Bridge (near Live Oak, Florida) {AKA graffiti bridge}
8. Texas Roadhouse (Lake City, Florida) {best prime rib, loaded baked potato, side salad, and endless rolls}

North Carolina, Wilmington experience:

1. Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry (near Wilmington, North Carolina) {drive your car onto a ferry and ride across the sound}
2. Kure Beach, North Carolina {beautiful wind-driven trees between you and the coast as you drive along}
3. Ocean Isle Inn, Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina {where I lodge when I go to Ocean Isle Beach}
4. Southport Fishing Pier, Southport, North Carolina (SW of Wilmington)
5. U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship, Wilmington, North Carolina {sits in a dredged bay across the river from downtown Wilmington}
6. Wilmington Riverwalk, Wilmington, North Carolina {on the east shore of the Cape Fear River}

Ohio:

1. "Bridge of Dreams" covered bridge (near Danville, Ohio) {has to be coolest covered bridge that I've ever experienced; the Amish still use it for their horse-drawn wagons}
2. Cedar Point Amusement Park (near Sandusky, Ohio) {best rollercoaster park}
3. Heini's Cheese Chalet, Berlin, Ohio {cheese-tasting experience in the heart of Amish country}
4. Miller's Bakery (between Millersburg and Berlin, Ohio) {OMG donuts!}

Arizona:

1. Desert View Watchtower (Grand Canyon, Arizona) {over a mile deep hole in the ground; 20 miles as the crow flies across the great chasm to North Rim, or a 189-mile (3 and a half hour) drive around the canyon}
2. Meteor Crater (near Winslow, Arizona) {best-preserved meteor crater on Earth}