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Six Reasons We Love Winter Hiking

DeanLand
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Six Reasons We Love Winter Hiking

When the winter solstice passes deep into December, many we know pack up their hiking gear and wait for the spring before venturing out again. For us, winter hiking in Georgia is just another hiking season, with different appeal, unique sights, and a perfect opportunity to escape those indoor blues.

We love getting out on uncrowded trails on sunny winter days, enjoying the exercise, sunshine and great views that you don’t always see when there’s full foliage.

With an above-average 217 sunshiny days annually, North Georgia’s hiking season definitely extends year-round. Now, we’re saying that winter is our favorite hiking season. But it’s not our least-favorite either, a designation we reserve for humid, sweaty, bug-infested summer when we greatly prefer water, kayaks, beaches or air-conditioned resorts. Winter hiking simply requires a different set of equipment and a brighter outlook for darker days.

Reasons We Love Winter Season

Here are six reasons we love winter hiking, and look forward to getting outdoors during Georgia’s mild winter season:

1. No Sweat.

That may be an overstatement, but you get the point. When you dress warmly for winter hiking, you may end up shedding a layer to avoid a few spots of mild dampness. But compared to the strength-draining, drenching body water works of summer, working up a slight winter sweat signals that you’re getting a good workout while enjoying the outdoors. We always wear a wicking underlayer for winter hikes, which moves water away from the skin and helps retain warmth. And after a winter hike, we generally feel comfortable dropping in at a local restaurant (like Harvest Moon in Rome, GA.) for some comfort food and a beverage, not fearing we’ll offend the olfactory senses of patrons at nearby tables.

We always wear layers for winter hiking, including a moisture-wicking underlayer to help retain warmth. And after a winter hike, we’re not sweat-drenched, so we feel comfortable dropping in at local restaurants without risk of offending nearby patrons.

2. Happy trails

There’s nothing more annoying than heading out into the great wide open to find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with a herd of humans. During the winter, Georgia trails often are wide-open, or at least far-less-trafficked than any other time of the year. We have the luxury of weekday hiking, and we rarely run into large groups. On weekends, we try to avoid Kennesaw Mountain and other urban hikes, but even those popular sites feature smaller crowds in winter.

Winter trails are happy, wide-open trails, where we can avoid herds of humans while spotting friendly forest creatures enjoying the quiet, solitude and sunshine.

3. More to See

Fallen leaves open the view from different angles, often revealing hidden treasures and vistas impossible to spot during other seasons. Winter at Amicalola Falls and Dukes Creek Falls reveals the full vertical splendor of Georgia’s tall falls as they cascade deep into the valleys below. Wandering the trails at Red Top Mountain, you can spot chimneys standing alone deep in the pine forest, the only remaining evidence of previous occupants. Mountain-top views at KeMo, Pine Mountain and Sloppy Floyd State Park offer a wider view of the surrounding area with fewer leaves blocking site lines. And if you look into the forest far off the trails or even down near your feet, you may even spot deer and other forest creatures you might otherwise miss in full foliage.

Winter hikes reveal the hidden splendor of Georgia’s most magnificent treasures, like the full length of Amicalola Falls, not visible in other seasons.
It’s easier to capture spectacular panoramas, like this one at Kennesaw Mountain, when the leaves are down and the sun is up.

4. Fewer slithering surprises

With more to see all around, you can take solace in the fact that there’s a lesser likelihood of encountering slithering surprises on trails during the winter. But let’s clear up a misconception: snakes don’t hibernate during winter. Instead, they brumate, becoming less active and slowing their metabolism to reduce their food and water needs. But while they aren’t as active, they are still around, seeking warmth, often in underground dens and under wood and rock piles. Here’s a fun fact: while you’re less likely to see a snake outdoors in winter, the odds increase that you’ll encounter one indoors – like in your garage, your storage shed or even in your house. So come on, get OUTSIDE in the winter to avoid snakes! 🙂

Snakes are less active during their winter brumation, when these cold-blooded reptiles seek warmth under wood and rock piles, or in underground dens. We spotted this non-venomous fellow seeking sunlight near a fallen tree along a stream.

5. Bright Light

North Georgia enjoys lots of winter days when the sun is high in the sky or peeking through scattered or thin clouds. That’s good news for those afflicted by Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, which Mayo Clinic reports is most frequent in the winter, sapping your energy and making you feel moody or even depressed. Exposure to natural light delivers proven relief, including accelerating production of Vitamin D and potentially boosting a positive attitude. So while we love the convenience of walking the indoor track at the local YMCA or even making the 40 loops of our basement to measure one mile, there’s nothing like soaking up some sunshine on a winter hike – even on a cloudy day – to improve your health.

When the walls close in, we head outdoors to get the benefit of sunlight therapy — and get visiting family and friends out of the house.

6. Cure for Cabin Fever

We love our home, but we often feel the walls closing in during winter. There’s a reason Jimmy Buffet sings in Boat Drinks, “This morning, I shot six holes in my freezer. I think I got cabin fever; somebody sound the alarm.” Often, by February, we are looking forward to a Caribbean cruise to St. Somewhere. But during the other weeks, we find it much more practical to head to a nearby trail, state park, historical site or national land preserve for a simple walk in the woods — especially when we can get visiting family and friends out of the house for some needed space.

More Winter Wandering Ideas

So far, we’ve mentioned and provided links about winter hiking at Pine Mountain in Cartersville, Amicalola Falls State Park, Duke’s Creek Falls, Red Top Mountain State Park, and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Here are a few others that we’ve done that are ideal for winter hiking:

The low-volume falls at Sloppy Floyd are on our list for a return visit this winter. We’ve seen a few pictures of the frozen falls that we want to add to our own collection.

James “Sloppy” Floyd State Park.  We’ve hiked Sloppy several times, up to the Marble Mine and then to the high intersection with the 300+-mile Pinhoti Scenic Trail. (We promise we’ll get around to writing about our adventures, as it’s a fun family outing.) For Winter 2021, this one is on our list to visit again after a couple of days of freezing weather, when the low-volume falls can create some incredible winter picture opportunities.

Cloudland Canyon State Park. One of our favorite Georgia State Parks, featuring two major waterfalls, several smaller ones, and a spectacular canyon view. Fall is our favorite time here, and we tend to visit on weekdays, as weekends have been crowded during this year of Covid-19. Again, freezing days can create a winter wonderland of photo ops.

Cloudland Canyon is one of our favorite destinations year-round. We snapped this colorful fall photo, while winter reveals even more of the park’s smaller falls.

Black Rock Mountain State Park. Hiking the 2.2 mile Tennessee Rock Trail offers incredible vistas anytime of the year, but the views really open up when the leaves fall down.

Pickett’s Mill State Historical Area. Visiting in the winter can offer a better understanding of how battle activities played out during this bloody Civil War assault. We also prefer the winter because lower temperatures and shorter grass on the lesser-traveled trails means lower risks of ticks.

Mountain to River Trail. We often combine an early-Saturday-morning visit to the Marietta Farmer’s Market with a hike on this urban trail. We like it in winter because we can then grab a hot coffee or warm lunch at the Marietta Food Market (we owe an update on this post!) or from one of the many restaurants at the square when we’re done. We wrote this up as a fun bike trail, but we often walk it from the Square.

Creative hikers brought along hammocks, attached them to mountain-top trees, and enjoyed a rest coupled with great views. We’re looking forward to trying this with our Christmas-gift hammock soon.

A Walk in the Woods

We’ll conclude with a book recommendation. If you can’t or won’t take our advice to get out for a winter hike, you can enjoy our favorite hiking book, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. It’s a personal and highly comical story of Bryson’s attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine with a friend. If you’re not hiking, winter’s a great time for reading this or any other Bryson book, for that matter – to improve your attitude and outlook!

When we’re done walking in the woods, look for local restaurants for some comfort food and a refreshing beverage. Cooler temperatures mean we’re less likely to offend the olfactory senses of patrons when nearby tables are crowded.
Hikes can be through urban areas, too. We enjoy visiting the Marietta Farmer’s Market on early Saturday mornings for fresh buys, then walking the Mountain to River Trail. We usually end up at a Marietta Square Market food hall, or one of the plethora of options surrounding Marietta Square.

The Biltmore Shines Brilliantly for the Holidays

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The Biltmore Shines Brilliantly for the Holidays

After Hurricane Helene ravaged the areas with floods, the legendary Biltmore Estate reopened recently, just in time for its annual Holiday event that is a tradition for many extended families.

And as usual, the main home and other areas of the estate are shining brightly, illuminated by hundreds of thousands of flickering lights, countless fresh-cut trees and imaginative decorations throughout the huge estate.

Biltmore Interior Illuminated for Holidays
Inside, the Biltmore is illuminated by hundreds of thousands of flickering lights and countless fresh-cut trees.

For our pilgrimage, we enjoyed a Sunday evening tour of the main house and a quiet day exploring the gardens, winery, restaurants and the shops of Antler Hill Village. Frequent Biltmore visitors will be aware of on-property closures remaining after Hurricane Helene. But those who visit less often simply will be dazzled by what they experience at the estate during their visit.

By far, the evening Biltmore Candlelight Christmas tours remain the stunning highlight of a holiday visit. While the crowds we endured were sizeable, that didn’t stop us from enjoying the flickering candlelight and the extravagant decorations that adorn the massive house. And that was made even more festive by live choral and music performances placed strategically inside. Yes, visitors can tour the home during the day (saving a few dollars on a ticket) to experience the incredible decorations. But if you’re visiting, why not get the full experience and be amazed by how the house is transformed during the evening illuminations?

Biltmore Interior Illuminated for Holidays
Touring the Biltmore house during the day is an option, but why not get the full experience and be amazed by the evening illuminations?

One of our best decisions was enjoying some of the casual dining options on-site during our visit. Since we arrived early for our evening tour but weren’t particularly hungry, we created our own informal courtyard picnic with offerings from the Courtyard Cafe and the Bake Shop. Some fresh-baked goods, a nice salad, an espresso drink and some rich hot chocolate were perfect for a light evening meal after our late, off-site lunch.

Performances at the Biltmore for Holidays
We stopped to enjoy choral and musical performances throughout the Biltmore’s incredible gilded-age rooms.

As we toured the estate and Antler Village on the second day of our visit, we meandered into Cedric’s for some pub grub, a beer and some wine. The portions were satisfying, the beer cold and the ambiance reflected that of a comfortable pub.

We stayed until early evening, watching the sun set, then the twinkling lights awaken to illuminate the village area. Of course, no day would be complete without a dessert, so we made a stop for ice cream just before sunset — getting a sugar rush going to optimize the nighttime illumination.

Antler Village at the Biltmore for the Holidays
Beyond the main house, Antler Village also features a plethora of twinkling lights and some yummy delights.

Yes, there are lots of other dining options at the estate — including some incredible Forbes four-star fine-dining at for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner at The Dining Room — but our appetites (and a failure to make reservations in advance!) didn’t allow for those experiences.

Crowds line up at the Biltmore for the Holidays
Weekends at the Biltmore Estate are crowded, so go on a weeknight to avoid the largest crowds.

For lodging and other dining, we chose off-site locations for convenience, price and to spread a few dollars throughout the local economy. We used a walking tour we found on the GPS My City to walk through some of the downtown area. Some of our favorite stops included the art deco City Hall, the Woolworth Walk and Kress Emporium — both inside historic old department store sites — and the Grove Arcade, formerly a shopping center now converted again to shops and residences. Downtown we also stumbled upon the quirky Asheville Iron Sculpture and Shopping Daze Sculpture, then investigated more about the provenance of these artworks.

Post Biltmore touring in Asheville, Shopping Daze
We used a walking tour from the GPS My City app to meander through downtown, stumbling across this “Shopping Daze” sculpture before investigating further.

And, that exploration led us to artwork of a slightly different kind: the architectural wonder of the masonry elliptical dome inside of the Basilica of Saint Lawrence. For those who love unique architecture, we highly recommend that you download The Art & Architecture of The Basilica of Saint Lawrence, then put the Basilica on your visitation list.

Since we drove from the Atlanta area, we also were able to enjoy some other nearby touring on the way there and on our return trip home.

Post Biltmore touring in Asheville, Basilica of St. Lawrence
The Basilica of Saint Lawrence and its masonry elliptical dome are unique architectural wonders.

But if you’re planning on visiting in 2024, be aware that Asheville and much of the surrounding area were hard hit by flooding from Hurricane Helene. Thus, you’ll want to make lodging reservations far in advance AND check out the North Caroline Department of Transportation website for all the latest on road conditions in the region.

What You’ll See From Panoramic Pine Mountain

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What You’ll See From Panoramic Pine Mountain

(Updated September 2024. First published October 2020)

As the most visited national recreation area in the country, many Cobb County and Atlanta area residents are familiar with the climb and view at Kennesaw Mountain. For those wanting a change in scenery, northerly neighbor Pine Mountain offers a panoramic view coupled with excellent hiking.

Rising to 1,562 feet at its summit, Cartersville’s Pine Mountain offers a 180+ degree view looking South toward Atlanta from the David Archer Lookout. But what exactly do you see when making the two mile and 650-plus foot vertical ascent to one of the taller mountains nearest to Atlanta?

The 1,562-foot summit of Pine Mountain is marked by this survey marker. Standing on the rocks nearest the marker provides a spectacular 180-degree panoramic view to the South.

After hiking at Pine Mountain on several occasions, our curiosity was piqued. So we went back up again on an overcast day when the ozone and humidity were relatively low. Our goal: spot, photograph and identify the key landmarks visible to the naked eye.

For the unfamiliar, this Pine Mountain is adjacent to the Army Corps of Engineers-managed area that includes Allatoona Dam, Lake Allatoona, 13,000 acres formerly owned by antebellum iron magnate Mark Anthony Cooper, and the 270 miles of shoreline created by the jagged waterline of the flood control lake.  We clarify here because Georgia is home to several Pine Mountains, including the most well-known near Warm Springs, GA, home to FDR State Park, the Little White House and Calloway Gardens.

Except at non-peak times, it’s not routine to spot the native forest animals like chipmunks, squirrels, foxes, racoons, the occasional deer, and a sampling of Georgia snakes. But careful and observant hikers will spot many birds, insects and forest floor dwellers.

The trails at Cartersville’s Pine Mountain are well-traveled and well-marked dirt paths. Each features approximately 700 feet of upward elevation change, though once you descend and climb over the hilly route, an activity tracker will record more. Along the way, hikers enjoy mountainside streams; forests with towering trees, ferns, native wildflowers and other flora; and small animals including chipmunks, squirrels, foxes, racoons, the occasional deer, a sampling of Georgia snakes and lots of insects.

West Trail, for Convenience

The easiest, most convenient access to Pine Mountain trails is the West Trailhead, located on Komatsu Drive and just off I-75. But with convenience comes crowding. The large parking lot can be at or near capacity on busy weekends.

The West Trail departs the trailhead off Komatsu Drive, then heads downward to a creek, the lowest point on the hike. From there, the nearly-700 foot climb to the summit begins, up the West Loop Trail.

Hiking the West Trail to the summit and using the loop route covers approximately 2.4 miles. From the lot, the trail heads down toward Hurricane Hollow and a bridge over the creek at the lowest point on the hike. Now, the 678-foot climb to the summit begins. For the shortest (and steepest!) route up, take a right turn at the West Loop trail intersection, navigating a series of switchbacks and following the markers for the one-mile journey.

At the lowest points and along streams, the forest floor is filled with ferns. As you climb, large fields of granite rocks and huge outcroppings line the path.

Along the way under the canopy, you’ll pass patches of forest floor ferns in the wetter areas, large granite rock fields and outcroppings, and (on crowded days) potentially lots of other trail users. On the descent, follow the opposite branch of the West Loop trail for a slightly longer, but less-steep walk.

Concrete trail makers along with the blaze marks on trees along each route make navigation easy. Here, the West Loop meets the entry/exit trail to the Komatsu Drive trailhead parking lot. Don’t worry, the well-traveled paths are easy to follow.

East Trail, for Solitude, Somedays

We prefer the less-trafficked East Trail, though beware that mountain bikes are allowed here on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The trail begins at a small parking lot off Georgia Spur 20, a wooded backroad that follows the shore of Lake Allatoona to its terminus at the Corps of Engineers offices and the Allatoona Dam overlook.

We prefer hiking the East Trail, as it is more isolated and less crowded most days. But beware, it’s open to mountain bikes on Wednesday and Saturday. The trail starts with a quick 40-foot climb before intersecting with the loop point. This also is the joining point to the Cooper’s Mountain Connector, if you want to extend your trip.

This loop hike begins with a quick 40-foot climb. Reaching an emergency call box, we prefer taking the left branch and heading up the steepest and shortest route (approximately 1.3 miles) to the summit. The longer return route (approximately 1.8 miles) slopes more gently, includes several switch backs, and takes a deep-dive down to follow a small stream before a short climb back to the starting point. Generally, the terrain, flora and geologic features are similar here to the West Trail.

Both West and East trails feature several switch backs. After a few of these, it can feel like you meet yourself coming and going.

Cooper’s Furnace Connector

For those looking for longer routes, the Pine Mountain trail system can be reached from Cooper’s Furnace. Just follow the (NAME) trail toward the summit, looking for a well-marked connector trail to the East Loop trail. Taking this route adds approximately 2.6 miles to the East Trail.

Side note: we’ve done a separate blog on our hikes at Cooper’s Furnace.

The View at David Archer Overlook

Since all Pine Mountain trails feature loop routes, the most common midpoint includes an extended stop at the 1,562-foot David Archer overlook. Archer Overlook features a nearly 180-degree view. facing roughly South Southeast. You can see Atlanta on a clear day, though on our visits, weather, humidity, and haze has often made spotting the city building impossible.

We were curious about what we saw at the peak, so we did a little research. The labelled picture below and the descriptions that follow should help you. (Hint: for best results, enlarge your browser settings to 150% or 200% to see the picture labels with the text below. Or, to see the picture and labels best, right click on the photo and select: Open in new tab, then enlarge that to 150%. We’re working on a rotating panorama, but so far, it’s beyond our capabilities.)

Standing on any rock near the brass US Coast and Geodetic Survey marker at the peak, your view will include, from left to right:

To see the picture and labels best, right click on the photo and select: Open in new tab, then enlarge that to 150% or greater. Items in green are closest to Pine Mountain.
  • Sweat Mountain, distant beyond the lakes and just over 18 miles away. Sweat Mountain rises to approximately 1,600 feet and is located between Woodstock and Alpharetta.
  • Red Top Mountain, in the nearby state park that bears its name, the 961-foot peak is visible behind the white boat shed roofs of Park Marina on Lake Allatoona. The question here: does Red Top really qualify as a mountain?
  • Buckhead and Uptown Atlanta. When humidity, ozone or air pollution don’t hide them, some of Atlanta’s tallest buildings appear next in the counter-clockwise rotation. Buildings in Buckhead are farther left, with the Bank of America Building appearing approximately 37 miles in the distance just before Kennesaw Mountain rises to block the view of downtown.
On a clear day without haze, humidity or air pollution, Atlanta’s tallest buildings are visible from Buckhead to Midtown. Just look directly over the communications tower on Vineyard Mountain to find them. At far right, the Bank of America Building, approximately 37 miles away.
  • Vineyard Mountain, just under 1.5 miles away, Vineyard Mountain forms the southern anchor wall of the Allatoona Dam. You’ll may spot a communication tower rising from near the 1,348-foot peak of Vineyard Mountain, which also is home to several strenuous hiking trails.
  • Kennesaw Mountain, approximately 17 miles in the distance, and to the right of Vineyard Mountain. Hikers and history buffs will recognize the higher peak of Kennesaw Mountain at 1,801 feet, and the lower, 1,624-ft peak of Little Kennesaw, both of which housed dominating cannon placements during the Civil War battle.
  • Signal Mountain tops out at 1,178 feet, the slightly-tallest and center of three closely-grouped, nearby peaks.
  • Cartersville Mining District, including the currently-operating New Riverside Ochre Company.  Including the nearby area defined by the US Bureau of Land Management, the Cartersville Mining District lists 347 registered mines, including 130 producing locations and several registered as prospecting for gold and titanium.
  • Etowah Historical Site. Featuring mounds built by Etowah tribes between 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D., this state historical site is located four miles away on the Etowah River.
  • Georgia Power’s Plant Bowen. A large complex 10.5 miles away, Plant Bowen is sometimes confused for a nuclear plant because cooling towers shapes. The four-unit Bowen Steam Plant is one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the US. Often, white condensation clouds rise upwards from the towers.
  • City of Cartersville. Just before the tree line resumes, the City of Cartersville spreads out below. Look closely and you may spot the golden dome of the historic Bartow County Courthouse reflecting sunbeams.

Who Was David Archer?

Our curiosity was piqued by the name of the overlook at Pine Mountain.  If yours is, too, here’s a short bit of the backstory.

Our Garmin Activity Stats

As usual, we tracked our activity with our trusty Garmin Vivoactive HR watch, which includes GPS, altitude, pace, and heart rate information. We’ve posted it below for the West and East Trails. Remember when looking at exertion data that the device was attached to a 63-year-old man.

We’ve added labels (in orange) to our maps. Plus, the colors on the trails indicate our relative traveling speeds:

  • Blue/Green: Stop and slowest
  • Yellow, Orange, Burnt Orange, Red: Accelerating to fastest

West Trail, July 2020, at 81F

Hiking with our daughter and two grandsons, aged seven and five, and a small, curious dog on a leash, we meandered up the left fork to the summit in 41 minutes, taking the left fork of the loop trail first.

East Trail, October 2020, 61F

My wife, Glenda, and I hiked this alone, taking the left and shortest route up first.

Don’t Miss Nearby

  1. Cooper’s Furnace Day Use Area. Great river views, family-friendly hiking trails, a playground plus ruins of an old manufacturing site. A parking pass is required, but free with a National Park pass.
  2. Allatoona Dam. Enter Cooper’s Furnace Day Use Area and follow the access road to the end. Park, and walk along the paved path for great views of the dam.
  3. Red Top Mountain State Park. Across Lake Allatoona from Pine Mountain, the Red Top Mountain State Park offers lakefront hiking, boat rentals at the marina, and lots of picnic areas.
  4. Etowah State Historical Site. One of Georgia’s state historical site, it features a small museum full of artifacts plus walking access to the three tallest mounds.
  5. Cartersville Lunch Spots. We’re always hungry after our morning hikes. Some of our favorite post-hike stops in Cartersville include Ross Diner, a tiny joint at 17 N. Wall St. with no website, Moore’s Gourmet Market, and Appalachian Grill, the most upscale of the bunch.

Other Fun Family Fare

We have lots of other local, Georgia and regional adventures on the menu, too. Just head to our home page at OurTravelCafe.com and browse the nearly 60 options for family fun.

Make Panama Canal a Bucket List Voyage

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Make Panama Canal a Bucket List Voyage

If you’re putting together bucket list activities, here’s one to consider: A cruise vacation through the Panama Canal.

We cruised the Panama Canal back in April 2024 on Holland America. Leaving our North Georgia home for a departure from Ft. Lauderdale, we cruised the Caribbean, Panama Canal and the west coast of Central America, ending our journey in beautiful, sunny San Diego.

After putting off a Panama Canal transit for several years, we finally did it in April 2024. Now we recommend it to everyone as a bucket list trip.

Honestly, we put off this trip for several years thinking the route, ports, and adventure just wasn’t for us. Boy, were we wrong. So now, we’re big fans of this route and recommend it to all our cruising friends as a “bucket list” trip.

And here are the five top reasons why:

History. The Panama Canal story may be the opening chapter in America’s world leadership. After the French failed in a canal attempt, the US took over the effort. Within 10 years, the Panama Canal opened in August 1914. The full story is filled with history, intrigue, revolutionaries, politics, tragedy, and triumph. Before you go, we highly recommend reading historian David McCullough’s excellent and detailed book, “The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914.”

Sailing through the Gatun Locks on the Gulf end of the canal, the lock house displays the year 1913. It’s a great reminder of the incredible history of the building and beyond.

Geography. To really understand the canal story, you have to see the local geography. Yes, you can read about the heights of the mountains and depths of the valleys. Sure, there are descriptions about the dense jungle. And of course, you can see photos of the massive lake created as part of the canal project. But approaching, transiting and departing the canal will change your understanding, perspective and world view.

The original 51-mile canal was cut through mountains, required taming a wild river and gave birth to a giant lake. Then, a second canal was added as ships outgrew the original locks.

Innovation. No matter how you look at it, the Panama Canal is an engineering marvel of the modern world. After the French failed with their canal effort, good old American ingenuity, brashness and determination were required to “get ‘er done.” Seeing the original locks in operation gave me a sense of awe and pride. And watching the largest of ships bypass the original canal by following the same basic route and process reinforced my amazement.

Running parallel to the original canal and requiring fewer locks, the addition of a second canal accommodates larger ships and faster transit.

Beaches. While we generally are not beach vacation people, the variety of stops and beaches on a typical Panama Canal routing piqued our sun-and-sand interest. Most of these cruises make a stop in the Central Caribbean before calling at one of the Southern Caribbean ABC islands. (For us, Aruba and Caracao were on the itenerary.) Once through the Canal, the Pacific coast beacons. Based on advice we received from experienced Canal-cruisers, we selected other adventures in Costa Rica and Southern Mexico, and saved our beach outings for Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

A canal cruise isn’t just about the canal. Most cruise lines include multiple stops in the Caribbean and along the western coast of Central America, too. There’s lots of touring, nature and beach front to explore nearby.

Value. By watching prices during the cruise line’s ship repositioning season, you’ll likely find a great deal on a canal transit. Each Spring, cruise operators move ships from the Caribbean to Alaska. And they reverse that in the Fall. Each of these transits the canal. To fill repositioning voyages, cruise lines often offer deep discounts as compared to their regular fares. So it’s possible to get both a great adventure and a fantastic bargain by watching the options and prices.

Nature and natural beauty are a big part of any canal journey. Stops in tropical ports and near rain forests offer lots of nature-watching opportunities.

Here’s our final booking tip: if you have travel flexibility, look for deep discounts and last minute deals on a Panama Canal trip. After the cruise lines successfully sell cabins to those who plan in advance, empty cabins are discounted deeply. You’ll start seeing the deepest discounts on Spring canal transits beginning in November. Prices will drop again within 89 days of a repositioning departure, after the cancellation deadline for early bookers.

Stops on Our Voyage

To give you a taste of the scenery, here are lots of photos from some of our stops on this Panama Canal transit cruise:

Curacao

Having a bottle of Blue Curacao on the island of Curacao after arriving on a blue ship may be the definition of a cruise vacation.
Curacao is world-famous for its colorful buildings, artwork and scenery. Our tour bus certainly got us ready for a colorful day.
We chose an island tour that featured stops at some of the murals in Willemstad before heading out to a secluded beach.

Cartagena

The busy central plaza in Cartagena offered lively music, street performers, food carts, and lots of touring spots nearby.
The steeple of the Cathedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandria is an imposing centerpiece in Cartagena.
While the streets a best described as busy hubs of organized confusion, quiet courtyards offer peace and beauty.
What? Visit Columbia and NOT have coffee? You know us better than that!

Costa Rica

Hiking through a rainforest over swinging bridges proved to be a highlight — if not the wisest choice — of our stop in Costa Rica.
Rain forest. Butterflies. Need we say more?
We found this little guy trying to blend in with the scenery. No one tried kissing him to produce a prince.

Puerto Vallarta

The domed steeple of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe towers over downtown Puerto Vallarta. We ventured inside for a closer look.
The Isla Rio Cuale River Walk is surrounded by vendor stands. Overhead, colorful flags and other decor provide protection from the sun. We later saw this location featured on an episode of The Amazing Race.
The Puerto Vallarta art walk features castings, murals and other works of art. The walk stretches along the shore.
When you run short of certain required supplies on day 14 of an 18-day trip, familiarity counts!
Leaving Puerto Vallarta, we spotted a pod of whales, including two playful juveniles.

Cabo San Lucas

We attended church services onboard Saturday evening to get an early Sunday start.
Nope, not us! But I wish we had rented kayaks for a shoreline paddle. Next time.
The beaches in Puerto Vallarta were uncrowded, with lots of options for water activities.

There’s a Video, Too!

Want more about our Panama Canal transit? We put together a video of the actual transit. Check it out:

Mountain Magic: Waterfalls, Cabin Bliss, and Family Fun 

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Mountain Magic: Waterfalls, Cabin Bliss, and Family Fun 

We read lots of Facebook group posts and NextDoor inquires where someone’s asking: what’s the perfect Georgia weekend getaway for mountain magic? Well, after eight years, we’ve been here long enough to know that there’s not a good answer to that question.

Instead, there are an almost unlimited number of great answers when you consider the range of mountain magic options in North Georgia. So we won’t dare to say this is the perfect or best combination, but this waterfall weekend proved to be great fun for our family.

family gold mine tour in Georgia mountains
One our way to the Vogel State Park destination, we explored the Consolidated Gold Mine in Dahlonega.

On the way to this mountain magic getaway, we passed through historic Dahlonega, once the gold capitol of the Georgia and the eastern US. We couldn’t pass up a visit to the Consolidated Gold Mine, where we toured the abandoned mining shafts and learned about Georgia’s gold rush past. That also whetted our appetite to learn more about gold prospecting in Georgia.

For our two-night base, we rented a two-bedroom cabin at Vogel State Park. With a man-made lake for swimming and kayaking, a small waterfall on a park trail plus lots of other hiking options, the park delivered on all the amenities we sought.

Our cabin offered a full kitchen, porch furnished with rocking chairs and an outdoor eating area, a fire pit, two full bedrooms and two full baths. With the bedrooms separated by the large family area, adults could enjoy a quiet, peaceful night when we sent the kids and grandkids off to their side of the cabin.

The large porch at our Vogel State Park cabin featured rocking chairs and a table, perfect for dining and snacks while enjoying mountain views.

Nearby, we enjoyed side trips to multiple waterfalls during our stay.

For waterfalls, this is a pick-your-activity-length option. Onsite at Vogel State Park, Traylyta Falls pours over a small cliff just off the lake loop walking trail. A steep dirt trail leads to the wooden viewing stand for those who want views and photos. Adventurous visitors use a second trail to reach the rocky area just below the falls.

Trail to waterfall at Vogel State Park
Adventurous hikers can use an alternate trail to reach the creek bed below the viewing stand and Traylyta Falls at Vogel State Park

Our favorite falls on this trip were just a short ride away. We paired each with either hiking or other activities to make a day activity of each.

Just 12 minutes away by car, Helton Creek Falls features two small falls located in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Getting here requires a drive on a bumpy, shell and dirt road. We made it in our minivan, but not without some moments of trepidation. Then, there’s a short hike to the falls which tumble over two ledges along the creek. The lower falls offers a perfect location for wading and swimming, and we did a little of both with the grands. Later in the day, we returned to our cabin for a short walk, a cook-out and smores on the firepit.

Helton Creek near Vogel State Park
After a short ride over a bumpy gravel and dirt road, we arrived at Helton Creek Falls. We joined others in doing a little wading and swimming downstream from the larger falls.

On day two, after the adults enjoyed a morning walk around Lake Traylyta with grumbling kids in tow, we jumped in the minivan for the 30-minute ride to nearby Duke’s Falls. After hiking downhill approximately one mile, we stopped to enjoy the tall, tumbling falls. While others took “unofficial” trails down to the creek for swimming, we didn’t indulge here.

waterfall in Georgia mountains
Duke’s Creek Falls is a short ride from Vogel State Park. We’ve now visited multiple times in different seasons to get a better view of the tall, cascading falls.

Instead, we hiked back up, jumped back into the minivan, and headed into Helen. While we roamed the town, the kids filled their bellies with lunch, fudge and other treats. Mountain coasters, tubing and lots of other adventures beckoned to the adventurous youngsters. After everyone had indulged in their activity of choice, it was back to Vogel for a sunset cook-out.

On this trip, we didn’t have time to hike at neighboring Blood Mountain. So it’s on our “to-do” list for a fall or winter return. Plus, we made lots of notes on other hiking trails, waterfalls and scenic drives that we didn’t get to in just one short visit. So, we’ll definitely be back to explore more of this area.

Don’t Be Crabby: We Love Marietta Fish Market

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Don’t Be Crabby: We Love Marietta Fish Market

It’s easy to overlook established hometown restaurants, especially with all the noise that goes along with new openings. But there are reasons that icons last over time while most of the newbies last two years or less.

So after enjoying great meals in the past at Marietta Fish Market then staying away for more than a year, it was time for a return trip. And what we found reminded us why we’ve always enjoyed this long-time local favorite.

We always visit popular and crowded restaurants during weekend lunch periods or mid-week dinners to avoid the largest crowds. But, given the huge kitchen and seating areas at Marietta Fish Market combined with very efficient service, we’ve never had a long wait regardless of our visit time.

There’s always a large selection of fresh fish to choose from at Marietta Fish Market, plus an expansive menu of fan favorites that includes virtually anything that swims. As active 60-somethings, we often will share an appetizer and one platter, always leaving stuffed like a fresh flounder and carrying home a to-go box for a second meal.

On this lunch trip, we started with a Bang Bang shrimp and calamari appetizer, then added a small grilled shrimp platter plus the honey-citrus glazed salmon and jumbo shrimp special.


As it turned out, that was WAAAAAYYYYYYY too much food for two of us, and we left with a huge to-go container on this trip. But that was after we did our best to demolish the fresh, tasty dishes served to our table by the friendly staff.


Our Bang Bang shrimp and calamari included generous portions of both seafoods, fried to perfection and then tossed in a spicy and lucious mayo-based sauce that clung to the items with every tasty bite.


Our grilled items came to us at the right temperature, moist and bright with a light baste of seasoned butter. And despite having both salmon and shrimp. neither was overcooked and rubbery, a common problem in big kitchens with under-trained staff.


The side portions were generous, but honestly only the tasty hush puppies are worth noting here. The others were good, but not spectacular. But hey, who goes to a seafood market for the sides?


As mentioned, we’ve enjoyed this local icon many times over our eight years in Georgia. On other visits, we’ve selected and always been delighted by dishes like Shrimp and Cheese Grits, the Seashore Combo, the seafood pastas and the original-recipe salmon croquettes.

Other frequent diner favorites (according to their online reviews) include:

  • Snow Crab Legs: A popular choice among diners.
  • Fried Jumbo Shrimp: Another highly-rated dish.
  • Marietta Fish Market (MFM) Fried Seafood Combo: A well-received option for those who want to try multiple seafood items.
  • Broiled MFM Maryland Crab Cakes:


Our only disappointment here was that we didn’t plan well enough to enjoy the fresh-baked desserts. So we took a picture of the dessert case as a reminder to plan ahead for our next visit.

You’ll find Marietta Fish Market at 3185 Canton Rd, Marietta, GA.

Our Restaurant Disclaimer

We eat where we want and what we want, and pay for our meals. And when we find a restaurant we like, we write about it. When we have a poor experience, we tell the restaurant. But we don’t do negative reviews — you just won’t read about any bad experiences on our website.

We Smoked This Pizza With Our Ninja Cooking Skills

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We Smoked This Pizza With Our Ninja Cooking Skills

I’m not a chef, but I love good food.

And I don’t profess to be an expert at grilling, though I do occasionally test my grill skills.

But let me just share with you that I’ve found an easy, fast and delicious way to enjoy pizza. I smoke it on my electric Ninja Woodfired Grill. It’s the most simple method I’ve found to get a unique tasting pizza, fast. In fact, cooking this pizza only takes about six to eight minutes of grill time. But you’ll need some prep time to get things ready, though a few practical shortcuts can speed that along, too.

After just seven minutes of cooking on the high setting, our pizza had a crispy crust and wonderful smoky flavor.

After downsizing last summer, we no longer had the right kind of space for a traditional grill or smoker. So when I read about the Ninja Woodfired Grill, it seemed like a perfect answer. We purchased one, and have been pleased with every grilled, air-fried, and smoked item we’ve prepared on this outdoor unit.

Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em

Since it arrived, I’ve wanted to try a smoked pizza. I know, to some of you that sounds as crazy as putting pineapple on pizza. But to me, the idea of a crispy crust and traditional pizza toppings tinged with a tasty smoky flavor made me salivate like one of Pavlov’s dogs after the bell rang.

Inspired by a YouTube video we found, we decided to give it a try. We made a quick shopping trip to grab the required ingredients. And to make things more interesting, we invited our grandson over to help since he’s developed an interest in cooking.

For our first attempt, we used a fresh dough mixed in our countertop mixer. But for a shortcut, store-bought dough will significantly speed the process.

(You’ll notice here that I switched from the first-person “I” to the first person plural, “We.” That’s for two reasons. One, my wife Glenda was essential to every step of this process, including purchasing the Ninja Grill from my birthday last year. And second, we all know that no married man can accomplish anything good without the advice, guidance, and help of his wife. So, let’s give credit where it’s due. From here on out, it’s WE, and that means MOSTLY Glenda.)

For our first attempt, we did everything from scratch and with fresh ingredients. From making dough in our countertop mixer, rolling out crusts forms on our countertop, to hand cutting fresh vegetables, nothing was premade. My wife and elementary-aged grandson, Mason, handled prep. I was responsible for the Ninja grill moves.

To fit our pizza on the Ninja Woodfired Grill, my wife used a brilliant idea to mark the size on parchment paper. This helped our grandson roll out dough to perfect dimensions, and made transfer easy.

Glenda’s Neat Trick

Glenda devised a neat trick to get the dough dimensions right for the Ninja Grill. She traced the grill size on to parchment paper. That made it easy for Mason to help with rolling the dough. Plus, the parchment paper made it easy to move the pizza on to the grill, and greatly simplified clean-up, too.

By the time we were done with our lunchtime experiment, we made five pizzas, ranging from cheese and pepperoni to a fully-loaded “house special.” Quick adjustments along the way resulted in better cooked and crispier crusts, and a range of smokiness as well.

We learned that, if pressed for time, premade, store-bought dough is your friend. So are precut vegetables. Using those will save a significant amount of time, and you’ll give up virtually nothing in taste — though you may have to sacrifice your chef credentials. Those two changes mean you can have two, fresh-baked, unique flavored pizzas from your Ninja Woodfired Grill in about 30 minutes.

If you need step-by-step instructions, check out this YouTube video from Peter Hudson of Cooking With Peter. His tips gave us a great starting point, which we modified with our own experience.

When we were finished, we had five pizzas ranging from simple cheese and pepperoni to our own topping-packed “house special.” We learned a few tweaks with each attempt.

Tragic Crash Secrets Resolved After 82 Years

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Tragic Crash Secrets Resolved After 82 Years

A deadly plane crash. A cryptic epitaph. And mysteries that endured for decades.

Their story ended with a cryptic epitaph on a Marietta National Cemetery headstone: Died in a plane crash WWII April 29, 1942. And our interest in this story began with that same epitaph.

General William T. Sherman once proclaimed, “War is hell.” And in a story hidden behind a mysterious memorial at Marietta National Cemetery, we learned that even training for war holds its own dangerous risks and gruesome outcomes.

Our Journey Begins

Crash secrets about this crew endured for 82 years.
After spotting this headstone and its cryptic epitaph on multiple occasions at Marietta National Cemetery, we decided to pursue the story and its mysteries.

Walking in Section A near the Greek Revival style rostrum during one of our first visits to the cemetery, we found a large headstone listing the names of five Army fliers. Under the names, ranks, birth dates and birth places of the fliers, an inscription reveals, “Died in plane crash WWII April 29 1942.”  At the time, we were writing a post about the group memorials at the cemetery, but we didn’t include this one.

On a return visit, working on a post about decorated veterans and notable figures, we were seeking the Section A burial locations of Lt. Col. Wilford Phelps and Col. Blake Van Leer. We spotted the fliers’ headstone again. Once more, we were intrigued, but it didn’t work with the focus of our article.

As this Memorial Day approached, we remembered that mysterious headstone with its cryptic inscription. Now seemed the perfect opportunity to honor the memories of the fliers by researching and telling their story. But as we explored the story and the circumstance of their deaths, we’re ended up left with a few mysteries that we’re still unable to explain.

The Importance of Air Power

Recruiting posters for US Army fliers, used in Crash Secrets article
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US aggressively recruited and trained fliers for its small air force. Crews were trained hastily at new and expanded air fields throughout the US.

In the early days of World War II, the US rushed desperately to arm itself for a multi-front war. And with advances in aviation since the end of World War 1, military strategy demanded a strong, expansive, and deadly air power capability that could strike almost anywhere, anytime.

That reality exploded on the US with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, as the Japanese used hundreds of carrier-based airplanes to cripple America’s Pacific Fleet. And the British also learned the necessity of a defensive air force as London faced deadly daily bombing raids by the German Lufwafte.

Thus, the US, sought thousands of new recruits to become members of its flying forces. Here in Marietta, a new bomber plant was started and finished quickly, producing Liberator bombers that would prove essential to the offensive bombing capabilities of the US and its allies.

Planes Everywhere

Across the country, airfields sprouted from cornfields, with runways pointing in virtually every direction. McDill Army Air Base near Tampa, Florida, became home to the four-engine Boeing B-17 heavy bombers and the twin-engine Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber.  Combining the size, weight, engine power and quirk handling of these new war machines with inexperienced crews often led to disastrous consequences.

Vintage postcard of McDill, for our Crash Secrets article.
A vintage postcard depicts McDill Field, located at the edge of Tampa Bay near Tampa, FL. The base was home to crews learning to fly the B-26 Marauder and B-17 Flying Fortress.

In fact, according to published reports in military history journals, the B-26 Marauder proved especially problematic. The plane earned its nicknames “Widowmaker” and “Flying Coffin” from the numerous training accidents. And while the B-17 eventually proved to be incredibly durable and powerful war birds, the new pilots often struggled to control the huge beasts. Reports in local newspapers noted frequent training flight crashes. They even quoted a new Army Air Force colloquialism for the frequent accidents at the base located on a peninsula south of Tampa: “One a day in Tampa Bay.”

The New Planes and Flyers Arrive

Each day brought new arrivals to McDill. On Feb. 6, 1942, a new Boeing B-17E, registration number 41-2566, was delivered to the airfield from the main Boeing assembly plant in Everett, Washington. (SOURCE: American Air Museum).

After marrying his college sweetheart on Feb. 20, 1942, in his native Oregon, Lt. Ernest W. Robertson and his new wife transferred to Tampa, FL. Robertson, a guard on the University of Oregon football team and its captain his senior year, had been assigned as a pilot to advanced bomber training at McDill. (SOURCE: Newspaper)

Robertson would join five others in a new bomber crew. Second Lieutenant Joseph S. Smith was a Texas native. Fellow officer Richard R. Carnevale joined the cockpit crew from Lockbourne, OH. Privates Marvin C. Brown and William C. Wimf hailed most recently from Michigan, though Wimf was an Arkansas native. The crew was rounded out by Private William C. Gearhart of Pennsylvania.

B-17 Bomber crew at McDill, for our Crash Secrets article
B-17 bomber crews included a cockpit crew, bombardier, and a gunnery crew. A typical crew was photographed here with their new plane in March 1942 at McDill Field near Tampa.

A similar situation existed at nearby Orlando Army Air Field, home to P-40 fighters. There, Second Lieut. Robert S. Boyce, of Chillicothe, OH, piloted one of the single-crew fighters that often were to escort and protect bombers on their deadly missions. An unmarried graduate of Washington and Lee University and the army’s advance flying school at Kelly field, TX,  he was transferred to Orlando Air Base from Key Field, Meridian, MS., on March 25, according to newspaper accounts.

Rigorous and Realistic Training

While the day-to-day routines of these specific B-17 and P-40 fliers are unknown, the training they received was well documented and consistently implemented. It’s likely that the crews had completed ground and simulator training before arriving at their Florida bases, an observation largely based on historical documents and archives from World War II training programs and manuals.

Once in Florida, the crews homed in on turning their assigned planes into precise weapons. They had graduated from simulators to real cockpits, often taking their first turns inside the powerful – and finicky – aircraft.

The bomber crews progressed from basic flying to more advanced skills such as formation flying, aerial gunnery, bombing runs, and navigational exercises. For the fighter pilots, training included aerobatics, dogfighting maneuvers, aerial gunnery, and tactical formations.

P-40 airplane in flights, for our Crash Secrets article.
In training flights, P-40 pilots practiced their flying skills, including aerial acrobatics, dogfights, and flying to rendezvous with B-17 armadas.

And, in anticipation of forming the combined bomber and fighter groups that would form aerial convoys to assigned target, the crews from different backgrounds, training and background would practice essential rendezvous and pursuit maneuvers.

A Fateful Event

As with many World War 2 domestic training crashes, details of whatever occurred on April 29, 1942, are sketchy. The emergency nature of war preparedness and need for military secrecy often combined to limit available information on catastrophic events. But here’s what we do know, according to accounts published in the Orlando Sentinal on April 30, 1942, and other subsequent press and official accounts.

“A multi-engined bomber from MacDill Field, Tampa, and a pursuit ship from Orlando Air Base yesterday collided in mid-air about nine miles west of Orlando and killed all occupants: four second lieutenants and three privates. Colonel Thomas S. Voss, commandant, Orlando Air Base, announced.

“Those listed as dead were Second Lieutenants Ernest W. Robertson, 25, Eugene, Ore., who leaves his widow, Virginia, at Tampa; Joseph S. Smith, Yoakum, Texas; and Richard R. Carnevale, Columbus, Ohio; three privates, M.C. Brown, 2136 Antoinette Avenue, Detroit, Mich.; L.A. Gerhart, Wernersville, Pa.; and (William) E. Wimf, Holland, Mich., all aboard the bomber; and Second Lieutenant Robert S. Boyce, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Boyce of Chillicothe, Ohio, who piloted the pursuit plane.

“Colonel Voss immediately named a board of inquiry into the crash composed of Major W.E. Baker and Captains Griffin Davis and W.R. Yancey.

“The bomber, following the crash, plunged into the middle of an orange grove at the United States Department of Agriculture Sub-Tropical Fruit Research Station just off the Hiawassee Road.

“The pursuit plane crashed near Hoequist Field, two miles away, about six miles south of Orlando. Both planes burned.

Information card on B-17, for our crash secrets article
The crash was reported in local and regional newspapers. We found additional information on the planes involved by searching the Aviation Safety Network database.

The Gruesome Aftermath

The fact that the planes collided in midair, crashed and then burned led to gruesome realities for those who were flying and those who worked on the recovery. For those of us who have covered or worked at air crash scenes, the tragic outcome and horrible sights are among memories we hope to erase, but that never go away.

The remains of Lieut. Robert S. Boyce, 23, of Chillicothe, Ohio, were recovered individually. His remains were sent to his family in Ohio, and he was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Withamsville, Clermont County, Ohio.

According to archived records of the Carey Hand Funeral Home in Orlando, FL, the fragmented remains of the bomber crew arrived there on April 29. The remains were cremated together on Sunday, May 3, then placed in one box as the funeral home awaited further instructions from the Army. The records indicate the Army paid $1,500 for one coffin, and all handling and arrangements for the deceased bomber crew were approved by Capt. Frank A. Perri of the Army Medical Corps.

Mystery at Marietta and Beyond

As we mentioned when we discovered the memorial to the bomber crew at Marietta National Cemetery, it includes a cryptic epitaph and the names of five Army fliers. The name of 2nd Lt. Richard R. Carnevale doesn’t appear on the Marietta Memorial. Instead, there is a headstone for Carnevale at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH.

But the funeral records indicate the bomber crew was cremated together and their remains placed in one coffin. So, who actually is buried at Marietta National Cemetery?

Crew headstone for our Crash Secrets article
The headstone for Lt. Richard R. Carnevale in an Ohio cemetery likely is a cenotaph, a memorial used when a person is missing or not recovered. Records indicate that Carnevale’s remains were cremated and buried with his crewmates.

Then, there’s confusion about the actual type of plane in which the bomber crew flew and died.

The newspaper accounts reference only that it was a “multi-engined bomber from McDill Field,” and doesn’t reference the specific type of plane. A listing in the database of the Aviation Safety Network indicates that a B-17E Flying Fortress with registration 41-2566 crashed on April 29, 1942, just west of Orlando. And records of the American Air Museum list a B-17 registration listing for 41-2566. But the heavy, long-range, deadly-armed B-17s usually flew with a crew of 10, required for manning all the guns around the airship.

The other primary multi-engined bomber assigned to McDill in 1942 was the B-26 Marauder. A lighter and shorter-range aircraft, it flew with a crew of six. Thus, with six crew members killed in the April 29 crash, which plane were they flying?

Likely Answers from Observations

After more research, we believe we’ve resolved – if not formerly solved – those two remaining mysteries.

Most likely, the remains of all six bomber crew members are interred at Marietta National Cemetery at plots A, 945-B-C. Since the funeral home recorded that all remains were placed in one box after cremation, it would have been impossible to bury the remains of 2nd Lt. Richard Carnevale in Ohio and five others at Marietta.

Instead, the memorial to Lt. Carnevale in Ohio likely is a cenotaph, or an empty grave and marker memorializing a missing or lost person. Carnevale’s Ohio grave marker appears to be standard issue for the time for US Army veterans, a benefit offered to families of veterans then and now through the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs. It’s also likely that, if the Carnevale family ordered a separate headstone for a memorial in Ohio, Department of Veteran’s Affairs regulations prohibited his listing on a second grave marker in Marietta.

As to the plane in which the bomber crew flew, we believe it mostly likely was a B-17E. We found two database references to the registration number and reports of a crash, but one was incomplete and the other included an incorrect date and the incorrect name of the fighter pilot. Still, all the other information matches the crash reports. We could find no specific references to a B-26 Marauder crash near Orlando. Instead, we think the 10-crew B-17E flew that day without some of its gunners. Whether gunners were assigned and left off the flight or – more likely – a full crew had not yet been assigned, we can’t ascertain fully.

Our Growing Series on Marietta National Cemetery

Since we live nearby, we frequently walk the pathways through Marietta National Cemetery. We’re often intrigued by what we find, and develop new articles. You can find all our posts about Marietta National Cemetery and the heroes resting in its hills by clicking here.

Marietta National Cemetery Memorial Ceremony

Enjoy a Free Di$ney Day and Rest Your Wallet

DeanLand
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Enjoy a Free Di$ney Day and Rest Your Wallet

Legend has it that the D in Disney doesn’t stand for discount.  That’s generally true, but we found free things at Disney.

We recently took an extended-family trip to Disney World that included three days of park admissions.  To get a break from the Disney park death march and let our adult children enjoy some free time, we volunteered to watch our three-year-old granddaughter for the day. We were torn between another paid park admission, hanging out at our condo pool or finding some other activities.  And that’s how we created our own “free” Disney Day and saved hundreds of dollars in admissions while enjoying a full day of activity, adventure, fun and rides.

Legend has it that the D in Disney doesn’t stand for discount.  And that’s generally true, unless you’re a Florida resident or a member of a group.  Otherwise, typical Disney park admissions are expensive for us commoners who typically purchase a three-or-four-day pass.  And while daily admission prices do decline with tickets for longer periods, who has time – or the patience and energy – to endure even more.

Chances are that if you’re in Orlando for the typical five-to-seven day visit, you’ll want a slower day without high-price tickets to rest your body and wallet. But the little ones will still be screaming for their “daily Disney fix,” especially if you’ve been building up their expectations for months in advance.

DIsney, Magic Kingdom, Free Disney, Orlando, Florida, vacation
When you’re tired and the wallet’s empty, the little ones will still want their daily Disney fix. Our grand kids pooped out before we could enjoy all the free activities we planned.

Let’s stipulate that this plan may not work with travel-and-activity-savvy tween-agers or older, but it’s a perfect idea for tired youngsters.  And grandparents and parents, the kids will still have a blast riding, playing, and enjoying a Disney experience when you use your creativity and these ideas.

Parking at Disney Springs is free. Take a picture of your row number in case you’re too Disney-dazed to remember where you parked.

Here are a few things we did, plus some other ideas for creating your own admissions-free Disney Day:

  • Free Parking. For your admission-free Disney day, you’ll find plenty of free parking at Disney Springs. Despite the years-ago rebrand, we still alternate calling it by its previous names of Disney Village, Pleasure Island or Downtown Disney. There’s plentiful free garage and surface parking at this mixed-use shopping, dining and entertainment complex.  Just find a spot and take a picture of your row number just in case you’re too Disney-dazed to remember when you return later.
  • Disney Transportation. The free Disney bus system covers the entire resort area very efficiently.  However, there is no bus transportation directly to any park from Disney Springs, likely because of the aforementioned free parking. You can get to any Disney resort, and transfer there to a park if you’re inclined.  Buses do run from parks back to Disney Springs after 4 pm. Except for times near park open and closing, most buses are not crowded. Unless your kids are regular riders of public transport, getting around the resort by bus is a treat for many youngsters. Our granddaughter was thoroughly entertained by the character-themed busses, and we made a game of picking our favorites to ride — to any destination that Minnie or Mickey were going!
  • Lego Store and Once Upon a Toy. Lego fans love these stores, and this one features fantastic Disney character displays and plentiful merchandise.  And like many located around the US, the Lego Store at Disney Springs offers free play areas where you can let the little ones exercise their creativity while you rest your body. There are numerous building spaces for creating every imaginable shape.  In the center of the outdoor area, more experienced builders can create cars and other vehicles for racing.  We sat comfortably and peacefully sipping Starbuck’s from next door while our master builders worked. Similarly, at Once Upon a Toy offers a Mr. Potato Head building area, with no obligation to purchase.

Have your little ones wait for this special visit to select from every conceivable Disney choice.

  • Disney Store. Not your local mall store, World of Disney is the largest Disney store on the planet, with plans for even more expansion. Hopefully, you’re reading this before starting your Disney trip.  If so, encourage your little ones to wait for this special visit to make their souvenir purchases from every conceivable Disney choice. That way, you won’t be stuck carrying things around all day at a park, or retrieving items held earlier for what seemed to be your convenience – until you saw the exit pick-up line! Shirts, hats, mugs, cups, characters and more – yes, they have it and everything else here.

  • Disney, Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, Orlando, free Disney,
    At T-Rex in Disney Springs, the food isn’t free, but the animatronic dinosaurs, meteor shower and Paleo Zone are, and will entertain the little ones while you wait for food or enjoy a beverage.
  • Paleo Zone (and lunch) at T-Rex. OK, the food at T-Rex is not free, but it is a reasonable value for a Disney location. Plus, where else can you eat food with dinosaurs instead of being food for dinosaurs? The animatronic dinos weren’t too frightening for our little ones, and neither was the meteor shower. While you wait for a table or food, let the kids play (it’s free!) at the Paleo Zone or dig for fossils at Discovery Dig. You can make a reservation in advance on Open Table.
  • Splash Pads. For a post-lunch or early afternoon cool-down, Disney Springs features two splash pads. On the upside, kids love getting drenched in the unpredictable streams of jumping water. Of course, the downside is if parents or grandparents don’t have a change of clothes handy for those soaked kids.
  • Character Selfies and Hidden Mickeys. Walking through Disney Springs, resorts and elsewhere on property, you’ll come across countless opportunities for selfies with Disney character statues, sculptures, images and more. Posing for selfies with Stitch outside the Disney store,  we got a surprise shower and squealed with delight when he spit on us. We also made a game of finding and counting the “Hidden Mickeys” hiding in plain sight through the parks and property. One of the most famous and largest “hide” off I-4 just west of the parks: The Power Line Mickey. Thought you saw a Mickey head on an dick body swimming in the fountain by Muppets 3-D? No, that wasn’t an illusion.  And was that Mickey on a cookie press in the Norway pavilion in Epcot? Yep. The list goes on, as does the fun of the game.
  • Free Boat Rides. Hop a free boat ride from one the Disney docks. We jumped on at Disney Springs for a 15-minute boat to the Old Key West Resort, gliding past beautiful golf courses, wild swamps and the ever-popular Disney Tree House accommodations. We also rode the Friendship boats from Epcot to the Boardwalk. And we hopped on a mini-steamer from Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian resort. You’ll find similar boat rides connecting Epcot and Disney Studios to nearby resorts, and more near Magic Kingdom’s Seven Seas Lagoon (covered separately below.)

  • Free Disney Day Boat Ride DIsney Springs
    At Disney Springs, we jumped aboard one of the resort launches for a restful tour along golf courses and swamp scenes.
  • Resort Play Areas. Most of the Disney resorts feature very nice kids’ play area, offering opportunities to tire your energetic Disney juniors with sliding, swinging, climbing, exploring and other physical activities. You can check a resort map to find them.  We’ve not encountered any that require ID or a resort key for entry.  By my calculation, when I bought that overpriced beverage and bland food at the snack outlet on resort property, I met the definition of “guest” if there is any such requirement.

  • Disney, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Florida, monorail
    Monorails thrill kids of all ages. Zip around the Seven Seas Lagoon and through the Contemporary Resort, or take the longer loop around Spaceship Earth and Epcot. And if the kids or grandpa fall asleep, just stay on and go around again.
  • Monorail Riding.  Because of the crowds at park open and close, we didn’t use the monorail on our paid admission days, so this was the highlight of the admission-free day for our grandkids.   We hopped a bus from Old Key West Resort to Magic Kingdom, then walked across to the monorail station, stopping to watch the steam train arrive at Main Street Station. We chose the direct monorail to the main ticket plaza, then transferred to the Epcot line. The smooth, air-conditioned ride to Epcot is 15 minutes, including a circle around Spaceship Earth and above Future World before entering the station.  Feel free to stay on board for the 15-minute return loop – or even make the full circle twice if the kiddies or grandpa has fallen asleep. On the route between the main ticket plaza and Magic Kingdom, you can choose an express train with direct service, or stops for the Polynesian, Grand Floridian or Contemporary Resort. We also like stopping at the Contemporary, so the kids can watch the monorail glide almost silently through the lobby — still amazing after all these years.

  • Free Disney World Monorail
    At the Polynesian Resort stop, our littles got a tour of the monorail cockpit.
  • Get High on Skyliner. While the skyride inside of Magic Kingdom is long gone, Disney now offers another skyride that’s free to non-ticket holders. The Disney Skyliner provides convenient and scenic transportation and aerial views while traveling between Disney destinations. Gondolas are themed with various Disney characters and designs, adding to the fun. You can catch outside of Epcot or Hollywood Studios, are at one of several Disney resorts. Note that the Skyliners will shut down in high winds and frequent thunderstorms.

  • Free Disney Day Skyliner
    Outside of Epcot Center we transferred from the Skyliner to the colorful Friendship Boats for a ride to the Boardwalk.
  • Seven Seas Lagoon Boat Rides and Ferry. Walt Disney was a master showman, and loved building anticipation of his guests. That was the inspiration of the steamboat-styled ferries that carry eager visitors across the lagoon. Because of crowd sizes today, many guests fail to appreciate this simple pleasure and, in fact, see the ferry as a nuisance. If you’ve followed our admission-free day path, take the ferry from the TTC to Magic Kingdom.  It won’t be crowded, so head upstairs and walk the top deck for the best views as the spires of Cinderella’s Castle rise slowly and grow magically taller. You’ll also have excellent views of the Polynesian and Contemporary, and likely will cross paths with resort launches and rental boats zipping across the lagoon.

  • Disney, Magic Kingdom, free Disney, Orlando, Florida, vacation
    Climb to the top deck of the Disney ferries to watch the spires of Cinderella’s Castle rise slowly and grow magically taller.
  • Disney Water Parade. While the Main Street Electrical Light Parade has passed into history, the nightly Electrical Water Pageant parade continues on the Seven Seas Lagoon. And like everything else in our “free day,” no admission ticket is required. Check this link for the daily schedule. Some of the best viewing spots include any of the Seven Seas resort hotels, and the main plaza directly in front of the entrance to Magic Kingdom. The parade lasts approximately 15 minutes, and includes an abundance of sea creatures, flags and music.  Times vary based on sunset and other events, and the parade can be cancelled due to weather. We missed the full parade on our most recent visit, because our little ones pooped out on our “free” day. You can see the parade from the ferry, too, if you plan it just right.  The best viewing spot on the ferry is on the upper deck, but the floats will be distant and you won’t hear the music.

Our little ones pooped out before we could do all the free activities at Disney.

  • Grab Free Disney Swag. Yes, there is such a thing. And though they are just little touches, the kiddies love it. Many Disney workers carry a variety of stickers, which they are happy to share with little ones. Our stroller was filled with Disney stickers offered by cast members. At the Port Orleans resort, cast members offered colorful free doubloons to throw into the fountains and slip into a pocket as a neat souvenir. And if you’re celebrating a special occasion, stop by Guest Relations and get a celebration pin. Our granddaughter’s “First Visit pin got her lots of extra attention from characters and cast members, which made her day extra special. You can get birthday pins, anniversary pins, and a more generic “I’m Celebrating” pin.

We didn’t enjoy ALL these free Disney adventures in one day. But on the day that we devoted to free activities, we explored the resorts over more than 10 hours with these free activities.  Turns out that our “free” Disney day — intended to be a rest day — was as enjoyable for our granddaughter as any of the paid days.

If you have other ideas or experiences for a Free Disney Day, please leave your comments.

Chasing “The Great Locomotive Chase”

DeanLand
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Chasing “The Great Locomotive Chase”

April 12, 2024, marks the 162th anniversary of The Great Locomotive Chase. It’s an epic story that began in Kennesaw and ended just outside of Ringgold, GA. In today’s environment, no major public commemorations mark the event for a variety of reasons, all of which we’ll choose to ignore for this blog.

Rather, after visits to the Southern Museum in Kennesaw and the Marietta History Center plus the purchase of Russell Bonds’ best-in-class book about the event, we’ll focus on where you can experience the story. And we’ll consider how the event became ingrained in the collective memory in books, songs, major Hollywood movies, festivals and history museums.

A view from above, looking down on The General from the second floor viewing platform at the Southern Museum. April 12 marks the 120th anniversary of The Great Locomotive Chase, which started near the site of the current museum.

Some Essential Background

Early Saturday morning, April 12, 1862, a group of approximately two dozen passengers boarded a northbound passenger train in Marietta.  The group’s leader, James J. Andrews, had planned a daring raid that would unfold over the coming hours.

Around 6 am, the train pulled into present-day Kennesaw (then known as Big Shanty) for a quick stop. The conductor, William A. Fuller, called out to passengers, “Big Shanty, 20 minutes for breakfast.” He then joined the engineer and others at the trackside Lacy’s Hotel.

As the unsuspecting train crew and passengers grabbed breakfast, Andrews and his raiders decoupled several cars. Then, they commandeered the engine and few remaining cars for what they expected would be a northbound journey of destruction in support of the Union Army.

A new podcast by transplanted Acworth resident Bob Ugi, Go South Old Man, features an oral history of The Great Locomotive Chase. You can listen to a preview here. The podcast is available from most major podcast sites, including Amazon, Apple, Audible, Spotify, iHeart, and others.

The Marietta Starting Point

The historic Kennesaw House, one of Marietta’s oldest buildings, has served as a warehouse, hospital, morgue, and hotel. Today, it’s home to the Marietta History Center, a museum meant to “preserve and display the artifacts from Marietta and Cobb County and their role in world history.”

On the second floor, overlooking the railroad tracks and a small railroad engine built at the town’s Glover Machine Works, the Andrews Raider’s Room recreates an 1860s hotel suite. Authentic furnishings from the Kennesaw House set the period. A timeline outlines the story of Andrews planning and the later train theft. There’s even a bearded mannequin, in period clothing, peering out of the window, perhaps anticipating events at the next station.

If you’re not inspired to visit because of the link to the Great Locomotive Chase, the museum’s other collections focus on the general history of the area, the home life of area residents, and other military history of the area. If you’re a history lover and reader, plan to spend approximately 2 hours for a visit.

The Andrews Raiders Room at the Marietta History Center includes a second floor room furnished with period pieces. A bearded mannequin peers down at the railroad tracks. The raiders spent the night at the former Kennesaw House Hotel before boarding The General in Marietta.

Breakfast at Big Shanty

If you’re looking for Big Shanty or the Lacy Hotel, you won’t find either.  Used by both Union and Confederate forces, Union forces torched the hotel in 1864. And Big Shanty disappeared from maps in 1887, with the official founding of the city of Kennesaw.

Today, the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 12, 2022, occupies the approximate site of the Lacy Hotel. The museum opened in downtown Kennesaw as the Big Shanty Museum on April 12, 1972. Great fanfare accompanied the opening of the new museum, dedicated to documentation and retelling of the Great Locomotive Chase. The museum’s star attraction then and now: the restored General locomotive of chase fame.

Now a Smithsonian affiliate, the museum most often uses its shortened name, The Southern Museum. Walking through its galleries, visitors are taken back to the railroad times of the 1860s. The strategic importance of railroads as manufacturing, transportation and military resources is well-documented in the exhibits.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Big Shanty Museum opened on April 12, 1972. In addition to The General, the current museum features a large exhibit focused on Marietta’s Glover Machine Works and other railroad history.

Then, artifacts from Marietta’s Glover Machine Works illustrate the operation of this historic railroad locomotive builder. Visitors can also see a film about The Great Locomotive Chase, which reflects a Southern-centric perspective of the story.

Finally, the restored General awaits, gleaming in bright red with brightly polished brass fittings. A second story viewing area provides a birds-eye perspective of the engine and its fuel car.

End of the Line

When the General ran out of fuel before reaching Chattanooga, some of the group escaped on foot. Andrews and most of the raiders were captured. Imprisoned in Atlanta and tried as spies, Andrews and his raiders received death sentences, then hanged in June 1862. Following the war, the group was reinterred in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. A memorial topped by a scale replica of the General, marks their burial sites, just inside the main gates.

Just inside the main gates of the Chattanooga National Cemetery, a monument featuring a scale replica of The General marks the final resting place of James Andrews and six of his raiders. Blue flags commemorate the Medal of Honor Recipients, the first in the history of the US.

Rescuing the Texas

Commandeered by conductor William Fuller near Calhoun, the Texas joined the chase. After its retirement in 1907, several women’s groups in Atlanta sought to have it restored. The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway donated the locomotive “to the ladies of Atlanta.” After restoration, the Texas resided on display in the basement of a building housing the Atlanta Cyclorama. The Texas now enjoys a new home at the Atlanta History Center’s railroad exhibit, which opened in 2018.

Retelling the Story Over Time

As our nation continues to grapple with how to understand and tell the story of this great period of national tragedy, its no surprise that the Great Locomotive Chase and its participants have received various treatments over the years. Depending on perspective, the Great Locomotive Chase has been – and continues to be – considered ALL of the following:

  • A daring military operation meant to shorten a war.
  • An ill-conceived plan conducted by poorly organized spies.
  • The heroic story of a determined railroader foiling a dastardly scheme.
  • A military footnote with no true strategic value.
The Texas is part of the railroad exhibit at the Atlanta History Center. The locomotive is restored to its 1880 appearance, when it remained a workhorse engine for the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Photo courtesy of Atlanta History Center, All Rights Reserved

While history buffs, sociologists and culture warriors may see all these perspectives differently, one fact is undebatable: the legend of the Great Locomotive Chase grew beyond any expectations. Consider that the tale has spawned:

  • US Medal of Honor. Considered the highest military award in the country, Private Jacob Wilson Parrott, a Union soldier in the raid who was physically abused as a prisoner, received the first Medal of Honor in US history. Later, a total of 19 participants also received the Medal of Honor for their parts.
  • Concert Music. Music of The Great Locomotive Chase by composer Robert W. Smith is often played by concert bands and symphonies. The piece “stages the train chase complete with fascinating textures and effects. Listeners become engulfed in the vivid sounds,” says program notes from the publisher.
  • Multiple Books. The first, entitled The Great Locomotive Chase, was written by raid participant William Pittenger. Other well-known accounts are found in “Wild Train: The Story of The Andrews Raiders,” by  Charles O’Neill and published in 1956; and “Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor,” by Marietta resident Russel S. Bonds in 2006.
  • A Slapstick Silent Movie. Film legend Buster Keaton directed and starred in the 1926 feature film, The General.  An ad for the movie described it as, “LAUGHS to the right of you- LAUGHS to the left of you- they volley and thunder. Join the LAUGH Brigade. Enlist for Fun with the Commander-in-Chief of LAUGHTER. See him and shriek!”
  • A Disney Movie. This 1956 Hollywood version, starring Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter, portrays the historic story made by the Walt Disney Company. Actors Harry Carey Jr. and Slim Pickens also appeared in the film. Major portions were filmed near Clayton and Tallulah Falls, GA. The movie is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
  • A Television Special.  In 1961, the Disney re-edited the movie into a two-part feature for television’s “The Magical World of Disney.”
  • Community Festivals. Both Adairsville, GA, and Cartersville, GA, celebrate Great Locomotive Chase festivals.
Having served as a warehouse, hospital, morgue and hotel, the Kennesaw House is now home to the Marietta History Center. The second floor near corner is the Andrews Raiders Room, where a bearded mannequin looks down on the station and tracks.

Giant Fusion Eggrolls Make Eggroll Boyz a Marietta Must-Stop

DeanLand
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Giant Fusion Eggrolls Make Eggroll Boyz a Marietta Must-Stop

It’s official: those giant-sized fusion eggrolls that made Eggroll Boyz one of the most looked-for food trucks around North Georgia are now available at the Marietta Square Market food hall.

You may have seen that news posted elsewhere in February. But having spent a lifetime in the global restaurant business, we know better than to judge a new food outlet with a visit in the first month of operation. So, after Eggroll Boyz opened on Feb. 10 at Marietta Square Market, we let them work out all the kinks with operations, suppliers and personnel before visiting in mid-March to sample their fusion eggroll menu.

And believe us, it was worth the wait! We were rewarded with quick, friendly service and the giant-sized, fried-to-perfection fusion eggrolls we’ve experienced in previous visits to their food truck and Alpharetta location.

On our first visit to the Marietta Square food hall location, we selected the large Island Boyz roll with standard accompanying fries and fried rice. It was enough for two at lunch.

Not Your Regular Eggroll!

Compared to traditional eggrolls found at Chinese restaurants, that just ain’t how the Eggroll Boyz roll. Instead, based on their travels and food experiences, Eggroll Boyz create fusion eggrolls that use everything from Philly Cheese steak and lobster to burgers, barbeque, buffalo chicken and more.

On our first (yes — there will be MANY more!) visit to the Marietta location, we chose the Island Boyz roll with accompanying fried rice and french fries. Knowing the portion sizes from previous visits to the food truck and Alpharetta location, we opted to share the plate between the two of us. And when we were done, we were both as well stuffed as any of the huge rolls dished out by the Eggroll Boyz.

Of course, the highlight was that eggroll — stuffed with seasoned pulled chicken, accompanied by angel hair cabbage, and topped with the Boyz’ special jerk sauce. From first bite to the last, every mouthful was a flavor explosion that transported us to the Caribbean. If there was a Jimmy Buffet song in the background and boat drinks on the table, this just might have been heaven.

Hitting Stride at Marietta

As mentioned, we had visited Eggroll Boyz elsewhere previously, and this visit in Marietta matched each wonderful experience we’ve had. So if the Boyz had any of those first-month “jitters” that ruin the openings of so many new restaurants, they were all gone and cleared by our Mid-March visit.

You’ll find Eggroll Boyz located down a side hall at Marietta Square food market, occupying the space previously housing Cousin’s Lobster Rolls. The eggrolls are much better than the lobster rolls of the previous occupant.

We should mention that Eggroll Boyz isn’t really a value dining outlet. But then again, these aren’t the tiny, greasy, side-order items you get when ordering off a Chinese menu, either.Depending on the size you choose, you’ll pay anywhere from $15 up to $28 for one of their standard menu rollz and accompaniments. A lunch menu offers up a $15 option that includes a drink. And there are kids rollz offered at a lower price point.

On this visit, we didn’t have room for any of their specialty fries, though we’ve had their Cheezy Boyz Fries and Bacon Boyz fries on other visits, and enjoyed every bite. We haven’t ever had room left to try their desserts, but we are planning a special “dessertz-only” visit soon. We’ll post another story when we do, as they look amazing!

On our food truck visit, we went for the Barbeque Boyz roll, with a side of cheesy fries. This plate easily was enough for two people.

What Others Say

We dug through the reviews for Eggroll Boyz and found the most comments on the three following items:

  1. Burger Boyz Full – Priced at $18.95, this large entree is a standout item on the menu, offering a substantial meal for customers to enjoy.
  2. Lunchy Boyz Combo – Available only from 11 am to 2 pm, this combo meal is priced at $14.99 and is a popular choice among patrons looking for a satisfying lunch option.
  3. Philly Boyz Half – Priced at $14.95, the Philly Boyz Half is another well-received item on the menu, known for its delicious flavors and generous portion size.

Frankly, those all sounded good, but a little “standard” for our taste buds. We checked out some of the more “exotic” offers and found fans had high praise for the Bayou Boyz Full which offers a seafood delight with crab, lobster, and shrimp. Returning fans appreciate the innovative combination of flavors and high-quality ingredients. This one is definitely on our “to-do” list for a future visit.

In addition to physical locations in Marietta and Alpharetta, you’ll often find the Eggroll Boyz food trucks in Cobb County cities and towns, and at local events.

Migrating Hummingbirds Stop, Nest In Georgia on Long Journey

DeanLand
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Migrating Hummingbirds Stop, Nest In Georgia on Long Journey

The annual long journey of the tiny hummingbird is underway, and the migrating masses likely will be reaching Atlanta, Cobb County and the rest of North Georgia later this month and beyond as they head north for the mating season. Georgians are most likely to spot ruby-throated hummingbirds here.

Based on historical patterns reported by various tracking sources, the first in the hummingbird migration generally reach South Georgia by early March. Sightings increase in the areas around Atlanta by mid-March, then up to the Tennessee and South Carolina borders by April 1. On both spring and fall migrations, several websites like Hummingbirdcentral.com offer interactive maps where birdwatchers can register their sightings and help track the hummingbird migration schedule. The website JourneyNorth.org offers a map that can be animated over time.

Hummingbird hovering in a flower garden
Hummingbirds are always looking for sweet nectar to power their migration. They stop frequently and often drink as much as three times their body weight to sustain their high metabolism. We photographed this Black Chinned Hummingbird at a botanical garden in Arizona.

When you spot the first hummingbird of the season, you can submit your sighting to help track the hummingbird migration. Individuals are encouraged to submit winter or unusual species sightings to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Georgia hummingbird enthusiast

A few hummingbirds remain in Georgia year-round, mostly in coastal and Southern areas of the state, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. However, the majority migrate, traveling along a path from winter home lands in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean to spring and summer nesting grounds along the Eastern US seacoast.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=40YHBM_0eWlyO7000
Based on historical patterns, hummingbirds should start reaching North Georgia around March 20. Sites like Hummingbirdcentral.com offer tracking and interactive maps.

In the spring hummingbird migration to their nesting areas, hummingbirds take a leisurely approach to their journey. Typically, they will travel approximately 20 miles per day, then stop for resting and frequent feeding periods. With the highest metabolism of any species, they feed at hundreds of flowers and up to six times or more per hour, according to Hummingbirdsplus.org. Those stops are essential as hummingbirds generally consume at least half of their weight and as much as double or triple their weight in nectar each day. They also add some protein to their diets by eating some insects and spiders. (For lots of other cool hummingbird facts — like hummingbirds don’t “hum” at all, but rather create a humming sound due to the fast beating of their wings — visit hummingbirdsplus.org)

To spot migrating hummingbirds, don’t look up for sky-darkening flocks or neat V-style formations of the tiny birds traveling together. Hummingbirds are loners and fly individually. So the best chance of spotting them is as they fly around a garden looking for food. Some local botanical gardens like Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw, Gibbs Gardens in Ballground and Atlanta Botanical Gardens feature special hummingbird areas where they concentrate nectar-producing flowers and other bushes that attract the tiny birds.

Want lots of cool facts and great information on everything hummingbirds? The website, hummingbirdsplus.org is a great resource and lots of fun to explore.

You can increase the number of hummingbirds near your home by making your yard and garden more hummingbird friendly. Hummingbird feeders that hold commercially-produced or homemade nectar. The US National Zoo and Smithsonian Institution publish a homemade recipe for nectar, plus lots of other tips for attracting hummingbirds. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources also publishes a list of native and exotic plants that help attract hummingbirds. Hummingbird enthusiast Elizabeth Donaldson has written an informative site that features Georgia hummingbird facts, pictures and sounds. She also publishes similar information for other states.

More Georgia Natural Content

OurTravelCafe.com focuses on North Georgia content that includes family-friendly outdoor activities and more. Some of our articles also appear on Newsbreak. Following are links to some of our recent Newsbreak nature and outdoor articles:

If you enjoy stories about birds, you might also like to learn about nesting ospreys and their hatching season at Lake Allatoona, GA.

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We also publish stories by DeanLand on NewsBreak. To see more content, follow DeanLand on the Newsbreak platform.

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