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Downhill Biking for the Faint Hearted

US Roadhouse Fare

DeanLand

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January 22, 2022

When my family hears me say, “I’m going on a bike ride,” they are accustomed to my multi-hour, 40+ mile journeys. And these often turn into metric century endurance rides.

Thus, it was no surprise to me that they were less than enthusiastic when I suggested a family bike outing during a Vail, CO, summer vacation stop. I mean, the only thing worse for them than one of my endurance rides would be a super endurance ride at high altitude, going uphill.

But after some tireless cajoling and convincing, they agreed to join me for one of the best rides of their life.

Ready, Set!

Visiting one week before the peak summer season, we had a wide selection of trip options even at the last minute. We arranged for rental bikes at Charter Sports near the Lion’s Head Lodge. We were quickly sized and seated on our selected steads, then fitted with a protective helmet. A forty-year local resident assisted us through the process, and shared trail tips and scenic viewpoints blended with local lore. We were joined in the shuttle by three hung-over members of a bachelorette party, which made for entertaining conversation.

***At the start, Black Lake is framed by the distant snowy peaks of the Ten Mile Range. Along the banks, we adjusted our gear and settled into our saddles for eight miles of downhill fun.***

Our starting point was the summit of Vail Pass, elevation 10, 662 feet. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks of the Ten Mile Range that form some of Colorado’s most visited ski resorts, Interstate 70 climbs to its penultimate elevation here. Our destination: Vail Village, 14 miles away and 2,500 vertical feet below us.

Just after noon on a sunny and windy day, we posed for pictures overlooking Black Lake. Distant snowy mountain peaks formed a backdrop. Then we devoured our sandwiches before saddling up to head down the wide paved trail from Vail Pass.

Downhill We Go

On a straight section on the banks of Black Lake, we adjusted our gear. Then, we settled into the saddles for nearly eight downhill miles surrounded by mountain scenery, listening only to the wind in our ears. Occasionally, the path neared Interstate 70, always separated but close enough that friendly motorists honked and waved.

At Polk Creek, the trail makes a hard right turn. Ducking under the Grand Army of the Republic Highway – the formal name for Interstate 70 here. The bike trail follows the deep, rocky valley where Polk Creek, Miller Creek and Black Gore Creek converge. Above, I-70 curves and splits into twin spans bridging the crevasse. With waters from melting snow as a backdrop, it was a perfect pit stop for a selfie.

At Polk Creek, the trail ducks under the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, the formal name for Interstate 70 here. With waters from melting snow rushing by, it was a perfect place to rehydrate and take a selfie.

The bike trail joins a lightly-travelled road near Gore Creek Campground. We made a mental note to return later for a hike along the popular creek-side trail. Crossing under I-70 again, road traffic increases substantially along Big Horn Road. We picked up speed here on marked bike path that shares the road’s shoulder and a few bus stops. To our left up on the mountainside, Zen Falls and Murphy Falls plunged silently in the distance to join Gore Creek.

***Along a busy section of Big Horn Road, up on the mountainside beyond the rental condos, Zen Falls and Murphy Falls plunge from the hillsides down to Black Gore Creek.***

At Bridge Road, we crossed Gore Creek, left the busy road and joined the Gore Valley Trail. At 8,500 feet, most of the downhill section was behind us. Following the creek, we rode through rocky mountainside grasslands, spotted a cayote, and struggled up a few short inclines. We pedaled alongside the fairways of Vail Country Club. Then the path rejoined Sunburst and Vail Valley Road for the final miles back to Lion’s Head. With the bikes available for the afternoon, we pedaled around the village for some leisure exploring and in search of sweet treats. The latter was found at Rimini Gelato. We ordered up double cones for everyone and watched a wedding photographer capture shots of newly weds.

***At Rimini Gelato, we ordered up double cones for everyone and watched a wedding photographer capture shots of newly weds.***

Details and Statistics

We completed the riding portion of the excursion in just under two hours. That included nearly 40 minutes of stops for water, waiting, requisite family discussions and photos. My Garmin Fenix 5 tracker recorded 2,204 feet of total descent. Virtually all of that in the first half of the ride before we reached the flatter areas near Vail. My fitness watch also recorded these surprising data points:

Our average speed was only 10 mph. Despite a 2,000-foot, 6-mile downhill section, we barely averaged double-digits. Actually, our moving speed was 12 mph, but that’s still surprising considering the massive slope we descended.
We climbed nearly 300 feet along the way. And while I used the word “climbed” intentionally, it’s all facetious. Best described as small elevation gains, all this came once we reached Vail, where the bike path and roads curved into residential and business areas.
Peak heart rate was on the downhill section. I would love to report a high-speed descent akin to what racers experience in the Alps or Pyrenees during the Tour de France. Alas, my top speed was 30 mph, and that data point doesn’t correspond to the heart rate point. In retrospect, maybe I could have fictionalized this part of the story for better effect.

***After six miles of steeper downhill riding, the path levels off around 8,500 feet and follows Black Gore Creek. Grasslands line the banks, giving way to trees along the mountainsides.***

Final Thoughts

This was an enjoyable family outing for us, and that’s exactly what we signed up for. If I were to do it again with the family, I’d do the longer eastern descent. That runs from Vail Pass back down to Frisco, then offers an option to continue into Breckenridge. If you’re a serious cyclist, you can consider making this an out-and-back trip from Breckenridge, Frisco or Vail. The roundtrip from Breckenridge measures 41 miles and includes 2,300 feet of vertical climbing. That’s not for me, but you do you! Happy Trails.

Other Biking Adventures

If you enjoyed this account, you may also enjoy these other biking adventures on our site:

Family Fun Rides in Marietta, GA. We detail our experience on several trails in this Northwest Georgia location.

Biking on St. Simon’s Island, GA. Find our five favorite forays on this island community, plus our bike trail account.

Southern Silver Comet Trail. We did a 42-mile winter roundtrip on the southern-most section of this rail trail.

***With the bikes available for the afternoon, we pedaled around Lion’s Head and Vail Village for some additional leisurely exploring.***

***In Vail, we made a quick stop and revisit to the Betty Ford Botanical Garden. The small garden features a range of alpine plants in typical mountain landscapes.***

Graphical representation of ride statistics — A graphic representation of our ride, from my Garmin Connect page. About 41 minutes into our 2 hour ride, we had completed our major descent. After that, the ride flattened, with occasional inclines in residential and commercial areas.

Walking in a Winter Waterfall Wonderland

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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January 5, 2022

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Walking in a Winter Waterfall Wonderland

(Originally posted, March 2021)

Since spotting pictures online of frozen waterfalls, I’ve been waiting for a prolonged Georgia cold snap to explore our own winter waterfall wonderlands. Mother Nature hasn’t been cooperative in 2020-2021, offering few consecutive days of below freezing weather for even the slowest-flowing Georgia waterfalls to freeze.

But around President’s Day, when many in Cobb County and other parts of Georgia already had flocked south during school winter break, we finally “enjoyed” enough subfreezing hours to produce and sustain outdoor ice. I intentionally put “enjoyed” in quotes, because while the Georgia weather was good for my waterfall photography purposes, the severe winter storm that brought it created misery, heartbreak, and hardship for many elsewhere in the country.

***With few days of below freezing weather in the winter of 2020-2021, my hopes of pictures from a frozen waterfall were waning. So it wasn’t a surprise to my wife*** ***when*** ***I suggested on the coldest evening of the year that we head out on a waterfall hike the next morning.***

Thus, it wasn’t surprising to my wife when, on the coldest evening in 2021, I suggested a morning visit to Amicalola Falls. Temperatures had remained below freezing the prior day, and overnight the mercury was predicted to dip to the lower 20s. But the morning was promising a quick warm-up, thus this was going to be a race with the sunshine to capture my pictures.

Racing the Sun

Approaching Amicalola State Park on GA SR 136, we saw only minimal traces of snow remaining on some of the nearest high points, and I feared I had missed the photo opportunity. But further up the road, while navigating a sweeping turn, we spotted the frosted trees surrounding the falls canyon and extending up to the peak where Amicalola Falls Lodge overlooks the surrounding valley. My hopes were rising, but so were the sun and the temperatures.

Spotting the frosted trees surrounding the falls canyon and extending up to the peak where Amicalola Falls Lodge overlooks the surrounding valley, my hopes were rising. But so were the sun and the temperatures, and this was going to be a race.

As with all hikes by us mid-60ish folks, this one started in the visitor’s center for a quick break before heading up to the top of the falls. Among other necessities, it was time to renew our Georgia State Parks annual pass, a bargain at $50 for anyone and even better with the 50% discounts for seniors. But time was ticking.

After renewing our Georgia State Parks senior pass, then a quick pit stop at the lodge for other necessities, we headed for the falls-top parking area. The temperature now read 32F, and trees were quickly shedding their ice coats in the warming sun.

Observing the parkwide 15 mph speed limit and gawking at the plentiful icicles lining the road, we finally reached the falls-top parking area at 10 am on what was now a bright and clear day. Our thermostats read 32F degrees, up 5F from our departure.

Throwing Caution to the Wind

I raced for the descending stairs and started my downward trek. An early slip on the ice-covered metal of the first flight made me more cautious as I quick stepped down the remaining 400+ steps to the mid-falls overlook. I passed another photographer, already on his way up having completed earlier-morning shots. Tick-tock!

The falls tumbled from the promontory, cascading through a field of icicles glistening on the black and grey canyon rock face.

Reaching the overlook bridge, I entered a scene from Frozen, but without my princess who was far behind cautiously and safely descending those slick stairs. Above, the falls tumbled from the promontory, cascading through a field of icicles glistening on the black and grey rock face. All around, the frozen mist encased plants and rocks and trees, creating an icy landscape soon to disappear.

Looking down toward the lower cascades, the ice field ended and transformed back to a barren winter landscape. I could feel the warmth creeping up, amplified by the sounds of ice falling from the thawing tree branches all around.

Below the mid-falls observation bridge, the ice field ended and the forest transformed into a barren winter landscape except for a light coating of snow remaining on the stairs and rails. I could feel the warmth creeping up the canyon as I snapped furiously to capture any unique shot.

Snapping digital shots from several vantage points, I stretched, bent, knelt, and even laid around the railings and obstacles, trying to emulate better photographers who always find unusual or overlooked angles. Fortunately, the park was still deserted on this freezing weekday, so I was only annoying my wife, who had now arrived and was just shaking her head with disdain as she often does when I try to play photographer.

Mission Accomplished

With my photo ideas and knees exhausted from the effort, it was time to climb those 400+ stairs back to the top of the falls. Afterwards, we drove back to the small parking area at the mid-falls level, walking the rubberized ADA-rated trail back to the falls overlook while snapping a few more pictures of ice formations and the canyon scenery.

***Walking on the rubberized ADA-rated trail, we spotted a few unusual ice formations, like this bird trying to go airborne from a frosty perch.***

Our eyes translated this as an elephant trying to climb up a cliff face, pulling itself up with its trunk. Others saw a tiger sliding down, trying to slow itself with its tail. What’s your interpretation?

Finally, we returned to the car and drove home through Ball Ground, stopping at Les Bon Temps Louisiana Kitchen for a shrimp poboy and shrimp salad on this first Friday of Lent. As native Louisianians, we rarely eat at “Louisiana” restaurants outside our home state. But we’ve found on previous and this visit that Les Bon Temps is worthy of continued patronage even by us particular Cajuns, and we recommend giving it a try if you’re passing through.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an OurTravelCafe.com regular, you’ll recognize that we enjoy hiking year-round in Georgia. One of my posts lists the reasons we enjoy winter hiking and offers tips for others to try it. Another recent post documented our February visit to Sawnee Mountain and the panoramic views at the Indian Seats. And quite a few other posts in our Georgia Small Plates section feature winter pictures from a variety of our adventures.

***From the bottom of the falls canyon near the trout lake, this zoom photo captures the barren winter landscape in the foreground while the upper falls is coated in misty ice.***

That said, while we enjoyed this first frozen falls foray, I dare say it won’t be our last. But we’ll likely have to wait another year and travel farther afield if we want to capture a more fully frozen waterfall landscape. We have a December 2021 trip to Colorado planned, so maybe that will offer the best opportunity.

One thing is certain: when we find it, we’ll post about it here.

Two Tennessee Treasures, One Scenic Day

Southern Fried Favorites

DeanLand

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October 31, 2021

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With an unusual free weekend and feeling like some waterfall wandering beyond our normal neighborhood, we snuck out of the Northwest Corner of Georgia on I-75, then turned onto bucolic backroads in Tennessee for some new adventures. Our one-day destinations: Twin Falls at Rock Island State Park, then Falls Creek Falls, before returning to Chattanooga for an overnight.

Eschewing the fast lane in favor of the winding backroads made the journey as pleasing as the destinations, as we enjoyed the full fall palette of colorful foliage enroute to our planned stops.

Below is a short sample from the dashboard camera on Tennessee Hwy 8 near McMinville, as we drive down toward the Collins River Gorge.

Dashboard camera footage driving down Tennessee backroads, heading to the Collins River gorge.

Rock Island State Park

Since we’re often asked this question, let’s start with the fast answer: yes, at Rock Island State Park, you can view the main falls, lots of smaller ones and other scenery here without any strenuous hiking. In fact, the Twin Falls is visible from a small overlook parking area without any hiking at all. For those wanting a closer view, a trail and steel-plated stairs allow visitors to walk to the riverbank directly across from the falls.

An unusual feature of Twin Falls: they are man made, and don’t flow from a surface stream plunging from higher elevation. The falls were formed when the Great Falls Dam caused the Collins River to rise. The rising waters seeped into caverns on Rock Island’s south shore, and eventually erupted from the bluffs on the north shore to create the cascading falls.

***View of Twin Falls at Rock Island State Park from the overlook parking lot, located off of Powerhouse Road.*** ***The falls are fed from the Collins River, through caverns in the porous bluffs, before erupting as cascading falls.***

While we came for the falls, hiking also was on our fall agenda. After a 2.5 hour drive, we were ready for a walk and followed the water along the 1.5 mile lollipop-loop of Downriver Trail. Fortunately, we were prepared with hiking boots and poles, as we experienced rocky footings, downed trees and a few slippery mud patches along the way.

The trail meanders through waterside forest along a steep and rocky bluff above the river, offering colorful and expansive views of the river gorge. Passing the main falls delivered on a variety of photo opportunities in the ever-changing panorama of the bluff cliffs. Along the path, we caught glimpses of many small waterfalls created by seeps through the porous cliffsides.

***Don’t put your camera away after the overlook view, because the Downriver Trail offers lots of new looks, fresh angles and colorful options for intrepid photographers.***

***All along the route, small waterfalls trickle down the cliffside from cracks and crevices in the rock.***

Reaching the end of the lollipop stick portion of the trail, we chose the right-side loop of the Downriver Trail, taking us away from the river and through several picturesque glades full of fall flowers. Reaching the apex of the trail, we were treated to breathtaking views of rock formations and river rapids. As hawks soared high above searching for a mid-day meal, we paused for a water break while listening to the almost-musical sounds of the river rushing and tumbling over the rocky river bottom.

***Almost as a reward for making the hike, we were treated to views of rock formations and river rapids at the apex point of the Downriver Trail.***

On the return trip, the bluff trail hugged the river bank, with lots of promontories to peak over into the gorge below. Again, we were delighted by the many small falls springing from cracks, crevices and caverns carved into the cliffsides. As the trail turned sharply to the left following a river bend, we clambered over a few fallen trees to discover expansive and colorful views of the upriver canyon.

***At a bend in the river, we paused for a break to catch our breath, while surrounded by views that took our breath away.***

After returning to our vehicle, we drove back by Great Falls Dam, then into the park’s main gates for some vehicular sight-seeing. We made a few stops here, did a bit more walking, and explored the riverside near the ruins of the Great Falls Cotton Mill. Our short visit just skimmed the overall hiking potential at Rock Island State Park. But, with GPS set to navigate more scenic backroads, we headed to our second destination at Falls Creek Falls State Park.

Falls Creek Falls State Park

Again, let’s start with the FAQs about falls viewing here: A bluff-top overlook provides a high-point view of Falls Creek Falls and the canyon below, with only a short walk from the parking lot. Continuing along the canyon rim trail also delivers stunning vistas of colorful foliage and rock formations before the trail takes a sharp, downward plunge toward the canyon floor. For the distance, mobility or balance challenged, we’d recommend sticking to the canyon rim and avoiding the treacherous trek down and strenuous climb back up.

***An observation deck view of Falls Creek Falls offers a look down into the canyon at the highest free-falling falls in the eastern US, with a 256-foot vertical fall.***

We’ll also note here that our visit was limited only to hiking to the main falls. Within its nearly 20,000 acres, Falls Creek Falls State Park is home to several water falls, nearly 20 main hiking trails, mountain bike trails, camping areas, a resort lodge, a golf course and lots more. While we came for hours with one specific goal of hiking to the main falls, others stay for days to enjoy all the activities and adventures available here.

***Sticking to the canyon rim trail offers scenic views. Dropping down to the canyon floor means treacherous footing on the way down, and a strenuous climb back up.***

As the afternoon began to wane, we walked from the observation deck, around the rim trail, and plunged down the steep trail toward the base of the canyon. The path surface was a mix of dirt and protruding rocks, then changing to an all-stones-and-rocks route that required careful steps. Visiting on a Friday, the trail was often crowded with some large, slow moving groups interspersed with individual and younger hikers. At several points, we stepped to the side to allow faster hikers to move past us, just as we also stepped around some of those slower groups. And we were happy to be wearing our hiking boots, but regretted the decision to leave our hiking poles in the vehicle.

***Stairs, dirt, leaves, sharp rocks and large boulders made our descending canyon walk a challenge. Ascending was breathtaking, but for reasons very different than the falls view.***

The falls path passes stunning rock faces and huge overhangs. Groups often stop for photos, creating traffic jams and tight squeezes on the narrow footpath. Don’t plan for this to be a fast-paced excursion.

Reaching the bed of the canyon provided amazing views of the plunging waters. Despite crowds on the trail and a line of people at the main trailhead, we sought out unobstructed spots and good angles for our photos. But unlike Rock Island where we enjoyed quiet solitude and the sounds of nature, the soundscape at Falls Creek was more like a cacophony of voices and accents.

***Large crowds and lines along the trail made it difficult to capture great photos. Extra work, patience and creativity often were required to avoid the need for software-based photo gimmicks.***

Traversing Tennessee Backroads

***Sharp curves and hilltops revealed postcard-perfect rural scenery all along our journey on Tennessee backroads.***

On our trip out to Rock Island and Falls Creek Falls, then back to Chattanooga for an overnight, and finally back to Georgia the next day, we travelled on beautiful backroads through forests, fields and mountains. Sharp curves and hilltops often gave way to stunning vistas and postcard-perfect rural scenery. Fortunately, the days of film and developing are long behind us. So we snapped away freely unconcerned about limitations on cyber storage space. Many of those images now rotate effortlessly and regularly on our TV screen saver with other travel photos, all driven by Google Photos and the PhotoView for Google Photos app on our Roku player.

***After filling our mugs with Saturday morning coffee, we enjoyed a few hours driving around the twisting mountain roads near Lookout Mountain.***

Before heading home from Chattanooga on Saturday, we filled our coffee mugs, connected our travel tunes, and enjoyed hours of scenic driving on the mountains and byways around Lookout Mountain. From the tumbling waters near Rock City, around to the fairy-tale named streets on Lookout Mountain and down Battlefield Parkway, we soaked in the views as a light rain soaked the surrounding landscape. With no specific timetable to meet, the meandering drive was the perfect end to our quick adventure.

***From Chattanooga, past Lookout Mountain, down Battlefield Parkway and back to Northwest Georgia, we soaked in the views as a light rain soaked the landscape on our drive home.***

The Waterfalls and Fall Colors at Cloudland Canyon

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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October 21, 2021

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The Waterfalls and Fall Colors at Cloudland Canyon

Tucked away in the far Northwest corner of Georgia, near the Alabama state line, near the Tennessee state line and about as near to heaven as possible for a lover of fall colors in the South, sits Cloudland Canyon State Park.

Colorful fall trees in Cloudland Canyon — There’s nothing near Cloudland, and it takes planning and time to visit. And that’s perfectly OK for nature lovers who dislike hordes of visitors posing for ridiculous selfies instead of pointing their cameras at the spectacular scenery surrounding them.

Two hours North of Atlanta, 40 minutes South of Chattanooga and tucked between the converging routes of I-75 North and I-59 North, signs of creeping civilization surround Cloudland, but there’s nothing near Cloudland. And that’s perfectly OK for those who love nature, appreciate natural beauty and dislike hordes of visitors posing for ridiculous selfies instead of pointing their cameras at the spectacular scenery surrounding them.

The fact that it takes some forethought, planning and time to visit makes Cloudland all-the-more-special. Unlike Stone Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain or Red Top Mountain parks which are in easy reach of metro Atlanta and thus always crowded with day users, Cloudland retains a remote and rural vibe. Yes, the trails and campsites are busier on weekends – and even more so on fall weekends – but it’s not the same as bumping into the stranger in front of you at Stone Mountain when that person makes a sudden trail stop.

Boardwalk trail through forest at Cloudland Canyon State Park — We visited on a crisp, clear fall weekday in early November, planning to spend the better portion of a day in short hikes. We were overwhelmed by the beauty and constantly stopping for the next great pictures along the almost-deserted trails.

We chose a crisp, clear fall day in early November for our second visit to Cloudland. This was the first time we actually had enough time to explore. Our first visit was a quick stop on the way back home from Chattanooga when we miscalculated both our travel times and the bathroom needs of our passengers. Instead of taking a scenic route and enjoying a short walk along the canyon rim on the long way home, we drove through the park, saw little, paused briefly, and jumped back in the car.

This time, we planned to spend the better portion of the day, and that wasn’t enough time either as we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the changing leaves and constantly stopping for the next great pictures. Our priority for the trip was to visit the rain-rejuvenated waterfalls set amidst changing fall leaves. After a quick pit stop in the visitor’s center, we headed down into the canyon – meaning those infamous Georgia State Park stairs would extract their revenge on my knees on our ascension to the canyon rim starting point.

Colorful fall canopy on a rocky trail at Cloudland State Park — ***Descending into and through the surrounding colorful canopy filled my eyes with glimpses of gold, yellow and red that I virtually was required to stop at red.***

Often, when hiking with a goal in mind, I’m so focused on the destination that I miss the surrounding wonder. That was impossible at Cloudland. While the occasional imbalance caused by vertigo forced me to look down at the steps and the muddy, rooted, rocky trail, descending into and through the surrounding colorful canopy filled my eyes with glimpses of gold, yellow and red that I virtually was required to stop at red. At every turn in the trail, each platform on the stairway, or around the next boulder, nature’s kaleidoscope presented an ever-changing array of leaf colors highlighted against the natural white and grey walls of the canyon.

Hemlock Falls sits amidst colorful falling leaves near the canyon floor at Cloudland, requiring a longer walk than Cherokee Falls.

Nearing the canyon floor, we chose the trail’s North fork, heading first to Hemlock Falls and then a bit further on the Sitton Gulch Trail. Thanks to recent rains, a strong flow poured a broad stream of water over Hemlock Falls, then flowing downstream over several smaller cascades and falls into Sitton Gulch. Just past the falls, a high bridge provided a great overlook into the gulch and the smaller falls.

Small waterfall surrounded by fall leaves at Cloudland Canyon — ***When you visit Hemlock Falls, keep going down the Sitton Gulch Trail for more great scenery and several smaller falls***.

After a few minutes and many photos at each of the falls and overlooks, we turned back up the canyon trail, then down the shorter fork to visit Cherokee Falls. Here, we had the deserted falls to ourselves, and we took the opportunity to view and photograph from different vantage points while listening to the water plunging into the pond as the falls’ base. A nosy beagle arrived to sniff our legs, a sure sign that inconsiderate pet owners were approaching, empty leash in hand and in violation of park regulations, perhaps assuming everyone would love their dog or that basic rules of human behavior didn’t apply to them.

With that nudge, we began the second half of the ascent – already having climbed nearly 250 feet back up trails and Georgia State Park stairs from the base of Hemlock Falls and Sitton Gulch to reach Cherokee Falls. Another 250 feet of switchback trails returned us to the canyon rim and the spectacular overlook viewpoint.

Wooden stairs on a forest trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park — ***With a nudge from a nosy, free-range beagle, we began the second half of the ascent, taxing my aching knees. My Garmin Vivoactive HR recorded our hike at 2.54 miles and 577 feet of elevation gain.***

For the record, the official park brochure lists the waterfalls trail as a strenuous 1.8-mile roundtrip with 600 stairsteps one-way. My Garmin Vivoactive HR recorded our hike at 2.54 miles, which included the extra distance into Sitton Gulch, and 577 feet of elevation gain. My heartrate averaged 91 bpm during our 90-minute hike, with two peaks at ~120 bpm and a maximum spike to 132 bpm when climbing the main stair sections. I’ll be sure to send a thank you note to exercise bike 59 at the Dennis Kemp YMCA in Acworth for preparing me well for the uphill hike.

If you’re traveling with less-mobile companions or young children, it’s possible to enjoy some of Cloudland’s natural wonder without too much wandering. Overlook views can be enjoyed with very little effort. From the main parking lot, it’s less than 100 yards of flat-but-bumpy walking to the canyon’s edge and an expansive view. From there, you can follow signs and reach the main overlook, again bumpy with a little elevation change, but less than ¼ mile away.

Trail entrance view of Cloudland Canyon — If you’re traveling with less-mobile companions or children, it’s possible to enjoy some of Cloudland’s natural wonder without too much wandering. From the main parking lot, it’s approximately 100 yards to the canyon rim and this expansive view.

For the more adventuresome, Cloudland offers several longer trails. The 5-mile West Rim Trail is a lollipop-style, moderately strenuous route, once rated as one of the Top 10 hikes in the US by Backpacker Magazine. It’s on our agenda for a winter visit. The Backcountry Loop, Sitton’s Gulch and Bear Creek Trails are more remote and rugged, and best done in a pair or a group. If that’s not challenging enough, new areas along the 14-mile one-way Cloudland Connector Trail offer multi-use options that include hiking, trail running, single-track mountain biking and horseback riding.

***Beyond Hemlock Falls, the trail descends into Sitton’s Gulch, offering more remote and rugged adventures just beyond this overlook.***

My wife has taken yurt camping off our couple’s agenda, but says I’m welcomed to take the grandsons if their mom and dad agree. We might be tempted to rent one of the 16 spacious cottages for a long weekend with some of the kids and grandkids, too. Or, once our youngest is college bound, we’re thinking a 7-to-10-day, multi-location Georgia State Park cottage and hiking trip is a must-do late-fall activity.

More Hiking Adventures

If you enjoy hiking, exploring parks and waterfalls, here are a few more of our adventures you might like:

Short Hikes to Tall Waterfalls. Some of our favorite Georgia State Park waterfalls and hiking, good for all ages and abilities. We’ve updated this post several times.

Walks in the Woods at Red Top. This state park is just far enough outside the Atlanta perimeter that it’s not as busy as those closer in. We enjoy year-round hiking here, though summer breezes off the lake make it perfect for warmer months.

Check Out KEMO’s Backside. Most visitors to Kennesaw Mountain take the paved road or front-face trail to the peak. We enjoy the longer circle trail.

Cooper’s Furnace and Allatoona Dam. Closed in the late fall and winter, this short walk in the woods features Civil War history and a great view of a hydropower dam.

Idyllic Weekend in Clayton. We enjoyed a fabulous state at the Beechwood Inn, and great hiking at Blackrock State Park.

I’m sending a thank you note to exercise bike 59 at the Dennis Kemp YMCA in Acworth for preparing me for the uphill hike and helping to maintain good heart rate readings throughout the strenuous, 577-foot ascent.

Living Our Best Boating Life on Lake Allatoona

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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August 21, 2021

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Living Our Best Boating Life on Lake Allatoona

In the heat of the summer, we were ready to escape the heat with a trip to the lake. But the complicated task of loading three kids, three adults and three kayaks into a minivan was dampening our enthusiasm during a bright, sunny summer week.

So instead, we made a quick phone call, packed a cooler and beach bag, then enjoyed carefree rental of a pontoon boat to explore nearby Lake Allatoona.

What Floats Our Boat

Aside from occasional vacation outings, we had not enjoyed a real family boat outing in many years. So, we called ahead, scheduled a rental, then loaded the minivan with a cooler, fishing and swimming gear, and plenty of snacks for a day on Lake Allatoona.

Growing up in Louisiana, boating was a fun activity, especially since youngsters never have to understand the cost of owning a boat. During our Flori-days near Tampa, we shared boat ownership with a friend. We often sojourned on Sunday morning cruises for brunch and dolphin explorations through the rivers, sounds and Gulf. We loved it, but the adult realities of boat maintenance, storage, and insurance — plus $5 per gallon marina gasoline required to feed a 15-year-old thirsty engine – made that a short-lived experience. Thus, aside from the occasional vacation tour, we had not enjoyed a family boat outing in more than 10 years.

Calling ahead we arranged a rental quickly and easily with the folks at nearby Glade Marina in Acworth. The next morning, we hopped into the minivan and were happily pulling away from the dock within 30 minutes.

Pontoon boats are perfect for casual lake cruising, and you’ll see lots of them at Lake Allatoona. Passing this one, we were happy that our rental included an open deck, swimming ladder and a top to shade us from the summer sun.

Since sightseeing and swimming were on our agenda, we chose a pontoon boat. It featured an open deck, swimming ladder and a Bimini top to shade us from the summer sun. The slower cruising speed fit our needs perfectly.

Towering Peaks, Hidden Depths

We casually navigated a northerly course. We passed Allatoona Battlefield Park, skirting the southern shores of Red Top Mountain State Park, where the Iron Hill trail hides behind the tree line. Gliding under Bethany Bridge, we cut the engine to observe ospreys nesting in the steel girders.

Bethany Bridge (top) at Red Top Mountain State Park often is spotted in Georgia-filmed movies, like The Accountant, featuring Ben Affleck. Gliding under the bridge, we slowed to watch a pair of ospreys which had build a huge next among the steel girders.

To our left, Vinyard Mountain reached skyward to its 1,300-ft summit. Just beyond, Pine Mountain towered to 1,500 feet. In between, the exposed portion of the Allatoona Dam peaked out of the water. It appears smallish from this perspective while blocking the deep natural valley of the once free-flowing Etowah River. From the boat, we enjoyed the sounds of birds, knowing that the dam’s huge turbines were spinning furiously while releasing water into the Etowah beyond.

We continued north past the Allatoona Dam, wedged between Vineyard and Pine Mountains and sealing off the natural channel of the Etowah River. Approximately 30 feet of the dam extends above the lake surface (top photo.) However, some 150 feet below, the dam’s huge turbines spin furiously while releasing water into the Etowah River on the other side.

Just beyond the dam, the original riverbed and today’s lake loops right, around Red Top Mountain State Park toward the east. We stayed left, motoring past Cooper’s Branch boat launch. Passing through a few small islands, we steered to a quiet dead-end cove. Small red-clay shorelines sloped gently to the lake, with no fallen trees or visible stumps. We tossed anchor, pulled out fishing lines for the kids, and let them try their luck at lack angling. After about 15 minutes of casting, crossed lines and no bites, they were ready for the next adventure.

Fun On and In the Water

Next, it was time for some swimming, and the pontoon boat proved the perfect choice here. The ladder at the aft made it easy to climb into the boat from the water. The wide decks were ideal for jumping and diving from virtually any spot. That made cannonball bombing of other swimmers extra easy (said the grandfather who annoyed his grandchildren this way!).

Tossing anchor in a small cover where red clay sloped gently to the water’s edge, we enjoyed a swim in the lake’s cool water. The pontoon boat’s wide decks were ideal for jumping, and the aft ladder made it easy to climb back in.

Afterwards, we all climbed back aboard, sought out another shaded cove, and enjoyed a picnic-style lunch on the open deck. All around, we watched birds ride invisible air currents steered by the small valleys on the surrounding hills. A few fish jumped nearby, while turtles sunned themselves on logs protruding from the water. Thankfully, those same gentle breezes that lifted the birds also chased away the swarming and biting bugs. All in all, summer days don’t get any better than this.

Lunch and desserts completed, the littles were ready to plunge back into the water for more floating. We asked them to wait a few minutes, giving us time to head back toward our embarkation point at a higher speed than our outbound trip. Just off the banks of Allatoona Battlefield Park, we turned into another deserted cove for a final short swim.

With energy and time depleted, we cruised back into the docks by our appointed time. The helpful team at Glade assisted us in unloading passengers and gear, and made check-in and payment fast and easy. Within 10 minutes, we were all back in the minivan, heading home without any hassles.

Thoughts on Boat Rental

We rented a boat in the summer, but boating is fun in the warm spring and fall, too. A boat ride through Lake Allatoona is an ideal way to observe the changing leaves along the surrounding hills and shores.

Here are some final thoughts on boating:

Where to Rent. Several rental outlets operate in the marinas at Lake Allatoona. We found pricing to be similar, though boat selection can differ. Our top tip: select your rental location based on your own convenience and destination.
Schedule in Advance. Renting during midweek was easy for us as boats were available any day we chose. But that’s not always the case, so call and reserve ahead. When you do, be sure to check the cancellation policy, especially as it pertains to bad weather.
Choose Your Boat Thoughtfully. The pontoon boat was a great choice for our summer outing. But, as we consider a fall excursion to experience changing leaves from the lake view, we’ll likely select a different type.
Pack for Your Purpose. Although life preservers are provided with the rental, we brought our own, for fit and swimming. Regardless of season, bring lots of water, sunscreen and bug spray.
Rent, Club or Own? If you want to use a boat more frequently, several “boat clubs” operate at Lake Allatoona. With these, you pay a monthly fee for priority access to a boat at no or reduced cost versus retail rental rates. Of course, you can buy. But know from experience that a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money.
Favorite Boating Songs. Jimmy Buffett does a million of them, but our favorite is One Particular Harbor. And who doesn’t enjoy the whimsical stylings of Lyle Lovett singing, If I Had a Boat.

Other Nearby Activities

If the area around Lake Allatoona is your home or destination, check out these other activities:

Winding Walks in the Woods at Red Top Mountain

***A crumbling chimney marks the location of a former homestead at Red Top Mountain State Park. We enjoyed our winding walks in the woods and along the banks of Lake Allatoona here.***

Panoramic Views from Pine Mountain

***Pine Mountain towers over Lake Allatoona, with a 1,500-foot summit and panoramic views of the surrounding area. Our blog gives you all the details of what is visible from the top of Pine Mountain.***

Cool Hikes at Cooper’s Furnace

The day use area at Cooper’s Furnace is idea for walking in the woods, viewing the backside of Allatoona Dam, watching wildlife along the Etowah River, and exploring the remains of an antebellum steel mill.

Hidden Allatoona Pass

Wide hiking path on a former railroad right-of-way — ***The wide, shaded paths at Allatoona Battlefield park is perfect for escaping the heat and keeping social distance during these trying times.***

The Joys of International City Markets

International Sampler

DeanLand

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August 6, 2021

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Enjoy scenes from a few of our favorite international city markets — so far!

Not our first, but St. Josep La Boqueria on La Rambla in Barcelona was the defining experience in our yearning to visit European markets in our travels.

Unusual food choices are among the delights of European city markets, a reminder that there’s a use and market for almost everything for every taste.

Enjoying a local version of Catalan stew in London’s Borough Market provided a warming respite from a cool, rainy day.

London’s Leadenhall Market features apparel and accessory shops among restaurants and bars. Dating back to the 14th Century, it’s located at the former center of Roman London. With more retail, Leadenhall is only open on weekdays.

Mercato del Porcellino in Florence mixes local foods with a wide variety of other goods in small stalls and shops. This one is more busy and crowded than other we visited, leaving us uncomfortable at times. Still, we rubbed the snout of Il Porcellino to ensure our return to Florence.

The Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, houses a plethora of jewelry and other stalls. This bridge has been standing since 1345, and was the only bridge across the Arno River not destroyed in World War II.

While Torvehallerne is technically the city market, Nyhaven in Copenhagen once was the center for all things from the sea. We enjoyed dining out on the local seafood and taking in the sights on the sunny Northside of the canal.

***We found this day market near the city marina in Helsinki, and wandered through with the locals.***

***Enjoying some of the local delicacies in Helsinki, we sampled a plate of salmon with whole-fried white fish.***

International city markets Montreal — **On a pre-cruise Saturday morning, we took the subway to Marche Jean-Talon in Montreal.**

***At Marche Jean-Talon in Montreal, of course we had local poutine.***

Kennesaw’s Hidden Botanical Garden Treasure

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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July 3, 2021

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Kennesaw’s Hidden Botanical Garden Treasure

After years of passing Smith-Gilbert Gardens on my way to work, we finally turned off Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw for a visit. And we’re glad we did because we enjoyed exploring the compact garden. Plus we picked up some great additional benefits by purchasing a family membership.

For the unfamiliar, Smith-Gilbert Gardens is a compact, 16-acre botanical garden. It features more than 3,000 plant species, award-winning rose and conifer sections, an incredible collection of bonsai trees and a seasonal butterfly exhibit that delights all ages. The gardens started as a private project of Mr. Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert. The pair purchased the 150-year-old Hiram Butler house and surrounding property in 1970 and began the diverse botanical transformation.

Tucked away on Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw, GA, the Smith-Gilbert Gardens was established in 1970 as a private venture. Mr. Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert purchased the 150-year-old Hiram House and began the diverse botanical transformation.

Well-marked trails and plants guide visitors through the various garden sections. Favorite stops include 30 permanent sculpture exhibits beautifully set into the surrounding landscape. Unfortunately, COVID pandemic cancelled group tours, but hopefully these volunteer-led excursions will begin again in 2021.

Tiny Trees

We started our visit in the bonsai garden, admiring the locally grown and lovingly manicured exhibit of these tiny trees. From individual plantings to tiny forest replicas, the beauty and tranquility captivated our eyes and camera lens.

**The nationally-recognized bonsai garden features individual plantings and forest replicas, locally grown and lovingly manicured.**

Since the butterfly garden was not open yet for our late-Spring visit, we moved on to the walking trails, to the delight of our active grandkids. We started in the perennial garden, meandered through the blooming rose garden, then crossed the expansive meadow before proceeding to the woodland walk trails. Coaching them to stay on marked trails, they acted as advanced lookouts to find sculpture exhibits which dot the gardens. That little game kept them well entertained, as they located and reported their findings excitedly. Meanwhile, we took extra time to stop and figuratively smell the roses and other blooming plants.

**Sculptures dot the gardens, set into the landscapes. We coached our grandsons to stay on the trails, but to go ahead and scout for these. Meanwhile, we stopped to smell the roses and other plants.**

Fragrant Blooms

Since the butterfly garden was not open yet for our late-Spring visit, we wandered in the perennial garden, meandered through the blooming rose garden, then crossed the expansive meadow before proceeding to the woodland walk trails. All along the way, the late-Spring blooms surrounded us.

After 30 minutes of leisurely walking through fragrant blooms, we crossed into the camellia gardens. Shortly, the grandkids found the seating in the covered viewing area. They enjoyed a short break and earned a special treat from Gigi after all that walking! Snacks quickly devoured, they jumped into action again when we hinted that we might find a hidden waterfall and colorful koi in the nearby crevice garden.

**The grandkids found the covered seating area, enjoyed Gigi’s special treats, then were off again in search of a waterfall and koi in the nearby crevice garden.**

Before walking back to the car, we challenged them to put on a one-person play about their favorite animals or plants on the stage at the Little Theatre in the Woods. The boys were intrigued but unsure, so grandpa went first. Suddenly, they couldn’t wait to share their stories on stage. After two acts from each, it was time for the final curtain and a family exit, stage left.

We challenged the grandsons to stage a one-person play about their favorite animals. They were unsure, so grandpa went first. Then, they couldn’t wait to share. After two acts each, we all exited, stage left.

Summer Treat: Butterfly Garden

Since we were too early on our first visit, we’re planning a July return visit to Smith-Gilbert to experience the Butterfly Garden. This seasonal treat features pollinator plants and lots of beautiful butterflies native to or migrating through Georgia. Our grandkids love finding and trying to identify the colorful insects, while we always try to capture their spread-winged photos while they do nature’s work on the blooming plants.

Road Trip Benefits

We purchased a family membership to Smith-Gilbert to make return visits and bring along others to experience this hidden treasure. The following week, we packed our Smith-Gilbert membership card for a 4,700-mille road trip through the Rocky Mountains, the desert Southwest, Texas and the Deep South. That’s because a Smith-Gilbert membership includes reciprocal benefits through the American Horticultural Society’s admission program. Thus, we added several free garden visits at some of our stops, including:

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail, CO.

Located in Vail at 8,200 feet above sea level, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is the highest elevation botanical garden in North America. It features diverse alpine plants from around the world, uniquely adapted to grow in the harsh, cold, rocky and thin-atmosphere environment.

Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, AZ.

Virtually every US desert cactus variety grows within the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ. We were fortunate to find the cactus in bloom in early June. Then, we caught a hummingbird in mid flight — right in front of the informational sign about hummingbirds! We played the lottery that day, but didn’t get a third winner.

San Antonio Botanical Gardens, San Antonio, TX.

San Antonio’s Botanical Garden featured plants typical for its arid geography, and housed tropical plants in geometric-shaped glass greenhouses. The garden was also featuring tributes to famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, including the Botanical Frida exhibit set for a world tour soon.

Other Garden Visits

If you enjoyed the photos and content from this blog, check out our features from other garden visits:

Gibbs Gardens in Georgia,

Henry Leu Botanical Gardens, a quiet natural respite in the tourism craziness of Orlando, FL.

**We walked under 200-year-old oak trees to enter the Henry Leu gardens. Visitors also can enjoy small lunches on the visitor center deck under the trees.**

Our Grandparents Guide Helps You Enjoy Six Flags, Even in the Hottest Summer Season

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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June 14, 2021

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Our Grandparents Guide Helps You Enjoy Six Flags, Even in the Hottest Summer Season

We enjoy theme parks but not marathon tests of endurance attempting to extract every penny of value out of high admission prices.

In our family, summertime always meant a visit to theme parks. And way back in the days when we only had three television networks, the family would travel to a nearby park where we tween-agers and teenagers were allowed to roam freely, binge ride roller coasters and consume mass quantities of park foods as long as we turned up at the assigned meeting points every few hours.

Many summers, adulthood, recurring vertigo and near-senior status have turned those simpler times to distant memories. Still, we enjoy occasional trips to theme parks as long as they don’t turn into marathon tests of endurance in a determined effort to extract every penny of attraction value out of high admission prices.

Historical Riverview Carousel relocated from Chicago to Six Flags over Georgia — **Riverview Carousel was rescued from a closed Chicago theme park, restored and relocated to Six Flags. A plaque near the entrance provides historical details.**

These days, our park of choice is Six Flags Over Georgia, a 30-minute drive from our home and convenient when we need a sure-fire fun day for our 13-year old and his friends of choice. We’re also regular visitors at the Christmas holidays, enjoying the seasonal lights, Santa visits, and smaller crowds with our two local grandsons.

If you’re a grandparent visiting Six Flags during the Georgia summer, we’re assuming it’s because you have younger grandchildren along. Teenagers are too cool and hyped-up to be slowed by us old folks, and by that, I mean anyone over 25! Plus, parents of teenagers should know better than asking grandparents to chaperone the raging-hormone crowd.

Regardless of why you’re here, you need a strategy – one that keeps the fun and your patience level higher and your internal temperature and blood pressure lower. With those seemingly mutually-exclusive objectives in mind, we offer the following suggestions for how to enjoy Six Flags over Georgia.

Sky Buckets. We’re putting these first because you should ride them early. You can tell the family it’s to help them get a feel for the park layout. But the real reason is this attraction closes at the first sign of thunderstorms and remains closed long after. Unlike the towering, looping coasters, the Sky Buckets won’t be confused for an aerial daredevil experience. These slow-moving gondolas cross the park, providing a good view, gentle breeze and some relief from the closeness of the summertime crowds.
Kiddie Rides. OK, so this is obvious. If you have little ones in tow, consider this your home base. Six Flags over Georgia offers two connected areas dedicated to the young crowd. Bugs Bunny Boom Town is the original kiddie land area, featuring seven rides perfect for the four-foot-and-under crowd. The newer DC Super Friends area adds four more superhero themed rides. For grandparents and parents, the only down side to the dedicated kiddie area is a lack of seating and shade. Well, that and the connector between the two is a black hole with an intense gravitational pull – the kiddie arcade area.
The cartoon-themed Boom Town features seven rides perfect for the four-foot-and-under crowd.
Riverview Carousel and Rocking Chairs. Every older adults ultimate resting ride, the Riverview Carousel is located on a shaded hilltop above the rest of the park. And it’s surrounded by classic rocking chairs, a perfect place of refuge from the hot, humid Georgia days. So you have two options: hop on and enjoy the ride, or grab a seat in the shade and watch the world and the little ones whirl by. While the Chattahoochee River flows nearby, this ride takes its name from Chicago’s Riverview Park, from whence the carousel was rescued following that park’s demise in 1967. The ride originally opened in 1908, and features intricate hand-carved horses and seats. If you want to enjoy the shade a little longer, walk over to the historical plaque while your family is in line. Then, when they’re done, regale them for a few extra minutes with grandparent-style trivial knowledge about the history of the hand-carved horses and seats. But if you do that, be certain you’re standing near one of the horses, and not the near-pornographic bench carving where a cherub looks surprised to see a half-naked woman wrapped in a tight embracing kiss with a bearded man. That just might be more that you bargained for!
The carousel is surrounded by old-fashioned rocking chairs, the perfect waiting place if this is a rendezvous point for your troops.
Hanson Cars. You passed these on the way up the hill to the carousel. Now that you’re on the downhill slope, coast into this line. One of the original park rides from 1967, these antique cars roar around on a rail track at speeds up to 7 mph. Lines are often long as you’re not the only grandparent or parent who loves this ride. When you’re done with the cars, you’ll find two other run-of-the-mill attractions that will provide some additional shade time for you and distraction for the younger ones: Rockin’ Tugs and Up, Up and Away.
Six Flags Train. The train whistle is like the siren song of the Iliad for our grandsons – once they hear the beautiful sound, they ignore all else in a hypnotic trance. But once you’ve been in the park for a while, the whistle loses its magical qualities and so you will need to remind your younger charges about it to restore the mystical appeal. The Six Flags train is a 1.3-mile round trip to grandparent heaven, and you can enjoy it for an eternity as there’s no requirement to exit at any point (except during the Holiday Season, when the train ride is one-way to Santa Town!) You’re seated. Movement creates a gentle breeze. And sound of the wheels coupled with the rocking motion are perfect for inducing naps among tired and weary riders. Admit it, you’re secretly hoping the kids fall asleep. I’m just thankful my family members woke me up instead of abandoning me there.
The train whistle is like the siren song of the Iliad for kids. During the Holiday Season, it’s a one-way trip to Santa Town.
Monster Mansion. Walt Disney launched a sea of floating theme rides when he introduced “It’s a Small World” at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. At Monster Mansion, you swap out cute singing dolls for furry monsters and lose the mind-numbing song that sticks in your head. Yes, the ride features 107 imaginative ghoulish residents creeping, crawling and flying around with the intent to entertain and spook. But I’ll state the obvious: the real attraction for grandparents is the air-conditioning.
JB’s Sports Bar and Grill. This is an adult refuge among the hustle and bustle of theme park madness, featuring appetizers, burgers, wings, lots of televisions and (YES!) cold beer. Most people line-up to place their orders at the main entrance, but we usually walk around to the side entrance, grab a picnic table and place a food and beverage order at the bar. There’s always sports on the myriad of TVs, and any channel featuring SEC football is the preferred fare in the fall.
JB’s is an adult refuge away from the hustle and bustle of Six Flags crowds — unless you visit during an SEC football Saturday.

What About Coasters?

Love ‘em but I can no longer tolerate any that include corkscrews or multiple loops. Six Flags offers a plethora of thrill ride and coaster choices, including a kiddie coaster, a log flume, and the gentle Dahlonega Mine Train suitable for your wee ones. New in 2018 is the Twisted Cyclone, a hybrid coaster that incorporates steel-track thrills into the tight quarters of a wooden coaster structure. An initial 10-story drop creates some impressive speeds, while the spinning turns generate a weightless feeling and some impressive screaming.

Batman coaster at Six Flags over Georgia near Atlanta — **The looping Batman ride remains a crowd favorite. It’s one of many towering and twisting coasters at Six Flags over Georgia.**

Hand carved horses and seats at Six Flags over Georgia near Atlanta — If you explain the history of the carvings, stand near a horse. You’ll want to avoid the near-pornographic bench carving where a cherub looks surprised to see a half-naked woman wrapped in a tight embracing kiss with a bearded man who resembles Jesus.

Remembering World War 2 and the Holocaust at KSU

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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May 24, 2021

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Remembering World War 2 and the Holocaust at KSU

Within a long week in 2021, Americans will commemorate both Memorial Day and D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944. With that in mind, we’ve updated our visit to the World War 2 and Holocaust Museum at Kennesaw State. Tucked away in an abandoned outlet mall along I-75, this little historic gem is easy to miss. For those who appreciate history and are open to learning its vital lessons, spending a few hours in the solemn and somber exhibits will remind you just how important and precious our freedoms are.

Remembering D-Day

On D-Day, some 156,000 American, Canadian and British forces fought their way ashore on the beaches of Northern France in the face of fierce enemy fire from fortified positions. By June 11, the largest amphibious invasion in history was completed, with more than 326,000 men, 50,000+ vehicles and more than 100,000 tons of supplies landed in France.

The war would rage on for another year. As it drew to an end, Allied soldiers found and freed hundreds of thousands of imprisoned Jewish survivors of the German concentration and extermination camps. The world was horrified to learn of these captives and their condition. But the worst was yet to come as the truth emerged about Adolph Hitler’s “Final Solution,” the scale of the evil extermination operations and the murder of more than 6 million people.

It was exactly 72 years later – June 6, 2016 – when I discovered by accident the Museum of History and Holocaust Education in an abandoned outlet mall just off I-75 in Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University owns the former mall, now home to the College of Continuing and Professional Education. And while I was attending a corporate-sponsored program on the D-Day anniversary, I found this hidden history treasure. Since then, I’ve made several return trips and discovered new exhibits and details with each return.

KSU, Kennesaw State, Museum of History and Holocaust Education — **The Holocaust Exhibits and Georgia Journeys comprise the largest portion of the Museum of History and Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University**

The Holocaust Exhibits

The main museum is built inside a simulated concrete block vault, which from outside and in creates the feeling of a prison. Without a doubt, the most powerful sections of the museum are those dedicated to the Holocaust story. Your introduction is a butterfly display at the entrance, accompanied by creations of local schoolchildren who participated in museum programs. Along a wall sits a solitary bench, and behind it an excerpt from Pavel Friedman’s poem, The Butterfly, which he wrote in 1942 while captive in the Terezin Ghetto when he was 21. He was dead at the age of 23 at Auschwitz, and the poem was found after the end of the war in his belongings.

Immediately following is the main exhibit, named Parallel Journeys. In literal side-by-side displays, stories of individuals on both sides of the tragedy are portrayed with personal details. Anne Frank’s well-known personal story is among those included, along with other Jewish victims. Hauntingly and unexpectedly, Parallel Journeys also documents how regular people were pulled or seduced to become engaged in Hitler’s scheme. There’s Stella Goldschlag, a Jewish woman who became a “catcher” and betrayed her community to the Germans – until she herself is turned in by another like her. And Irma Grese, a young German woman indoctrinated into the beliefs of the SS who became a prison guard at Auschwitz, and at age 19 was put in charge of more than 18,000 women prisoners at Bergen-Belson concentration camp. Her reputation for cruelty earned her the name, “Bitch of Belson,” then she herself was executed following a trial after the war.

Parallel Journeys, Holocaust, Exhibit, — **In literal side-by-side displays, stories of victim and perpetrators are portrayed with personal details.**

Parallel Journeys, Holocaust, Victims — **The Museum of History and Holocaust Education both conveys the Holocaust horrors and connects visitors to real people who lived and died during this time.**

I find it impossible to convey here in mere words the experience of reading these stories, or the sorrow I felt for the victims. I’ve visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, and while it’s a deeper and broader experience, the Museum of History and Holocaust Education both conveys the Holocaust horrors and connects visitors to real people who lived and died during this time.

Georgia Journeys

This exhibit was developed through an oral history project of the Museum. It tracks the lives and stories of a dozen people with ties to Georgia whose experiences reached throughout the world. The stories of soldiers, a Tuskegee airman, a “Rosie-the-Riveter” Savannah factory worker, a Hebrew teacher, a code breaker and others are told in multimedia form, bringing to life the stories of how ordinary people contributed to the war effort in extraordinary ways. Beyond the physical display in Kennesaw, the museum has archived and made available online some of the original interviews.

Other Exhibits

Propaganda and democracy with fake news — **The exhibits on propaganda and democracy offer teaching moments and discussion ideas meaningful in today’s battles about “fake news.”**

Outside the main museum, several other exhibits highlight Georgia’s role in World War II, local heroes, the Tuskegee Airmen and more. The exhibit on the Power of Propaganda is a stark reminder of how demagoguery, nationalism, government power and misinformation can be combined to mislead nations with disastrous consequences. It has particular relevance in today’s highly-charged political world where opposing viewpoints and investigative reporting are often discarded as “fake news,” and individuals look only at the information or sources that conform to or reinforce their own views.

**In addition to Georgia Journeys, another section entitled “V for Victory” provides details about the state’s contributions and roles in World War 2.**

For native Georgians or those curious about the impact of war on the region, a section entitled “V for Victory” includes great information on Georgia factories, facilities and other contributions. The Marietta Bell plant, which produced the B-29 bomber, several Georgia training bases and POW locations, plus the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards all get detailed attention for their roles before, during and after the war.

Programs and Events

The museum and its extended supporter community offer a variety of programs at the site. Traveling suitcases are loaned to schools for education programs, home-schooling programs are hosted onsite, and a variety of education and lecture series are conducted periodically. A recent program featured a Jimmy Doi, a Japanese-American included in the Georgia Journey’s section. Doi recounted his personal story of captivity in America’s internment camps, then joining the US military and serving his country in Europe. You can “Like” and follow the museum on Facebook to get these regular updates.

When and How to Visit

The museum is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. As part of Kennesaw State University, it observes the University’s holiday schedule, so you may want to check before you visit. Admission is free, and donations are always greatly appreciated to support the museum’s mission. Individual visits are self-guided. The museum offers docent-led tours for groups of 20 or more, and for schools.

Holocaust Museum in an abandoned outlet mall in Kennesaw, GA — **The museum is located in an abandoned outlet mall, now the home of KSU’s College of Continuing and Professional Education**

The museum is located near the intersection of I-75 and Chastain Road, behind the Cracker Barrel Restaurant. The address for your GPS:

Museum of History and Holocaust Education, 3333 Busbee Dr NW. Kennesaw, Georgia 30144

(470) 578-2083

Local Day-Trip Pairings

You likely won’t spend an entire day at the museum. If you’re interested in other nearby historical locations, here are a few we’ve visited and recommend:

Gone With the Wind Museum. Located in nearby Marietta, this museum is dedicated to the story and history of the epic film depicting Civil War times.

Pickett’s Mill State Historical Site. Part of the Georgia State Park System, this battle was the last Southern victory of the Georgia campaign. Interestingly, General William T. Sherman omitted mention of it from his memoirs. Ultimately, the families of many Union soldiers were involved in preserving this battlefield.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. We like this as a hiking spot for a great view of Atlanta, the northern Blue Ridge Mountains and more. There’s also a good historical display at the visitor center.

How We Finally Fell for Lula Falls

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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May 10, 2021

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After five years of procrastination, we finally did our waterfall hike at Lula Falls!

Since moving to Georgia and pursuing waterfall hiking as a hobby, we’ve been taunted and tantalized by wonderful pictures from this Georgia geological gem. Located in the Northwest corner of the state, wedged between Cloudland Canyon’s twin falls to the South and Chattanooga’s natural, commercial and Civil War attractions to the North, Lula Falls remained on our “to-do” list, but never seemed to get checked off.

Taunted by wonderful pictures, Lula Lake and Falls remained on our “to-do” list for more than five years. We remember the many reasons we skipped the trek, and now already are eager for a return visit.

Looking back, we remember the many reasons we skipped the trek. Located on private property managed by a land trust, the core preserve is open only on limited weekends. And since advanced reservations are required for the limited admission, we didn’t want to make arrangements far in advance, only to find ourselves with a scheduled visit on a weekend when Georgia’s weather gods were throwing thunderbolts from the sky. Then, we visited other waterfalls throughout North Georgia and Southern Tennessee. And, of course, don’t forget that COVID thing.

When the visit was finally scheduled, it wasn’t our doing. Our daughter and her family also love waterfall hiking, and it was she (encouraged by her husband, boys and dogs!) who finally made the arrangements, got the reservations and put the trip on our schedule. Thus, with arrangements completed, we piled our seven family members and two dogs into the Honda Odyssey for our own waterfall odyssey to this long-awaited destination for our waterfall hike.

Welcome to Lula Falls

Arriving for our 10 am admittance, we were welcomed and assisted by the friendly Lula Falls staff greeting us at the small, uncrowded parking lot. Given the hordes of visitors who have overwhelmed Georgia’s state parks on weekends during this year of COVID, we immediately appreciated the reservation and capacity control system in place at Lula Falls that helps preserve the park’s natural wonder and creates an uncrowded experience in nature.

Our biggest decision of the day now faced us: what route should we follow to the falls? Our hosts and the printed trail map provided to us recommended following the access road trail down for 1.5 miles to Lula Lake, then continuing down another 1/10^th mile to the Lula Falls Trail, where we would begin a short descent to the base of the falls.

***Our biggest decision: what route to follow on the waterfall hike. We had a solid plan, until we spotted a stream and saw a footbridge leading into the woods.***

And that WAS our plan — until we had walked approximately 8/10ths of a mile, spotted a stream to our right and saw a footbridge leading off into the woods. Like dogs distracted by a squirrel, we immediately veered off our planned route for a different adventure.

Unplanned High Adventure

We followed the Ford Trail over the bridge, then intersected with and followed the Middle Trail through the wooded mountainside. Along this route, spring wildflowers bloomed all around. To the great annoyance of my family, I paused for pictures everywhere, collecting a beautiful photographic bouquet.

Ascending the Middle Trail approximately 200 feet in elevation gain, the force was with us. So at the intersection of the Jedi Trail, we had to pause for the obligatory little-boy Star Wars fighting posed.

We gradually ascended approximately 200 feet, pausing briefly for the grandkids to strike a warrior pose at the intersection of the Jedi Trail. From there, we finished the ascent, snapped a few pictures at the bluff overlook and continued along Bluff Trail to the appropriately-named High Adventure Trail. Using helpful ropes on the steepest grade, we dropped back down into the rocky canyon finally reaching the Lula Falls Trail.

**Beware that the High Adventure Trail is appropriately named. We gratefully used the helpful ropes to descend the steepest grade.**

To the Base of the Falls

Scampering down over more rocks and boulders, we descended approximately 100 feet, emerging near the base of the 160-foot promontory where Rock Creek plunges as Lula Falls into the canyon. Directly in front of us, a small group of 20-somethings spread out on a large rock, enjoying the scenery just beyond the reach of the mist created by the falls. To our left was the falls, and more people taking cautious steps on wet, slippery rocks while attempting the compose the perfect photo. We chose the middle ground, and our son-in-law carefully guided the younger ones out onto larger rocks, while mom and grandmother aided the effort with nervous, instructional yelling.

We joined groups to our left and right, clambering over large rocks to seek a better view of the falls. Thankfully, our son-in-law had the nervous, instructional yelling of mom and grandmother to keep him focused on child safety. 🙂

The Return Journey

After the exploration and yelling were done, we started the steep, stair-aided climb back up 150 feet, then joining the North Creek Trail and gravel road back toward our starting point. We paused at the falls overlook, at Lula Lake, on a bridge and elsewhere – or more specifically, everyone paused while I continued to take photos.

By the time we returned to the parking lot, we had been gone for 2 hours and 41 minutes, walked 4.84 miles, and recorded 728 feet of elevation gain along the way, according to my trusty Garmin Fenix activity watch.

Our Next-Time Plan

We departed the waterfall hike tired and recognizing that we had left much to be explored on a return trip. Literally high on the list for our return is following the South Creek, Ovenbird and Turkey Trails to hike the length of the Bluff Trail, following the ridgeline along the 1700-foot crest. Hopefully, we won’t wait another five years for that.

***Hiking the full length of the Bluff Trail to enjoy the overlook views is high (literally) on our list of trails for our return visit.***

Know Before You Go

The Lula Lake Land Trust visit website has all the details you’ll need for a convenient, safe and fun visit. Be sure to go through all the information there to plan your visit.

As mentioned, Lula Falls generally is open to the public on the first and last weekends of each month. Advance reservations can be made online only, with payment due at reservation time. A reservation is good for a parking space for a family vehicle, but NOT for passenger vans, busses or extra-large vehicles. No one is allowed without a reservation — believe this, as we saw the friendly volunteers cheerfully guide several reservationless visitors back to the exit!

Cancellations with refunds are allowed up to 48-hours in advance (which we didn’t know before!). There’s a waiting list available when all reservations are claimed.

***Descending to the canyon floor to the falls base requires navigating an uneven and rocky path. Be aware of endurance limits for those with different physical abilities.***

The descent into the canyon at the falls base is rocky and can be slippery, so be mindful of your footwear. If you descend to the base (and at 65-years-old, we did it!), a 150-foot stair-aided climb back up is required, so beware of endurance limits for those with different physical abilities. The natural, rock and wood stairs don’t have rails, so those with balance issues may find walking sticks or hiking poles helpful here and elsewhere in the preserve.

To the great annoyance of my family, I stopped to take pictures of many of the native wildflowers. The identification is thanks to friends on some of my favorite waterfall hiking groups.

There are limited picnic areas and primitive restroom facilities available. Aside from those “amenities,” you’ll need to carry anything else you might need, including water, snacks, bug spray and a first aid kit.

After Your Visit

The nearby towns of Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton offer a plethora of fast food, casual dining, lodging and other amenities. We stopped for a well-deserved post-hike treat at Cook-Out, ordering fresh and tasty milkshakes for all. And, you’re minutes away from Chattanooga, so combining Lula Falls into a Chattanooga-based weekend is simple and easy.

Tucked into the far Northwest corner of Georgia, it’s easy to combine a visit to Lula Falls with a weekend in Chattanooga, TN, where you can visit Rock City. Nearby Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton, GA, also provide traveler amenities close by.

The Casual Cyclist’s Guide to Family Fun Rides in Marietta

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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April 24, 2021

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The Casual Cyclist’s Guide to Family Fun Rides in Marietta

For those who’ve seen my online profile, you may know I like long distance bike rides. But when my wife and I go riding together, we take more leisurely and slow-paced journeys, focused on safety, scenery, frequent stops and even some coffee shops, with no need for speed nor any regard for fitness records.

My best biking advice: if you have any doubt, take the easiest and shortest route.

If the second type of leisure, recreation ride is of interest, keep reading. Or if you’re more into challenges and distance, we’ll be adding new posts soon on these topics.

Marietta Leisure Ride

Marietta Station bike and pedestrian path, OurTravelCafe.com — Riding the Mountain to River Trail in Marietta between Brown Park and Tower Road is perfect for the pleasure rider looking for limited physical activity blended with local history and some off-bike time.

Since you reached this sentence, let’s start with our most leisurely ride, shall we? For this short ride in Marietta, we’ll focus on a section of the Mountain to River Trail in Marietta between Brown Park and Tower Road. The ride stays exclusively on a mostly-flat, dedicated bike and pedestrian trail with overpasses bridging above busy roads and signal-controlled crossings at other intersections. This is perfect for the pleasure rider looking for limited physical activity blended with local history and some off-bike time. People of all ages can make the four-mile round-trip ride on virtually any type of bike, with no special packing, supplies or gear required. And, if you prefer a shorter ride, you can make this one shorter by turning around sooner since it’s out-and-back on a single path.

Brown Park in Marietta, GA, starting point for ride on Mountain to River Trail. OurTravelCafe.com — When open, the small parking lot at Brown Park offers a good starting point, and a scenic view of nearby Kennesaw Mountain. After riding, you can also walk through adjacent Confederate Cemetery. However, both have been closed and locked in 2021.

To get the most exercise and fun, I usually start at Brown Park, where there’s a small parking lot. (NOTE: The parking lot at Brown Park has been closed periodically in 2020. Another option is to park at Lewis Park, then pedal into Marietta from the opposite direction. See this map: ) You’ll join the trail at the new overpass across South Marietta Parkway and then pedal through downtown Marietta on a rail-side brick path. Follow the path through downtown, observing all crossing signs for your own safety. On busy weekends, it may be best to walk your bike through Marietta Station area. Once you cross the overpass bridging North Marietta Parkway, you’ll definitely want to dismount and walk your bike down a narrow connector sidewalk near Brumby Loft apartments. Once down, remount and rejoin the trail as it turns left away from Marietta Parkway and eventually follows Brumby, Sessions and Rosedale Streets to Tower Road. At Tower, turn around and retrace your route back to Brown Park. (If you prefer a longer ride, you can continue. But beware, the trail gets hillier and more difficult as it continues toward Kennesaw Mountain.)

Railroad and bike trail crossing at Marietta, GA. OurTravelCafe.com — ***The ride through Marietta crosses railroad tracks twice at controlled crossings. Riders of all skills should use caution over tracks, and beginners might consider dismounting to avoid accidents.***

Mountain to River Bike Trail in Marietta, GA, OurTravelCafe.com — ***The Mountain to River trail traversing Marietta between Brown Park and Tower Road is relatively flat. There’s a slight climb coming up from Brown Park, but it’s short and gradual.***

Downtown Marietta Stops

Depending on your motivation for the ride, you may want to pedal past downtown on your outbound journey and save the downtown stop for your return. That way, you’ll have most of the work behind you, and a mostly downhill journey to return to your car at Brown Park. You’ll find convenient bike racks near the Marietta Welcome Center to safely lock your bikes during your downtown visit, as bikes are not allowed on in the square or on city sidewalks.

If you’re hungry or thirsty, a plethora of restaurants offer quick carry-out and limited outdoor seating, which is perfect if you want to rest. And there’s always the option of carrying your takeout into Glover Park at the center of the square.

Among our favorite downtown treat choices on the return trip are Cool Bean Coffee Roasters, Sugar Cakes Patisserie and Bistro and Sarah Jean’s Ice Cream. All offer quick carry-out and limited outdoor seating, which is perfect if you want to rest without bothering others with any potential unpleasant exercise after-smell. There are many other options if you want something more substantial, many with outdoor seating, and there’s always the option of carrying your takeout into Glover Park at the center of the square. Snow on the Square is a seasonal option for cool and refreshing snow cones.

Session's Stand restaurant on Mountain to River Trail in Marietta, GA. OurTravelCafe.Com — Session’s Stand offers a rest stop and snack opportunity outside of the downtown Marietta area. It features sandwiches, baked goods and a variety of beverages all of which can be enjoyed on the patio.

Another good choice is Session’s Stand. Assuming you make the full round-trip, you’ll find Sessions Stand after you pass downtown on your out-bound journey. It’s an amazing little neighborhood café with outstanding coffees, baked goods and more. And yes, there is outdoor seating!

I’ll also mention that we’re eager for the opening the Marietta Food Market, a new food hall under construction across the railroad tracks from downtown. It wasn’t open yet as of mid-January 2019, but we’ll do a full update on it when it finally opens!

Kennesaw’s Wooded Noonday Creek Trail

***Starting at Bells Ferry, you can ride 1.8 trail miles with only one road crossing, since the trail passes under several highways.***

We promised to keep it short and fun for these rides, and there are two other options in Kennesaw, both on the Noonday Creek Trail. The full trail is approximately 7-miles one-way, extending from a trailhead on Bell’s Ferry Road to Kennesaw Mountain, where it intersects with and continues as Mountain to River Trail into Marietta. But it’s easy to create shorter rides with convenient and easy access points.

Noonday Creek crosses under Interstate 75 near Kennesaw. OurTravelCafe.com — ***Riding the Noonday Creek trail west and south, you follow the creek, pass under I-575, then cross the creek near Town Center Mall. The trail enters a more wooded area as it crosses under I-75.***

The easiest, shortest, and flattest option measures 3.8 miles roundtrip, and traverses only one street intersection. For this ride, park at the Bell’s Ferry Trailhead, where you’ll also find restroom facilities for your pre-and-post-ride convenience. Ride the trail west and south, following along Noonday Creek, passing under I-575, then crossing the creek near Town Center Mall. The trail proceeds across George Busbee Parkway at a controlled crosswalk, then enters more wooded area as it passes under I-75. Continue here until reaching Barrett Lakes Road, then turn around for the return. If you want a bit more of a challenge, you can continue on the trail up Barrett Lakes Road, climbing about 70 feet over the next 0.3 miles, then pedaling a flat section for another 0.6 mile to reach Aviation Park. After the climb, you can use the facilities, watch a few planes land or take off at McCallum Airport, then turn around to coast downhill and complete a 5.6 mile version. You can also do this in the opposite order, starting and ending at Aviation Park. But as you coast down the hill on Barrett Lakes Road, remember that you’ll be climbing the equivalent of seven stories on final leg of your return.

The Commercial Noonday Creek Trail

Aviation Park in Kennesaw, on the Noonday Creek Trail. OurTravelCafe.com — ***You can park at Aviation Park in Kennesaw, where bike rentals are available. RIding west treks through some commercial areas, all on the trail. But there are more road crossings here.***

A second option on this trail is to park at Aviation Park, which has a large parking lot, nice restroom facilities and a credit-card bike rental location. From Cobb Place Boulevard, follow the trail for 1.9 miles as it passes by offices, commercial and distribution facilities. The trail turns away from the roads and back into the Noonday Creek flood plain before it reaches But this extension has lots of busy road crossings, some significant hills along Barrett Parkway, and we’ve found the trail often littered with broken glass – a bike tire’s worst enemy!

Noonday Creek Trail at Cobb Parkway. Our TravelCafe.com — Cobb Parkway is a good turn-around point if you’re coming from Bells Ferry or Aviation Park. While we don’t recommend it for leisure riders, the trail continues across Cobb Parkway, follows along to the south, then turns right to parallel Barrett Parkway and eventually reaches Kennesaw Mountain.

Final Thoughts

My best biking advice: if you have any doubt, take the easiest and shortest route. It’s better to start slow, ride easy and enjoy some fun than to find yourself tired and stressed with a long return ahead. And if you want to learn about more challenging rides, click here to read about other nearby rides for the experienced rider.

Weekday Walking in Wonderful Woodstock

Georgia Small Plates

DeanLand

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April 10, 2021

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Somedays, no matter how much you might want or need to, it’s just impossible to get out to the mountains, forest or even a park for a hike through nature. On those days, we try walking our neighborhood or enjoying one our favorite urban trails to put in a few miles.

Such was the case recently when regular maintenance meant taking our Honda minivan to our preferred servicer in Woodstock. After the Monday morning drop off, we engaged in a bit of early morning retail therapy at the nearby outlet mall to upgrade some aging outwear with newer, lighter thermal reflective gear. Then, with a deadline to pick up our grandkids in early afternoon, we headed into Woodstock for a 3.6-mile out-and-back walk on the Noonday Creek trail and a loop around the downtown area.

***When it’s not possible or practical to get to the mountains for a hike through nature, we often turn to urban trails like the Noonday Creek trail in Woodstock to reach our mileage goals.***

Which Noonday Creek Trail?

For the unfamiliar, the Noonday Creek trail currently exists in two unconnected sections. The 1.5-mile northern-most and shorter section connects downtown Woodstock to busy Highway 92 near I-575, passing through downtown residential complexes and wooded areas on its way to following the namesake creek. This is the portion we walked.

The northern-most and shortest of two unconnected Noonday Creek Trails, the trail runs through preserved green space wedged between growing residential and commercial areas. Along the way you’ll find wastebaskets, benches and mileage markers, but no restrooms except near this start/finish and at the Woodstock Woof Park spur trail.

The southern portion of the trail originates at a trailhead on Bells Ferry Road, continuing approximately nine miles near Town Center Mall, around office and commercial buildings, then alongside Barrett Parkway and Stilesboro Road until ending at its intersection with Mountain to River Trail at Kennesaw Mountain. We’ve done that portion as a bike outing, and you can find that post here.

Walking from Woodstock

Our weekday journey began at the public parking area at the intersection of Elm and Market Streets, convenient to the trail and to the restaurants and shops of downtown Woodstock. Parking here is free, but the main attraction for us was the promise of a post-walk refreshment under the shady oak outside of Reformation Brewery. When the grandkids are in tow, the primary benefit is the Woodstock Downtown Playground and the large event green along Market Street. If you plan to visit on a Saturday between April and December, beware that this also is the location of the Woodstock Farmer’s Market, so parking here may not be an option.

Public parking is available at the corner of Elm and Market Streets, just off the main thoroughfare. The parking is free, and having a cold beverage under the oak trees outside Reformation Brewery may be another attractive post-hike benefit.

Leaving downtown, the wide, paved, mixed-use trail passes by many of Woodstock’s newer high-density housing developments, all within easy walking distance to downtown and helping to fuel the growth of this historic community. Crossing a small stream that flows into Noonday Creek, the trail skirts a few single-residence homes before entering the wooded area leading to the creek-side route.

Leaving downtown, the trail passes through and near many of Woodstock’s newer high-density housing developments before twisting down toward its namesake creek. We found many pet-friendly stops along the residential section, offering water and pet treats.

The trail represents a preserved green space wedged between growing residential and commercial areas, running parallel to I-575 to the west and continuing residential development to the east. Along the way you’ll find wastebaskets, benches and mileage markers. But the only restrooms are at the trailhead near downtown, or at commercial establishments where the trail meets Highway 92. Dog lovers will be happy to know that dogs are allowed on the trail, and a 1/10^th mile spur route leads to Woodstock’s Woofstock Dog Park. Restrooms also are available at the dog park.

Looping Around Downtown

While it was Five O’Clock Somewhere when we returned, we passed on a noontime beverage at Reformation Brewery and continued into downtown in search of food. The challenge for us with Woodstock restaurants is narrowing the choices from the plethora of appetizing options, ranging from burgers and fries to a variety of ethnic foods, pub grub, seafood, coffee house fare, dessert shops and more. Pure Taqueria rates among our favorites, where it’s easy to grab hand-held fare or a filling bowl for outside dining under the trees. (We welcome your list of favorites in our comment section!)

We always stop in at the Woodstock Visitors Center, located in the historic Dean’s Store, to get news of the latest happenings in and around downtown. You can also pick up a map a brochure of the historic downtown walking tour, right here at stop 16.

For history lovers and those who enjoy the preservation of these historic downtowns, Preservation Woodstock Inc. and the Cherokee County Historical Society have mapped out a 1.7-mile, 24-stop historic downtown walking tour. You can pick up a brochure with the route and descriptions at the Woodstock Visitors Center, itself located at stop 16, the historic Dean’s Store. Our big tip: we ALWAYS stop here to get the latest about the many local goings-on, and because the visitors center itself is best described as “a visitors center, a museum, a library, an art gallery, a concert hall, a literary lounge, a gathering place, a time capsule.” We’re also partial to the original name! 😊

Other Seasonal Fun in Woodstock

If not obvious by now, we love the history, careful blending of past and future, downtown attractions, dining options and seasonal in Woodstock. One of our favorite summer visits featured a picnic lunch and noontime concert by a friend’s band on the stage at The Park at City Center. In the fall, we make at least one annual trek to the pre-Halloween Scarecrow Invasion, a favorite for our grandsons. And we always drop in at the local clothing shops, plus the Wright Stuff Records and Collectibles. And don’t miss wonderfully wacky and sometimes weird Blue Frog Imports and hippie shop, where the art is fabulous, and the vibe may hearken you back to the more famous Woodstock of music history lore.