travel Archives -

Super Shuttle Arrives in Midtown Atlanta

November 15, 2014 by Thom Abbott

We all know that living in Midtown Atlanta and traveling are a nice combination! Why? Well first off, we have THREE MARTA stations to pick from to use for mass transit to the Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. (Think we can make that name any longer?)

But, not everyone wants to take the train. Maybe you are leaving early, early, or coming in late, late. Well now you will have another shuttle service option with the Atlanta arrival of Super Shuttle. The service will start on Monday, November 17 and will service Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead initially. (Sorry you OTP peeps….out of luck…for now.)

A check of the website shows an Airport-to-Midtown one way fare at $18.50. That is for a “shared-ride van” which means there could be stops before you get to your Midtown Atlanta condo. When I used to travel on business and did not need or want a rental car, I used Super Shuttle and it always worked well.

It just nice to know you have options, from MARTA, Uber and Super Shuttle to get to the airport. Oh, and there is a cab…..

October Festivals In Atlanta and Around Georgia

September 25, 2013 by Thom Abbott

I always love doing these posts. There is so many unique October Festivals in Atlanta and around the North Georgia Mountains this time of year! Of course, the fall colors should be starting in the mountains (reminds me…time for a trip to Cherokee and the outlet malls of Gatlinburg…another great day trip) so all the more reason to venture out.

I’ll make this easy and break the list up into Atlanta area event, and those that are more of a drive outside the city!

Please keep in mind, this is by no means all of them…and if you know of others, please post a link in the comments section below.

October Festivals in Atlanta

Pumpkin Festival — Stone Mountain Park – September 27 – October 27

Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and cooler weather at Atlanta’s favorite place to celebrate the fall season. Now in its 11th year, Stone Mountain Park’s annual Pumpkin Festival has become a family favorite with kids and parents alike.

Take in all of the splendor that autumn provides with attractions, fun-filled games, shows and more. NEW for 2013, experience Spookley’s A-MAZE-ING Adventure maze! Puzzles, passages, twists and turns will keep kids guessing until they reach the exit. Pumpkinpalooza takes the stage with an energy-filled game show where audience members are picked to participate in a series of zany and messy challenges. The winner takes all and the losers have to spin the “Wheel of Misery,” with consequences ranging from a pie in the face, dancing like a chicken or getting “splurfed” (a gooey, slimy substance poured on top of your head). Get the entire family into the spirit with fall décor and special attractions, such as the Pie Eating Contest, Trick or Treat Scavenger Hunt, a costume dance party, crafts in the pumpkin patch and much more!

Atlanta Streets Alive — Virginia Highlands — Sunday, October 6, 2013

Inspired by open streets projects all over the world where neighborhood activists closed the streets to motorized vehicles and opened them to use any human powered means of transportation…walking, skating, biking. Atlanta Streets Alive aims for three objectives:

Celebrate the Neighborhood (which changes….September 8th was Peachtree Street)
Expose attendees to a variety of fun outdoor activities
Encourage more Georgia residents to take to the streets…minus the four wheels

October 6th’s route included Highland/Monroe and Boulevard/Virginia Avenue.

Destination East Point — East Point — October 12 — 2-5pm (maybe longer?)

This year’s festival will include interactive entertainment all day long, a Carnival with all your favorite midway attractions and a few of last year’s favorite events. Between our Exhibitors, Community Row, and Contests, there will be a little something for everyone. Out Contests this year include a Pie Baking competition and Chili Cook-Off – both featuring cash prizes. Of course we will also being doing the Chicken Strut again – so bring your prize-winning bird and crow about your blue ribbon! Come visit us on the Commons this October 12th and “Fall” in love with Downtown East Point.

Country Living Fair — Stone Mountain Park — October 25-27

A fun, folksy and fabulous show and sale of folk art, antiques, “Made in America” crafts, art, furniture, home decor and more. Meet the editors of Country Living Magazine, attend seminars and how-to’s, artisan demonstrations, Harvest & Gourmet Market, and fall festivities.

Presented by County Living Magazine, the event offers visitors the opportunity to fully experience the “Country Living” lifestyle. The event includes a special EARTH ANGELS Artisan Showcase – The Earth Angels will be “LIVE!” all weekend with demonstrations of pottery, painting, soft sculpture and more.

The event also features great shopping options. More than 150 booths of antiques and hand-crafted goods PLUS a Gourmet Harvest Market AND the Country Living General Store. Featured vendors include the Earth Angels, Great Stuff By Paul, Findings @ Summerhouse, The Red Door Antiques, and many more favorites.

Mountain Members: Save $5 off tickets. To redeem this offer, click here to download coupon and bring with you to the festival entrance.

October Festivals Around Atlanta and North Georgia Mountains

Cotton Pickin’ Fair — Highway 85 Fairgrounds — Gay — October 5-6

Return to 1910 where the Farmhouse, the Cotton Gin, and the Cotton Warehouse form a unique backdrop for a great day of 21st century fun. Amidst skilled artisans and antique specialists, the Fair shares remnants of farm life in days gone by. New talent keeps the festival fresh and interesting while returning artists welcome loyal customers seeking to add to individual collections.

Haunted Corn Maze — Buck’s Corn Maze, Dawsonville — October 5, 12, 19 and 26

Buck’s Corn Maze is more than just a maze!!! It’s GREAT family fun for all ages. The 12 acre maze is planted in a 20 acre field next to Cochran Creek with a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains.

Come get “LOST” in the maze. As much fun as the maze is in the daytime, it is double the fun at night. Bring your Flashlight and test your skills in the dark. After completing the maze, go on a relaxing hayride which runs by the creek and through the cornfield.

Downtown Clayton Sidewalk Art Show | Foxfire Mountaineer Festival — Clayton, GA — October 5

Come out for a great day of regional art and activities for the whole family. Foxfire-Mountaineer Festival is just down the block so bring the whole family for a day of mountain heritage and a fantastic regional art.

The Foxfire Mountaineer Festival is a single-day celebration of the rich heritage of the Southern Appalachian mountains, featuring traditional music from numerous regional performers, showcases and demonstrations of time-honored handicrafts and trades from over 80 vendors, and all manner of mountain-flavored games and challenges for young and old alike.

Georgia Mountain Fall Festival — Hiawassee, GA — October 11-19

Look forward to the 2013 Fall Festival. With its mild temperatures and beautiful scenery there is no better place to be than the North Georgia Mountains in the fall. Each October, the 9-day event features exciting musical performances, Arts & Craft vendors, educational demonstrations, a flower show and the ever-popular Georgia’s Official State Fiddlers’ Convention.

Arts & Crafts Daily
Gates: $11.00 Per Person (Includes Music Shows)
Children 9 and Under Free
FREE PARKING (Trolley Service Available Daily)

Georgia Apple Festival — Lions Club Fiargrounds, Ellijay — October 12-13 and 19-20

The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, and Gilmer County invite everyone to come and enjoy the 42nd year of the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The antique car show is held at the Civic Center on October 12th. The parade is on October 19th and begins at 10 AM in historic downtown Ellijay.

Welcome to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

December 7, 2012 by Thom Abbott

If you are relocating to Atlanta, chances are you first came to Atlanta on a job interview or perhaps a house hunting trip. If so, you probably flew into the little airport that services our great city! If you have not been here yet, here is your guide!

When traveling, there is nothing worse than not knowing the airport you are going to be arriving in, or better yet, changing planes in. Never fear, your

“Everything You Wanted to Know about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is Here!”

First, a little history about how we got to be the world’s busiest airport! HJAIA started back in 1925 as Candler Field (named after the former owner, former Mayor and Coca Cola tycoon, Asa Candler.) If you can imagine, the city bought the land (an abandoned auto racetrack) for a mere $94,400!! Of course that was A LOT of money in 1925, but considering it was 287 acres…..The first flight came on September 15, 1926, and Delta Air Service (now Delta Air Lines) began service in June, 1930, and moved its headquarters from Monroe, LA to Atlanta in 1941. In June, 1956, an Eastern Airlines flight to Montreal, Canada was the first international flight. Jump ahead….in May 2001 construction of a 5th, yes FIFTH runway began, and was completed in 2006 at a cost of $1.28 Billion. With this additional runway, HJAIA is one of only a few airports that can perform triple simultaneous landings!

Many travelers are confused about the airport and it’s layout, so let’s break it down. There is a Main Terminal where all passengers are dropped off and picked up, along with the usual ground transportation services, parking and a MARTA train station. Actual airline flights depart from a series of Terminals or Concourses, T-E.

Where Atlanta departing passengers get confused (and sometimes miss a flight) is the time required to get from the Main Terminal to the Concourse where their flight is departing. Especially now with heighten security measures, 1-1.5 hours would be a fair time to allow. Once you clear the security check-point in the Main Terminal, a series of escalators takes you to the Transportation Mall! (No stores, but lots of moving sidewalks, art, and the Automated People Mover (APM).

For a clearing understanding, let’s just call it the train! The train stops at each of the Concourses, running about every 110 seconds. So, if you are departing on Delta #999 at Gate B29, you would take the train to the B Concourse, take the escalator UP from the Mall, and then go left to your gate. There was much to do a few years back when people said the trains “voice” was not friendly enough! It use to be quite robotic…I could imitate it quite well! Now it’s a more friendly voice that announces the Concourse arrival and departure as well as the warning that the doors are closing.

But, lets back up for a second, and take a closer look at the ALL important

Main Terminal!

One thing that makes an Atlanta departure much easier (in my opinion) is the way the Main Terminal is set up. If you are flying Delta Air Lines, Aero Mexico or Air France, you will be headed to the Terminal South. ANYBODY else, you are headed to Terminal North. Once curbside at either Terminal, you will see signage directing you to curbside check-in for your departing airline. (Above, it’s noted as Ticketing/Check-In) Keep in mind, this is the SAME area where you PICK UP arriving passengers as well! If you note on the map above, the oval circles with numbers 1-8 or 9…That is Baggage Claim! There is short term parking at the Main Terminal if you are dropping travelers off, and want to spend some time with them in the Atrium, before they clear Security and head to the Concourses. Will talk more about other airport services in a moment. Next, let’s talk about the

Concourses!!

This is an example of Concourse A. In the middle is the Entrance and Exit Escalators to go to either Concourse B-E or to Concourse T and the Main Terminal and Baggage Claim. As I mentioned above, if you were departing from gate 29, you would come up from the Mall, turn left and 29 will be on your right!

There is food and beverages located on each Concourse, but some are better than others! Concourse A & B both have Chili’s, Cinnabon (my favorite!) and Wolfgang Puck. Concourse C and D are not as great, and the International Concourse (E) is another world! The Main Terminal features Atlanta Bread Company, Domino’s and Houlihan’s.

Retail is making some inroads at the airport as well. Recent announcement for future stores include Calvin Klein, Brooks Brothers, Salvatore Ferragamo and Blackberry! A $6 Billion capital improvement makeover is underway which will include a new International Terminal, a new rental car facility and upgrades to the concourses, the “train” and parking service.

So, the next time you fly into, out of, or change planes in Atlanta, you’ll know where to go!

In May, 2012, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson opened the new Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Terminal F). While a beautiful facility, it is not connected to the other Terminals or the Main Terminal. So, if you do arrive into Atlanta on a domestic flight and are changing to an International Departure, or the other way around, you will need to take a bus to the other terminal! Quite inconvenient! For as much as this new terminal cost (cost overuns) it should of been connected with the People Mover Train! You also get to this terminal from I-75 vs. the Main Terminal from I-85. Unless you are actually leaving on an International flight, it’s pretty hard to get a look at this new baby. There was a public viewing time before the Terminal went fully operational, but I missed it! Bummer!

Delta Air Lines and AirTran Airways(which is merging with Southwest) are the two major carriers at HJAIA, but of course, Alaska Airlines, United (merged with Continental), Frontier, Spirit, US Airways, Northwest (soon to be Delta) and American service Atlanta as well.

Exploring Nelson’s Spring Creek Cattle Ranch in my Red Sam Edelman Cowboy Boots – YEEHAW!

September 7, 2012 by Thom Abbott

See on Scoop.it – Other Atlanta News Events

We’re now in Livingston, Montana, staying at Nelson’s Spring Creek Cattle Ranch, which is a working cattle ranch AND a fly-fishing lodge! They are a fully functional cattle ranch with a thriving fly-fishing lodging business.

See on psbananas.com

NOTE: If you happen to follow me on Facebook, you’ll know that I was born and raised on a ranch in Montana, about 3 miles from THIS one! I went to school with the son that now owns the ranch. I think some of the pictures almost look like there is a smoke haze in the air from the fires. I’ve posted about them on my FacebookPage.

Paradise Valley Livingston Montana — Mt. Delano South of Livingston This photo was taken in June, 2012. The mountain you see has now been almost totally burned by the Pine Creek Fire this past month. Glad I saw it like this!

As you can see, there really IS a reason they call it the Big Sky Country! If you ever want a totally different kind of vacation, fly into Bozeman (you can actually now fly NON-STOP from Atlanta to BZN) rent a car and drive South from Bozeman through the Gallatin Canyon, stop at Big Sky Montana (the Vail of Montana) then continue on to West Yellowstone and into Yellowstone National Park. Tour the park, with a Southern exit/detour to see the Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Come back to Yellowstone, complete the circle and exit out the Northern entrance at Gardiner and head North through Paradise Valley (where Nelson Spring Creek Ranch is located) and into Livingston. Then West back to Bozeman. I promise, you’ll have hundreds of pictures and just as many memories!

10 Reasons to Visit a National Park Right Now (Photos) : Discovery Channel

June 18, 2012 by Thom Abbott

See on Scoop.it – Midtown Atlanta Conversations and Condos

I grew up next to one of these incredible natural treasures that can be found within our own United States. But even though our family ranch was but 40 miles from the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, I don’t recall many of our visits. I can remember when you truly could SEE a bear and FEED a bear, but those that were not smart enough to stay in their cars, caused this to be a rare sighting now in the park. But as an adult, I’ve been back to the park once, and really toured it, but that was years ago. I just returned from Montana and a visit to family, and now wish I would of scheduled a day trip to the park. A must nexte year for sure.

But Yellowstone is not the only National Park. Our National Park System is a true treasure. Here’s 10 great reasons to visit it right now.

See on dsc.discovery.com

Midtown Atlanta Getaways | Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites

May 29, 2012 by Thom Abbott

While Midtown Atlanta has to be one of the greatest neighborhoods of Atlanta, we do have a big state to play in. How about Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites?

Did you know you can a membership that will help YOU save money and in turn help maintain these parks? Yep, you sure can! The Friends of Georgia State Parks website! Memberships range from a single at $50 to a Trustee at $5,000. (Note to self…if you win the Lottery, this would be a good thing to support!) The website details the info about the various levels of membership.

And the money in needed. Take for example, Amicalola Falls . Containing the largest cascading waterfall in the Southeast as well as miles of scenic trails, it is clear why Amicalola Falls is one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. It had several of its trails recently repaired!

When you are ready to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, why not check out Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites!

Visit the Georgia State Parks Website here and find your next Midtown Atlanta Getaway!

October Festivals in Atlanta

October Festivals Around Atlanta and North Georgia Mountains

Cotton Pickin’ Fair — Highway 85 Fairgrounds — Gay — October 5-6

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