By Elizabeth Warden | Member
The 2013 STC Summit will be held at the Hyatt Regency in the heart of downtown Atlanta, GA. There are wonderful places to visit in the Atlanta area that you can get to on a tank of gas. This article covers some great day trips to explore before or after your visit to Atlanta for the STC Summit.
Athens, GA (one hour and 30 minutes northeast of downtown Atlanta) is widely known around the South as the home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. However, it’s more than a college town. Athens is where the B-52s and R.E.M. got their start, and it welcomes music enthusiasts to sample its variety of music clubs and bars that offer a taste of jazz, country, blues, and rock. "Must visits" include the world-famous 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre.
On your way to Athens, be sure to stop by beautiful Chateau Elan in Braselton, GA (less than an hour northeast of downtown Atlanta), for a round of golf, to treat yourself to the spa, or to take a tour of the winery. Pack your golf clubs when you travel to Atlanta for the Summit to play a round at one of Chateau Elan’s two public golf courses: an 18-hole championship course and a par 3, 9-hole course. Need some leisure after the busy Summit? Book one of Chateau Elan’s many relaxation treatments, such as a massage, a facial, a manicure, a body wrap—or one of each! Before leaving Chateau Elan, take a guided tour and tasting of its full-production winery, which includes a sampling of five wines and a souvenir wine glass.
On the other side of Atlanta, outside of Chattanooga in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, is spectacular Ruby Falls (just over two hours northwest of downtown Atlanta). Ruby Falls is a 145-foot underground waterfall located 1,120 feet beneath Lookout Mountain. Take the guided cave tour to see Ruby Falls and learn about the history of how the waterfall was formed so far beneath the Earth’s surface. For the super adventurous, participate in the Ruby Falls ZIPStream to view Lookout Mountain from the treetops at Ruby Falls. The ZIPStream is an obstacle course suspended in the trees that includes bridges, walkways, and zip lines.
While you’re in Tennessee, stop by historic Chattanooga (two hours northwest of downtown Atlanta). History buffs will not want to miss this opportunity to visit the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park—the nation’s oldest and largest military park. The year 2013 is a special year; not only is it the 60th anniversary of STC, but it marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War battles that were fought in the Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain area. There isn’t a better time to visit this historic landmark!
Chattanooga is also widely popular for whitewater rafting. Catering to both novice and experienced rafters, the Ocoee River offers the most popular rafting in Tennessee. It is divided into two rafting experiences: the Middle and the Upper Ocoee River. The Middle Ocoee River, America’s most popular whitewater river, is a five-mile stretch of over 20 rapids. The Upper Ocoee River, the site of the 1996 Olympic kayak competition, is a four-mile run that is only open for a limited time during the year. Each section of the Ocoee River is about one and a half hours of whitewater rafting thrills.
If a trip away from home means shopping to you, the North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville, Georgia (less than an hour north of downtown Atlanta), is the place to visit for over 140 outlet stores. Also in Dawsonville is the Amicalola Falls State Park, which sits on the Appalachian Trail. The state park is a great place for day hikes, ranging from 0.25 to 8.5 miles. The trails surround and offer breathtaking views of the tallest cascading waterfall in America east of the Mississippi River: Amicalola Falls. Many visitors pack a lunch and hike around this 729-foot waterfall to enjoy what is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. Bring your bathing suit and hike the 0.6 mile Creek Trail to the base of Amicalola Falls for a swim in the Reflection Pool!
Enjoy your stay in Atlanta for the 2013 STC Summit, and if you get a chance be sure to venture out of Atlanta and take one of these day trips.
