Look out Georgia here we come!!

[Deirachel]

KD, we have a world class aquarium at Monterey and it will be interesting to compare the two coast's exhibits. We would like to do a civil war tour sometime in the future, but will not have time this trip. It sounds like visit to Kennesaw Mountain may be a good teaser to get that trip planned.

Definitely, go to the Aquarium, if nothing else than to see the whale sharks. It is the only aquarium outside of Asia to host them. If you have a couple hundred to spend, you can dive the main tank (snorkle and/or SCUBA). Second, the Monterey Bay Aquarium was the reason the Georgia Aquarium was built. Plus, there is just a bit of a difference between a 1.2 million gallon tank and an 8 million one.

If you are an architecture nut, downtown, in general, is a great place to visit. Just about every style of building for Reconstruction to today is represented. You can also hit the Coca-cola Museum.... Also, you should hit the New American Shakespeare Tavern for dinner and a show. (Their calendar goes until June at the moment, but you should find out what's playing in Oct in mid-June)

Since you will be in the area, you might want to hit Fuddruckers for a burger; there is one in Lawrenceville. I do every single time I have to head west to Atlanta. In the Lawrenceville/Lilburn area along I-85, there are all kinds of places to eat if you in the mood for ethnic cuisine.

I would recommend my main reason for going to Atlanta, but unfortunately that attraction moved to Winnipeg, CANADA!

[mookien]

... Since you will be in the area, you might want to hit Fuddruckers for a burger; there is one in Lawrenceville. ...

I second that suggestion, unless of course you are already familiar with them and they are no longer a novelty, and also because they are featured in Mike Judge's movie Idiocracy.

[MacMillans son]

Thanks for the link Sydnie, definitely not motorcycle related...it's even better! Thanks for the original tip Yodofizzy just the kind of thing we are looking for, those things that are unique to the history and/or culture of the area.

Deirechel, we do have a Fuddruckers here in the greater Sacramento area (Citrus Heights) and have enjoyed their burgers in the past, though it's been a while. Any other fine dining suggestions?

I'm creating a trip file that includes travel arrangements and site seeing recommendations, these will all be included for sure.

Thanks gang, we have plenty of time until the games so if any of you think of other things please let me know.

Regards,
Brooke

[mookien]

... Any other fine dining suggestions? ...

Brooke: I don't know if it even exists anymore, but years ago Pitty Pat's Porch was a superb restaurant. As I recall, in those days it was an all-you-can-eat buffet style eatery in (or near) downtown Atlanta with exquisite food all along the buffet.

I can't really recommend it since I haven't eaten there in, oh about 35 years, but you might make local inquiries. Perhaps someone on the forum from the Atlanta area can update my recollection and impressions. In any case "bon appetit".

John

[Thomas H]

Awesome , looking forward to seeing you at the meet up for X marks .
Stone mountian is great and a added note
the games ticket wrist band will allow you to do every thing at the Mountain too
May be after the games you can run over there , it is a great place , and fun for the whole family

[tripleblessed]

The Cyclorama, though showing her age, is an amazing achievement. It's about 20-30 minutes from Stone Mountain,
and is housed about two or two and a half miles from the area of fighting it depicts. Grant Park(not THAT Grant) fronts
Boulevard, and the home team was arrayed roughly along that street's north/south line. Union lines were about two miles east, just west of present-day Moreland Avenue, with their northern flank just southeast of the Carter Presidential Library/Center. The painting is from the point of view of a tower constructed by the artist to allow him to see the whole field. It was almost literally a stone's throw from the railroad cut that allowed the breaking of the Union line, and maybe even closer to where DeGress had his battery of Illinois artillery, which put up a heroic defense. Both the painting and
the site may be enjoyed.

Since you have interest in the late unpleasantness, I also would recommend Kennesaw Mountain. Today, it's surrounded by trees, homes and condos, but on the day of that one, no trees seen, the forest having disappeared into breastworks and campfires. It and Little Kennesaw rise sharply out of the surrounding landscape, those two clearly visible and alone seen from the summit of Stone Mountain. Politics and beliefs aside, standing at the top of Kennesaw looking down it's steep flank you are overwhelmed by the enormity of attacking up that angle into a firestorm of assorted arms, and the terrible wall of canister and grapeshot. While carrying your stuff, and a long and heavy weapon.......

One must weep for our stupidities and our stubbornness, but the heart nearly swells out of the chest in admiration of all
on all those fields that they were so committed to their beliefs.

On other issues, you may enjoy a trip to Mary Mac's Tea Room, since 1945 or so a landmark of southern eating. Much easier on the wallet than Pittypat's. Or maybe try the Colonnade. Both icons of southern meat and three type restaurants, both have rabid following, eclectic clientele overlaid on their genteel beginnings. They've even let me in. I, as well, would recommend Tallulah Gorge. Some weekends the power company releases enough water for the falls to flow; whether schedules mesh ????. From Toccoa, the Tartan Museum is about an hour's drive. To Toccoa, about an hour and a half from Stone Mountain.

[Deirachel]

They've even let me in. I, as well, would recommend Tallulah Gorge. Some weekends the power company releases enough water for the falls to flow; whether schedules mesh ????. From Toccoa, the Tartan Museum is about an hour's drive. To Toccoa, about an hour and a half from Stone Mountain.

Point of order: That's the Army Corps of Engineers whom have control on when that happens.

Food:

Indochinese: Buford Hwy, Satillite Blvd, pretty much either of these outside I-285. Find a place that looks nice/interesting and dive in.

Indian/Thai: Indian Trail Rd between Lawerenceville Hwy and I-85

Latino: Lawerenceville Hwy in the Lilburn area.

For novelty's sake, you might hit the Dwarf House on Pleasant Hill Rd. (Or, the original on Central Ave on the other side of town in Hapsburg.) It's a sit-down restaurant that's a Chick-fil-A. As in waitresses takes your order and brings you Chick-fil-A sandwiches (Dwarf House is where Chick-fil-A sandwiches were created).

If it's still there, Hari Ichiban, tucked into the corner of the shopping center at Satillite Blvd and Pleasant Hill Rd was the best sushi I'd ever had. I spent a few hundred in there in one sitting once; no, it's not really that pricy....I just had some really special stuff and A LOT OF SUSHI. It's been almost 10 years now though, so I don't know about that one.

Ray's in the City is a very nice fine dining (seafood mainly, I like the she-crab soup especially). Bit on the pricy side though. There is also a nice restaurant on top of the Hyatt downtown, that spins to let you look at the city.

For giggles, if you're not afraid of heights, you can ride almost to the top of the Westin... it was Atlanta's first superscraper....and the one you see in the old Burt Reynolds flicks set in Atlanta. Glass Elevators on the outside of the tower.... not for me.

[MacMillans son]

One must weep for our stupidities and our stubbornness, but the heart nearly swells out of the chest in admiration of all
on all those fields that they were so committed to their beliefs.

Thanks trppleblessed!

Although I will withhold judgement as to either sides stupidity or stubbornness, as a current military family, it is with the sentiment of the last half of your comment that we are interested in the history of the civil war.
Thank you for the additional battle details and restaurant recommendations. We will definitely visit Cyclorama, Kennesaw Mtn., Tallulah Gorge, and the Tartan Museum, and see if we can get to some of the eateries that you, Deirachel, and others have recommended as well.

Thanks again!