Look out Georgia here we come!!

[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!

[tripleblessed]

http://www.highlandsinfo.com/Video/TallulahFalls.htm

Brooke, it's often warm enough at the time of games to still enjoy the gorge and the hiking and streams in the area.
Sliding rock and Bust your Butt Falls are pleasant diversions, and judicious steering can minimize the shock at(on) the
bottom as the lip catapults you up in the air before landing you in the pool. Good hiking all through Toccoa/Cashiers/
Highlands/Brevard. Be aware access to the floor of Tallulah is limited and by permit (free) only. Especially on open
flow weekends.

Deirachel: Could you forward me your source for Corps control? Georgia Power owns the dams and the hydro
generation, and as I recall, all negotiations for increased flow were with them directly. As well, all the park and gorge
sites and articles I've seen cite GA Power as the control agent. Yes, I did hear a rumor once that I might have recalled something incorrectly, and am always eager to expand knowledge base. Am into many oddball/arcane subjects, and,
IIRC, you seem to be as well. I'll be happy to trust your source and grateful to receive. Thanks.

[turpin]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Amicolola Falls State Park. Beautiful falls and accessible paths, approach trail to the AT. Also Neil's Gap on Blood Mt. Just the drive on HWY. 19 from Dahlonega to Blairsville is a beaut.

Nearer in you can "Shoot the Hootch" by renting rafts, canos or kayaks at the concession on Azalea Drive in Roswell. They will trailer you upstream to a drop-off for a 3 to 4 hour float. some small rapids add a bit of interest.

Monday nights at Fado pub in Buckhead there is an Irish Traditional Music session that tends to get started about 8:30 and go till the last guy leaves. (get the Guiness BBQ wings). On tuesday there's another session at about 8 at the Marlay House in Decatur. Irish focus but so many talented folk that you get anything from gypsy and eastern Europe to Cape Breton and French Canadian music.

[MacMillans son]

Thanks Turpin, those sound great! Due to a bum shoulder we will likely pass on the rafting but hope to check out Amicolola Falls and the drive on Hwy 19. I will have to put together a trip outline to see if we can link some of these activities together. I will google Buckhead to see where we might fit that in as well. It sounds like there is a lot to see within a 150 mile radius or so of Stone Mountain. That's better than we hoped for.

Great stuff, thanks again!

[Deirachel]

Deirachel: Could you forward me your source for Corps control? Georgia Power owns the dams and the hydro
generation, and as I recall, all negotiations for increased flow were with them directly. As well, all the park and gorge
sites and articles I've seen cite GA Power as the control agent. Yes, I did hear a rumor once that I might have recalled something incorrectly, and am always eager to expand knowledge base. Am into many oddball/arcane subjects, and,
IIRC, you seem to be as well. I'll be happy to trust your source and grateful to receive. Thanks.

PM Sent.

[Tartan Hiker]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you are thinking about going to Franklin the park is not too far further North. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a great way to travel north and east toward Asheville. Into microbrews? Asheville is Beer City USA, and I'd be happy to host a tour of the local breweries. Mount Mitchell, on the Parkway above Asheville, is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi.

[Thomas H]

You will want to make sure you make the best of the Stone MT. Park there is so much to do there . and well worth it while you are in town .
And in Oct. the mornings are cool and the days warm then evenings cool again .
wonderfull time of year for the highland games.
* as you enter the Mt. on games day it is awesome to drive with the windows down
and hear the pipes bounceing off the side of the rock .

hope to see you there this year

[MacMillans son]

Thanks Thomas. We will be staying right at the park so will be walking into the games, but do look forward to the sound of pipes reflecting off the rocks. As the games get closer, I am sure there will be a designated meet up place. I believe it was at or near the STM tent last year? At any rate, I am sure we will meet up and I look forward to putting some faces and personalities to the avatars and aliases used here. See you then!

Thanks Tartanhiker, that sounds like a great tip. We are used to doing a lot of scouting on our first forays into a region then doing a more focused visit of the things we really liked at a future date. I have heard a lot about Great Smoky Mountain NP so look forward to getting a taste of it while we are there. Thanks for the tip. I'm not much of a drinker (seems every time I drink I see spots....spots like the emergency room, the county jail, the... ) so wouldn't be much fun on a brewery tour, but I do appreciate the offer! Are you planning on attending this year?