Top Three Weekend Getaways, for Those in or Around Atlanta, Georgia

Are you living in the Atlanta Georgia or surrounding towns? Need to plan a weekend excursion? Well I have selected my top three weekend getaways for you that can be driven within 2 hours. These places are fun, relaxing, and the scenery is amazing during the Fall season.

The first place I would like to recommend to you to visit over a weekend is Chattanooga, Tennessee. This is about a two hour drive on interstate 75 from Atlanta. I love to visit during the Fall season to see all the leaves changing colors. It is not as busy then as well.

Chattanooga Tennessee is home to Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, Rock City, The Incline Railway, Southern Belle Dinner Boat and the Tennessee Aquarium. So as you can see there are many things to do while coming up over a weekend.

Ruby Falls is an amazing place to stop and check out. Although crowded and sometimes long lines, it is worth the wait. You will be on a guided tour that takes you down to the bottom of the cave on an elevator. Once below the tour guides will walk you through and speak to you about the amazing rock formations that are incredible.

At the end of the tour at Ruby Falls you will be greeted with an under ground water fall that will blow your mind. It is huge and beautiful and it is a bit chilly at times so you might want to take a light jacket with you on your tour.

Once you've been down below and come back up it's time to grab a gift at the gift shop or have an ice cream cone on the roof of the building. This cost for the tour ranges around 20 dollars but you should look into the bundle package which saves you money.

The Incline Railway is not that expensive and was fun. You wait in line and then once you are all on board it slowly declines down the mountain. What an amazing view and if you watch closely you might even see a few raccoons on the ground below you.

Rock City is another fun place to visit while your here in Chattanooga. They have a huge amount of things to see from Lookout Mountain and lovers leap to the fat man's cave and Mother Goose. There are shops here as well as face painting for the kids. Tickets if you bundle them for Ruby Falls and Rock City can cost you 30.00 dollars each.

The over all trip is relaxing less congested than other places and fun for all ages. They have several hotels in the area and restaurants as well. You may wish to visit them at www.chattanoogafun.com to get more information in regards to where to stay.

The second place I would like to suggest for a weekend getaway is Helen, Georgia. Helen Georgia is about an hour and a half from Atlanta Georgia and the scenery is the best thing about the whole drive to me. Peaceful serenity is what you'll get when you visit Helen Georgia.

Helen Georgia is home to many fun things for you and your family. Why not catch a carriage ride in the day or evening and take a stroll around the block of down town Helen? The cost, $5.00 dollars. Not bad since you might get tired from walking up and down all those cobble stoned walk ways and window shopping.

The town is built like a Bavarian village. The buildings are beautiful and some of the bridges are amazing. You can walk onto the bridge and look under neath at the water and fish swimming by. Helen also has many places to accommodate you as well. Super 8 is the best deal because it's right in town close to everything and reasonably priced at around 69.00 dollars. This hotel has a heated pool as well as snack machines on the premises.

From horseback riding, to tubing for five dollars down the river you will not get bored in Helen Georgia that's for sure. They even have a putt putt area inside the amusement park for kids. If you are into shows then for around 10.00 dollars you can visit the Remember When Theater and enjoy a tribute to Elvis.

You can visit them at their web site www.helengeorgia.com for more lodging information or to find a cabin nestled in the woods. The times you want to try and avoid visiting here unless you love crowds is in October. For this is when they host their largest turn out every year with their Octoberfest.

The third place I would like to recommend for that special weekend getaway is Cherokee, North Carolina. Once again, Cherokee is only about 2 hours from Atlanta and surrounding towns and has an amazing scenery as well.

When Fall season hits that's when I enjoy taking my weekend and getting away from it all. Cherokee has many attractions for you and that special someone or for the entire family. They have Santa Land which cost about 20.00 dollars a person and open year round.

Santa Land is so much fun for kid's of all ages. They have live animals and ducks you can feed. They have paddle boats, roller coaster, other adult and children rides as well as food and drinks and a gift shop with some of the best home made fudge you'll ever eat.

The Cherokee North Carolina area is also known for it's new addition a few years ago of a Casino. So if your feeling lucky and want to try out your luck at a slot machine or a game of black jack you've come to the right place. They have some amazing food served here day and at night. Harrah's has become very popular and folk's drive up every chance they get to try out their luck on these machines.

Cherokee also has many shops for you to browse in. It does seem like that's what allot of people do when visiting Cherokee, is shop. From some of the best restaurants and amusement parks for kids you are sure to find something here you'll love. My favorite must see when visiting is Unto These Hills outdoor show. Learn some of the Native American culture and watch an amazing show. You can find out more about Cherokee and what they have to offer at their web site www.cherokee-nc.com.

So whether you are looking for an expensive trip or a smaller trip with less funds available these three trips are great. You fuel your car, grab the family and take off. you can actually go and see all within a day and come back home if you don't care to spend the night.

I sure hope you visit one of these location's soon. Their all three my families favorite getaways and we continue to visit as often as we can. Don't forget when traveling from Helen Georgia and Cherokee NC to watch on the side of the road. you will find many places set up selling home made jellies and syrups and hot boiled peanuts. The North Georgia Mountains are known for their apple butter and chow chow.

References:

www.cherokee-nc.com

www.helengeorgia.com

www.chattanoogafun.com