I have always had fond memories of growing up in a Summer in Georgia. Looking back I visualize a big plantation like Forrest Gump lived on, lined with 100 year old oak trees with moss cascading from the branches, but it was nothing like that....It was filled with Slip n' Slides, blow up pools, my bicycle and playing in the woods. The way I treat my iPhone as an adult is the way I treated my bicycle, and it was my number one possession by far. I grew up in a modest brick ranch, and at the time it seemed so large, but now I realize it was TINY. M
y Mother kept it pretty spotless, so I recall it was always clean. The kitchen had linoleum floor that looked like a reclaimed Burgundy brick. Classy with a K. It had a car port and I remember thinking, wow........wealthy people have garages. The car port had a hollow metal pole in the center, and every so many years it would rust. My Father would paint the metal pole a cream color pretty much every Summer. I would get yelled at for hours not to get near the "wet paint".One Summer it was decided I was going to cut grass. I don't recall if I wanted to, or if I was told to..........but the next thing I know the vintage red snapper lawn mower with the torn black vinyl seat was at a 45 degree angle up a retai
ning wall. I ran into the retaining wall and I didn't know how to stop it, or I probably couldn't reach the brakes. I remember being pretty bummed, after all all the other kids in my neighborhood got to cut the grass on the riding mower. Later in life I realized this was probably the best thing I could have ever done. Because the day I ran the lawn mower up that wall was the day my Mother exclaimed in horror to my Father that I had no business on a lawn mower and I was never to get on one again. Over 20 years later and I have never been on a riding mower again ;) When my family moved into a 1900's historic home in the Fall of 1994 everything changed. My hobbies and interests seemed to really shift towards most things related
to historic preservation. The home was gutted and restored to its original glory and the restoration took many years. Summer vacations included visits to The Biltmore Estate, Grove Park Inn, and Washington DC. One year we went on a tour of a coastal light house in Florida. I remember we bought my mother a souvenir award that exclaimed "I climbed 777? stairs to reach the top". It was cute. I hope I find that award one day. Summer Vacation spots always seemed to be my idea and it was really my responsibility to plan them. I would produce itineraries with maps, time departures and even lunch schedules. If my itinerary was altered in any way, I would have a shit fit. The idea of mapping trips on the computer and printing them out had just embarked. Mapquest did not exist yet, but I had a computer program that did it. I remember I would compare that map to any antique store along the way. I'd research their hours and we would stop along the way. One Summer we went to Pennsylvania. It was just my Sister, my mother and I. It was a GREAT trip. We bought antiques along the way and since I had never seen Amish people I wanted to sight see and take pictures. Note: Amish people aren't really interested in me exploiting them, haha... They were not fond of my picture taking.
My Sister left for college in which made me pretty much the only child. This was a pretty sweet set up. This was about the time family vacations stopped. The cost of renovating a 1919 home swallowed up vacation budgets. My parents owned their own businesses and they would rarely leave them behind. Vacations became STAYcations. At the time it didn't dawn on me, I was pretty clueless as a kid.
My favorite thing on earth was to become a tourist in my own city
And now we reach the point of today's blog :)
I wanted to put together some great city destinations that were not mainstream. Skip the aquarium, blow the World of Coke,.......Six Flags who? These are things that the average sightseer doesn't event know about.
to historic preservation. The home was gutted and restored to its original glory and the restoration took many years. Summer vacations included visits to The Biltmore Estate, Grove Park Inn, and Washington DC. One year we went on a tour of a coastal light house in Florida. I remember we bought my mother a souvenir award that exclaimed "I climbed 777? stairs to reach the top". It was cute. I hope I find that award one day. Summer Vacation spots always seemed to be my idea and it was really my responsibility to plan them. I would produce itineraries with maps, time departures and even lunch schedules. If my itinerary was altered in any way, I would have a shit fit. The idea of mapping trips on the computer and printing them out had just embarked. Mapquest did not exist yet, but I had a computer program that did it. I remember I would compare that map to any antique store along the way. I'd research their hours and we would stop along the way. One Summer we went to Pennsylvania. It was just my Sister, my mother and I. It was a GREAT trip. We bought antiques along the way and since I had never seen Amish people I wanted to sight see and take pictures. Note: Amish people aren't really interested in me exploiting them, haha... They were not fond of my picture taking.My Sister left for college in which made me pretty much the only child. This was a pretty sweet set up. This was about the time family vacations stopped. The cost of renovating a 1919 home swallowed up vacation budgets. My parents owned their own businesses and they would rarely leave them behind. Vacations became STAYcations. At the time it didn't dawn on me, I was pretty clueless as a kid.
My favorite thing on earth was to become a tourist in my own city
And now we reach the point of today's blog :)
I wanted to put together some great city destinations that were not mainstream. Skip the aquarium, blow the World of Coke,.......Six Flags who? These are things that the average sightseer doesn't event know about.
Fox Theater
My first visit to the Fox Theater was probably in 1993. My family went to see David Copperfield. It was the most magical place I had ever been. To this day The Fox Theater is my favorite place to be in this city. I actually work at the Fox Theater. I volunteer usher. Every time I walk into this theater it is like the day I walked in it for the first time. I can remember my Mother holding my hand very tight, not letting go and braving the crowd.The Atlanta Preservation Center gives tours of the Fox and not too many people are aware of this. For $10.00 you explore the entire theater in a very small group with a volunteer tour guide from the Atlanta Preservation Center. You do not see backstage, but you see pretty much everything else. Did you know The Fox Theater has one of the only manually operated elevators still in operation in the Southeast? Each show has an assigned elevator operator.
The $10.00 goes to the Atlanta Preservation Center where they use it to fund their non-profit operations.
Historic Oakland Cemetery
The Historic Oakland Cemetery is also a very magical place in this city. For some people this is this hard to grasp, people ask "Why would you want to go to a cemetery?"
The Historic Oakland Cemetery is also a very magical place in this city. For some people this is this hard to grasp, people ask "Why would you want to go to a cemetery?"
Oakland Cemetery has such a rich history dating back to 1850. The cemetery was the headquarters for the Battle of Atlanta and has a vivid past with the Civil War. The cities first greenhouse was erected here in 1870. Christian, Jewish and African Americans were separated in the cemetery. It is interesting to see also the social classes in this Cemetery. One person may have a government issued tombstone whereas famous last names such as Grant, Allen, Hurt, and Candler have lavish spreads. Margaret Mitchell has a modest plot. Golf legend Bobby Jones is buried here, his plot is covered with thousands of golf balls that fans have brought.
Historic Oakland Cemetery was devastated when a tornado struck downtown Atlanta on March 14, 2008. I cannot express in words how devastating the damage was. To this day you see damaged tombstones where many of the 100 trees were pulled out of the ground and thrown where it landed.
The Historic Oakland Foundation gives walking tours of the cemetery. It is really an enjoyable tour. You have the option of a walking tour or even a twilight tour. Cost $10.00. No reservation is required.
My last stop of today is The Wren's Nest.
The Wren's nest, once nestled in a country side is now planted directly in an urban environment of graffiti, passing Marta buses, and drug dealing corner hustlers. This is a disclaimer you are not going to a nice neighborhood for this little adventure.
The Wren's Nest is the preserved home of Joel Chandler Harris, the 19th century Atlanta journalist who penned the Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus tales.
98% of my friends would absolutely hate this tour, however the 2% I am speaking to, Enjoy! The home is located in the West End district and tour are given. A massive renovation was recently completed. This renovation can be coined as a conservation because they truly brought the exterior of this home back to its heyday. You can see photos below:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1790594&id=9762659068#!/photo.php?pid=1790594&id=9762659068&fbid=79439754068
To visit the Wren's nest website go to:
http://www.wrensnestonline.com/
The Fox Theater, Historic Oakland Cemetery, and The Wren's nest are all great destinations for Summer. At a combined cost of $28.00 and an invaluable contribution I'd highly recommend it. Best of all the monies that are raised by these tours go directly back to the preservation of these historic gems.
I would also encourage you to take a look at joining the National Trust for Historic Preservation. At a cost of $20.00 per year I have been a member for many years. Each month you receive their monthly magazine called "Preservation". It is also a great gift idea.
http://www.preservationnation.org/
98% of my friends would absolutely hate this tour, however the 2% I am speaking to, Enjoy! The home is located in the West End district and tour are given. A massive renovation was recently completed. This renovation can be coined as a conservation because they truly brought the exterior of this home back to its heyday. You can see photos below:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1790594&id=9762659068#!/photo.php?pid=1790594&id=9762659068&fbid=79439754068
To visit the Wren's nest website go to:
http://www.wrensnestonline.com/
The Fox Theater, Historic Oakland Cemetery, and The Wren's nest are all great destinations for Summer. At a combined cost of $28.00 and an invaluable contribution I'd highly recommend it. Best of all the monies that are raised by these tours go directly back to the preservation of these historic gems.
I would also encourage you to take a look at joining the National Trust for Historic Preservation. At a cost of $20.00 per year I have been a member for many years. Each month you receive their monthly magazine called "Preservation". It is also a great gift idea.
http://www.preservationnation.org/
It's been a busy month. I have been taking pictures all across town for my upcoming blogs. Can't wait to share!
