Over the years the midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, just north of downtown has grown into a thriving and diverse center of commerce that also embraces the idea of community.  Since the late 1970’s, the focus of that community has been to create a place where people can happily work, live and play-an antithesis to commuter suburbs, if you will.

Heart of the Arts
The area has become the heart of the arts for Atlanta, with the Woodruff Arts Center, which includes the High Museum of Art, the 14th Street Playhouse and is home to the Atlanta Symphony.

The historic 1920’s era Fox Theatre has been amazingly restored to its over the top opulence. Behind the scenes tours are available. They also offer a diverse mix of entertainment throughout the year and their ballrooms are a popular venue for weddings, banquets and other fancy celebrations.

Dining and Nightlife
Midtown Atlanta is the center of the city’s vibrant gay culture and the place to go for dining, entertainment and nightlife. Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is the place to go for lip smacking barbeque and live blues bands playing nearly every night. It’s always a nice touch when you can get great food and great music at the same time.

Center Stage is a rather small venue with half moon stadium seating where big rock and pop acts play. The concerts here have an intimate feel and every seat has a great view of the action on stage.

For a taste of fine dining southern style, try the Dogwood Restaurant. Fancy grits du jour, fried oysters, downhome cornbread,  sweet corn soufflé and other familiar (or strange depending on where you’re from) delicacies grace the menu.

The Midtown Mile
Fourteen blocks of Peachtree Street between North Avenue and 15th Street have transformed into The Midtown Mile. It’s a cosmopolitan shopping district teeming with upscale shops, quirky boutiques and plenty of restaurants on the ground level of the high rise office buildings that line the street.

Check out this related post if you’d like to enjoy some of the attractions in Atlanta that are tailored to children.

skyline photo by coka_koehler

fox theatre photo by hoyasmeg

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As for me, seafood and coastal dining is an automatic decision when it comes to eating out while on vacation, especially in Jekyll Island, Georgia.  You wouldn’t have to ask me twice to go check out an eating establishment focussing on seafood.  When you think about it, seafood is probably the most fresh edible commodity when you are right on the coast.  Everything else (beef, chicken, veges etc.) comes from miles around and frequently flown in from very far away.  From living in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, I get very excited about making plans to go to whichever coast (east, south or west) to delve into the yum yums of coastal fare.

Latitude 31 sits on the Jekyll Wharf on Jekyll Island and has some mouth watering edible delights.  Oysters Rockefeller, seafood crepes, and Grouper fingers (deep-fried Atlantic Grouper) are just some of the choices you get at Latitude 31.  For those of you more grounded on terra firma there is Chicken Piccata and a delectable Bourbon Peach and Pecan Glazed Pork Tenderloin.  I am looking for available flights to the south as I type…

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is a must see and do as it is one the oldest historical attractions on the island.  With names, like Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, the Jekyll Island Club holds quite the ambiance.  Built after the Civil War around 1888 the club exudes the “old south”.  One of the dining options at the club is Courtyard at Crane.  Dining either inside or out, one can enjoy the Italian Renaissance architecture from which the cottage was modeled after and built around 1917.  Enjoy the Shrimp Bisque, Cottage Calamari, and the Grilled Salmon Alfredo in a relaxing casual atmosphere.

Located in the Jekyll Harbor Marina is Seajay’s Waterfront Cafe & Pub.  For those of you looking for down home flavor in a real casual setting, Seajay’s just might do it for you.  Famous for their Low Country Boil, which is a tasty combination of shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob and bitesize potatoes all cooked in a tasty aus jus.  The restaurant has a great view of the sunset from its’ deck and therefore offers “Sunset Deck Specials” ranging from crab cakes to barbequed bacon-wrapped scallops. 

So after a big day of exploring Jekyll Island from a canoe or on foot, one can be satisfied with the coastal cuisine that can be found on the island.  So if you are looking for that unique island getaway without going way down south, discover Jekyll Island, Georgia and all of its’ history and wildlife preservation. 

Southern Seafood Boil by 23am.com

Bacon-wrapped Shrimp by Southern Foodways Alliance

Oysters Rockefeller by foodistablog

Just south of Brunswick, Ga about 7 miles and north of Jacksonville, Fl about 75 miles lies Jekyll Island, Georgia.  This island is very primitive in the fact that its’ inhabitants in the form of wildlife are protected and studied by young and old.  The island is 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide but boasts of 20 miles of trails to explore.

Bird watching is among the top most favorable activities on Jekyll.  The Atlantic Flyway just so happens to run parallel to the island so seeing a lot of different birds is quite common.  The Audubon Society has recognized Jekyll as an IBA or important birding area.  The island is part of the Colonial Coast Birding Trail of which there are three birding sites located on the island for public viewing and observation.  Every year in October Jekyll Island hosts the Birding and Nature Festival where bird lovers come from all over to take field trips to over 25 different locations. 

Kayaking and canoeing the inland waterways of Jekyll is also among the top activities on the island.  With the wildlife being protected, one can see a lot from a kayak or canoe.  From native birds and fish to alligators, it’s like being in a zoo/acquarium with no walls.  Take a guided kayak tour through the marshes and tidal creeks of the island and see as well as learn about Jekyll’s ecological system. 

Nature walks are a great way to experience the primitive wildlife of Jekyll Island.  There are 10 miles of tidal beaches that one can walk and explore marine life.  Probably the most popular activity to do on Jekyll’s beaches is the Turtle Walk, where one can see turtles from May through August.  A nightly walk on the beaches in search of Loggerhead sea turtle nests are conducted by a trained guide so that you can see and learn everything about this amazing migration from ocean to land and back to ocean.  These guided and non-guided walks are perfect for the whole family to have an ecological experience during their vacation to Jekyll Island. 

 Whether you are interested in a educational vacation or just a getaway to the beach, Jekyll Island can accommodate you in both.  From playing rounds of golf and enjoying modern lodging amenities to observing and learning about the marine coastal environment, guests of Jekyll Island, Georgia can leave appreciative and relaxed.   

Jekyll Island by hyku

Wood Storks by willyk

The Marshes of Glynn by moultriecreek

So you’ve taken the family on a whirlwind tour of the southeast and find yourself in the lovely metropolis of Atlanta. There are plenty of enticing Atlanta attractions that appeal to adults, but what can you do to entertain the kids?

Although I’m not sure why a landlocked city owns bragging rights to the world’s largest aquarium, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is flush with 8,000,000 gallons of water and the creatures needed to make it come alive. There are five themed galleries-Cold Water Quest, Tropical Diver, River Scout Georgia Explorer and Ocean Voyager and you’ll want to see them all. This place is highly interactive with touch pools, a giant see through underwater tunnel and an educational 4D Wondershow. Set aside a whole day for this attraction and be sure to buy your tickets online before you go.

Atlanta’s also home to one of the country’s oldest zoos, Zoo Atlanta, In addition to the expected, there are plenty of baby animals, a playground, the Wild Like Me interactive play area, an endangered species carousel and a miniature train ride. There are also special programs you can take part in if you’re timing’s right, like the very hands-on Keeper for a Day and Family Nightcrawler overnights.

If you’re visiting the Atlanta area and want to escape the city,  relax with a  scenic drive through the rural farmlands southwest of the city. The drive itself is a loop of about 30 miles that takes an hour.

The route will take you through the Cochran Mill Park, complete with hiking trails, waterfalls and a nature center, if you’d like to picnic along the way or just can’t bear to go back to the rat race. This lightly traveled route that sports a canopy of trees through rolling hills and shows it’s best side in Spring and Autumn.

Take Interstate 20 to Exit 49 and go south on Fulton Industrial Blvd. to it’s intersection with State Route 92 to the start of the designated scenic route.