Southern Byways

If you are still tooling around Chattanooga, you have to visit Ruby Falls. This particular attractions falls under the "I can’t believe it" category -and that’s just with the history alone.

What exactly makes Ruby Falls unique? Definitely has to be a waterfall. Don’t say that you have seen many waterfalls, and yes, even this Southerner knows that Niagara Falls is quite spectacular; however, this 145-foot waterfall is located 1,120 feet beneath the mountain. 
                                
 
 
The guided tour is an adventure itself – a good one, that is. Along the way, you will see numerous stalactites and rock formations, many with …read more

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Who would have ever thought some of the best advertising on be on top of a barn roof? Rock City, six miles outside of Chattanooga, Tenn., is probably best known for its unique advertising technique used years ago. Those icons, the red barns with black roofs and white letters, are as Americana as the Burma Shave signs that once dotted the highways. Even today, you can still see a few painted barns encouraging folks to visit Rock City.
Even if you have never seen one of the painted barns, you know that Rock City is famous for its gardens and well …read more

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Even with the best intentions, I will probably forget to list an upcoming holiday event or two. I am not doing it on purpose – there is just so much out there and only so much space I have. With this in mind,I thought I would direct my dear readers to the Southeastern Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for the Fall. Included in this list is some holiday events that shouldn’t be missed.
If you happen to be around in the area during December, this list is a must-view if you are looking for something to do.

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If I had to choose a time of the year to visit any of the South’s theme parks, I would choose to visit during the holiday season; surely you didn’t think I would say middle of July, right? There is just something about the atmosphere – the lights, the special shows, the music and so much more that makes it a memorable time.

This year’s Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival is no exception. Located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., from November 10 – December 30, the theme park is decorated with 3.5 million holiday lights. With that alone, how can you not …read more

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I can not believe that this week is Thanksgiving. It seems like it was just Labor Day a few weeks ago. Where has the time gone? That only means one thing – it’s time to start highlighting some of the events that go on in this region during the season. While the majority are not known for snow, they still know how to celebrate the holidays.

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When you think about the South, what comes to your mind? Perhaps good food, humidity and football -at least those are a few things that come to my mind when someone asks about this region. It is doubtful that you think exotic animals when someone is talking about Georgia.
Oh, but the South is full of surprises. Here’s a quick list of places along the Georgia mountains where you can see all types of animals without having to take your passport along.
Did you know that The Kangaroo Conservation Center in Dawsonville is home to the largest collection of kangaroos outside …read more

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Train rides just may be one of the best ways to experience the mountains, especially if you want to see as much as you can in a short amount of time.
In Georgia, hop aboard for a trip on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad . Departing from Blue Ridge, this three- and-a-half hour ride includes a layover stop in McCaysville, Ga., that provides enough time to explore the town as well as nearby Copperhill, Tenn.
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Dillsboro and Bryson City offers a number of trips throughout the year, many are scenic, such as Fontana Trestle and Nantahala …read more

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The year was 1968, and the small mountain town of Helen, Ga., needed help. It needed something to bring in visitors. The town needed a makeover, so they went to a local artist for some suggestions. The artist happened spent some time in Germany and noticed some similarities between the two places. So, he developed some sketches that would transform a sleepy mountain town into an Alpine village in the South.
Today, Alpine Helen is a thriving tourist destination and is one of the more popular places to visit in Georgia – right after Atlanta and Savannah. Perhaps best known for …read more

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Did you know that gold was discovered in Dahlonega, Ga.,  about 20 years before California’s boom? You can still pan for gold here during the Gold Rush Days, held typically on the third week in October. Maybe I’ll unearth some old pictures of me at 12-years-old feverishly panning away, hoping to strike a fortune, but walking away with gold flakes and a lot of garnets.
Anyway, Dahlonega is located a little over an hour from that daily traffic jam we tend to refer to as Atlanta. It’s everything you would expect from a quaint mountain town. There are ample bed and breakfasts, as …read more

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Fall weather is finally here! Okay, I know if you live where it snows a lot, you are probably laughing at me for being excited about cooler weather, but you have to understand. I grew up where we had two seasons: spring and summer. Yes, there were a few holiday seasons that I wore short sleeves and even shorts. However, I digress.This cooler weather means it is time to go to the mountains. Therefore, for the next couple of posts, I will be highlighting quaint mountain towns through the South and some of their holiday events. The hardest thing for …read more

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