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Health & Fitness

Travel Briefs: Memorial Day Getaways from Atlanta

Quick and inexpensive getaways from Atlanta for Memorial Day weekend.

By Colleen's Contributor Patti Elrod-Hill

Memorial Day is fast approaching, signaling that summer is almost here. Many of us like to “bookend” our summer by getting away for Memorial Day and again for Labor Day.

If you’re like me, you may not be the best planner, waiting until the last minute to see where you feel like going. It may be too late to get deals on flights out of Atlanta, but there are some great places to go within a short drive. Of course, with the cost of gasoline approaching $4.00/gallon, you may want to stay close to home. I’ve got places to go for just about any mood and budget.

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When I’m up for a short vacation that has it all—vigorous outdoor exercise, music, fabulous food, and pampering—I go to Asheville, North Carolina, where The Grove Park Inn & Spa makes a comfy home base. When feeling particularly lazy, I like to sit in the large but surprisingly cozy lobby area and have a drink while I people watch. More energetic moments prompt a work-out in the fitness center situated on the property. I always bring my spin shoes to take an indoor cycling class, but Pilates, yoga and water classes are offered, too. Afterward, water’s steady trickle sets a relaxing scene in the cave-like spa. When deeper indulgence is desired, I get a massage. You may have to crack open your piggy bank before you go—the service is a little pricey, with a basic massage starting around $110, but  well worth the bucks. The Grove Park Inn is has lots of special events planned for Memorial Day weekend, including historic tours, a cooking demonstration, and a bluegrass concert featuring “Bearfoot.” Visit Eve Laments Blog to find more detailed information about this getaway.

For a more rugged adventure, I recommend the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on the Florida-Georgia border—about a five hour drive from Atlanta. Although the trip is long, entering the park it is like entering a different world. Of course, if critters creep you out or you can’t deal with mosquitoes, this trip is not for you. The Okefenokee is swampland, and home to a large population of alligators. The best way to enjoy their company and tour their environment is by small watercraft. Experienced paddlers can take their own canoe, kayak, or motor boat. Less-experienced visitors or, those (like me) not so comfortable being up-close to a prehistoric creature can take a guided boat trip.  For an immersion experience, take a canoe into the park and set up a tent on one of the platforms you can reserve in advance. If you prefer modest amenities there is a campground for RV’s and tents. Two-bedroom cottages are also available for rental.Check activity availability before you go, because some may be closed due to recent fires in the refuge.

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If you only have time for a quick adventure, the North Georgia Mountains offer wonderful Memorial Day weekend getaways. You can make a whole long-weekend trip to explore the area, or just a day trip to hike in one of my favorite parks. Tallulah Gorge State Park is offering a guided Holiday Gorge Floor Hike on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 27-30, 2011 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It’s a terrific way for newcomers to see the park. Be sure to take lots of water and a snack. To quiet more intense hunger pangs I highly recommend Isabelle’s on the Gorge, a restaurant housed in an old historic hotel just across from the entrance to Tallulah Gorge.

Visit Eve Laments Blog to find more detailed information about these getaways.

Whatever you do, get out there!

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