My husband has a conference in Atlanta late July; I know its sweltering in summer; but we are from Florida & it will be no surprise. Before we buy plane tickets, we are considering staying a couple extra days since it will fall on our anniversary weekend. Any recommendations on a romantic or unique place to stay/visit post-conference?....maybe even outside of Atlanta? Probably could be on the road out of Atlanta Friday morning & then a Sunday afternoon flight back home. I am not familiar with the areas within driving distance and really have not visited the area at all. We have spent a few days in Atlanta a few years ago. How about the mountains? how far would that be? Any quaint areas? Thanks for any suggestions!

I haven't been there myself, but I've heard the Smith House in Dahlonega is really nice. It's about two hours north of Atlanta. Here's a link if you want to check it out: http://www.smithhouse.com/. I also recommend having dinner at the Sundial, which is on top of the Westin downtown. Very nice restaurant with a great view.

Check out Callaway Gardens for activities and rates over your weekend. Callaway is a beautiful place with a great restaurant and hotel. About a two hour drive from Atlanta. Could be a good spot for a romantic weekend.

Atlanta has great potential. The Ritz or one of the top end hotels along with the better restaurants can make for a great weekend. The aquarium and art museum are excellent indoor destinations.

Also consider the Georgia Mountains or Smokey Mountains. It's a longer drive, but would be a good break from Florida summertime. I am not knowledgeable about inns, hotels and restaurants in the area. Maybe another can offer.

If you want to relax in the beautiful (and much cooler) mountains, consider one of these options.

http://www.beechwoodinn.ws/

www.barninn.com

Lots to do in the area and the temps will be a relief from Florida. I think 1/2 the homeowners in the area are from Florida

Less than 2 hours from Atlanta and a straight shot south to the airport before your flight back (441/365/985/85 = same 4 lane (or more) road to the airport)

Those are some really great suggestions; I checked out the inn websites and am definitely interested. Thanks!

Check out the special dinner menus at the Beechwood Inn. They get rave reviews.

I know the folks who own the Barn Inn and they are nice folks AND do most of the party catering in the area...so great food there too!

Another suggestion is Glen Ella Springs - but although it is lovely it is too far away from other stuff IMO.

If you do any of the above, let me know and I have suggestions for other restaurants/ hiking/ waterfalls/ etc.

I was reading about the dinners at the Beechwood Inn & they have a special one that falls exactly on our anniversary...& we really enjoy wine....sounds like a possibility....

I haven't been to one yet, but plan to.

A friend (and former boss) LOVES that inn. She loves wine and the wine country and just enjoyed every part of the experience. To have a special dinner ON your anniversary = would be perfect.

There are so other good places to eat in the area if you decide to spend a couple of days up there. I live nearby so just let me know if you want more ideas.

You started your post with "I know it's sweltering in summer". The motto of the county is "Where Spring Spends the Summer" and it really is true. Because of elevation and transpiration (about 70% of the county is forested) it's usually 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Atlanta. Very nice! Reminds me of Maine or Mass where you need a sweater or at least a long sleeved shirt at night

Thanks for the great info; now I'm just waiting on details of my husband's conference before I can make concrete plans. Beechwood sounds exactly what we're looking for!

Call me a traditionalist but I would spend the weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead and have my anniversary dinner at Bacchanalia.

To me, it just doesn't get any better than that!

Still considering North Georgia mountains for 2 nights, Friday & Saturday nights with a flight out of ATL on Sunday evening. Now the question is....my husband's conference ends on Thursday mid-day....is there a recommendation for 1 night on the way out of Atlanta? I think we will have had enough of the downtown by then...I thought about Chateau Elan, but the reviews are so horrendous, I doubt it would be a good choice...any other recommendations...BTW, our downtown hotel is the Hyatt Regency.

What about Stone Mountain? The Marriotts there are really affordable....if you were to choose one, which one? The Evergreen conference hotel or the "Inn".....actually the Evergreen seems to get better reviews on Tripadvisor & is cheaper....thoughts?

Just head on up to the mountains. You'll be there in less than 2 hours. Start your weekend in the mountains a night earlier.

I agree - no reason to stop anywhere on the way to the mtns - they are very close. And I'm not a fan of Chateau Elan or, really, Stone Mountain, unless I was going to do some biking/hiking (and I probably wouldn't choose July to do that in).

We just stayed at the St. Regis in Atlanta. It recently opened in April of this year. We usually stay at the ritz in buckhead. That's over...The St. Regis is most likely the nicest hotel we've ever stayed.The staff was very friendly, the food at Paces 88 outstanding and the outdoor pool and bar amazing! Oh, did I mention the standard room and bath area the largest anywhere. Simply gorgeous....

Starrs (& others) our plans are finalized, one night in Dahlonega & 2 nights at the beechwood inn. Do you have any other reccommendations for restaurants (in either town), wineries, shops, hikes, scenic drives, waterfalls....thanks.

Well, the most famous place in Dahlonega is The Smith House. It's family style, all you can eat southern cooking. The vegetables in summer should be superb. You are seated with others at a big table and pass the bowls. There are only a few restaurants like this left. None are new because of health regulations only long-existing ones are :grandfathered in". There's one left in Savannah (Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House) and one in Boone, NC that I know of.

A similar restaurant is in Dillard (about 5-6 miles north of the Beechwood). At The Dillard House, you are seated at your own table and they just bring platters and bowls of food.

Warning: the iced tea will be very sweet. You may want to order 1/2 sweet, 1/2 unsweet.

In Clayton, is the reopened Zeppelin's. It used to be a steakhouse, the Buck Creek Tavern. The owners have reopened it as a pasta/pizza place. GREAT flatbread pizzas. Good bar, including martinis.

Their signature salad, the Buck Creek salad is still on the menu. It is fantastic! Here's the menu -

http://www.zeppelinspastahouse.com/Menu.html

Next door is a nice gift shop option, Butler's II. Really nice household items in there. I buy my Votivo candles there and am eyeing the trout stemware.

The owners also have the "real" antique store a few doors up - Butler Galleries. Pricey, but beautiful stuff in there.

Just next door is Prater's book store in the old rock building. I always buy something from them, because I really believe in supporting independent booksellers. I discovered Charles Martin there and his book, When Crickets Cry, is set in the county.

You need to wander Reeves' Hardware. They have everything you need, from hardware to hunting/fishing/camping supplies, fine china and crystal and furniture. The stores go on and on for almost a block. I have friends that wander Reeves everytime they come up.

THE BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH IN THE WORLD is at Grapes and Beans. http://www.grapesandbeans.com/
No kidding. Order the greek chicken sandwich and see what I mean. It also comes as a salad. Their hummus plate is good. I love the place. I feel like I'm walking into a northern California place when I'm there. Very "granola" and their specials are great too. They use organic ingredients. Sit outside on the deck behind the restaurant if the weather's not too hot. Order at the counter and they'll bring your food to you. If you need Crocs, they can help you out there too

Another good lunch place is Fromage. They have killer desserts (which I avoid). It's kind of across the street from G&B, a little white house down a side street. VERY good food.

Talking about organic, there's a little organic farmer's market that sets up in front on Butlers II on Saturdays. I get their weekly email to tell me what's going to be on sale.
http://www.simplyhomegrown.org/
There's a woman who has flavored chevre cheeses every Saturday and I always buy the dill and the tomato basil. Sometimes buy a cake for the cake stand and usually a bouquet of flowers fresh from someone's yard. Stop by in you are in town on a Saturday morning.

The closest winery is http://www.tigerwine.com/ and they offer free tastings. They have award winning wines and I like their viognier. The folks at Beechwood will have more information and suggestions.

The REALLY good Mexican restaurant is La Pachanga, which is at the Days Inn (of all places). The Pancho special is incredible. I'm there on Friday nights, sitting at a long table. Based on what you posted, I don't think you'll be there this Friday though.

Rumor Haz It http://www.rumorhazit.us/ is a Key West themed restaurant, which I find weird in the mountains. It's not my favorite, but it's good.

Now, a local restaurant with absolutely no atmosphere is Miss Meg's. They serve great breakfasts, but you'll get that at the inn. Three nights a week they serve fresh seafood brought up from the Georgia coast. I think that's ALL they offer - just seafood. But, it's some of the best seafood you've ever had. The service may be the slowest you've ever had too. They aren't in a hurry and they let you know it. But, a friend said the best scallops she's ever had is from Miss Meg's and she'd eat there three times a day if she could. A young couple moved up and bought an existing restaurant. I think he was in the seafood business in Brunswick and had this idea to serve seafood on Thursay nights. Folks thought he was crazy - but he wasn't. They are packed on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, their seafood nights.

There's a good Thai restaurant in Tiger, but it's not great.

There's an old fashioned drive in (showing new movies) in Tiger if you want to celebrate your anniversary with a movie at the drive-in. Harry Potter is showing this weekend -
http://www.tigerdrivein.com/

The "inside" theatre is up the road in Franklin, NC - Rubye Cinemas. They have four theatres. I love it up there. Two adult admissions, a coke and popcorn to share AND change back from a $20 bill. http://www.rubycinemas.com/

One last dinner option - Isabelle's overlooking Tallulah Gorge -
http://www.isabellesonthegorge.com/index.cfm
It's been a while since I've eaten there. Ask the folks at the Beechwood how it is.

I lied - two more ideas -
New owners at the Lake Rabun hotel - http://www.lakerabunhotel.com/restaurant.html

And across the road from them is a very casual pizza place - Louie's on the Lake http://media.www.piedmontnavigator.c...e-573891.shtml
You'll think you're at summer camp

Have fun!