Day Trips From Atlanta
 

We will be in Atlanta the week between Christmas and NY's. Are there any interesting day trips from Atlanta during that time? We would like to do Savannah but seems a little far to go for just one day. Thanks.

I would recommend Chattanooga, TN if the weather is nice. Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain can be fun, even if it is a tourist trap. Ruby Falls is an underground cave with a waterfall at the end, and Lookout Mountain has great views of the surrounding area and some civil war history as a battle site.

Also, there is supposedly an excellent aquarium in Chattanooga, although I have not been.

This would be about a 2-hour drive from Atlanta.

If you are only going to be in Atlanta a week, you probably won't have time to do anything else. However, if you need a break, Chateau Elan (north on I-85 about an hour or so from dt Atlanta) is a lovely place. They have a winery with tours, and also frequently host concerts and classes, and have a great (albeit expensive) spa. The tour and tasting might be a nice change of pace.

Depending on the weather and your interests...Chattanooga, N. GA - antiques and mountains, some of the quaint small towns around Atlanta like Social Circle, Madison and I think Monroe are all kind of nice little towns - I am sure there are lots others will suggest. Athens (home of U of GA) is also a nice town though it might be pretty dead the week between Christmas and New Years. Cartersville - Indian mound, Stone Mountain...

Callaway Gardens ususally has a great Christmas Light display. You could combine a trip to Roosevelt's Little White House during the day and Callaway in the evening. Callaway is about an hour southwest of Atlanta.

The North Georgia mountains would be very nice. There are wonderful cabin rentals. One of our favorites is Black Bear Cabin Rentals. Website:www.blackbearcabinrentals.com

Savannah is a tedious four hour trip from Atlanta, I don't recommend it as a day trip unless you are desperate to see the ocean. Atlanta really is the bright spot in an otherwise fairly dull middle Georgia. A couple of hours north takes you into the foothills where there are beautiful creeks and hiking.
Chateau Elan is nice.