Hello.
My husband, myself and 16 y.o. son and 14 y.o. daughter will be traveling to Atlanta July 8 for a tournament son is playing in. Meanwhile, daughter is going to go to a sports camp in Valdosta. I will be the driver. I've heard it's about 3 or so hours from Atlanta to Valdosta. Any interesting must-sees, must-dos or local events along the way? I usually prefer the road less traveled so I'm pretty open to suggestions. I'm artsy and enjoy gardening and antique/junk shops/flea markets and checking out where the locals go for fun.

I've been down in the area on business so I don't have much experience with the area for sightseeing. I will say be very careful driving - there are many places where the speed limit goes from 65 to 45 to 35 very quickly! I had been warned by some clients in Atlanta and was glad I knew about them ahead of time.

I do enjoy Georgia and the people!

I'm not from GA (Alabama actually), but I doubt you'll make it from Atlanta to Valdosta in 3 hours unless you can average about 80mph. You'd better count on 4 via interstate, more if you detour.

Im not sure where you're coming from or what kind of sports camps your kids will be involved with, but I'm telling you, it'll be stifling hot next month. I've lived down here all my life and I still hate July!!

Thanks for the heads-up re the driving time between Atlanta and Valdosta. Volleyball's the sport and we don't have an option where the tournament is located. I KNOW it's going to be hot there, but we're trying to make the most of our trip!

It's about 3 hours from the Atlanta airport (227 miles and expressway all the way).

Did you see the movie Fried Green Tomatoes? Any interest in eating at the Whistle Stop Cafe and seeing the little town where they filmed the movie?

The kids may like the Wild Adventures amusement park or Splash Island water park. Check the concert schedule too.
http://www.wildadventures.net/

Starrsville, I've seen "Fried Green Tomatoes" (but I've never eaten them!) and the Whistle Stop Cafe would be fun to see.

Here's a link. It's a nice little stop.
http://www.thewhistlestopcafe.com/

There are some shops there - but not really much to see, but the Whistle Stop is fun and the food is good. Be sure to try the sweet tea (the wine of the south!)

I'm looking at other options. There are antique shops in small towns all around. A former customer used to have a tea room in Adel.

One thing that most folks find fascinating is just driving through the South GA landscape. Cotton fields - especially if the bolls are showing. Just big flat fields of crops that go on for miles. I was on the phone with a friend from NJ who was just amazed (as she drove through SGA for the first time).

An interesting read is Janesse Ray's Ecology of a Cracker Childhood. The book is comprised of memoir chapters alternated by chapters on the ecology of south GA pine forests.

PS - When you see miles and miles of pines, you are looking at a crop.

Find out whre the son's tournament will be and I'll try to think of more ideas.

Where will you be spending most of your time, Atl. or Valdosta? How long is the trip?

starrsville - Thanks for the info! My son's tournament will be in downtown Atlanta (not sure of exact location though).

mrsd2fan - We, along with a lot of other parents and coaches, will be in Atlanta for not quite a week. Since we're there for a tournament, we won't be out and about sightseeing, and we'll be with all these other people so it's not exactly a normal vacation. It's more like a business trip. I'm only going back and forth to Valdosta to bring my daughter to camp and pick her up. It's not the most ideal set up, but that's just the way it is.

oh, ok I got it...
I was going to suggest you hop onto 20 east, get off at 441 N. and visit Madison, GA...quaint town.