Always coming up short on those "How many states have you been to?" online quizzes? Even if that doesn't bother you, it's still fun to fill up the tank and go somewhere different for a weekend. With spring break right around the corner, the time is ripe. And Atlanta is ideally situated for interstate travelers. With a four- or five-hour drive, you can enjoy the sites and sights in a state that's not Georgia.
Here are five weekend jaunts for Atlantans who want to check a new state off their bucket list:
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4.5 hours from Atlanta
A drive of a little over 200 miles from Atlanta takes you to both another state and another world. Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Hot Springs is a tiny tourist destination centered around its natural mineral baths and a 100-acre resort and spa. Mother Nature heats this clear carbonated water below ground and the Hot Springs operators pipe it into outdoor jetted hot tubs. The getaway appeals to the hedonist and natural healing crowd with luxury suites, but it's also available to the adventurer, with a reasonably priced campground, full RV hookups and campgrounds available.
2.5 hours from Atlanta
Greeneville is a great place to museum hop and enjoy a weekend of performances from the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, International Ballet and the like. One huge draw is the American art museum downtown, well-known for its Andrew Wyeth collection and its focus on Southern and contemporary art. Not to be outdone, the Bob Jones University Museum is a must-see for serious religious art lovers. Its important European sacred art includes works from Rembrandt, Titian, Van Dyck and Rubens. And don't overlook nature's artwork. Greeneville is also home to 400 acres of parks and a suspension bridge over Reedy River Falls.
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2 hours from Atlanta
Lost your ambition? You can take a day trip and still land in Tennessee. Chattanooga is a handy two-hour drive away, but the vibe is very different from Atlanta. The downtown, with the Tennessee River literally running through it, is a great place to stroll and check out bookstores, boutiques and mom and pop restaurants. The Tennessee Aquarium is a slam dunk with kids and animal lovers. Or, you can save the admission fees and spend your time strolling (sometimes at an incline) the Bluff View Art District historic neighborhood or the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, a city park open dawn to dusk. There's also a freebie public shuttle for those content to explore and sightsee downtown from inside a smooth-moving vehicle. If you do have the budget, check off two bucket list items in one weekend and stay in a Pullman Train car from the 1930s, '40s or '50s. Is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo? Yeah, yeah.
6 hours from Atlanta
You won't see the mouse, but you will be in a mild-temperature part of Florida with beaches after a weekend-friendly drive to St. Augustine. History buffs will enjoy St. Augustine's status as the oldest still-inhabited city in America (since 1565) and the possibility of touring via horse-drawn carriage. But there are plenty of modern attractions, too, from the Casa Monica Resort and Spa to the San Sebastian Winery and an alligator farm that's the centerpiece of a zoological park. This getaway offers proof that you can reach a Florida beach from Atlanta without having a whole week to spare for travel: St. Augustine has clean, warm sands with nearby shopping and eateries.
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5 hours from Atlanta
It may not host the Kentucky Derby, but Bowling Green is a draw for those who love planes, trains and automobile forms of speed. For example, Bowling Green boasts the National Corvette Museum, where you can pay a bit extra to drive one of these dream cars. It's also got Aviation Heritage Park, the Historic Railpark and Train Museum, and Beech Bend Amusement Park and (drag) Raceway. And for thrills that man didn't make, Bowling Green hosts an underground cave experience at Lost River Cave, where you can also zipline. If you're staying overnight, check out the amusement park, which has a built-in campground along with its wooden roller coaster.
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