CLEAN RESTROOMS and cute Dublin themed souvenirs. We stopped in on our way home from Saint Simons…read moreto eat lunch at the picnic table in the shade and let our dog stretch her legs. Inside I met Mercedes she was very nice and helpful! Also, there is a dog fenced in area very clean. They had free coffee and free dog treats from Williamson's bakery inside. Located right next to the Cracker Barrel. A little set back in the corner.

Nice place to stop! They are very pet friendly. There are enclosures for small and large dogs to…read morerun around in. Dog treats are inside. Very friendly staff and lots of local and area wide information. They have 2 large clean handicapped accessible bathrooms. Free coffee and wifi. If you had an electric car charger it would be perfect.

Hartwell Dam is a concrete and embankment dam located on the Savannah River at the border of South…read moreCarolina and Georgia. When construction on the dam began in 1955, it formed Lake Hartwell. Downriver from here is the city of Augusta. The concrete and earth structure spans nearly three miles long, rising 204 feet above the riverbed at its apex. The dam produces 467 million Killowatt hours of electricity annually (by comparison, the Cowans Ford dam near Charlotte https://www.yelp.com/biz/cowans-ford-hydro-station-stanley?hrid=oG_nu67k8wR0NPzhhylQgQ generates 350 million Kilowatt hours. There is a visitor center but it is closed right now (July 2020) because of the pandemic. However, there is parking (and a basic restroom) on the Georgia side of the river, downstream from the dam. A bunch of folks were fishing and seemed to be doing well. [Review 13640 overall, 959 of 2020, number 331 in Georgia.]

A nice Ahhhhhhh moment getaway!…read more Nestled amidst the greenery of Northern Georgia is the concrete and earthen dam, circa 1962. We enjoyed the serene quiet, with only the lulling sounds of the water passing through the electrical generating turbines. Swirling commotion that oddly soothes. Whether just a day trip, do a little fishing trip or camp a night or two trip this place has it all. Away from the big city and little city alike.

Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau is the place for your group, business, company, reunion,…read moreetc. when planning to visit Atlanta. "Whether you need help organizing your convention or simply want information about Atlanta, we are here to help. Select the option that best suits your needs. For phone requests, dial 1-800-ATLANTA." Their website offers locals and tourists the inside scoop, from Free things/places to attend with your family, to upcoming events, conferences, etc. The teams within the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau will ensure you have all your I's dotted and t's crossed, to make your event memorable and the talk of the year. Need help to find activities for your family and friends visiting, then download the app. There are contests posted to win free tickets to shows, events, etc. Check them our, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

The luncheon for the UCTA Conference Luncheon was abismal....I would not recommend it to my worst…read moreenemy.

THE FAMILY REUNION WORKSHOP!…read more My husband I recently attended a family reunion workshop sponsored by the Alpharetta Convention and Visitor's Bureau (ACVB). It was held at the Marriott in Alpharetta and our presenter was Hala Shell. Our next family reunion will be in the Atlanta area in 2019 and we wanted to get some information regarding the planning and organizational process. Although we are not the primary organizers, we will be offering input and support. After attending a recent reunion, I definitely saw some areas that needed more attention. I think that people largely forget about the children attending and making sure that they have their own agenda. I'm sure they don't want to be sitting around listening to a bunch of adults and seniors reminiscing about the past and feeling excluded. These reunions are a great opportunity for kids to learn about their history and family connections. We also wanted to see more visuals that reflected the family tree and its branches with a way for everyone to easily identify their place on the tree. Finally, I thought that the reunion should have been better structured so that people weren't just drawn to familiar faces but would be encouraged, (through the use of games and ice breakers) to get to know new attendees as well. If you are involved in the planning of an upcoming reunion, you may want to consider some of these ideas. This workshop was great for providing information on the specific details (confirming a date, securing housing, addressing finances, deciding on specific vendors etc), that need to be addressed. It also helped to identify 'free" resources and support offered by the ACVB, and pin-pointed primary considerations to be addressed, (location, communication, number of days, advanced notification), as you begin to plan your reunion. Since this workshop was Alpharetta specific, much of the information promoted local resources and activities. However, the reunion planning guide is very well prepared and a great resource for plannning a reunion anywhere. We were pleased that we took the time to attend this event because it was very helpful. We would like to thank the Marriott for being a perfect host site, providing a nice continental breakfast and delicious lunch. We were even able to tour a couple of the hotel rooms in order to see what was available. I understand that they will be offering another workshop in April so if you are interested in attending, give Hala a holla!

From the owner: The Alpharetta CVB has a wide array of services for more successful, stress-free events. We can…read morehelp you from start to finish with your plans, and our Free Services eliminate the tedious work of calling hotels. Come visit our dynamic city where locals live every day. According to Forbes Magazine, we're the Seventh Friendliest City in America and the #1 Place to Move!

The seat of Butts County (pun!) is here in Jackson. This building was constructed in 1898 by the…read moreBruce & Morgan architectural firm who are responsible for a number of courthouses and university structures throughout the south. It stands at the center of Jackson on a one acre square plot and was the third courthouse to be built for the County. The building is unique in that it combines elements of neoclassical, Greek revival and Romanesque revival architecture into one harmonious design. The clock tower uses an original Seth Thomas clockwork system. Butts County was created in 1825 and is named for Captain Sam Butts who was killed in the Indian War of 1814 at the Battle Of Chalibbee. In 2006, the court functions were moved to a new building a few blocks west. The building now serves as a visitor's and tourism center. A very lovely woman working today gave me a tour and provided a number of brochures pointing out some of the history and some more contemporary goings on - Butts County is used for a lot of filming including several parts of the Stranger Things series. [Review 1070 of 2024 - 737 in Georgia - 22098 overall]

If you are interested in local history, this is a very educational opportunity to learn the history…read moreof Clarks Hill and Thurmond Dam. This is a good place to view the dam and lake from the South Carolina side. It can get busy but the visitor center has a lot of information to pass on to those who are interested. Come by when they are closed and take time to fish or go for a walk. Sit in the grass relax and enjoy the beauty in front of you.