5 Quick Summer Roadtrips from Atlanta
There is always PLENTY to do in Atlanta during the summer. Face it: trips to the aquarium, the zoo, baseball games, swimming, piedmont park, festivals…the list is ENDLESS! But what happens when you just want to get away? During the summer, not all trips away need to be grand getaways. So if you are looking for a short break, a quick vacation or just a last-minute weekend getaway, today I’ve got 5 quick summer roadtrips from Atlanta that I am sure you will enjoy!
5 Quick Summer Roadtrips from Atlanta
A quick 4-5 hours away from Atlanta is the city of Brunswick and it’s four islands: St Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St Simmons Island and Jekyll Island. These little islands have everything: a lighthouse, pristine peaceful beaches and lots of history and turtles!
The Chattanooga Choo Choo is not the only reason to head over the state line! Just 1-2 hours away, you can find lots of family themed fun. From the Chattanooga Aquarium, the Children’s Discovery Museum, and the Chattanooga Zoo there is a LOT for families to do here.
Located along the shores of Georgia’s Great Lake, Lanier Islands is a within an hour of Atlanta. It features 1,500 acres of picture perfect quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta life. Accommodations range from lake houses, to campsites to upscale villas. There is plenty to do: golf, horseback riding, zip lining and of course, swimming and water play.
4. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The beach…Let me say it again. THE BEACH! But if you don’t want to spend all of your time at the beach, there are plenty of other things to do :Ride bikes, take out a kayak, walk the trails at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, play miniature golf, pick up seashells at nearby Hunting Island State Park….the list is endless!
Best known for the beautiful Biltmore Estates, Asheville is also a great family destination. The Blue Ridge mountains offers plenty of outdoor activities for the whole family and everyone can have a blast at Asheville TreeTop Adventure Park, where you can zip through the trees. Asheville has plenty of festivals, water parks and hiking to keep the whole family entertained.
So there you have it, 5 ideas for quick summer roadtrips from Atlanta. Have you been to any of these? Do you have any other suggestions?
This post is part of a series with 4 other fabulous Atlanta moms.
Check out the rest of the Top 5’s for Summer:
Bernetta with Top 5 Summer Exercises for Moms:
Kita with 5 Ways to Stay Cool this Summer
Mimi with Top 5 Summer Sangrias
Wow! I haven’t been to any of the places you mentioned so thank you for sharing and giving me some summer getaway ideas. 🙂
These are all places I’d love to stop and visit. I’ve heard really good things about Asheville, NC and I’d love to visit some of the barrier islands. We were actually thinking of taking a summer vacation to Atlanta, so maybe we’ll have to extend our trip and visit one of these spots as well.
I haven’t been to any places you mentioned either … wait… I have been to Chattanooga!
I keep hearing about Hilton Head too, that might be my next visit! Great post!
This is a great series and I love anything that highlights travel and Atlanta! I definitely need to get to Asheville NC. I heard it’s beautiful in the fall.
Great ideas. Love the list. Fun activities too that I need to try
Wow! Thank you so much for this list. I live in the Carolinas and I never knew how many great places to visit that were so close to me. I have never been to the Georgia Barrier Island, but your post makes me want to add it to my summer destination list. The Biltmore house is a wonderful place and it is so big, you won’t be able to see the whole Estate in one day.
So Lake Lanier looks….packed. I don’t think I can do them but Asheville is nice looks cooler there too. A quick getaway to these places would be great for the summer especially when you are on a tight budget.
As long as I lived in Atlanta, I’ve only done #4. I hear so much about Lake Lanier every year but never made time to go. Asheville seems to picturesque and relaxing. If I ever move back to Atlanta, I’ll definitely make time for Asheville.
I went to Ashville last week for my bday and it was soooo beautiful. Love all the other suggestions as well. I haven’t visited the lake, I will have to take time to do that.
I like numbers 1 and 4. The waters are so calm and the place is not crowded. I hate to swim in a beach that’s full of people. Ashville looks like a wonderful place to visit. There are too many greens !
I’d go to any of those places, especially where there is water. Heck, I’d take a trip to Atlanta!
The mountains of Asheville are so gorgeous. I would live there year round if I could. And Hilton Head is lovely as well especially during the warmer months.
I am in Canada and have never been to Atlanta. I had no idea that there was so much to do in the summer, both of the islands look absolutely stunning! Thanks so much for sharing this great post, I love learning about new places!
I was so excited that you mentioned Asheville. I am from Asheville, and I consider Atlanta my getaway spot…
Asheville has to be one of my all-time favorites for that part of the country. It’s gorgeous all on its own, but add in the Biltmore and all of the activities, and you have the makings of a wonderful weekend. I would like to check out the barrier islands you listed as well. It looks like you have some great travel opportunities down there!
Asheville is on my list for the Fall. I am also headed to Jekyll Island in a few weeks to getaway. Great list to show their are great travel options within just a few hours
Such great ideas. The beaches look wonderful and Asheville’s lush green and that castle look amazing! I would have never thought that to be a destination but now it is on my radar.
Wow, so many beautiful looking places to visit. The Barrier Islands or Hilton Head would be my top picks from the ones you’ve listed, purely because I love being by the sea. It’s great that there are so many different landscapes in the US to visit, I wish we had that variety here in Ireland 🙂
Yes! I’ve been wanting to go to Hilton head for the longest!!! I’ve heard such great things.
My husband has been trying to get to Hilton Head for years! One day we need to make the trip down. It looks beautiful!
I’m amazed that there are so many cool things to do just a short 1-2 hr drive away. I would def keep this in mind whenever I have the chance to visit Atlanta.
Oh, I am definitely bookmarking this one! Thanks so much! While I’m not anywhere really close (MD), a few of these are places I’ve heard of and thought about visiting.
Sometimes the best getaways, are closer to home than we realize, this was a great reminder of that…I have not been to any on the list, but I am looking forward to trying Georgia Barrier Islands, on the list of Anniversary 2016!
Nice! I love living in an urban city but its nice to be able to getaway and not have to go too far.
Great way to give travel advice. I always see the focus on traveling within your state but venturing out is always so much fun!
This is an amazing list! I’m going to have to check some of these places out.