# Road Trip Ideas from Atlanta, GA (Southeast US) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351 "2008-12-22T19:27:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/1 "2008-12-22T19:27:36Z")
My roommates and I realized we’re just going to be bored all winter break and decided that with the current cheap price of gas now is the perfect time to take a road trip. We live in Atlanta, GA, and we’d like to get to wherever we’re going in under a day (nothing cross-country or too far, unless you come up with the greatest idea on earth). So far the only idea we could come up with is Graceland, but we’re not too hot on that idea as none of us are huge elvis fans, and we could really care less about going to see his grave. So help us out and come up with something fun we can go see or do on a road trip for a few (3-4) days. Keep in mind we’re three 20-22 year old fraternity guys, so that narrows choices down a good bit. I’m open minded though, so good luck, if someone comes up with something cool and we end up doing it, I’ll post the trip report here. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/2 "2008-12-22T20:21:18Z")
I lived in Atlanta up until about two months ago, and have driven from there to New Orleans (about 7 hours), South Florida (about 8 hours, I was actually moving from there to Atlanta, but you could do Miami in about 10 hours). Those are both cool locations to visit, but the drive is dull, dull, dull. A bit closer to home you could do Chattanooga (a nice downtown, and lots of awesome hiking) in about 2 hours, and Savannah or Charleston in about 4 - 5 hours. I really like these two cities, and Charleston has a cool maritime museum featuring a World War II aircraft carrier. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/3 "2008-12-22T20:24:51Z")
Yep, my money is on Charleston. When I went to school in Atlanta, I lived out of a car over spring break in that town and it was great. Another possibility is to explore Georgia some more. 20 miles out of the city and you’re in a whole new world. That can be fun, depending on your disposition. ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/4 "2008-12-22T20:28:23Z")
I was going to suggest Chattanooga, too- I have a couple of sisters who live in Louisville, KY, and we meet in Chattanooga once every couple of years. Savannah is also nice, as is St. Simons. There’s something about going to the beach in the winter that I really like- it’s nice and quiet, and still really pretty. Hilton Head Island is only 4 hours away. Isle of Palms is nice, too. ---
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/5 "2008-12-22T21:30:42Z")
Maybe I need to expound a little bit. Nice and Quiet and Pretty is exactly what we don’t want. Fun is more what we’re looking for. Remember, early 20s guys in college. Another idea someone had was the Jack Daniels Distillery, maybe combined with Graceland, but we’re still looking for better ideas if anyone has any as those aren’t too especially interesting/exciting. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/6 "2008-12-22T21:37:58Z")
Memphis… New Orleans is about 7-8 hours. And while the drive is boring, it is no more boring than from Baton Rouge to Gainesville. I was going to say Athens, GA, but then thought better about it. Heck, I’m there and I would love to spend more time in Atlanta. I thought Savannah may be fun… or at least, less nice and pretty? Again, I’m warped because I’m currently in Athens and everything outside this city is somewhere I’d love to be. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/7 "2008-12-22T21:38:49Z")
> [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](#): > > Maybe I need to expound a little bit. Nice and Quiet and Pretty is exactly what we don’t want. Fun is more what we’re looking for. Remember, early 20s guys in college. Uh, Athens? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/8 "2008-12-22T22:04:23Z")
Athens is nice and quiet and pretty and it’s a ghost town thanks to classes being over for the semester. Everyone that can will try to get away from here during at least a week, to escape the void and nothingness which is Athens. Why, yes, I’m slightly bitter to be living here… surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/9 "2008-12-22T22:18:30Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > Athens is nice and quiet and pretty and it’s a ghost town thanks to classes being over for the semester. Everyone that can will try to get away from here during at least a week, to escape the void and nothingness which is Athens. > > Why, yes, I’m slightly bitter to be living here… surprised? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/10 "2008-12-23T01:26:10Z")
I live in Athens, GA. Right now, Athens is dead town (students have gone home). Not fun, like the OP wants. It may be the type of fun they’re looking for if it were a home football weekend against Alabama, but right now, it is not. BTW, UGA is closed for a whole week, and gives that week as vacation to the employees (without having to take leave). Guess what most of the people I know will do (or have done already)? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/11 "2008-12-23T02:39:01Z")
Sorry, I get what you’re saying now. Though, the few Christmases I spent in that town were delightful. Me and a small, close group of friends drinking in the bars and restaurants while the cold moved in. Of course, if all your friends are out of town, it’s much less fun. ---
**Author:** ![AdmiralCrunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@AdmiralCrunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdmiralCrunch)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/12 "2008-12-23T04:44:35Z")
You’re only an hour and a half away from [The world’s largest office chair](http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/worlds-biggest-roadside-attractions1.htm) If you’re still itching for excitement, you can head on up to Scottsboro, AL for [The Unclaimed Baggage Center](http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/findus.html) Nashville and Chattanooga are more or less 2 hours from Scottsboro if you want to keep going. And the U.S Space and Rocket Center is nearby in Huntsville if you want some dehydrated food. I think that’ll be enough excitement for one lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/13 "2008-12-23T05:08:08Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > It may be the type of fun they’re looking for if it were a home football weekend against Alabama, but right now, it is not. As Georgia Tech students and huge fans (I have tickets to the Chick Fil A Bowl!), I assure you, it’s not. Thanks **AdmiralCrunch**! Those kind of suggestions are exactly what I’m looking for. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/14 "2008-12-23T05:11:33Z")
How often do you get off of Tech’s campus? I had a lot of fun at that school, and most of the time, it was exploring Atlanta and getting into hijinks. ---
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/15 "2008-12-23T13:49:32Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > How often do you get off of Tech’s campus? I had a lot of fun at that school, and most of the time, it was exploring Atlanta and getting into hijinks. The three of us have lived in Atlanta our whole lives. That’s why we haven’t left over winter break, while everyone else has gone home. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/16 "2008-12-23T14:05:56Z")
> [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](#): > > As Georgia Tech students and huge fans (I have tickets to the Chick Fil A Bowl!), I assure you, it’s not. You can always cheer for Alabama to beat the crap out of UGA. Most of the restaurants are going to be closed for Christmas Day. As I’m not a big drinker, bars are out. As I have no family and not close friends, I’ll be by myself. I cannot wait to get the hell out of here. ---
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/17 "2008-12-23T14:11:41Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > You can always cheer for Alabama to beat the crap out of UGA. Never heard as many Roll Tide’s in my life on Tech’s campus as when they beat the crap out of UGA this year. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/18 "2008-12-23T14:32:03Z")
The New Year’s Eve party scene in Savannah is quite memorable, or with just one too many Chatham Artillery Punches, not memorable at all. River Street parties a couple of days either side of the actual 1st. You may be able to find cheap digs at Tybee. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tofu\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@The\_Tofu\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tofu_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/19 "2008-12-24T02:14:21Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > I cannot wait to get the hell out of here. Come on KarlGrenze, Athens isn’t all _that_ bad, is it? There are so many worse places to be. 🙂 My vote is for Savannah or Nashville. Both are fun cities on New Years. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351/20 "2008-12-24T02:17:46Z")
Biloxi. Gamble, drink, eat. Rinse, repeat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-ideas-from-atlanta-ga-southeast-us/478351.md?page=2)