Best thing to do on a fall day in Georgia....

One thing I love about living in Georgia is that the mountains are just about an hour's drive north. When Stephen and I moved here four years ago, we started taking drives up to the mountains just to do some exploring. It started because I wanted to see the fall colors changing in the trees. Stephen agreed because we had just purchased a 1.8T Jetta with a sunroof that was fun to drive. During our "exploring", we have come across some Georgia "gems". These "gems" have become our favorite part of fall and our favorite thing to do for a day trip. Those "gems" would be Burt's Pumpkin Patch and Amicalola Falls.

Burt's Pumpkin Patch is just that. A large open field covered with pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors. This was the first time I had ever seen white or blue pumpkins. They also have gourds and squashes, homemade baked pies, breads, candy, etc. They offer a hayride for the kids (something we'll probably do next year). The experience is so fun; I'm amazed that it's free to enter! The pumpkins are reasonably priced and worth buying anyways. There is a creek nearby with shady trees - perfect for picnicking. We packed a lunch and sat under a big acorn tree. (thanks Caleb for pointing that out)

Amicalola Falls is a state park (bring $3 cash to enter) with a lot to offer. It is right off the Appalachian Trail, which always attracts an interesting group. They have accommodations for all types - a hotel-like lodge, a 5-mile "hike-in" lodge, cabins, campgrounds, and plenty of nature trails. The obvious reason it is so popular is for its 729-foot waterfall, which is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. You can either park at the top of the falls and take the stairs down, or park at the bottom of the falls and walk the paved trail (stroller friendly) to the bottom of the falls. Either way, it's worth the climb!

This year is the first time we have shared this experience with friends. (not sure why it took us this long) We went with our community group friends, the Presleys, and my sister, Rylie. It also just so happened that our dear friends, the Stegers, (from Orlando) had rented a mountain cabin this very weekend in this very area, so they joined us as well. Today really was such a fun day, and I highly recommend the experience!! (google Burt's Pumpkin Patch for directions)..and go with friends!!