Our trip started in Atlanta. We’ve already documented the Braves game in another post but we also visited the Georgia Aquarium and toured the downtown sights of Olympic Park and the CNN Center. Like Pigs on Parade in Seattle, Atlanta has Dolphins on Parade that tie in to the Georgia Aquarium. They are decorated by local business and can be found throughout downtown. The Aquarium is well known for its dolphins, beluga whales, and the otters.
Jen picked us up for the drive to Athens after our stay in Atlanta was over. On our way, we decided an introduction to the local creamery of note, Mayfield, was in order. This is no surprise to anyone who knows Candice as she is unable to turn down ice cream, especially on vacation. Here are Jen and Pete (otherwise known as Team Evil II) posing with the Mayfield Jersey cow.
After checking into our green Athens digs at Hotel Indigo we headed out to Terrapin, a local brewery, to sample one of Jen’s favorite stops for beer lovers. They have a lovely happy hour deal where you get a pint glass and 10 tasting tickets for $5. What a better way to spend a sunny afternoon. The best part of the deal though is the pink drink tickets. So manly!
Who cares though when you’re drinking good beer. Here are Jen, then Pete, then Candice and Pete enjoying the libations
After beer tasting and a scrumptious dinner, we turned in for night to rest up as Jen had to work a bit the next day and we had other plans. The next day started with coffee and juice, a quick photo-op with one of the UGA Bulldogs, and then our Athens and R.E.M. walking tour.
We met up with Jen later for the drive to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Jen & Jill had a big, southern hospitality themed weekend planned for us, starting with a home-cooked meal of lamb, green beans, salad, and grits. Pete was so hungry that he neglected to take a photo of the meal until after he’d consumed it.
Saturday morning we got up and went to the Dixie Classic Fair. We checked out the farm animals in the livestock barn, all the vegetables and gourds in the agriculture building, and all the flowers. We grabbed lunch (who can say no to BBQ pork?) and then decided to get some dessert. With all the interesting fair food around, Pete and Jen decided to go for some deep-fried Oreos. Candice and Jill were indignantly terrified and couldn’t bring themselves to try.
Speaking of interesting fair food…I can feel my arteries squeezing tighter as I recall looking at the Krispy Kreme hamburger. That is Candice and Jen on the left torn between the deep fried candy bars and the Krispy Kreme burger. 
After the fair we went for a road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at a few places along the parkway to let the dogs out and run, and enjoy the beauty of the area. We drove to the picturesque Mabry Mill which is a grist mill. This led to a lot of speculation as to what grist actually was. Apparently grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding.
We also toured a pair of winerys, Chateau Morrisette and Villa Appalachia Winery. Overheard during one of the tastings was this gem from Jen, “I’m really not very picky.” The Villa Appalachia makes wines from Italian grape varieties and the grounds and tasting room are reminiscent of an Italian villa.
Once we got back into Winston-Salem we hit up the local brew pub, Foothills Brewing. Pete had to get the sampler of course.
All we have left to say is a huge and heartfelt “Thank you!” to our spectacular hosts, Jen and Jill. We thoroughly enjoyed our Southern adventure and cannot wait until our next trip with you. Go San Diego in 2012!!
