No one knows exactly which train inspired �Chattanooga Choo Choo,� the song made famous by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, but there are several contenders parked behind the southern city�s grand Terminal Station.
The station, which now serves as the lobby of a Holiday Inn, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The old baggage area has been turned into a restaurant that, in addition to down-home food, features up-and-coming Chattanooga performers.
The trains have 48 sleeper cars filled with Victorian-era ambiance yet replete with queen size bed and wireless Internet connection. All that's missing is the familiar clickety-clack rattle of the wheels as the trains carried their passengers into what was then one of the major terminals in the United States. Now really, couldn�t they have piped in the sound?
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Visitors throughout the state of Georgia who are looking to spend some time getting to know the great outdoors, but may be somewhat intimidated due to a lack of experience or knowledge, need not worry, as several businesses and associations in north Georgia's Gilmer County are now offering 'Get Back to the Outdoors' classes and guided expeditions designed to provide novices with a higher level of confidence to explore a host of outdoor activities.
Travelers to north Georgia can visit
www.gilmerchamber.com to find a list of local businesses offering classes and guided trips for activities such as hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, camping, kayaking, canoeing and fishing.
Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Gilmer County is blessed with a significant amount of public land, including nearby favorites such as the Rich Mountain Wilderness Area, Cohutta Wilderness Area and Chattahoochee National Forest. In fact, more than half of the county is designated as public land, making Gilmer County the perfect base camp for your next adventure.
"In addition to having plenty of room to roam, our 'Get Back to the Outdoors' programs, supported by local businesses and associations, are a great for getting families together for a fun outing, and a refreshing way to introduce kids to the outdoors," says Paige Green, President/CEO of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.
Mountain Biking - A walk through historic downtown Ellijay may lead you past Cartecay Bike Shop, but visitors may often find a note posted on the door by owners Mike and Terri Palmeri stating "On a ride with some new friends." The Palmeri's, active road and mountain bikers, often close-up shop to take visitors on guided rides along any of Gilmer County's 150 + miles of single track trails, including the well-known and Super Epic Pinhoti Trail, Bear Creek, Mountaintown Creek, Stanley Gap, Carters Lake and River Loop, located just minutes from downtown. Scenic road rides are also offered, with Fort Mountain and Burnt Mountain loops being regional favorites among cyclists.
Hiking, Backpacking and Camping - With the Southern terminus of the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail minutes away, hiking, backpacking and camping are a cornerstone of outdoor activities for visitors to Gilmer County. Family members Travis, Shirley and Whitney Crouch, owners of North Georgia Mountain Outfitters, are teachers of all things outdoors, offering guided group hiking and camping trips through some of the nation's most beautiful and remote backcountry, as well as selling quality outdoor clothing, supplies and equipment.
Additionally, the Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA), supporting the 300-mile Benton MacKaye Trail and celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, frequently offers monthly Fun Hikes for any skill level. "Our Fun Hikes teach newcomers about trail navigation and safety, and we provide great fellowship with other hikers," says Publicity Director, Marge Heller of the BMTA. Visit
www.bmta.org for more information about Fun Hikes.
Kayaking and Canoeing - During the summer months, kayaking, canoeing and tubing down the Cartecay River is always a family favorite. Folks who want a little more out of the trip can turn to Woody and Jenny Janssen of Cartecay River Experience to provide instructional classes. "Kayaking is the type of sport or hobby that provides great exercise with a break-taking view," says Janssen. Cartecay River Experience and Eagle Mountain General Store both offer calmer tubing expeditions down either the Cartecay or Coosawattee Rivers.
Numerous other outfitters, guides and rental companies are available to support each person's specific need. "While our local business owners offer great products and services, they can also offer some excellent folk lore, and provide outdoor goers with some superb recommendations," says Green.
For visitor information and traveler specials, visit
www.gilmerchamber.com, or join our fan page on Facebook at The Ellijays.
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New Lake Hartwell Area Resource to Help Local Tourism Industry
�I have seen printed guides for Lake Hartwell that are outdated by the time they get distributed,� stated Tom Miller, who has lived on Lake Hartwell for 12 years and sells real estate fulltime for Keller Williams.
�Things change so rapidly that travel books have a hard time keeping up,� according to Lara Kaufmann, Upstate South Carolina resident and author of the Lake Hartwell Area Recreation Guide.
�Valerie Latawiec, a friend of mine since college, has a website design firm named Laughing Cat Studios, and she said��How about we make your book into a website and name it LakeHartwellInsider.com�. I said� that sounds great, so she did it!� Kaufmann exclaimed.
�The web site entitled �Lake Hartwell Insider� is a real asset to the entire Lake Hartwell Community,� according to Michele J. Dipert, President of the Hart County Chamber of Commerce.
�It provides a variety of regional information all in one location. Because Lake Hartwell encompasses six counties and two states, this website provides all the recreation and day trip information for visitors and locals to enjoy,� said Dipert.
�LakeHartwellInsider.com is the first website that has pulled together all the information that visitors and residents need to know to enjoy the lake more - and the people who put this together are committed to keeping the content fresh,� according to Miller.
�Since the introduction of "Staycations" a couple of years ago, people are continually looking for events, historic sites, camping and museums for day and overnight trips,� according to Brenda J. Carlan, Executive Director of the Currahee Military Museum, which is located in downtown Toccoa, Georgia.
�Sadly most people do not realize what they have so close by or even in their own community,� Carlan stated.
�Lake Hartwell is a destination for locals and tourists alike, The Lake Hartwell Area Recreation guide and the new LakeHartwellInsider.com web site are a wealth of information for those who enjoy outdoors and tourist & historic sites and locations,� Carlan added.
Lake Hartwell is one of the most visited Corps lakes in the nation according to the Corp of Engineers web site, http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/intro.htm.
"The new Lake Hartwell Area website will help my Striper Guide Service GREATLY! People will be able to locate my services before they even get here. The website can be used from their homes or offices anywhere in the world," stated Rick Owen the Owner of Rick's Guide Service.
�I look forward to fishing and making new friends with those who visit this new web site, see you on the water,� Owen proclaimed.
"I am very impressed with www.lakehartwellinsider.com� said Kent Dykes, President of the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce. �It is an easy to navigate website that gives the person a positive image of Lake Hartwell and the surrounding area,� stated Dykes. �It encourages commerce and tourism in our Lake Hartwell area,� Dykes added.
�The LakeHartwellInsider.com website will definitely be an asset to our local community and those tourists wishing to visit our area,� according to Phyllis Brooks, President of the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce.
�Whether it be fishing, boating, outdoor activities, biking, hiking, disk golf, golf, theaters, camping, and the list goes on, it can be found on this site,� Brooks stated.
The Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers all join to make Lake Hartwell, which provides opportunities for boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing. This man-made lake on the border of Georgia and South Carolina has 55,900 acres of water and about 962 miles of shoreline.
�This new website will give us the ability to market Lake Hartwell and all of its surrounding resources to potential visitors as well as give those that will be visiting valuable information that will add to their experience,� according to Chris Hardy, President & CEO of the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce.
�This only increases the economic impact that Lake Hartwell already has on the counties in GA and SC that surround this valuable resource,� added Hardy.
When told that the Trio Cafe on Main Street in Greenville, SC was included on this site, Kip Wynne said, "That is great. My parents had a vacation home on Lake Hartwell for many years and we have many great memories from there. The information is correct and we appreciate being included."
After hearing about the site, Terri Horne, a Williamston, SC resident said, "I was a ranger for the Corps of Engineers on Lake Hartwell for almost 10 years before leaving to become a full time mommy. Things have changed since then. I look forward to visiting many of the places, mentioned on LakeHartwellInsider.com, with my family.�
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Lara Kaufmann and Valerie Latawiec, creators of LakeHartwellInsider.com
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The lake is surrounded by parks, farm land, cute towns and fun cities, which all make for a fantastic time. They provide great views, outdoor adventures and all kinds of fun activities. The cities and towns each have a different feel to them. Each one has characteristics that may make them worth visiting, depending on your interests.
When shown the website, Laura Lampron, a metro Atlanta area resident who frequently vacations in the Lake Hartwell Area, said, "This is great. I am always looking for things to do near Lake Hartwell! I had no idea that all these things are offered here!�
Contact: Lara Kaufmann
Cell phone: 864-634-1380
Email: Lara@LakeHartwellInsider.com
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Contact information of those quoted in this press release:
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Tom Miller, Keller Williams, Mobile: 678-469-9917, tommiller@kw.com
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Michele J. Dipert, Chamber President, Hart County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 793, Hartwell, GA 30643; 706-376-8590, hartchamber-michele@hartcom.net
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Kent Dykes, President of the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce, 2001 East Main St, Easley, SC, 29641, 864-859-2693, kent@easleychamber.org
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Phyllis Brooks, President, Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, P. O. Box 537, Elberton, GA 30635, 706-283-5651, brooksp@elberton.net
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Chris Hardy, President & CEO of the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce, 864-654-1200 ext 13, chris@clemsonchamber.org
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Brenda J. Carlan, Executive Director, Currahee Military Museum, Stephens County Historical Society, Inc., 160 North Alexander Street, Toccoa, Georgia 30577, www.toccoahistory.com, toccoahistory@windstream.net, 706-282-5055
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Kip Wynne, Trio, 22 N. Main St., Greenville, SC 29601, 864-467-1000, info@triocafe.com
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Rick Owen, Owner of Rick's Guide Service, 864-356-7271, http://www.ricksguideservice.com/, ricksguideservice@gmail.com
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Terri Horne, 1100 Keone Circle, Williamston, SC 29697, terrimh1@yahoo.com
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Laura Lampron, 1640 Rochelle Dr., Dunwoody, GA 30338, 770-350-0885, lauralampron@hotmail.com
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Need a break from the Summer O' Heat?. . . Nothing's cooler than ART!
Come see beautiful art shows all around Marietta
this Friday night, 5-9.
Ann Marshall Bailey will be exhibiting her summer paintings at the Australian Bakery Cafe on the square. Come browse and enjoy the Aussie wine and hors d'oeuvres...
Here's the link for venues and free parking:
Ann Marshall Bailey 678-488-6516
Portrait Paintings and Landscapes
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| Salute to America |
August 15, 3:00 PM
Roswell UMC
814 Mimosa Blvd
Roswell GA 30075
FOR DIRECTIONS:
www.RUMC.com
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The Michael O'Neal SUMMER Singers present a concert of choral selections celebrating the American Dream, with texts from some of America's greatest poets and politicians including Walt Whitman (Howard Hanson's Song of Democracy) and Thomas Jefferson (Randall Thompson's Testament of Freedom). Patriotic standards such as Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America and America the Beautiful will also be performed.
The Michael O'Neal Summer Singers, now in its sixth year, is a non-auditioned group of 150 singers from all reaches of the metropolitan Atlanta area. Participants range from interested amateur singers to professional musicians.
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Buy Tickets Now!
Advance tickets for the performance are $12
and are available online or by calling 770.594.7974.
Tickets will be $15 at the door the day of the concert.
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Partial funding for this program is provided by the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund; by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council; and by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. |
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The Michael O'Neal Singers Inc.
P.O. Box 1008
Roswell, Georgia 30077
770.594.7974
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