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Marietta Patch offers a suggestion ...or two... each week about what you can do with kids-free time.
Crank up the bike and roll out to the 11th annual Thunder Beach Autumn Rally. Live music, stunt shows, tasty food, lots of vendors and beautiful views of the beach await you. Cruise the Panama City Beach strip and enjoy the wonderful companionship of fellow bikers. The festival runs from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. Click here for accommodations.
The 34th Annual Fiesta of Five Flags—Pensacola Seafood Festival: a short jaunt from Marietta to where you can smell the salt in the air. The Fiesta of Five Flags is an annual celebration of the founding of Pensacola and is held in historic Seville Square in downtown Pensacola Friday through Sunday, Sept. 23 through Sept. 25. Tasty food and talented artists close out the summer festival near the beach. Musical performances by Drivin’ n Cryin’, Emerson Drive and other musicians will fill Bartram Park, a beautiful 2.6 acre space from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of Pensacola Bay. In the …
Do you have fantasies of swinging through the trees like Tarzan? If that is the case, then this thrilling adventure might be for you. North Georgia Canopy Tours offers three different tours: the Adventure Tour, the Premium Adventure Tour and the Sky Bridge Tour. The course is designed with as little environmental impact as possible and nestled on about 100 acres in Lula, Ga. The three-hour Adventure Tour contains 12 ziplines (or over one mile of cable), two sky bridges, three nature walks, zips over three ponds, two zips over North Oconee River and a rappel. The tour ends with a 695-foot dual…
Argh, matey! Tired of the usual daily grind? Then get away to his­toric down­town Stu­art, FL, and unleash your inner pirate. Drinkin', pillagin' and other acts of debauchery are on the minds of both pirates and wenches as they come together from near and far to the fourth annual Treasure Coast Pirate Fest. Enjoy the the Tortuga Pub Crawl, see mermaids and attend live music shows. All of this kicks off with the Pirate's Ball, Friday's fundraiser to benefit two local air museums. This is a nautical adventure not to be missed and runs this Friday through Sunday.
The Marietta Art in the Park Festival is celebrating 25 years as a juried art show, drawing artists of all age groups, kindergarten through professional. This three day art event includes 150 artists from all over the nation with: jewelry, pottery, painting, woodworking, metal, textile, sculpture, glass and photography. The Interactive Art Alley is always a crowd favorite for both young and old. Keep Marietta Beautiful will be offering the crowd a chance to create their own vision of our city by using recycled items to create their unique vision of the Marietta Cityscape Project. The Marietta…
Take a scenic ride to Memphis,Tennessee. This place has deep roots and tons of music history to explore. Climb on the antique trolleys that make a riverfront loop and get a close-up view of the Mississippi River, the Pyramid and Mud Island. It also provides access to a variety of attractions including downtown cafes, Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum. With it's legendary riffs of blues, rock n’ roll and pure soul, and the music and nightlife of Beale Street, you are sure to be entertained. Five star restaurants, historic recording studios, two music museums, riverboat tours, …
Delicious food and wine, reflective moments watching the birds twitter by. Just sitting on the front porch rocking without a care in the world and a beautiful view of the mountains await you at The Glen-Ella Springs Inn. Glen-Ella Springs is an historic Georgia bed and breakfast inn with a long-standing tradition of hospitality. Nestled on 17 acres, bordered by the Chattahoochee National Forest and laden with perennial flower and herb gardens, this is a perfect place for seclusion and relaxation. Click here for if you want to wander the area.
Miami to Cozumel, then back sounds perfect. School is about to start and the holidays are right around the corner. Plan ahead and spoil yourself with a musical boat float festival across the Gulf once you make it through it all. The Weezer Cruise is January 19 – 23, 2012. Special guests Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Gene Ween and Dave Dreiwitz, Wavves, The Antlers, Yuck, Free Energy, Boom Bip, J Mascis (solo acoustic), Lou Barlow, Keepaway, Ozma, The Nervous Wreckords, The Knocks, Sleeper Agent and Atlanta's own, Yacht Rock Revue make this a musical experience you won't want to miss. Four-night …
Southeastern Expeditions offers scenic and thrilling river rafting, camping, zipline rides and river tubing in the North Georgia Mountains for people of all ages and levels of experience. South East Expeditions has been in this business since 1972 after purchasing leftover river equipment from Warner Bros. after the filming of Deliverance. Drive on up and get a relaxing deliverance from the everyday grind of mundane living and roll on down the river.
This weeks escape is a drive up I 75 Nnorth to Chattanooga,Tennessee. Enjoy the mountains and the scenic Tennesee River. Spend the evening in a stationary Victorian train car, and explore all the beauty the city has available. Come enjoy a few nights at one of the historic hotels of America. Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel is a resort, you can stay in, take it easy in and enjoy the amenities or get out and explore the town.  
The Hiawassee-Young Harris part of Georgia is breathtaking with Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in our state at 4,784 feet above sea level, overlooking it all. A cool mountain breeze and stars that shine bright in the night sky, all make for a much needed escape. A two-hour drive into the hills that rise into majestic mountains will leave your soul cleansed. Fishing, boating, horseback riding, hiking, delicious food, antiques, golf or just looking out from your deck gives something for everyone. This 4th of July weekend is a particularly good time to escape into the Georgia mountains with …
The heat has you tired and needing a break away from mundane daily living. You need some tranquil gardens, fresh air, sunshine, and time at the pool. Barnsley Gardens was created 160 years ago, for the love of his life. Godfrey Barnsley built this beautiful estate, and it is a place filled with the spirit of love. A lovely drive out of the city, into the hills is just the break that is needed. Delicious food, spa services, golf, hiking, and you can even bring the family pet. Thirty cottages and 90 guest rooms are on the grounds, and peace is in the air. Stay during the week and get a night …
The local air is a bit hot and stale. Get away to a peaceful place and cleanse your spirit. Amelia Island is a little over a six hour drive from Marietta. It is a barrier island, rich with history. The island is 13 miles long and four miles at it's widest point. Known as the “Isle of Eight Flags," this magical place has wild horses that  graze along its banks. There are 50 blocks of historical homes to take in, beach front hotels, as well as bed and breakfasts and spas on the island. For most seasons, there is camping, but the campground at Fort Clinch is being remodeled at this time. For a …
The Historic Marietta Trolley Company spooks it up with its Ghost of Marietta tours. A 90-minute trip through the past history of Marietta takes you to a cemetery with a statue that is rumored to bleed from its eyes, then to another cemetery where a sister wanders still looking for her lost sibling and concludes at the Old Haunted Firehouse that is now full of firewater to quench your thirst from this interesting excursion. Take someone you can hold onto tightly, you never know when the past is going to make an appearance. Check here for tickets and hours.
Zoo Atlanta brings a 21-year-and-older event to the adults in Atlanta this Saturday from 5:30 to 9:30p.m. with its 4th Annual Brew at the Zoo. Tickets are $35 in advance for members and $40 advance tickets for non-members. On the day of the event, the tickets are $45 for all admission. Beer and wine tasting are among the events as well as free rides on the train and carousel, music, and face-to-face encounters with some of the animals. This event is rain or shine. Book a room, shuttle or taxi to the zoo, and make it a weekend downtown.
Go fast, turn left, then right, then left again!  Skip Barber Racing School is taught out of Road Atlanta. Seasoned pros put you through the paces in mechanical beasts, and you come home with a road story worth telling. To make it a true escape: Book a room. From Marietta, the Skip Barber Racing School is just a little over an hour drive for a thrilling weekend escape!
I hear that train a coming, it's rolling round the bend. North Georgia Scenic Railway will roll you on a leisurely adventure up into them hills. The rail rides along the scenic Toccoa River Valley. The view is spectacular. The train offers both open view and vintage climate-controlled cars. The four-hour, 26-mile ride starts in downtown Blue Ridge with a one-hour stopover most days in McCaysville, Ga., and Copperhill, Tenn. The towns straddle the Georgia/Tennessee line. You can enjoy lunch and a walkabout while waiting for the ride back. After the ride, they open up the engine for a walk …
Wellstar Health Place is offering a Mother's day special for massages. $29 gets you a 30-minute session and for $49 a full hour of bliss. This isn't just for Mom, get one for yourself as well. Visit them online and print out a flyer for a week free in The Health Place  gym.
You have claimed the house for the evening, but the 30-minute meals have ruled your life for the past month. Lounging around in your jammies has gotten old. You want the formalities of a gourmet dinner, but you don't want to leave the house to escapde. Consider having the gourmet dinner brought to you. Instead of Flowers prepares nearly everything for the great meal served in your home. Just have the candles and wine ready. 
Stay close to home this Easter weekend yet get away. Visit the Earl Smith Strand Theatre for Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, produced by the Atlanta Lyric Theatre. A story about the real life challenges of love. Each direction these young lovers turn, they encounter adversity and judgment, all the while trying to keep a sense of humor. Use the code EBLAST2 for 20 percent off of Friday and Saturday tickets. Use the code BUNNY for 25 percent off the Easter show.

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