Category Archives: Everyday Adventures

Looking Forward to October

27th September 2015

Atlanta may have done its best Portland impression this weekend, but at least the temperature is giving a hint of what’s to come in the next few days…October.

jake mountain

I’m not alone in this excitement, a 2005 poll by Gallup asked Americans for their favorite month of the year and October was only bested by May (I’ll attribute that to our Northeastern friends). Despite popular belief, there is more to October than pumpkin spiced things (though picking pumpkins is on the list).  I’ve already made a solid list of October activities for P, so sharing the highlights here seems like a good place to start.

What to look forward to in October in Atlanta

1. The Spirit of Oakland

I have a thing for visiting Oakland Cemetery any season of the year, but their annual Halloween tours are a must. The tour is historical, having volunteers dress up as “residents” to share their stories and their contribution to Atlanta history. There’s also beer, wine and live music. Tickets sell out fast (they go on sale in July), but you may still be able to snag a last minute spot if you jump on it.

spirit of oakland

 2. Trail running

There are plenty of great places to get off of the asphalt and into the dirt around the city, but Cochran Shoals along the Chattahoochee is my personal favorite. Take the gravel path around to mile two and head up into the MTB trails. They’re largely single track, so play nice, leaving the headphones at home and running opposite the daily traffic for bikes.

Bonus: while no longer open to the public on weekends, if you’re nearby on a weekday, swing over to the Chattahoochee Coffee Company riverside location, easily the most relaxing spot in the city.

chattahoochee coffee company

 3. Pumpkins (not the latte version)

I’ve been going to Burt’s since I was a kid and we still make the trek every year. Sure, they’re pricer than Kroger, but can you take a hay ride at Kroger? Expect crowds and don’t sit on the pumpkins for your selfie. With endless hiking trails nearby, it’s easy to make a day out of it.

Amicalola falls is right around the corner, and while beautiful, it’s always a little too crowded for our taste. Check out Jake and Bull Mountain as nearby alternatives. Both are more MTB focused, but offer great hiking options too.

burts farm

 4. Hocus Pocus

I confess, I already gave in on this one along with the candy corn that was purchased in August. #sorrynotsorry. Do yourself a favor and order the DVD. Money well spent.

hocus pocus

If you’re looking for more October-ness, we’re also embarking on gourd season. So there’s that.

October, let’s do this.

Exploring the Atlanta BeltLine

25th August 2015

Every August in Atlanta, without fail, we are granted one week where mother nature decides she’ll pretend fall isn’t two months away, giving us a heavenly taste of cool mornings, crisp breezes and an excuse to wear white jeans with boots before it becomes socially unacceptable. Then it’s back to ninety degree, ninety percent humidity days until October.

That week happens to be this week. ?

Dragon Army Deck

The view from our Dragon Army deck

I’m soaking up every second between working from our Dragon Army deck that overlooks Piedmont Park (we are spoiled over here) and getting over to the Atlanta BeltLine for evening classes and runs without suffering from heat exhaustion.

If you haven’t heard of the Atlanta BeltLine, you might be living under a sad, less colorful, sun deprived rock somewhere. Seriously, take a break and head there now. The murals alone are worth your Instagram feed.

Sunset from the Eastside trail // A look from the golf course along the Northside trail

Sunset from the Eastside trail // A look from the golf course along the Northside trail

With the near weekly new additions at Ponce City Market and a new restaurant or apartment popping up just as frequently, it’s nearly impossible to miss the buzz around one of Atlanta’s best urban development projects.

Aside from all of the eating (of which I could write a dozen posts), the Atlanta BeltLine is also home to some of the best workouts in the city.

Situated next door to each other and just before the Ponce de Leon Avenue bridge, both Urban Body Studios and The Training Room ATL offer a myriad of classes from yoga, to pilates, TRX and even CrossFit style circuit training.

https://instagram.com/p/6QwzIgg8F-/?taken-by=katelarson12

If running the trail isn’t your thing, but you’re still looking for a cardio fill, check out Urban Body Studio’s Urban Explosion or one of the many daily classes at The Training Room ATL. With both, you’ll find a sixty minute sweat session packed with jumping lunges, medicine balls, pull ups and box jumps. The Training Room ATL rounds out each circuit with sprints out to the BeltLine in quick succession, keeping you both inside and out during the full routine.

The Training Room ATL

A look inside The Training Room ATL

If you’re on the lookout for something a little more mellow, King of Pops offers a free yoga in the park session each Tuesday in the Historic Forth Ward park. I have yet to make it out to this one personally, but have heard nothing but great things from friends who’ve become regulars. Free yoga outdoors with hundreds of new friends? Yes, please. One can only hope there’s a chocolate sea salt pop waiting at the finish, as that would be delightful.

KOP Yoga

Image via #KOPYoga

If you’re like me and a good old walk/run is usually your best bet for getting beyond the gates of Piedmont Park, then take advantage of the Atlanta BeltLine Race Series which will hit its stride ?over the next few months. Both the Southeast 8K and the Eastside 10K are great races for exploring our city and always have the best Atlanta themed t-shirts at the finish line. Because, let’s be honest, I’m not the only one who judges the quality of a race by the public wearability of the free t-shirt.

Exploring the city can seem like a daunting task for the everyday, even more so when that city is your hometown. Luckily, with little gems like these, it’s easy to slide into a routine that’s anything but with endless possibilities to explore.

Not convinced? Check out Eventbrite for even more ideas to get started. Then go send a quick message to Mother Nature begging her to let this “cold front” last more than 72 hours.

A special thanks to Eventbrite for the inspiration for today’s post. While all thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed within this post are my own, you can count me in for some of their events this fall. If you are planning an even, be sure to check out Eventbrite’s event management page for all the info and tools you need to host an event of your own.

Ski Whitefish

20th May 2015

It may be almost June and more than 90 degrees outside in Atlanta right now, but we’re still reliving snow over here in the White household (and it seemed an appropriate break from the heat).

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So while it may be months before we see powder again, enjoy this video P put together from our winter trip to Whitefish, Montana earlier this year. He kind of killed it and it deserves its own post.

Sure, it’s long, but can you blame those views?! I even make a few seldom appearances. Being in the back of the pack has its perks, less time on camera and more time to soak up the sunshine. Because it certainly wasn’t due to my lack of skills to keep up with these crazy kids. 😉