Last Day in Atlanta-Smyrna and Pool

The Cavallaro family likes to explore potential neighborhoods to move to on the weekends. Todays trip was to a town called Smyrna. It was just a little outside of Atlanta. I guess the routine is check out the park, the library, the downtown and some house on both sides of town. We started at a glorious park. It was shady and nice an big. There was a historic house that was quite nice. It also gave the park nice air conditioned bathrooms especially good for new potty goers! After the park we went to the library which was nice but had a funny smell. The downtown was cute and would be our lunch destination. The houses were all very big and nice, however, there was not much grass at all. For lunch we had ribs and Shane's Shack. On the way back we missed a ramp and ended up on downtown Atlanta for a brief moment. We contemplated going to Underground Atlanta but we had a crabby one with us. We would go after nap. But after nap we did not go to the city. Instead we went to the pool. The swim club is nice! I used the whirlpool and sauna at the end. Did you know people love to be naked in the whirlpool? It did not make me all that comfortable so I didn't stay long!
Now there is lots to be packed up. We are all heading out tomorrow. David is off to Minnesota a day early to hang with friends and Julie and Leah are coming back with me. The girls will be stopping at the outlet malls on the way back.
So long Atlanta...it's looking like I'll be back sooner rather than later.

Day 4 Atlanta-Decatur to Gelato

Well it was a bit of a rough night sleeping for all of us so we got a super late start on our outing. That's okay! We still fit it all in. First stop was the Decatur Park and Library. Leah was the official tour guide in big girl underwear all day! She showed me the swings first then we slid and went round and round on a spinning thing.
It was much too hot so it was a short trip. Next stop was the library for a bathroom break and then to a children's boutique called Wiggles. Leah left with a new dress in my favorite color. For lunch we ate at the Raging Burrito. It was a bit spicy but I enjoyed my pineapple salsa jerk chicken burrito on a spinach tortilla.
After nap we got ready for the pool but did not look outside. (You have to keep the blinds closed to keep the heat out.) Once we were ready to go a big storm blew in. Instead of going to the pool we played in the rain. It turned out for the best because the pool ended up being closed for a shock treatment. We did play in the sand while Julie went to the grocery store.
Back at home David arrived and we had dinner. For dessert we went for Gelato. Leah wore her new Jelly Shoes from me. They are from Brazil but I bought them in Costa Rica.
It was a tasty treat. You can tell from Leah's face. Dave enjoyed getting a bocce ball too! It was a a giant meatball covered with dough.

The World of Coke and Centennial Olympic Park

Day three in Atlanta and it was time for me to learn more about my favorite beverage! We were off to the World of Coke. First stop was the lobby where there were coke bottles created by artists to represent different countries. Next stop was a Coca-cola decorated waiting room. Having a stroller gets you in first so I liked that. Here we learned about the advertisements and the oldest Coca-cola tschosky which was a bowl/urn thing. We also learned why coke was sold in six packs. It was the typical size of a family back then. One for mom, dad, the two-three kids, and the mother-in-law. You've got to keep her happy they said. After that demo we were ushered into a theater where we saw an expanded superbowl commercial. Leah enjoyed it because it was a cartoon. Out of the theater and into the main part of the museum. Our first stop was with the Coke Polar Bear. Leah only liked him from a distance. In fact she loved him from a distance! Then we learned how coke is bottled and saw the plant in action. There was a whole gallery of coke inspired art. We also saw a 4-D movie. The chair moves! It was about a professor trying to find the recipe for coke. At some point we got wet and a bee was flying around and stung us in the back. It really hurt! Leah liked the movie for the most part but she had to sit on Julie's lap. The last stop was the tasting room. The ambassadors (museum docents) told us to try Beverly. It was like tonic water and bubblegum, definitely not my favorite. There were many fruit flavors! Leah liked most of them too. The final room is just classic coke which was good to wash out some of the yucky flavors. As we left we got our free coke bottles and hit the gift shop. Leah has an extreme fascination with lip gloss so guess what I bought her...coke flavored chapstick.
Next stop was Centennial Park. It was blazing hot and we had such a short walk but we were drenched with sweat by the time we got there. Leah was dressed and ready to play in the Olympic rings along with a bazillion other kids. It was so hot the news was out and the thermometer they had was reading 120! Leah made it on the noon news in the background.
We walked back through the sweltering heat and went home for lunch and nap time. After nap we went to the mall. It was a nice one! I bought a shirt from Anthropologie. That was Day 3 in Atlanta!

Stone Mountain-Atlanta Day 2

My first excursion in Atlanta was not actually in Atlanta. Julie, Leah, and I took a short trip to Stone Mountain. It is about 10 miles east of Atlanta. We had googled information and knew we had to find a Kroger to get discount tickets. We decided to chance finding a Kroger along the way. Lucky for us we found a Kroger and saved 2 bucks! Luck was on our side all day. We got a prime parking spot and walked right into the ropes course area. Who knew that people wait hours to do this. Julie, Leah, and I basically walked right in. Leah did the baby course

From Stone Mountain

From Stone Mountain

From Stone Mountain

while I did the 44 inch and taller course.







It was fun!

After the ropes course we just happened to walk to the little "town" to the glassblower. He just happened to be starting a demonstration.



After we watched him turn a blob into a beautiful vase we headed for the choo choo! Leah was really excited since she has a sudden fascination with trains. Again we basically walked right on to the train with no wait. It was a 30 minute slow ride around the mountain. They have a fake town and you listen to music with the word vacation, summer, or train in it while you chug along.




Next stop was lunch. We packed a picnic but ate inside because it is Hotlanta. After lunch we walked up hill to the gondola. Here we visited a gift store while waiting for the gondola to reopen. It was on lunch break. Leah was excited to find her name on a keychain and mug. She also liked playing with the toys. She wanted a huge sucker but I told her it was sucker tree just for looks. What a sucker! LOL! How long will that work?

The gondola up was hot but quick and then it was hiking time. You can walk on top this large piece of granite. it almost feels like you are on top of a volcano because there are craters. You can hike up or down for 1.3 miles but it was not the right temperature for that. Leah loved hiking. She especially loved the dirt she could find in the craters. It was neat to see the skyline of Atlanta and Buckhead. You'd think it would be cool since you a good ways up but nope it was even hotter since we were closer to the sun!







Back down the gondola we went and then stopped quickly in the museum before having some soft serve ice cream. Then it was time to leave in order for a nap to be taken. We did a lot of stuff but Leah needed her rest so we missed story time, a 4-D movie, duck tour, paddleboats, hiking, fishing, and a few other shops. That will be for next time.


After rest time and dinner we went back to Stone Mountain for its 9:30 Laserlight Show. We had heard it would have a confederate theme to it which it did slightly. You could tell who they were cheering for during the Civil War! The music and lasers were great. There were even a few fireworks in the mix. I highly recommend seeing this show.

Atlanta Day 1-July 6, 2010

The trip to Atlanta was an easy drive. I made a pit stop for gas and food in Gaffney, South Carolina and completed the trip in about 5 1/2 hours. I did notice some outlet malls on the way. I'll be looking into that for future trips.
Here is the Cavallaro Summer Apartment:
Leah's room is absolutely perfect for her and she loves it.
When Leah awoke from her nap we went to the pool, dollar tree, and to get Chinese for dinner. After dinner we made a trip to the grocery store and made plans for the rest of the week that evening.