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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Where to go when you really want to get out of town…over Christmas?
Are you getting away from it all next week?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ahh, the holidays — visions of sweets dancing in your head or images of your uncle annoyingly dancing for attention? Christmas is my favorite time to spend with my extended family, but the hustle of the season can leave even the most spirited person too bustled to be good company. And if “annoying” was anywhere in your answer to my question, this may be the year to get away from it all.
But where can you go at this late date to make your holiday merry and bright? Cheap airfares or an empty seat on a plane may be hard to come by - especially if you’re looking for a traditional destination filled with the promise of a white Christmas.
While snow is hardly guaranteed in Atlanta, the Southeast does offer quite a few options for a quick Christmas getaway. The mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee are about a three-hour drive from Atlanta. They offer several ski resorts and cool towns like Asheville, NC or Gatlinburg, TN where you can shop, sightsee or just settle in for a cup of hot chocolate. Check out www.visitnc.com or www.tnvacation.com to conjure up some winter fun over the holiday.
Of course, Georgia has mountains too, and you may find a handful of cabins still available for rent in towns like Blue Ridge, Hiawassee and Blairsville. Or head south about 70 miles to Pine Mountain, Ga. to check out Callaway Gardens’ “Fantasy in Lights” display, famous gardens and spa.
You could also take advantage of off-season rates at beaches throughout the Southeast. You’ll likely wear more sweaters than shorts, but a walk along an empty beach can help melt away stress or dysfunctional family memories faster than you can say Jingle Bells.
Have you taken a last-minute Christmas trip anywhere in the Southeast? Where did you go? Did you stay in a hotel, bed & breakfast or rental house? Tell us what you liked and disliked about your mini holiday vacation.
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