Georgia DISer's - Just moved here need help.

[LovesTimone]

A few months ago my DH was sent to GA to "help out" with his job - Well this turned into 2 months and then he was offered a promotion in GA, which is a promotion that he has worked very hard for, I'm so proud of him, so we just moved to the metro Atlanta area. Lawrenceville Ga. we are in the very corner we actually live next to Suwanee, Duluth, and Buford ( mall of GA )

So I need the 411 on everything.
Shopping - I shopped at Kroger for the 1st time yesterday - did very well with coupons and my Kroger card - Where else can I look for deals? other stores?

Restaurants - Family owned? Special night out?

Place to go - Day trips? we love to antique suggestion please?

Tell me about what your favorite family thing is to do.

 

[ShelliRenee]

For Antiques, try Roswell. It is not far from you. You can do a nice afternoon stroll down the street to all the shops. If you like BBQ, try Dreamland BBQ on Alpharetta Hwy (Hwy 9.) There is also Swallow at the Hollow which is where they tape lots of the BlueBird Cafe, however, the food is not as good as Dreamlands. Right across the street from Swallow at the Hollow is a great restaurant called Greenwoods, which has good southern comfort foods and some of the best pies.

There is also a great haunted walking tour in Roswell. It gives you all the history of Roswell as well as some great ghost stories. http://roswellghosttour.com/

Welcome to Georgia. And remember when you deal with the Natives never mention the war of northern aggression (or "That recent unpleasantness")

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

The QT and Racetrack by MOG and 85 seem to have cheap gas. The Kroger deals (-3) or (-10 or more) are also pretty good.

Near MOG there is a Costco and headed on Buford drive in the 985 direction is a Sams club.

Publix is the same here as in Fl.

Tune to am750 or 95.5fm (wsb) for the best traffic reports on the radio.

There is a lot to do in the area......................Dahlonega, the Aquarium, eating at the Varsity, various sights in Atlanta, Stone Mountain park, the AAA Gwinnett Braves play at our new stadium just 3 minutes from the MOG. Lake Lanier may also be something you guys want to investigate. There is a waterpark there as well as Six flags Whitewater in Marietta.

 

[princesspwrhr]

We used to live in Suwanee when they put the mall in. Then we moved to other suburbs and then to VA. Anyways - if you go up 85 to the outlets, there is a store up there on the opposite side of the freeway from the outlets called The Pottery. It looks like a run down strip mall and all the stores are connected inside. It has a ton of neat inexpensive home goods, dishes, mirrors, small furniture, frames, art, baskets. It's a fun diversion.

The Fox Theatre in downtown is absolutely beautiful. We took the girls every year to see the Nutcracker there. We were supposed to go this year but my parents are moving away from Atlanta. :-( Lots of Broadway comes through Atlanta and is either at the Fox or the Civic Center. Same for kids shows, concerts and circuses. There's also a lot of family fun stuff in Atlanta. Center for Puppetry Arts, Fernbank, Centenial Olympic Park, CNN Center, Braves games, childrens museum, GA Aquarium. Park your car at the Doraville Marta station and take the rail into downtown. WAY to many Peachtree streets and small signs to want to drive in. If you're into greasy burger joints, the Varsity is in a league of it's own. Stone Mountain has a lot of fun things to do. Six Flags is on the other side of Atlanta and was in a *serious* state of decline when we moved. We visit Atlanta at least once a year to see family and it hasn't been worth our time or moneyt o go back. The water park, White Water in Marietta was fun last time I went there, but the best deal is the sleepy little amusement park next to White Water. it's called American Adventure. Both Roswell and Marietta have great little community playhouses, and Marietta square is very cute with locally owned dining and some specialty and antique shops.

If you're up for a day trip, Helen in the fall is great. It's a sleepy little tourist town that looks like a German village and hosts an Oktoberfest celebration that shuts down the local streets. During the rest of the year it's just a pretty mountain town. You can antique here. Dahlonega isn't far from Helen and is also a pretty little town. The thing here is gold and gem mining. Savannah, Athens and Charlston also make great day trips. Lookout Mountain at the TN border is also fun. lots of options there and in Chatanooga on the border.


When we lived in GA I did my grocery shopping at Publix and Kroger. They've opened some Trader Joe's but I think the nearest one is in Roswell. I don't know if any of the loacal favorites as far as dining out are still open.

 

[reelmom]

We go tubing in Helen a good bit. The place we use also has a small waterpark. It is $15.00 a person that includes the waterpark and all day tubing down the river. The waterpark has 4 slides and a lazy river. We also go to Unicoi state park about 2 miles from downtown Helen. It has a $5.00 per car entrance fee. You can fish, hike, picnic, and swim at their "beach" It is basically a roped off part of the lake with sand. Lots of fun for little money. Anna Ruby Falls is also located inside Unicoi State Park. This is an additional $2.00 per person over the age of 12. It is a about a half mile hike up to a waterfall. Very pretty.

We also like to go to Burts Pumpkin Farm and Hillcrest Apple Orchard in the fall. We are going to Uncle Shucks this year for the first time. It has a Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Hayride, Bonfire, and a Haunted Corn Maze(which I believe is just the corn maze at dark. I don't think anything too scary.)

 

[skw444]

We're in Buford, so not too far from you. Suwanee Town Center has lots of fun events (http://www.suwanee.com/whatsnew.events.php) if you're looking for something a little closer to home.

Shopping at the outlet malls. There is one in Commerce (up I-85) and one in Dawsonville (up GA-400). I do my grocery shopping at either Kroger or Publix, but Super H Mart is great for produce.

 

[smb6]

We live about an hour north of you in the mountains..... So, if you are ever looking for a mountain get away in Blue Ridge- I'm your person. But I don't know much about grocery stores and such in that area.... I can tell you that the Cheese Cake Factory is to die for! And if your going to live in/near Atlanta- you HAVE to eat at the Varsity!
We do a few day trips to Atlanta each year- our family really enjoys the Coca-Cola Factory, the Atlanta Zoo (and Cyclorama), The Aquarium, and the Children's Museum. A little out of Atlanta, but we enjoy is the Tellus Museum!
That is all that comes to mind for now.... Congrats on the promotion and the move!

 

[LovesTimone]

We go tubing in Helen a good bit. The place we use also has a small waterpark. It is $15.00 a person that includes the waterpark and all day tubing down the river. The waterpark has 4 slides and a lazy river. We also go to Unicoi state park about 2 miles from downtown Helen. It has a $5.00 per car entrance fee. You can fish, hike, picnic, and swim at their "beach" It is basically a roped off part of the lake with sand. Lots of fun for little money. Anna Ruby Falls is also located inside Unicoi State Park. This is an additional $2.00 per person over the age of 12. It is a about a half mile hike up to a waterfall. Very pretty.

We also like to go to Burts Pumpkin Farm and Hillcrest Apple Orchard in the fall. We are going to Uncle Shucks this year for the first time. It has a Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Hayride, Bonfire, and a Haunted Corn Maze(which I believe is just the corn maze at dark. I don't think anything too scary.)

Can you tell me where Burts Pumpkin Farm, Hillcrest Apple Orchard and Uncle Shucks is? or where I can find info? It sounds fun and we will be having company during Oct. and Nov.
This would be a great day trip and something a bit different to do.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I don't know if I'm repeating anyone here.. in a hurry, didn't read everyone's responses.

Stone Mountain. Also, around the first of Sept they have the Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain.. fun, fun, fun if you like arts and crafts fairs. Some tacky stuff but lots of really nice things there.

I think you can get tickets really cheap for preseason games for the Atlanta Falcons. My step daughter just bought tickets for $8 each. Don't know how many are available.

There is tons to do in and around Atlanta. Welcome to the South!!!

 

[glitzybabes]

For antique, be sure and go to Scott Antique market. It is only 1 weekend a month. They have 2 large buildings. You park at one and then a bus will take you to the other building. The two buildings are close by just not walking distance because of the bad area that it is in and that one is on one side of the expressway and other is on the other side.
Here is the website http://www.scottantiquemarket.com/

 

[MomofKatie]

Can you tell me where Burts Pumpkin Farm, Hillcrest Apple Orchard and Uncle Shucks is? or where I can find info? It sounds fun and we will be having company during Oct. and Nov.
This would be a great day trip and something a bit different to do.

M mom and dad retired to the N GA mtns- we go to Burts almost every year. You might like to try the Apple Festival- it is the 2nd and 3rd weekend of October (10/8-9 and 10/15-16) and is in Ellijay.

Burts Pumpkin Farm- 4801 Hwy 52 Dawonville

Hillcrest Orchards- 9696 Hwy 52 Ellijay

Reece Apple House 9131 Hwy 52 E Ellijay- this is the apple place we always go to.

Uncle Shucks Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm- 4525 Hwy 53 Dawsonville

All of these places have their own websites- just Google or Bing them.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I don't have any advice but wanted to offer a word of support. We just moved to the Atlanta area ourselves in June. Peachtree City to be specific. I lived in Charleston my whole life. It can be very frustrating to go from having lots of friends and family around to it just being you. I think when the new school year starts we will meet more people. Trying to stay positive! Good luck to your family!

 

[reelmom]

I don't have any advice but wanted to offer a word of support. We just moved to the Atlanta area ourselves in June. Peachtree City to be specific. I lived in Charleston my whole life. It can be very frustrating to go from having lots of friends and family around to it just being you. I think when the new school year starts we will meet more people. Trying to stay positive! Good luck to your family!

Hey neighbor! We live in Newnan, right next door to PTC.