Saturday, June 29
Today, we embarked on our journey to Georgia. We left around 10 a.m., making two stops—one to wait out a traffic delay and another to switch drivers. The last eight miles of the trip were known to be steep, with significant drop-offs, so Lisa agreed to let me take the wheel for that portion. While the grade was steep, the roads were in excellent condition, and the truck easily handled the challenge.
Fort Mountain State Park
We arrived at Fort Mountain State Park around 4 p.m., later than our usual schedule. I had anticipated the possibility of a late arrival, so instead of rushing to explore attractions outside the park, I planned for us to stay within its boundaries and enjoy what it had to offer.
Once settled at the campsite, we headed up to a scenic overlook. The views from the lookout were breathtaking, offering sweeping panoramas of the surrounding mountains and valleys. It was clear that we were perched on a high mountain peak, and the serenity of the landscape was incredible.
Feeling adventurous, we decided to start a hike to the Stone Fire Tower, a historic structure at the park. However, our enthusiasm was tempered by practicality—we hadn’t changed into our hiking shoes. As the path became increasingly rocky and steep, we decided to turn back and save the trek for another day when better prepared.
Instead, we opted for a more manageable one-mile hike around the small lake near our campsite. The path was peaceful and scenic, winding through the forest and offering occasional water glimpses. It was a pleasant way to unwind after the day’s travel.
Lisa treated us to delicious pork steaks, rice, and corn dinner at the campsite. The meal was hearty and satisfying, a perfect end to our first evening in the park.
Sunday, June 30 – Chattanooga, TN
With Google Maps set to avoid highways, we set out to explore some attractions in the Chattanooga area, eager to experience the scenic backroads and local charm.
Rock City, Georgia
If you’ve ever driven along I-75 heading north or south, it’s impossible to miss the countless billboards urging travelers to “See Rock City.” Perched atop Lookout Mountain, this popular destination is famed for its claim that you can see seven states from its summit on a clear day.
Rock City offers an enchanting blend of natural beauty and whimsical charm. The pathways wind through and around massive rock formations, creating a maze-like journey through narrow crevices, open gardens, and dramatic rock bridges. For the adventurous, a swaying suspension bridge offers stunning views of the surrounding area. Throughout the trail, playful gnomes and troll figurines are cleverly tucked into nooks and crannies, adding a sense of magic and discovery to the experience.
At the heart of Rock City is a breathtaking multi-story waterfall cascading down the cliffs, creating a dramatic and serene focal point. Nearby, the main overlook features a spacious deck with panoramic views of the valley below, framed by distant ridges and rolling hills. The overlook also houses a cozy restaurant and seating area.
When Lisa and I reached the overlook, we claimed a pair of rocking chairs and ordered a couple of beers. Sipping our drinks, we took in the incredible vista, the valley stretching endlessly before us, while live music played softly in the background. The combination of the view, the relaxing atmosphere, and the music made it a moment to savor—a perfect balance of nature and leisure.
At the end of the gardens lies the Fairyland Caverns, a whimsical, man-made cave that offers an unexpected twist on the traditional garden experience. The caverns are illuminated by black lights, bringing to life a series of glow-in-the-dark fairy tales and nursery rhymes. As we wandered through the winding passages, we were surrounded by intricate scenes of well-known stories, each artfully displayed in the natural crevices of the cave.
The cavern eventually opens into a grand chamber, where at least fifty fairy tale scenes are set up in a sprawling, colorful display. The striking glow-in-the-dark effect cast an eerie yet enchanting light over the figures. While the scenes are undeniably kitschy and playful—almost childlike in their over-the-top charm—the sense of nostalgia and fun they evoke is contagious. We couldn’t help but be charmed by the quirky, slightly cheesy atmosphere. Despite its over-the-top nature, the experience was undeniably fun and a lighthearted escape into the world of childhood imagination.
Incline Railway
After a quick lunch in the Rock City parking lot, we made our way down Lookout Mountain to the base, where the Incline Railway depot was located. After paying a $2 parking fee, we stood in line for nearly 45 minutes before finally boarding the iconic train for the short but thrilling ride back up the mountain.
Opened on November 16, 1895, the Incline Railway is a historic engineering marvel that carries passengers from the foot of Lookout Mountain to an observation deck at the summit. The ride covers just about a mile, but with a staggering maximum grade of 72.7%, it ranks as one of the steepest passenger railways in the world.
The railcar itself was equipped with windows in the ceiling, offering a unique opportunity to look straight up and take in the expansive view as the train made its way up the incline. Since we had already soaked in the panoramic views from the top of Lookout Mountain during our visit to Rock City, we quickly decided to head back and stand in line for the return trip. Despite the breathtaking ride, we still had to wait another 45 minutes before we could board again.
Ruby Falls
Our next stop was Ruby Falls, a stunning 150-foot waterfall deep inside Lookout Mountain. So, back up the mountain, we went. Since you need to make reservations beforehand, I secured a 5:30 pm time slot while we were waiting for the Incline Railway. Unfortunately, we finished the Incline Railway well before 4 pm and couldn’t change the reservation. We tried to pass the time by browsing the gift shop, climbing a tower made of cave rock, and lounging in the waiting area, but it didn’t take long before we grew bored.
Around 5 pm, Lisa managed to convince the ticket taker to let us in early. However, we were met with another long line as we waited for the elevator to take us deep into the cave. It became clear that the time on our reservation wasn’t for the actual tour, but rather the time we would be let into a separate waiting area to line up for the next available tour. To manage crowd sizes, only a controlled number of people were allowed into the cave at a time. After an additional 30 minutes, we were finally ushered into the elevator to descend into the depths.
As a commercial cave, Ruby Falls felt more like a show than a natural wonder. The cave, while beautiful, had been widened and altered over the years, with many of the formations labeled with whimsical names on signs. Despite this, we could only walk in single file through most of the cave, which created a bit of a bottleneck when we encountered groups coming the other way.
The main highlight of the tour was, of course, the underground waterfall. Before we were allowed into the chamber, they activated a timer to light up the falls with changing colors. Unfortunately, the lights quickly turned off so the next group could enter, leaving us only a moment to admire the breathtaking sight. Although the time to take in the falls was short, the experience of seeing the waterfall in the heart of the mountain was truly spectacular.
Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain was also the site of a pivotal Civil War battle, one that played a crucial role in securing control of the Chattanooga area. This victory opened the way for General Sherman’s famous March to the Sea. Unfortunately, time didn’t allow us to explore the battlefield, but it remains on my list for a future visit. Next time, I’d like to tour the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, where the brutal fighting led to the loss of 35,000 soldiers—killed, wounded, missing, or captured—marking one of the war’s most significant and tragic engagements.
Afterward, we made our way back to the camper, stopping briefly at the summit of Fort Mountain for one last breathtaking view of the land stretching below us.
Monday, July 1 – Atlanta, GA
Heading Toward Atlanta
Today, we made our way toward Atlanta, using Google Maps to avoid highways for most of the drive. As we neared Marietta, just outside the city, we switched to highways to navigate the heavy traffic. I had forgotten just how vast Atlanta is until I counted eight lanes on my side of the highway at one point.
World of Coca-Cola
We arrived at the World of Coca-Cola around 10 a.m. and paid $10 for parking in a structure that was already so full, we had to park on the top level, exposed to the sweltering sun. The temperature had already reached 92 degrees with high humidity. We soon discovered the parking garage also served other popular attractions in the area, including Olympic Park, the Atlanta Aquarium, and the Civil Rights Museum.
Though we had already purchased tickets online, we learned at the ticket window that as a veteran, I could have entered for free. Oh well, lesson learned!
The museum itself was a lot of fun, with a variety of movies and static displays outlining the history and evolution of Coca-Cola. One of the highlights was the free tasting room, which offered samples of hundreds of sodas from different countries. Lisa picked up a couple of postcards at the gift shop, and we splurged on a $14 mystery gift bag, hoping for a unique surprise.
Stone Mountain State Park
After nearly four hours at the museum, we headed to Stone Mountain State Park, home to the Confederate Memorial carved into the side of the mountain. Stone Mountain is the most visited attraction in Georgia, and it wasn’t hard to see why.
The traffic was a bit busy but manageable, and with the help of Google Maps, we quickly found the park. At the gate, we were surprised to learn that parking was $20, which we hadn’t expected. Given the vastness of the park and the numerous attractions, we had some difficulty finding our way to the monument. Eventually, we located the carving and found a nearby parking lot. We also stumbled upon a shelter with picnic tables, so we decided to have lunch before exploring further.
Though we could see the monument from a distance, trees, and a water park obstructed the view. After some frustration and some assistance from a parking attendant, Lisa found the path that led us to a clear viewing area.
The viewing area was a large, sloped field in front of the carving, where visitors gathered nightly to watch a laser show projected onto the mountain. The location was set up like an amphitheater, with a museum at the top. On either side of the lawn were terraces where visitors could purchase tickets for reserved seating, soda, and popcorn during the show. The 13 terraces were named for the states that had joined the Confederacy, and each terrace featured displays about the state’s role during the Civil War. The grassy area was free for seating, and we noticed many people had already set up 10×10 shade awnings to reserve their spots.
After watching a couple of films in the museum, which focused on the monument’s history and Georgia’s involvement in the Civil War, we wandered around the lawn, reading the information on each terrace.
As we reflected on the history surrounding us, it became clear how much of the focus seemed to glorify the Confederacy while glossing over its support for slavery. Lisa and I sat down to read several articles about the monument’s history, including its strong ties to the KKK and its segregationist past. It was sobering to think about, especially considering how many Black employees worked there. It felt deeply wrong to be surrounded by such an unbalanced portrayal of history.
Return Trip
After leaving the park, we took a leisurely drive around before heading back. We set Google Maps to avoid highways again and enjoyed a scenic route home, passing by beautiful homes and forests. About 30 miles from our campground, we stopped for gas and grabbed some Zaxby’s chicken. From there, we made our way up the mountain toward Elijay. This route was longer and included the same steep slopes. I had hoped to reach the lookout point at Fort Mountain before sunset but ended up arriving about 15 minutes too late.
Back at the trailer, we unpacked our Zaxby’s and opened our Coca-Cola mystery gifts. Inside, we found a small cloth insulated bag, a larger carry bag, and a small Sprite lip gloss—an unexpected but fun collection of items!
Tuesday, July 2
Fort Mountain State Park
Before leaving Fort Mountain, I decided I wanted to hike up to the stone fire tower and check out the nearby ancient Indian wall. Lisa opted to stay behind, so I set off on my own. The ancient wall was little more than a pile of stones winding through the forest near the peak. While it wasn’t much to look at, it was clear that it had been intentionally arranged, giving it the unmistakable look of a man-made structure.
The stone fire tower, which had been beautifully reconstructed, was impressive, though it was only open from 1 to 4 p.m., so I unfortunately couldn’t go up. Undeterred, I followed another trail that led me to a breathtaking overlook. Standing at the cliff’s edge, I gazed over the valley below. The view was absolutely stunning, and I felt on top of the world for a moment.
When I got back, I cleaned off the roof of leaves and noticed this roof damage.
We then set about connecting the trailer to the truck. As I maneuvered the car, I slipped repeatedly, the soft gravel giving way under the vehicle’s weight. I couldn’t get close enough to the hitch despite my best efforts. I got as close as I could and, frustrated, decided to work with Lisa to finish packing. Afterward, I decided to give it another try.
However, as I reversed, we started to create deep ruts in the gravel, which made the process even more challenging. No matter how often we tried using leveling blocks to fill in the holes for extra traction, they weren’t enough to provide the grip we needed. After an hour of fruitless attempts, it became clear that I couldn’t get the truck close enough to the hitch on my own. In a last-ditch effort, we turned to the Hensley Hitch Helper to move the trailer forward bit by bit. It was an agonizingly slow process—one inch at a time—but after another hour of painstaking effort, we finally connected the hitch.
By this point, both of us were thoroughly exhausted, and all we wanted to do was move on. We headed to the dump station, but our troubles weren’t over. When I went to unscrew the cap from the black/grey tank discharge, the unthinkable happened—the entire black tank spilled onto my feet. I had completely forgotten to close the valve beforehand. The smell was unbearable, and there was a mess everywhere. It was a scene I hadn’t anticipated. As I stood there, horrified and trying to clean up, Lisa, in her misfortune, accidentally slammed her leg hard against the truck door while getting out and then injured her knuckles on the bear-proof trash can. Her hand swelled up, making it clear she’d likely bruised them badly.
Family
At this point, it was already late afternoon, and we had initially planned to be at my sister’s by noon. However, it wasn’t until 2:30 p.m. that we finally managed to leave the dump station. To add another layer of frustration, Google Maps routed us down a long, winding country road, adding even more time to our already lengthy journey. It felt like the universe was testing our patience.
Once we finally reached the interstate, things began to look up. A couple of hours later, we arrived at the exit for my sister’s place. The final stretch of road was full of sharp turns and narrow, winding paths with steep drop-offs on either side, making the drive even more nerve-wracking. Despite the challenges, we successfully navigated it and found a small grassy patch across from their driveway where we could park the trailer. We had hoped to park closer, but the steep incline of their driveway meant this was the best option. The area was considered community property, so my sister assured us they would handle any logistical issues.
At long last, we were parked, and the day’s challenges were behind us. We took a deep breath, cracked open a couple of cold beers, and let the frustration melt away as we relaxed, thankful for the end of a genuinely exhausting journey.