Three Ways to Enjoy Summer Camp as a Grown Up
While the kids are off having fabulous summer camp experiences, treat yourself to something you wouldn’t do with them in tow. Here are three ways to enjoy some kid-free time.
Try a new restaurant
Good food can transport you to another place. Whether it’s an evening dinner while the kids are at sleep-away camp or just a long lunch while the kids are at day camp, explore some of the amazing restaurants in Georgia. Make reservations at restaurants featured in the MICHELIN Guide Atlanta, such as Atlas and Bacchanalia. Or head to The Sun Dial at the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel in downtown Atlanta for a great meal and an incredible 360-degree view of the city below.
For another meal with a great view, head to the rooftop Hook & Eye in Blue Ridge for a full bar and delicious bites before exploring the shops downtown.
Adventurers will enjoy an escape to Italy via Macon and Natalia’s. Walk through the heavy wooden door to what feels like a Tuscan retreat, although the owner is actually from Abruzzo, Italy, on the other side of the boot.
The Georgia Sea Grill on St. Simons Island has an easy-to-find location on Main Street and an exceptional menu featuring fresh local seafood.
Stay at a fancy hotel
For peace and quiet, the Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island is the perfect place to get away. The Inn was built by the Carnegies and is still run by descendants. Wander to the beach under moss-draped live oaks. Peruse books in the library, which is rumored to have a first edition “Winnie the Pooh” signed by A.A. Milne. You can read as long as you like on the large covered porch.
The Inn at Serenbe is another favorite escape. Nestled in the rolling countryside of the Chattahoochee Hill Country just south of Atlanta, this 900-acre preserve has 15 miles of trails that pass waterfalls and rock formations. Take up a game of croquet on the lawn without having to worry about what damage a small person can do with a wooden mallet.
Visit a local attraction
Plan a trip or just take a morning to visit a local attraction without having to chase kids. Aquariums and gardens are a relaxing choice. Sitting on benches and watching the white beluga whales at the Georgia Aquarium gracefully glide across the icy blue water is cheap therapy, or you can dive into an extra special experience by going swimming with the whale sharks or participating in a training session with the sea lions.
At the Flint RiverQuarium in Albany, empty your mind on a stroll through the Cypress Creek Aviary. Then head underwater with the Blue Hole Spring exhibit and enter the world of 120 kinds of fish, turtles, alligators and other creatures.
Gibbs Gardens is less than an hour north of Atlanta in Ball Ground. While there, be transported to France by standing on the replica of the Monet Bridge at Giverny. Exhale, knowing you don’t need to worry about someone trying to pick the flowers.
