The Varsity & Kennesaw Mountain

The Varsity is a restaurant we first heard about when we were at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. One of the Rangers there was from the Atlanta area and insisted we had to go there and have a "frosted orange".

The restaurant is right across the street from the Georgia Tech football stadium and on game days can serve over 30,000 people!

The workers behind the counter are yelling, "What'll ya have?!" (translation: next please)

After the famous restaurant, we headed to Kennesaw Mountain, the last big defense before the battle of Atlanta.

The visitor center was tiny, but made a great use of their space. They presented a ton of information in an easy to digest manner.

I knew there was confederate currency, but I didn't realize states had also printed their own currency. This wasn't surprising though given how much we found out about the southern states seceding over states' rights.

The inflation was incredible.

Our very efficient Ranger checked all four books at the same time.

We hiked to the top of Kennesaw Mountain from which we could see the city of Atlanta in the distance.

Atlanta, GA - Capitol #31

After more than 2 weeks in the Atlanta area, we finally made it to the Capitol.

Christmas tree in the rotunda

Simple but elegant inner dome

In the governor's office. We were pleased to get in because at many capitols this area is off limits.

In the senate, they were testing out new voting software.

They invited us to help! (:

A "vote" would be called and our job was to get to all 56 desks and vote either way or abstain.

We verified each senator's voting lights  and personal microphones worked. 

The desks were original. The microphone hole used to be an ink well. And the "coaster" on the other side used to be an ashtray!

The Secratary of the Senate, David Cook, was so friendly and welcomed the kids to join him up front before we broke for lunch. He also invited them back any time to work as pages. This is an opportunity many capitols offer youth, but few know about or take advantage of.

The house was less exciting after getting to vote in the senate! (:

Models of the domes (above) and "Miss Freedom" who tops the exterior dome (below)

Outside, we found a little introduction to happenings in Atlanta during the Civil War

Recipes, refills and rockets

Snickerdoodles.

Helping grandpa refill the bird feeder. (And thinking of looking for snipes at the VanDyke's. Aunt Lois - "Who would hide it in the bird feed?!")

Building model rockets

It took about a week to finish this Christmas puzzle.

Sweetwater Creek

Out for a hike

Grandparents are the teachers today. And I didn't even have to ask - they just share their outdoorsy knowledge. (:

Look familiar? These old cotton mill ruins were featured in the Hunger Games' Mockingjay movie.

Visitor center exhibit on the old mill. This mill was destroyed by Union troops during the Civil War.

Snakes!

Big brother teaches fishing skills

Ky has been successful his way before (she has a line in her hand) and is not even slightly motivated to use a "real" pole.