I love this time of year, not because the weather is cooler (read: not a fan of cold!), not because because the evenings are longer (read: give me sunshine until 9pm any day!), and not because it's time to hibernate (read: I'm always on the go, go, go!).
I love this time of year because it's when I get to reflect on all the fantastic wanderlusting I've done in the last twelve months. In previous years around this time, I start thinking of how little I did during the year...then that myth is put to rest as soon as I start looking through my photos.
What I'd like to share with you today, this New Year's Eve, are some of my favorite 2014 photos, which include some of my favorite outings and experiences, but not all of them. Remember, photos aren't allowed at all tourist destinations and events, so those won't be represented here, but I invite you to explore wanderlust ATLANTA at your leisure...I think you'll enjoy what you discover.
Here we go, and in no particular order...
I start with this view of Atlanta's Midtown skyline because it's the photo that I chose for my current business cards. I made the photo earlier this year at the Red Bull Illume exhibition in Piedmont Park, one of the few stops it made when traveling the world.
Okay, I absolutely must include this one video (click above to watch). One of my most incredible experiences this year was Journey With Gentle Giants...Barry, my best friend, and I went swimming with the Whale Sharks and Manta Ray at Georgia Aquarium. (Our experience begins at the 1:37 mark, but the preceding video is beautiful.)
I can only compare that experience to the exhilaration of skydiving or the out-of-this-world experience of viewing a live satellite launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. I've done some pretty amazing things in my life, and this counts as one of them!
I love this photo for so many reasons! One...it's just cool. But the coolest is that it won a contest! Where Atlanta magazine awarded me four tickets to The Lion King at The Fox Theatre, four tickets to Zoo Atlanta, and a gift certificate to Hard Rock Cafe..."Thank you, Where Atlanta!" That turned into five outing with various friends.
This photo is one of the most precious to me. It was my first Atlanta Movie Tours tour—their Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind Tour—which I did twice this year, AND it was the day I met Sally Smith.
Later, Sally—who portrays Margaret Mitchell on the tour—granted me an interview. We dined at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, where Margaret has a history. The hotel and Livingston staff were wonderful to us and treated us with the utmost hospitality during our 3.5 hour visit! "Thank you, Ashley!" I've been back many, many times since.
Many of you know that I'm a docent and volunteer at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and I'm a member and I've been a visitor since 1987. It's one of my favorite places in the city. So to say that I've been more than a few times this year would be an understatement. The occasions: Atlanta Blooms, Orchid Daze, Imaginary Worlds, Cocktails in the Garden, Garden Lights...the list goes on and on!
A special "Thank you" to Josh, Koya and Jason for making my volunteer experience at the Garden so great.
The above photo was made during Atlanta Blooms! It's one of the Cherry Trees in front of Mershon Hall. I love all the flowers that are part of Atlanta Blooms, but the Cheery Trees remind me of the Cherry Blossom Festival on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
Being a space and aerospace enthusiast—which is putting it mildly—I was super excited about the renovation and reopening of the Delta Flight Museum this year. They did an awesome job, and the photos ops are awesome, too!
I discovered Gibbs Gardens last year, but this year was the first time I'd been to their Daffodil Festival. Have you ever seen 20 million flowers of any kind? There were 20 million daffodils. Yes...I said 20 MILLION!
One of the most popular exhibitions in Atlanta this year was Dream Cars. The High Museum of Art did it right, too! I think I saw the exhibition at least five times...it was that amazing, and I still feel like there was so much more to see and learn about the AMAZING automobiles on exhibit!
One of the wonderful things about Atlanta is that it's the heart of the South, which means there are a LOT of day trips and weekend trips just a drive away. This year I went back to New Orleans with my best friend Barry and we had an incredible, whirlwind visit, that included Emerald Mound near Natchez, Mississippi. And I love the serendipity, and total luck I had, when making this photo.
Some of you know that I'm, oftentimes, just a big kid. I think that's maybe why I have so much fun at Medieval Times. On the particular visit of this photo, I happened to be sitting next to the young lady who would be crowned the Tournament Princess! How much fun is that!
I can't imagine going a year without a few excursions to Cartersville, Georgia. This year, after a number of plan changes, Tellus Science Museum made the agenda as one of Barry's birthday outings. He was a geology minor in college, and he'd not been to Tellus since they were in a tiny building, so we had a magnificent time playing with the gems and minerals, dinosaurs and spaceships...an awesome day!
I was also a sailor in the U.S. Navy, so I'm particularly fond of the chronicling of President Jimmy Carter's Navy days at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum. Atlantans and visitors who miss this attraction are missing out on quite a lot!
I'm also a foodie, so when I happened upon this Presidential China exhibit at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, which was on its last day, I still posted about it just to show that it pays to explore...you never know what you're going to find!
Speaking of exploring, I usually go to the Georgia World Congress Center a few times a year, either for work or play, and I always try to make time for a walk through Georgia International Plaza, where The Flare is located. Again, serendipity was my friend as I happened upon The Flare to make this photo at sunset. Atlanta has some amazing sunsets!
It seems so long ago already, but this summer the Atlanta Botanical Garden hosted Four Seasons, an awesome exhibition of four 15' tall sculptures based on Renaissance paintings. "Winter" was my favorite! Not season, but sculpture.
I told you I can be a big kid, right? Well, you can imagine how excited I was to meet Miss Piggy, Kermit, and characters from "Pigs in Space!" Thank you Daniel and Center for Puppetry Arts for that and many other wonderful experiences!
I also had the pleasure of a number of cultural experiences, including a visit to Frogtown Cellars where I made a new friend, Jacky. She's awesome! She was our sommelier when we went for a tasting, but we became quick friends and have been in touch ever since. But I don't make it to Dahlonegha very often, but every time I have it's been a blast!
There were monsters this year, too! Sea Monsters, in particular. This exhibition at Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest Aquarium, is more than awesome...there aren't words. It's a must-see! Sea Monsters and the entirety of the Aquarium!
Speaking of monsters, Atlanta is full of zombies! FULL...of,,,ZOMBIES! And it's so much fun. As I was writing this, I had a "The Walking Dead" (filmed in Atlanta) marathon running in the background.
I discovered this year the JoeLanta Toy Convention, which is very close to where I live and where I photographed this flaming zombie.
I mentioned Atlanta Movie Tours earlier. They host two zombie tours: The Big Zombie Tour: Part I, and The Big Zombie Tour: Part II. I went on Part I not too long ago, so look for that post to be published soon.
But most importantly, I made new friends...Patti and Carrie, the totally awesome owners to Atlanta Movie Tours. Seriously...they're AWESOME!
Not exactly monsters, Extreme Dinosaurs is a brilliant exhibition at Atlantic Station. Imagine, 17 life-size dinosaurs...colorfully lit, in natural settings, and many of them animatronic! Stegosaurus has been my favorite dinosaur since I was a kid, so this was fantastic to see.
Ice Cream! Not only did I attend the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival for the first time, in Piedmont Park, it was also the first occasion that I experienced a Human Hamster Ball! It was a sad, and not so subtle, reminder that I need to get to the gym more often! But what incredible fun! And we met some totally awesome young couples!
After years and years of visiting the World of Coca-Cola—seriously, I've been a fan since they were located adjacent to the Georgia State Capitol Building—I finally had my photo made with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear...twice this year! I have no idea who's under that this white fur and festive red scarf, but they're brilliant!
Zoo Atlanta is a great zoo and it's about to get totally awesome! This year, courtesy of the Where Atlanta contest I mentioned earlier, I got to go to Zoo Atlanta twice with Mary Jo and the guys, two pretty amazing teenagers whom I've known since they were babies. They're so grown up! And my friendship with Mary Jo is one of the longest and strongest of my entire life.
I've mentioned that I'm a foodie and you already know I'm a tourist, so it's no surprise that The Sundial Restaurant & View is a destination I frequent. On the particular visit of this photo, I was treating a friend to a birthday brunch, which was wonderful, but sometimes I'll pop in for a little after-work relaxation and libation. I don't know why more locals don't go here! Seriously...it's spectacular!
I've been a fan of Fernbank Museum of Natural History since they opened! Yes, I remember its 1992 opening quite well and I've seen every recent exhibition—they have awesome exhibitions—and quite a few of their IMAX films.
But this year, I finally got to meet, "in-person", Giggy A. Dinosaur! "Thank you, Deanna!" I was so excited! And to prove this is indeed a small world, that's Rachel in the photo with Giggy. I'd met her not too long before at Georgia Aquarium and again later at Dragon Con...three Rachel sightings in one year!
If you've been following me for any length of time, you know that I've written about EVERY Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) exhibition since the last one they had in their downtown location, just before they moved to Midtown, across the street from the High. I became a member on my first visit and have been ever since.
A special "Thank you" to Laura, Katie, Barbara, Jennifer, Clare, Carrie, Neil and Sam (and the other awesome museum team that I'm forgetting!) for making me feel like part of the MODA family...you're all amazing!
The photo above is from their current exhibition, Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair, but you have to hurry if you're going to see it, and you totally should, it moves to the next city in early January.
Dragon Con! Dragon Con! Yes...everyone who knows me knows that I'm a sci-fi fan. Since I was six years old, which is as far back as I can remember. I enjoy most science fiction, but Star Trek is my absolute favorite. Not only because I've been watching it since I can remember, but also because I met Leonard Nimoy in 2002, which set me on an insatiable celebrity-spotting hobby. Dragon Con is a fantastic event for celebrity-spotting...I even met a "Spock Monkey" this year!
I can't claim to be a foodie and not share a food experience with you. This particular dish wasn't mine, but I had the great fortune to have a most incredibly delicious bite. Barry, my best friend, and I were visiting Montaluce Vineyard and were treated to lunch at Le Vigne Restaurant, where Chef Austin was the executive chef at the time. He's now in Atlanta, but I'm certain the food is still amazing. Our visit to Montaluce was way beyond my expectations...we were there for more than five hours, just for a tour and lunch! I'm ready to go back!
Scarecrows in the Garden has graced Atlanta for more than a decade! It's one of the mastermind exhibitions that President & CEO Mary Pat Matheson brought to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. She will be remembered as one of Atlanta's true visionaries, and even today is revered by many, many Atlantans as such, including me!
This was my second year of Gibbs Gardens' Japanese Maple Tree Festival, one of the most spectacular near-Atlanta excursions I could possibly recommend. Imagine...221 acres of display gardens. The Japanese Garden alone is more than 40 acres and has more than 70 species of Japanese Maple tree, and so much more! Treat yourself.
One of the highlights of the end of 2014 for me was experiencing Candlelight Nights at the Atlanta History Center. I've done so much there this year...because they have so much to offer. You already know I'm a trekkie, so you can imagine my excitement when Santa gave me the gift of a photo with him of us both offering a Vulcan Salute! "Thank you, Santa" and "Thank you, Atlanta History Center" (especially Hillary and Martha) for an amazing year!
So, there you go...just a few highlights of my 2014 explorations of Atlanta. That's a lot, but I feel like it just scratches the surface.
Now, go wanderlusting in Atlanta...wanderlust ATLANTA!
I love this time of year because it's when I get to reflect on all the fantastic wanderlusting I've done in the last twelve months. In previous years around this time, I start thinking of how little I did during the year...then that myth is put to rest as soon as I start looking through my photos.
What I'd like to share with you today, this New Year's Eve, are some of my favorite 2014 photos, which include some of my favorite outings and experiences, but not all of them. Remember, photos aren't allowed at all tourist destinations and events, so those won't be represented here, but I invite you to explore wanderlust ATLANTA at your leisure...I think you'll enjoy what you discover.
Here we go, and in no particular order...
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I start with this view of Atlanta's Midtown skyline because it's the photo that I chose for my current business cards. I made the photo earlier this year at the Red Bull Illume exhibition in Piedmont Park, one of the few stops it made when traveling the world.
Okay, I absolutely must include this one video (click above to watch). One of my most incredible experiences this year was Journey With Gentle Giants...Barry, my best friend, and I went swimming with the Whale Sharks and Manta Ray at Georgia Aquarium. (Our experience begins at the 1:37 mark, but the preceding video is beautiful.)
I can only compare that experience to the exhilaration of skydiving or the out-of-this-world experience of viewing a live satellite launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. I've done some pretty amazing things in my life, and this counts as one of them!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I love this photo for so many reasons! One...it's just cool. But the coolest is that it won a contest! Where Atlanta magazine awarded me four tickets to The Lion King at The Fox Theatre, four tickets to Zoo Atlanta, and a gift certificate to Hard Rock Cafe..."Thank you, Where Atlanta!" That turned into five outing with various friends.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
This photo is one of the most precious to me. It was my first Atlanta Movie Tours tour—their Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind Tour—which I did twice this year, AND it was the day I met Sally Smith.
Later, Sally—who portrays Margaret Mitchell on the tour—granted me an interview. We dined at the Georgian Terrace Hotel, where Margaret has a history. The hotel and Livingston staff were wonderful to us and treated us with the utmost hospitality during our 3.5 hour visit! "Thank you, Ashley!" I've been back many, many times since.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Many of you know that I'm a docent and volunteer at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and I'm a member and I've been a visitor since 1987. It's one of my favorite places in the city. So to say that I've been more than a few times this year would be an understatement. The occasions: Atlanta Blooms, Orchid Daze, Imaginary Worlds, Cocktails in the Garden, Garden Lights...the list goes on and on!
A special "Thank you" to Josh, Koya and Jason for making my volunteer experience at the Garden so great.
The above photo was made during Atlanta Blooms! It's one of the Cherry Trees in front of Mershon Hall. I love all the flowers that are part of Atlanta Blooms, but the Cheery Trees remind me of the Cherry Blossom Festival on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Being a space and aerospace enthusiast—which is putting it mildly—I was super excited about the renovation and reopening of the Delta Flight Museum this year. They did an awesome job, and the photos ops are awesome, too!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I discovered Gibbs Gardens last year, but this year was the first time I'd been to their Daffodil Festival. Have you ever seen 20 million flowers of any kind? There were 20 million daffodils. Yes...I said 20 MILLION!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
One of the most popular exhibitions in Atlanta this year was Dream Cars. The High Museum of Art did it right, too! I think I saw the exhibition at least five times...it was that amazing, and I still feel like there was so much more to see and learn about the AMAZING automobiles on exhibit!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
One of the wonderful things about Atlanta is that it's the heart of the South, which means there are a LOT of day trips and weekend trips just a drive away. This year I went back to New Orleans with my best friend Barry and we had an incredible, whirlwind visit, that included Emerald Mound near Natchez, Mississippi. And I love the serendipity, and total luck I had, when making this photo.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Some of you know that I'm, oftentimes, just a big kid. I think that's maybe why I have so much fun at Medieval Times. On the particular visit of this photo, I happened to be sitting next to the young lady who would be crowned the Tournament Princess! How much fun is that!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I can't imagine going a year without a few excursions to Cartersville, Georgia. This year, after a number of plan changes, Tellus Science Museum made the agenda as one of Barry's birthday outings. He was a geology minor in college, and he'd not been to Tellus since they were in a tiny building, so we had a magnificent time playing with the gems and minerals, dinosaurs and spaceships...an awesome day!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I was also a sailor in the U.S. Navy, so I'm particularly fond of the chronicling of President Jimmy Carter's Navy days at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum. Atlantans and visitors who miss this attraction are missing out on quite a lot!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I'm also a foodie, so when I happened upon this Presidential China exhibit at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, which was on its last day, I still posted about it just to show that it pays to explore...you never know what you're going to find!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Speaking of exploring, I usually go to the Georgia World Congress Center a few times a year, either for work or play, and I always try to make time for a walk through Georgia International Plaza, where The Flare is located. Again, serendipity was my friend as I happened upon The Flare to make this photo at sunset. Atlanta has some amazing sunsets!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
It seems so long ago already, but this summer the Atlanta Botanical Garden hosted Four Seasons, an awesome exhibition of four 15' tall sculptures based on Renaissance paintings. "Winter" was my favorite! Not season, but sculpture.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I told you I can be a big kid, right? Well, you can imagine how excited I was to meet Miss Piggy, Kermit, and characters from "Pigs in Space!" Thank you Daniel and Center for Puppetry Arts for that and many other wonderful experiences!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I also had the pleasure of a number of cultural experiences, including a visit to Frogtown Cellars where I made a new friend, Jacky. She's awesome! She was our sommelier when we went for a tasting, but we became quick friends and have been in touch ever since. But I don't make it to Dahlonegha very often, but every time I have it's been a blast!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
There were monsters this year, too! Sea Monsters, in particular. This exhibition at Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest Aquarium, is more than awesome...there aren't words. It's a must-see! Sea Monsters and the entirety of the Aquarium!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Speaking of monsters, Atlanta is full of zombies! FULL...of,,,ZOMBIES! And it's so much fun. As I was writing this, I had a "The Walking Dead" (filmed in Atlanta) marathon running in the background.
I discovered this year the JoeLanta Toy Convention, which is very close to where I live and where I photographed this flaming zombie.
I mentioned Atlanta Movie Tours earlier. They host two zombie tours: The Big Zombie Tour: Part I, and The Big Zombie Tour: Part II. I went on Part I not too long ago, so look for that post to be published soon.
But most importantly, I made new friends...Patti and Carrie, the totally awesome owners to Atlanta Movie Tours. Seriously...they're AWESOME!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Not exactly monsters, Extreme Dinosaurs is a brilliant exhibition at Atlantic Station. Imagine, 17 life-size dinosaurs...colorfully lit, in natural settings, and many of them animatronic! Stegosaurus has been my favorite dinosaur since I was a kid, so this was fantastic to see.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Ice Cream! Not only did I attend the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival for the first time, in Piedmont Park, it was also the first occasion that I experienced a Human Hamster Ball! It was a sad, and not so subtle, reminder that I need to get to the gym more often! But what incredible fun! And we met some totally awesome young couples!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
After years and years of visiting the World of Coca-Cola—seriously, I've been a fan since they were located adjacent to the Georgia State Capitol Building—I finally had my photo made with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear...twice this year! I have no idea who's under that this white fur and festive red scarf, but they're brilliant!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Zoo Atlanta is a great zoo and it's about to get totally awesome! This year, courtesy of the Where Atlanta contest I mentioned earlier, I got to go to Zoo Atlanta twice with Mary Jo and the guys, two pretty amazing teenagers whom I've known since they were babies. They're so grown up! And my friendship with Mary Jo is one of the longest and strongest of my entire life.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I've mentioned that I'm a foodie and you already know I'm a tourist, so it's no surprise that The Sundial Restaurant & View is a destination I frequent. On the particular visit of this photo, I was treating a friend to a birthday brunch, which was wonderful, but sometimes I'll pop in for a little after-work relaxation and libation. I don't know why more locals don't go here! Seriously...it's spectacular!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I've been a fan of Fernbank Museum of Natural History since they opened! Yes, I remember its 1992 opening quite well and I've seen every recent exhibition—they have awesome exhibitions—and quite a few of their IMAX films.
But this year, I finally got to meet, "in-person", Giggy A. Dinosaur! "Thank you, Deanna!" I was so excited! And to prove this is indeed a small world, that's Rachel in the photo with Giggy. I'd met her not too long before at Georgia Aquarium and again later at Dragon Con...three Rachel sightings in one year!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
If you've been following me for any length of time, you know that I've written about EVERY Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) exhibition since the last one they had in their downtown location, just before they moved to Midtown, across the street from the High. I became a member on my first visit and have been ever since.
A special "Thank you" to Laura, Katie, Barbara, Jennifer, Clare, Carrie, Neil and Sam (and the other awesome museum team that I'm forgetting!) for making me feel like part of the MODA family...you're all amazing!
The photo above is from their current exhibition, Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair, but you have to hurry if you're going to see it, and you totally should, it moves to the next city in early January.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Dragon Con! Dragon Con! Yes...everyone who knows me knows that I'm a sci-fi fan. Since I was six years old, which is as far back as I can remember. I enjoy most science fiction, but Star Trek is my absolute favorite. Not only because I've been watching it since I can remember, but also because I met Leonard Nimoy in 2002, which set me on an insatiable celebrity-spotting hobby. Dragon Con is a fantastic event for celebrity-spotting...I even met a "Spock Monkey" this year!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
I can't claim to be a foodie and not share a food experience with you. This particular dish wasn't mine, but I had the great fortune to have a most incredibly delicious bite. Barry, my best friend, and I were visiting Montaluce Vineyard and were treated to lunch at Le Vigne Restaurant, where Chef Austin was the executive chef at the time. He's now in Atlanta, but I'm certain the food is still amazing. Our visit to Montaluce was way beyond my expectations...we were there for more than five hours, just for a tour and lunch! I'm ready to go back!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
Scarecrows in the Garden has graced Atlanta for more than a decade! It's one of the mastermind exhibitions that President & CEO Mary Pat Matheson brought to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. She will be remembered as one of Atlanta's true visionaries, and even today is revered by many, many Atlantans as such, including me!
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
This was my second year of Gibbs Gardens' Japanese Maple Tree Festival, one of the most spectacular near-Atlanta excursions I could possibly recommend. Imagine...221 acres of display gardens. The Japanese Garden alone is more than 40 acres and has more than 70 species of Japanese Maple tree, and so much more! Treat yourself.
 |
| A wanderlust ATLANTA 2014 Photo Review |
One of the highlights of the end of 2014 for me was experiencing Candlelight Nights at the Atlanta History Center. I've done so much there this year...because they have so much to offer. You already know I'm a trekkie, so you can imagine my excitement when Santa gave me the gift of a photo with him of us both offering a Vulcan Salute! "Thank you, Santa" and "Thank you, Atlanta History Center" (especially Hillary and Martha) for an amazing year!
So, there you go...just a few highlights of my 2014 explorations of Atlanta. That's a lot, but I feel like it just scratches the surface.
Now, go wanderlusting in Atlanta...wanderlust ATLANTA!
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