Some of the 250,000 Reasons I Blog

I want to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to all my friends and fans and museums and attractions in Atlanta who have supported wanderlust ATLANTA over the last four-plus years. I'm extremely excited to share that a couple of weeks ago, while attending an Atlanta Ballet performance, I surpassed the milestone of more than 250,000 views on wanderlust ATLANTA. I'm incredibly grateful for all the support!

Best friends and supporters of wanderlust Atlanta, Barry, (me) Perry and Scott

I love telling the story of how wanderlust ATLANTA started, so thanks for allowing me to share it again. And while I'm at it, I'd love to share some celebrity spotting experiences—a hobby of mine—I've had since I moved back!

Marina Sirtis at Dragon Con

I had lived in Atlanta for (nearly) 15 years—1987-2001—then moved to Washington, DC, for nine—2002-2010—and moved back to Atlanta 4.5 years ago. While I was gone, Atlantic Station popped up out of nowhere and the High Museum of Art doubled in size, as did the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Atlanta was a very different place from when I previously lived here.

To familiarize myself with the city again, I decided to start a blog, something I'd thought about doing when I lived in DC, but never got around to. It was the best thing I could have done! I learned more about Atlanta in the first year after returning than I had in the 15 years I lived here before and it's been so much fun, I'm still blogging nearly five years later!

It'd be impossible to thank everyone who has made this such an amazing journey, and those who continue to make it so, but I'd like to name a few.

Thank you first and foremost to my friends who supported my enthusiasm to share all the wonderful experiences that Atlanta has to offer via the blog, even before anyone ever knew of wanderlust ATLANTA...my best friend Barry, and dear friends Perry, Scott, Mary Jo and Jeff.

A special thank you to fellow bloggers who have been a great inspiration to me over the years, Lesli Peterson of 365 Atlanta Family, Sue Rodman of Field Trips with Sue and Terry Kearns of Architecture Tourist.

With Tamoh Penikett of Battlestar Galactica

I'd also like to mention a few people I've met through wanderlust ATLANTA who have become dear friends...Patti Davis and Carrie Burns of Atlanta Movie Tours. Sally Smith, aka Margaret Mitchell of their Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind Tour is also a special person to me. John Daniel Tilford of Oglethorpe University Museum of Art has also been a great friend. 

With "Margaret Mitchell", aka Sally Smith

Also, Katie Simms, Laura Flusche, Neil, Clare, Carrie and Barbara, all of Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), have treated me like museum family for years...thank you! Martha and Hillary of Atlanta History Center are so incredibly sweet and super supportive...Thank you! Deanna Smith of Fernbank Museum of Natural History is so much fun...you're awesome!

With Connor Trinneer at Dragon Con

Chelsea and Kellie of Brave PR have been and continue to be amazing! I've loved The Fox Theatre since I moved here in 1987, but their support of wanderlust ATLANTA has afforded me a whole new theatre going experience by attending—and then writing about and otherwise promoting—Broadway in Atlanta performances, as well as other experiences via their client database. They've always made me feel like a VIP! 

With Roseanne

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of my favorite Atlanta attractions...Atlanta Botanical Garden, where I've been a volunteer since I moved back; Dragon Con, now one of my annual traditions (seriously, I request that vacation time at least nine months in advance!); Medieval Times Atlanta Castle...so much fun!; Oakland Cemetery; Delta Flight Museum; Gibbs Gardens; Piedmont Park; SkyView Atlanta; Center for Puppetry Arts, Zoo Atlanta...the list goes on and on and on!

A few restaurants that I've especially enjoyed over the years include Livingston, Sun Dial, Agatha's and Watershed...oh, and Peachtree Food Tours! Again, this is Atlanta...we have thousands and thousands of dining options!

With Margaret Cho at The Tabernacle

      
Thank you for indulging me in sharing a few celebrity photos...celebrity-spotting has been a "hobby" since I met Leonard Nimoy in 2002, a profound experience for me and an incredibly sad loss when he passed away earlier this year. His kindness, humor and love for his endeavors encouraged me to meet others from Hollywood and other fame. It's been great fun!

Supergirl at Dragon Con

Again, THANK YOU to everyone who has supported wanderlust ATLANTA and followed its Facebook page. I am honored and extremely grateful for the time and support you've given and continue to give my genuine desire to share all the wonderful things to see and do in and around Atlanta...it's been a "super" experience! 

I encourage your to stick around for another quarter million...you never know what you might see!