Tuesday, December 31, 2019

wanderlust ATLANTA's 2019 Photo Review

This is always my favorite post of the year, not because it's the end of a year, but by time I get to the end of a year I've forgotten how many wonderful things I've done in the previous 12 months. This post allows me to meander back through the year to relive those awesome experiences.

I blogged a lot less in 2019, but only because I've been working on my book. It's almost finished! My final deadline is the end of January 2020 and it's scheduled to launch in spring!


111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss
111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss

My publisher, Emons, granted my request for the book cover of having the symbol be a Phoenix and the color being the blue from the City of Atlanta flag. Serendipity stepped in, my book cover is very close to Pantone's 'Color of the Year' for 2020, Classic Blue! 

The book is already listed online in their spring catalog. It's not for sale just yet, but will be soon and I'm honored and grateful to those who have already pledged to buy a copy and to those who have so graciously already offered to host book signing events. This truly is a dream come true!

Let's have a look back at the year... Here are a few things that happened:
  • I worked on my book!
  • I'm also the photographer, so I've visited dozens of awesome places!
  • The book cover was revealed and I love it.
  • I visited Milwaukee, which was amazing! Serendipity at its finest, the weekend I was there was the weekend that "111 Places Milwaukee" launched so I got to meet the author and photographer of that book!
  • I visited Jekyll Island, Georgia, for the first time! Attended a beautiful wedding and went to Driftwood Beach.
  • A dear friend from my Navy days visited. We'd not seen each other since 1986. I took her and her daughter to 5Church Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts and to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. It was a wonderful day!
  • Visited Plains, Georgia, birthplace of President Jimmy Carter.
  • Went to Laughing Skull Lounge after wanting to for years...laughed so hard!
  • Revisited Poplarville, Mississippi, and had a super-fun time!
  • Went on my first hot air balloon ride! It was tethered, but still a blast.
  • Went to Biltmore Estate for my birthday and stayed in The Inn.
  • And so much more...
Let's revisit some blog posts...

Orchid Daze 2019 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Orchid Daze 2019 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There's always something to see or do at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Orchid Daze in February and March is an excellent example!

Atlanta Blooms 2019 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Atlanta Blooms! 2019 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor


Hundreds of thousands blossoms spring forth during the annual Atlanta Blooms! exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden...absolutely beautiful!


Phoenix Flies | Plaza Theatre | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Phoenix Flies | Plaza Theatre | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Phoenix Flies, an Atlanta Preservation Center program, offers hundreds of free tours every year! In 2019 I toured Plaza Theatre.

Plains, Georgia | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Plains, Georgia | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor


Visiting various sites in Plains, Georgia—birthplace of President Jimmy Carter—was great fun! I learned quite a lot about Carter and his childhood life.



Dragon Con Parade 2019 | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Dragon Con Parade 2019 | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

2019 was the 10th Dragon Con Parade I've been to...always great fun!


Medieval Times Atlanta Castle | Photo: wanderlust ATLANTA
Medieval Times Atlanta Castle | Photo: wanderlust ATLANTA

Medieval Times has a new Queen and an updated show. I enjoy going to the Atlanta Castle once or twice per year...it's that much fun!


Imaginary Worlds, Alice's Wonderland | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Imaginary Worlds, Alice's Wonderland | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

This year's summer exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden was Imaginary Worlds: Alice's Wonderland and it was absolutely wondrous! 


Houdini | Breman Museum | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Houdini | Breman Museum | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini was magical! The special exhibitions at The Breman Museum are consistently amazing!


Big Bugs | Fernbank Museum | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Big Bugs | Fernbank Museum | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

The Big Bugs exhibition at Fernbank Museum of Natural History was AMAZING...the bugs are enormous!



Panda | Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Panda | Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Made it up to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville and it's splendid! Will definitely go back again and again...they have lots of room to expand into!


Atlanta Balloon Glow | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Atlanta Balloon Glow | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I got to go on my very first hot air balloon ride! It was tethered, but it was still great fun!


Scarecrows in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Autumn brings Scarecrows in the Garden to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, another fun event, especially Thursday nights for Fest of Ale!

2020 will be a whole new chapter for me. I will finish my book, host book signings, return to Corporate America, ramp up my blogging frequency, launch a newsletter, and who knows what else!

Thank you so very much for following along on this journey I call life, for following and being a fan of my blog—YOU are the reason I enjoy it as much as I do and I'm grateful.