Marietta, Georgia
Though many visitors may not feel connected to the Hollywood depiction of the South in thoroughly modern Atlanta, they will experience the charm and grace they expect in nearby Marietta. With six historic districts and attractions such as the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, the town wins the admiration of locals and visitors alike.
“Our main square is our jewel,” said Sarah Sloan, marketing and public relations coordinator for the Marietta Visitors Bureau. “It is a beautiful square with shops, restaurants and museums. Every weekend, we have our farmers market, where we shut down one street in the square and 50 or 60 vendors will set up shop. You can get some great local Marietta products there.”
One of the most visited spots along the square is the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, which houses the original Bengaline honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara. Film fans can also wander past several of Margaret Mitchell’s personal volumes of her novel, an educational display dedicated to the African American cast members and other original promotional materials from the beloved movie.
Groups can sit back and enjoy quality theater performances in Marietta at a local musical production at the Atlanta Lyric Theatre. The Strand, a 1935 movie house, hosts traveling productions as well as concerts, musicals and screenings of classic films with live organ accompaniment.
Guests should always check Marietta’s calendar to see what event will correspond with their visit.
“We have fantastic festivals,” said Sloan. “Chalktoberfest is one where local chalk artists paint the streets. We also have a Friday concert series during the summer. There is always something happening in Marietta.”
Marin County, California
Just one famous bridge away from San Francisco, Marin County offers the unusual ability to stand inside a forested national park wilderness located just minutes from one of the country’s largest cities. Almost 85 percent of the suburban destination’s land has been protected from development through federal parkland and zoning.
This outdoor wonderland has become such a city escape that the area has been dubbed the San Francisco Bay Area’s park.
“It is very unique to have such a rural area so close to a big city,” said Christine Bohlke, sales and marketing director for the Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are known for outdoor adventure. There are no new commercial buildings on the beaches, which is one reason why they are so beautiful. It’s very different from southern California.”
Even the weather is a reason to stay in Marin County instead of the nearby metropolis, since Mount Tamalpais holds back San Francisco’s famous fog, and temperatures average about 15 degrees higher than those across the Bay. Visitors to Marin County can enjoy the warmer temperatures while choosing which scenery they would prefer, including ancient redwood forests and undeveloped seashore.
The Muir Woods National Monument is a nature lover’s favorite for its 1,000-year-old giant redwood trees. Groups can marvel at these massive 260-foot-high redwoods while viewing interpretive displays or on a guided program with a park ranger.
Tours also run through Point Reyes National Seashore’s wilderness sanctuary and Angel Island State Park’s historic immigration station. After indulging in the area’s natural wonders, groups can enjoy some culinary delights at local shops offering artisan cheeses, fresh oysters and other agricultural products.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
A 44-room concrete castle called the Fonthill Museum stands out among Pennsylvania’s rolling hillside, but it also tells the compelling story behind one of America’s creative geniuses: Henry Mercer. This artist influenced not only tile making, but also the entire area of Bucks County.
Located just outside Philadelphia, the region has embraced Mercer’s legacy with sites dedicated to his artistic contributions and has also promoted other local artists. The result is a county full of historic towns and artist colonies that attract visitors looking for more than just a cheap hotel rate. Art galleries, local shops, more than 30 restaurants and other historic sites can keep groups engaged in the area for days.
The Fonthill Museum in Doylestown is one of the most celebrated attractions in the area, since Mercer built and lived in it. Guests can tour the castle’s interior filled with Mercer’s personal collection of ornate handmade tiles, more than 6,000 books and other interesting artifacts.
Doylestown also welcomes guests to the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, and the Mercer Museum, which showcases Mercer’s extensive collection of historic tools from early Americans.
New Hope is another town that stands out in Bucks County for its walkable downtown filled with art galleries, eclectic shops and views along the Delaware Canal. Planners can set groups loose in New Hope’s Peddler’s Village, which houses 65 specialty stores on 42 acres of landscaped gardens and brick walkways.
While in town, groups will also often jump on the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad for a 45-minute ride through Bucks County’s picturesque countryside.
