Travel Log: Atlanta

Georgia, Georgia
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind

Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell wrote it. Ray Charles made it famous. Willie Nelson made it cry.

Just a year after Willie's version of Georgia on My Mind topped the country and western charts, Georgia adopted it as the state's official song. But did you know that it was written as a dedication to the music composer's sister, Georgia Carmichael, and not the Peach State?

Still, it sets the tone for the laid-back Southern state that stretches from the Appalachian Mountains down to the beaches of the Atlantic. There's heritage in Georgia -- good and bad. And there's quite the dining in the state, too -- mostly good, despite the news reports lately.

So grab a sloppy plate of barbecue, read up on some Civil War history and enjoy the Capital of the South.

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• Georgia produces the nation's most peanuts, pecans and peaches. And it is also home to a poultry surplus as Gainesville, Ga., is the chicken capital of the world. The city has a law making it illegal to eat chicken with a fork.

• Dr. John S. Pemberton invented an elixir in 1886 in Columbus, Ga., called Pemberton's French Wine Coca in response to prohibition legislation. The mixture was first sold at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta with the promotion that it cured ailments such as headache and impotence. Today, it's known as Coca-Cola.

• Stone Mountain displays the world's largest bas-relief -- carvings of Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. The carving is 190 feet wide and 90 feet tall. The carving began in 1916 by Gutzon Borglum, but he quit six years later. Augustus Lukeman worked on the project from 1923-1928 but did not complete it. It wasn't until 1964 that work continued, and Roy Faulkner finished the carving in 1972.

• Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area (59,424 square miles) although it ranks 24th in the nation.

• St. Marys, Ga., is the second-oldest city in the United States behind St. Augustine, Fla. The city was reportedly settled by the Spanish in the mid-1500s.

Best Burger: Vortex Bar & Grill
Best Barbecue: Harold's Barbecue
Best Restaurant: Holeman & Finch Public House
More Bests: Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta

Admitted as State: Jan. 2, 1788, as fourth state
Capital: Atlanta
Nickname: Peach State
Population Rank: 9th
Largest City: Atlanta

Atlanta Motor Speedway isn't technically in Atlanta. Centered in rural Hampton, Ga., the track is a solid 30 miles south of the city. Getting there used to be tricky, and a smooth trip was reserved for those locals who knew the backroads (and had relatives who used to run 'shine on them, too).

Now it's a little different. There are three main exits off Interstate 75 that lead to AMS. But the primary route is GA 20. Once there, you'll find plenty of camping, plenty of parking and probably too much tailgating.

On a logistical note, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a unique tool to help fans visualize their route a little better courtesy of an overhead fly-by -- highly recommended for first-time visitors.
• Atlanta Motor Speedway

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