Kia Motors America has given me a long-term loan Kia Niro for the purpose of road tripping and review. All opinions are my own.

Some of you may know that in the spring of last year I relocated with my son from Florida to Atlanta. Georgia is new territory for us. So, on our off weekends at home, we did our best to hit the road and explore the best day trips from Atlanta. I own a 2012 Kia Sorento which I love, but in February Kia sent us the Niro Hybrid to use long-term for our everyday life and our adventures, (which in no way shaped my opinions in this post).

 

So, earlier this year I made a list of some of the weekend trips in Atlanta I wanted to explore. And while we still have quite a few places to visit, we have been able to enjoy a lot. From waterfalls to country stores, this is our photo journal of our #NiroAdventures in Georgia.

 

NiroAdventures in Georgia – Day Trips from Atlanta

 

I give a day trip for four hours of my life on the road. Which means, two hours there are two hours back. It’s the perfect amount of time to get that adventure feel. Ad exploring new places is always exciting. But four hours spent in a car needs to be four hours spent in comfort and with confidence behind the wheel. That’s why I love taking the Kia Niro Hybrid on adventures. I know I can rely on it. 

 

Anna Ruby Falls

 

day trips from atlanta

 

Kia Niro Adventures, gauge rybak

 

Just about 1:45 minutes from our hometown of Canton, GA is Anna Ruby Falls. It’s inside the UNICOI State Park near Helen, GA. This hour-long hike brings you on a lush forest accent alongside a stream until you reach the breathtaking Anna Ruby Falls area. We love this spot because it’s pet-friendly and no adventure is complete without our Yorkie Noreen. If you’re staying overnight, consider the Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest for a great pet-friendly hotel in the area.

 

Helen

 

day trips from Atlanta

 

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day trips from atlanta

 

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Helen, GA is known as the Alpine Village. It looks like something from the Swiss Alps. We love visiting this town for its charm, dining and nearby nature hikes and wineries. And it’s only about 1:45 from our home.

 

Lake Rabun

 

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day trips from atlanta

 

day trips from Atlanta

 

In two hours we can be in Lake Rabun, GA. This giant lake is lined with cabins and lake houses. It offers boating, fishing and water activities as well as a scenic drive at every winding turn. There are also several beautiful waterfalls nearby.

 

Minnehaha Falls

 

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Minnehaha Falls is close to Lake Rabun. We explored this location on a whim, it was one of the most fun and unplanned days we’ve had since living here. The hike was easy (easier than Anna Ruby Falls) and the waterfall was lovely.

 

Atlanta

 

Day trips from Atlanta

 

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The Swan House

 

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There is so much to explore in Atlanta, especially hidden gems. We live about 40 minutes north of the city, so going to the ATL is always an adventure. These are a few of my favourite spots to explore when in town.

 

Covington

 

Mystic Falls Courthouse in Covington

 

 

This was where we originally moved to when we relocated to Georgia and it deserves a place on this list. Covington is a quaint historic town with streets lined in Antebellum homes, blossoming flowers in the spring and bright fall colors in the fall. It’s also home to the hit TV series The Vampire Diaries. We love going back to Covington whenever we can. It’s just 1:15 minutes away!

 

North Georgia Wine Country

 

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day trips from Atlanta

 

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Heading towards Helen, GA you’ll notice that the Alpine Village is surrounded by wineries. And good ones too! One of my favourite things to do is to drive up there, get on a wine bus and be toted around to these lovely vintners. From here you can see rolling hills and mountain peaks and of course, get your wine on. Make sure you have a designated driver for this one.

 

Senoi Home of The Walking Dead’s Alexandria

 

The Walking Dead filming locations Alexandria
Alexandria and the wall. You can’t get in here so don’t even try. It’s heavily guarded.

 

Atlanta is known as the home of the hit TV series The Walking Dead. I’m a huge longtime fan of the show. One of my favorite things to do is head down to Senoi where they film the show for “Alexandria” and other big scenes. You can find my complete guide here.

 

About the Kia Niro Hybrid

 

Kia Niro Hybrid

 

 

The Kia Niro Hybrid is the perfect random adventure vehicle. It’s equipped for the task and brings an upscale experience to the “get up and go” family. Its fuel economy from being a hybrid + EV car makes being spontaneous easy. Its cabin space offers comfort, and its Harman/Kardon sound makes the adventure playlist boom. It’s the fun, sporty, small family crossover that rises to all the tasks in our life. And its safety features and technology give me confidence behind the wheel. I’ve spent the last year with the Kia Niro Hybrid Touring model. If you’re looking for more information on why I love this car so much then click the link above.

 

Clearly, we have a lot more adventuring to do. I’m really excited for 2018 and all the places we’ll go with the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid (which we’ll be getting this December). Be sure to follow our adventures with Kia using the #NiroAdventures hashtag on social media.

 

Want to know more about Georgia or Kia? Leave me a comment below!

Author

Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

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