The GPS was set. The music was blaring – the Black Crowes’ rendition of “God’s Got It.” There was a driving rain outside the window, but I had a destination in mind.
Finally, the interstate unceremoniously gives way to a state highway. Before long, the relatively flat landscape yields to the mountainous North Georgia terrain, but [...]

KENNESAW, Ga. – The General steam locomotive pulled the morning passenger train, winding its way through the rural Georgia countryside. Shortly before 6 a.m. on a rainy morning, Engineer Jeff Cain blew the locomotive’s whistle to signal that Big Shanty was approaching.
“Big Shanty, 20 minutes for breakfast,” Conductor William A. Fuller said. The train pulled [...]

MARIETTA, Ga. – The Kennesaw House is an impressive building, even by today’s standards. But its role in one of the most fascinating events of the Civil War is what makes it truly unique.
Built in 1845 as a cotton warehouse, it is one of the oldest buildings in Marietta, and it has witnessed a lot [...]

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – As William T. Sherman rode through the North Georgia countryside in the 1840s, he took note of one particular engineering feat.
The year was 1844, and the Western & Atlantic Railroad was under construction between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn. As the railroad – known as the “Crookedest Railroad in the World” – made [...]

ATAMI, Japan – The regular commuter train from Tokyo to Japan is slow, to say the least – especially compared to the high-speed bullet trains that speed across the countryside. The local train stops at town after town, and the crowd of people aboard the train as we pulled out of Tokyo thins out more [...]

TOKYO – The aroma was quite apparent from the moment I stepped off the subway. With each step, the smell of fresh fish grew stronger.
Just a few steps away from the station is the Tsukiji Fish Market, a place like no other in Japan or the world. Located in central Tokyo’s Tsukiji district, the market [...]

ATHENS, Ga. – With its relatively compact downtown, Athens is easily navigated on foot. So, last year, the Athens Welcome Center announced the addition of the new Downtown Athens Podtour.
This series of tours are the perfect starting off point to learn about The Classic City.
There are 10 stops on this self-guided tour, and the beauty [...]