Urban Hiking 101

Lauren and I have been supporters of the Atlanta Beltline ever since its inception - or at least since we first heard about it over a year ago.

(For our non-Atlanta readers, the Beltline is a HUGE city-wide urban development project. It's still in the initial stages, but will eventually encompass new development, public transit and greenspace that follows 22 miles of historic rail circling the city center.)

So when I found out about a group of urban hikers getting ready to go on their third Beltline tour, I (easily) convinced some friends to come with me:


(L to R: me, Matt, Ameila and Lain)

I was foolish enough to let Lar take all the pictures, so there are none of her from our hike. Needless to say, she was the most fashionable of the bunch.

There were about 25 of us total in the group. We ended up walking about 6 miles of the Beltline in about 3 hours and spent a lot of the time listening to Angel, our tour guide who knows everything about the Beltline AND use to be a train conductor (he's the one in the orange shorts).


Of course no urban hike would be complete without graffiti. Scarface and the cow face were our two favorites:


The best part about the hike was getting to see the city from a different perspective. Imagine taking a train through your local city, but on foot - if that makes any sense. Some of you Atlantans might recognize the local spots in the photos below.

Starting at the top, left to right: Taking a break in Atlanta's Glenwood Park neighborhood, City Hall East (formerly the Sears building), Krog Street tunnel, and the rail bridge over Ponce de Leon Ave. facing east (that's Paris on Ponce on the left).


By 3 p.m. we were all exhausted, hungry and sunburned, but it was so much fun we're all looking forward to the next hike. For some more photos from the hike, check out the Urban Hiking Atlanta blogpost.

After a couple of hours of walking on rail, rocks, sand and branches, Lar, our friend Amelia, and I agreed the following would make up the perfect urban hiking outfit:

• Shorts, tank top and hoodie.
• Sneakers and tube socks.
• A large water bottle that won't leak in your backpack or one that attaches to a beltloop with a carabiner.
• Sunglasses that aren't so cheap they leave indentations on your checks (these are the only type of sunglasses I own).

So, dear readers, we hope this post inspires you to go out and explore your own city by foot - preferrably with a great group of friends and, if at all possible, a guide named Angel.

- CL

A Visit to the Swan House

Although we've lived in Atlanta for a while, this was our first visit to the Swan House. It's a large historic house located on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead (a neighborhood of Atlanta).

The home's classical style makes it look older than its 80 years. Built in 1928 the house is considered relatively new even by American historical standards. However, Atlanta is quick to get rid of any building older than 30 years. So the Swan House is practically pre-historic considering its location.

Fortunately, the Atlanta History Center has been able to preserve the Swan House so that tourists, like myself, are able to explore the beautiful home formerly owned by the somewhat cultured and very wealthy Inman family.


Although the tour was over an hour long and it was a muddy walk to the home from the history center, Lauren and I felt it was only proper to wear heels to such a stately place. (Also, at a short 5'3", our vanity almost completely prevents us from wearing flats in public).

Outfit details: Lauren is wearing a H&M jacket, AA dress, H&M shoes and Ann Taylor purse. I'm wearing the same red Nordstrom coat from Saturday's post, Gap dress and H&M shoes.

I'm no expert in animal husbandry, but I believe the creature pictured below is a ram (which is a male sheep...I think). He was just standing around on the small farm located between the Swan House and Atlanta History Center. He was the only animal we saw on the grounds, which made me doubt the efficiency of the quarter acre farm. That being said, there is the requisite historic black smithy next door to the ram's house/shed/pen/barn/log cabbin(?).


Needless to say it was a very enjoyable - and educational - visit. I highly recommend a trip to the Swan House and its surroundings.

CL