Cheer on the ponies and players
Location: Chukkar Farm
Date taken: September 15, 2013
Nestled among the horse farms and golf courses of Alpharetta, Chukkar Farm in many ways feels like a step back in time — the green barn, rocking chairs, laid-back atmosphere and beautiful horses. The farm is family owned and run and has been for decades. Events and weddings are often held there. And, on Sundays when the weather is warm, the farm hosts polo matches and welcomes guests to bring a blanket, bring a picnic and come watch. Don’t know anything about polo? Find a friend who does (mine explained to me the unique qualities of a polo pony). Or, chances are you’ll be greeted at the farm by a Chukkar Farm family member, who will happily answer your horse-related questions.
Experience a night at the rodeo
Location: PRCA Rodeo
Date taken: September 13, 2013
Cowboys. Cowgirls. Lots of kids trying to find their boots. If you want to say honestly and accurately, “This isn’t my first rodeo,” then you might want to spend a weekend night at one. Typically, rodeos feature events such as steer wrestling, bareback riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. And on a Friday night in the tiny town of Hamilton, Ga., the rodeo featured a kids’ boot race, with dozens of kids racing from one end of the dirt arena to the other to find their missing boots amid the pile. But watching isn’t all there is to do at a rodeo — you can enter a gun raffle, buy a rhinestone belt buckle, mingle with cowboys, pet some calves or dine on boiled peanuts and sweet tea. When you leave, just make sure your kids’ boots are the ones they came with.
Enjoy a little serenity
Location: Serenbe
Date taken: August 18, 2013
It looks like a movie set — the farmhouse, rolling fields, people on horseback, walking paths and a neighborhood of charming houses. Venture an hour south of Atlanta to Serenbe, and you’ll find yourself among acres of picturesque Southern farm land. Some make their homes at Serenbe, and others head there for a weekend getaway, retreat or special event. Whatever your reason for visiting, you’ll discover the air is quiet and clean, the landscape is lush and green and the porch chairs are perfect for sitting still.
Find the really good stuff
Location: Westside Provisions
Date taken: August 6, 2013
The directional signs sprinkled throughout the Westside Provisions District read, “Really good stuff ,” and the statement is true. From the dessert case at Star Provisions to the guacamole at Taqueria del Sol to the gorgeous furniture at Room & Board to the stylish clothing of Sid Mashburn, Westside Provisions has become a dining and shopping destination. The Howell Mill block of brick buildings has come along way since its days as Atlanta’s first modern meatpacking facility (hence the pig logo).
Race around the block
Location: East Atlanta Village Criterium
Date taken: August 17, 2013
The streets around East Atlanta Village close down, and the bikes take over for one Saturday afternoon every August. Criterium implies a short course, usually less than a mile, and the EAV Criterium lives up to its name. Find a spot along the course, and you’ll see cyclists zoom by about every minute or so — they race on a small rectangle of a course around the main stretch of the neighborhood. Locals, family and friends and cycling enthusiasts cheer on the racers, starting with youth early in the day and ending with the veterans who compete for a cash prize. If you can’t make the EAV race, check out other criteriums nearby — Grant Park, Athens.
atlantaheydays.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.