Another Side of Atlanta

 

It was my final day in Atlanta with my niece, Moriah, and I decided to plan something a little different. I had a late flight going home and I arranged for us to spend the day near the airport. It wasn’t the experience you’d expect,

 

The Atlanta Airport District promotes airport hotels and activities around the area, with ease in getting to the airport. It’s a different look at where to stay in Atlanta without just your typical quick stay hotels without the amenities you don’t often see at airport hotels.

Since my flight wasn’t leaving until 9:00 pm, I had a lot of time after our noon checkout at The American Hotel downtown. Moriah met me at the hotel, and I rolled and she walked to the MARTA train station.

 

Downtown has very convenient MARTA stations. There were actually four within a few blocks of the hotel. The only problem was that the elevators for handicap access were not next to the entrance. It took us a while, and help from a police officer, to figure out how to get to them.

Once we were at MARTA, it was extremely easy to use the automated ticket machines and find the train. I also had no issue getting on the train with my wheelchair. To get to the hotel we were heading to, we needed to change trains at the airport, but it was quick and easy.

 

The Marriott Gateway Atlanta Airport was just an elevator ride down from the train and right in front of us. We had a room for the day to use the amenities and relax. It is a large hotel, but it was Sunday afternoon and quiet. We checked in quickly.

A basket filled with goodies, including snacks, was waiting for us. The room was wheelchair accessible and it was easy for me to get around in. The bathroom was also large, and the shower had a chair in it.

I was most excited about using the pool. Getting in the water is freeing for me because I can “walk” in the water without fear of falling (I’ve had serious falls on the ground). The indoor pool also had a lift to make it easier to get into.

We relaxed in and out of the pool for a while. The sun was coming through the window and kept us warm, even though I couldn’t sit directly in the sunlight. After the pool, we took a walk through the Marriott Fitness Strength Center. It is one of the biggest hotel gym’s I’ve seen.

 

Our dinner wasn’t scheduled until later in the evening, but we were really hungry and decided to go early. The restaurant was Hickory & Hazel and just across a small street at the Renaissance Marriott Atlanta Airport.

The Cast Iron Peach Cornbread immediately caught my eye and we ordered it. It was delicious and we could have finished it all, but there was a lot more food to come. We continued with the Southern cooking theme and were not disappointed.

 

It was hard to decide on an entrée, so we got the two we were thinking about and shared: Buttermilk Fried Chicken, with Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, and “Chow Chow relish,” and Braised Lamb Shank, with Cheese Grits, and Brussel Sprouts. The portions were huge and everything was delicious.

Dessert was Red Velvet Cake and that was also fantastic. We had lots of leftovers and Moriah took them home. I went back to the Marriott Gateway to put my feet up before heading to my flight.

 

It was an easy one stop ride on the train to the airport. From there, I just rolled over to the check-in area. I usually fly American from Champaign, but Delta has a direct flight to Atlanta from Bloomington-Normal (CIRA) Airport. The schedule didn’t work out for me heading there, but it was perfect for going home.

This was my first time flying Delta in the wheelchair, and it went very smoothly. It was an incredibly fun trip to Atlanta and I’m sure I will be returning soon.

Enjoying the Day in Muskegon

I had never been to Muskegon and, honestly, it wasn’t on my radar before. I had started hearing more about it and the representatives of Pure Michigan told me it was a lakefront town making strides in the wheelchair-friendly arena.

Muskegon has had a big resurgence from the cruise industry which has led to growth in the town. In addition to the ferries that go across Lake Michigan (which we would be taking), three cruise lines are now making stops in Muskegon: Pearl Sea Cruises, Victory Cruise Line, and Ponant Great Lake Cruises.

The town was building and improving for the influx of cruise passengers and the feedback on the port stop has been positive. This town would continue to thrive.

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Since we had a late lunch and skipped dinner the night before, we were ready for a big breakfast. Mr. Bs Pancake House was the perfect place. This local favorite has been around over 50 years. The portions were huge and the omelets, pancakes, and hashbrowns we had were delicious.

After breakfast, we went to the Muskegon Museum of Art. I was extremely impressed that this seemingly small town had such a large art museum with extensive collections. In fact, it is in the process of being enlarged even more.

While we were at the museum, we were able to see an exhibition on American artist John Steuart Curry, who was a leader in the Regionalist Art Movement. Although that exhibit was temporary, they do have quite a few pieces that are permanent by the artist as part of its over 4,000 selections.

We spent a few hours at the museum, which was easy to get around in my power chair. (They also had wheelchairs available for those who needed to borrow.)

Another place with wheelchairs to use is Muskegon State Beach. These are track wheelchairs to ride on the sand. Just like the ones at the other state beaches, they were free to use, though I suggest reserving them in advance. We had another clear day for the beach, and I was able to ride a smooth path that went almost to the actual water.

After the full day, we decided not to go back to the Delta Hotel by Marriott and instead went straight to dinner. There were many options in Muskegon, but we had passed the Bear Lake Tavern, and it looked like a popular spot. As soon as we walked in, we could see it was filled with a lot of locals. That’s always a clear sign of a good place to eat.

Lynn ordered the steak sandwich and said it was delicious. I went for their beef stroganoff, which was also incredibly good. I had it with a Cucumber Mule, which Bear Lake Tavern made perfectly.

There was a place in town we hadn’t made it to yet that was on our schedule, and it seemed like the perfect time on this warm evening, Norm’s Ice Cream. They had a wide selection of soft serve flavors, and I had my favorite parfait, with peanut butter and hot fudge!

We headed back to the hotel in time for yet another stunning Muskegon sunset. What a way to end a day.

Recap of the day...