For those who love that gritty, salt sea air, living in a landlocked city can be challenging.  Certainly not challenging compared to being in a city with abnormally high unemployment or rampant crime, but you know, everyone needs to relax now and then.

For those Atlantans that need a beach chair and a crisp paperback embedded with sand to really kickback, it takes a good 4 hour travel commitment – be it by car or air – to hear waves crashing on the sand.

But of course, there are other, smaller bodies of water out there amongst the forests, hills and sprawl that can help quench that  desire for watery bliss.  For some, they may not be equivalent to the seaside (or Seaside for that matter), but sometimes a little white-water noise can go a long way.

All this tedious set-up is just a roundabout way of asking:  When you’re in need of a water fix and can’t afford to take a couple days off to head to a coast, where do you go?

Rivers, lakes, streams, ponds (I suppose) are all fair game.

Photo of Sweetwater Creek above courtesy of Georgia State Parks website.

Having been on the road a bit the past few days, I’ve been thinking a bit more than usual beyond the confines of good ol’ Decatur. (Gasp!)

Many of us are frequently gushing with pride for our east Atlanta haven, but like any healthy relationship, every once in a while you really need to take a break.

However, in the past I’ve found many online lists of recommendations to be more than lacking, so I thought some of us might benefit from some helpful neighborly advice about where to hang your traveling hat when your looking to escape the metro for a few days by car for a day-trip or weekend getaway.

As suggested by the title, I thought we might divide up the discussion into two posts: urban and rural. Today, feel free to recommend your favorite city and town escapes and then next Monday we’ll focus on less-populated retreats.

So whatcha got?