You don't have to drive very far from metro Atlanta to find great waterfalls and natural pools.

The siren song—sounding like a tired jack-in-the-box that refuses to pop out—calls to the boy and his little sister. Clutching dollar bills, they run to its source: the Atlanta Ice Cream Truck.

Inside the Frigidaire of the American consciousness, we have a full pitcher of sweet tea forever at the ready. It’s the ultimate symbol of Southern hospitality and authenticity, the official beverage of How We Do Things Down Here. But I believe this way of thinking does sweet tea, and the South, a disservice.

Nothing beats an observatory if you want to get up close and personal with a celestial body. Or, find an open field, set up away from skyscrapers, and get to gazing.