3. Explore the Silver Comet Trail

You haven’t truly done the Silver Comet until you’ve ventured beyond the first twelve miles in Cobb County and explored the rest of this converted rail line’s paved stretch, which goes all the way to Alabama. Take your pick of twenty entry points (many easily accessed from U.S. 278) over sixty-one miles and tour northwest Georgia farmland, pine forests, and wetlands along the same route the trail’s namesake passenger train once traversed between Atlanta and Birmingham. At mile 23, be awed by the view from the Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle, a 700-foot-long, 100-foot-tall bridge built by hand in 1903, and visit the numerous side trails, nearby parks, and overlooks along the way. Stop for lunch or overnight in downtown Rockmart (miles 37–38) or Cedartown (mile 52)—and if you’re really itching to see beyond the bend, cruise another thirty-two miles to Anniston, Alabama, on the Chief Ladiga Trail. pathfoundation.org