The main park in the town features this statue of Sequoyah, an historical leader of First Nations people.
Another attraction in town is the Paradise Garden, a kitschy collection of offbeat artwork that was featured in an early music video by rock band REM. We didn't arrive in town in time to visit the site, but we plan to in the future and will file a separate post about it.
While the pandemic might have put a damper on holiday travel plans, that doesn't mean you still can't get out and enjoy this festive time of year. We recently took a trip to Helen, Ga., which styles itself as a small Alpine village right here on this side of the pond. This little hamlet in the North Georgia mountains offers a handful of nice restaurants, shops and other attractions that you can enjoy during the holiday season and all year long.
This time of year, Lake Lanier is decked out in its holiday best. So in addition to enjoying the lake and the beauty of its natural surroundings, visitors can see a lovely festive display.
This marker notes that survivors of the evil journey of the Wanderer were among the last known groups of enslaved Africans forcibly relocated to America.
This marker notes that approximately 409 men, women and children were forcibly transported via the Wanderer for human trafficking purposes. The sign lists names of some known survivors, but is far from complete due to inadequate information.
This model of a dwelling on the African continent shows a small sliver of life before the Africans were forcibly removed.
This sign notes that for 350 years, millions of Africans were captured and forcibly taken to the Americas to serve as forced labor. It notes that in 1858, the Wanderer, which had been a yacht, was converted into a vessel for human trafficking. This came 51 years after U.S. law prohibited trafficking Africans into the United States.
The marker above details some of the atrocities associated with the voyage from African shores to the American South. Deplorable conditions such as overcrowding, malnourishment, physical restraints, illness, excessive heat and unhealthy air quality subjected the involuntary passengers to extreme danger. The journey took about six weeks and covered approximately 6,000 miles.
Above is an illustration of the cramped, squalid settings of the ship in which African people were forced to endure a long, excruciatingly painful journey.
The sign above notes how once captured from their home areas in Africa, the people were forced to take long, harrowing marches to the awaiting human trafficking vessels. These marches were fraught with fear, danger and uncertainty.
The display above shows a washboard, bucket and hoe blade, all of which were used as improvised musical instruments. The enslaved people used music not only as a form of entertainment, but also as a form of communication that allowed them to convey messages to each other without their overseers being privy.
It's hard to fathom that an area so beautiful, with its verdant plant life, shores and water, could have been a venue for something as horrific as systematic human trafficking. But unfortunately, we know that it was. It is now incumbent upon us to never forget the atrocities that were committed, vow to ensure we will never let this happen again and to understand the strength and perseverance that our African ancestors demonstrated and that lives on in us today.
When it comes to mid-size and large SUVs, it's easy to think of them as either stylish or utilitarian. But with the 2020 Lexus GX 460, you get an ample amount of both qualities.
This mid-size luxury vehicle offers seating for up to seven passengers across three rows. Under the hood, there is a 4.6-liter V-8 engine that makes 301 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.
The GX has a maximum cargo capacity of 64.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
It comes in two trim levels: Base and Luxury.
The GX offers a smooth ride and a pleasant interior setting that is luxurious without being pretentious. Which basically means that you won't feel like you're insulting it if you need to head to your local home improvement store and throw a few bags of mulch and some landscape timbers inside.
The ride is steady and the ample power of the V-8 engine makes itself easily available when needed, such as accelerating onto a busy freeway.
Braking is smooth and assured, and handling is fairly precise.
As is the case with many three-row vehicles, seating in the third row offers very limited space. But otherwise, driver and passengers can expect to ride in comfort.
Fuel economy is rated at 15 mpg city, 19 highway.
Pricing of the GX starts at around $55,000 and ranges to about $66,000.
If you're looking for a refined luxury SUV that isn't to snooty to get a little dirty, the Lexus GX 460 is a terrific choice.
According to a 2020 car and transportation report from Statista, Americans bought 40.8 million pre-owned vehicles in 2019. With more than seven million motorists on the road in Georgia, knowing the steps to buy the right pre-owned vehicle can lead to a longer car life and cleaner air for all.
Georgia’s Clean Air Force, in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), offers eight important tips to help motorists expertly choose a pre-owned car or truck.
“Before buying a pre-owned vehicle, consumers must conduct adequate research to make sure their time and money is well-spent,” said Michael Odom, Mobile & Area Sources Program Manager, Georgia EPD. “You can never be too careful when buying a previously owned car, and knowing what to look for will ensure you’re making a worthwhile investment.”
AAE's Midwestern swing featured a trip to Cleveland, the crown jewel of northeast Ohio and home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Featuring tributes to artists and genres of all types, the hall is a music lover's mecca.
Downtown Cleveland was clean, vibrant and entertaining, with restaurants and other attractions that make it a worthy destination for visiting.
AAE stopped in on Holland, Mich., a town along Lake Michigan and not far from Grand Rapids. The quaint downtown featured a college campus, eateries and shops that offered a range of goods.
Holland also featured Windmill Island, with a replica of a Dutch windmill and verdant plant life that made for an enjoyable scene.
AAE recently visited beautiful Traverse City, Mich., a town in the northern part of the state that is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. The vibrant downtown offered shops and restaurants and walkable streets that were perfect for spending a relaxing afternoon and evening. And the views of Lake Michigan couldn't be beat.
Redesigned for the 2021 model year, the GMC Yukon is a spacious and stylish full-size SUV that offers a smooth ride.
The Yukon has seating for up to nine passengers over three rows. It offers a maximum cargo capacity of 122.9 cubic feet when the second- and third-row seats are folded down.
The Yukon is offered in four trims: SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali. Our test model was an SLT.
Under the hood, the Yukon features a standard 5.3-liter V-8 engine that makes 355 horsepower and is linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission that makes 383 pounds-feet of torque. Also available is a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that makes 420 horsepower.
The standard drive train is rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive optional.
The Yukon's fuel economy for the base engine is an EPA-estimated 16 mpg city, 20 highway. If you bump up to the larger V-8 engine, numbers are 14 and 19.
Our test drive adventure included a trip from the Deep South to the far north Great Lakes region. The Yukon was very equal to the task, offering a comfortable ride and a fair amount of space for cargo, the load of which included dorm supplies and furnishings for our student who is studying in Michigan.
Additionally, gas mileage was surprisingly good, as we averaged about a little over 21 mpg for the entire round trip.
Pricing for the Yukon starts at around $52,000 and ranges to around $73,000.
For a full-size SUV that offers a smooth ride and some nice styling, the Yukon definitely deserves a look.
