Happy summer! Although it feels like it’s been here for a while, it's officially here. Right now it's storming outside. Fortunately, two weekends ago the weather was really nice throughout Georgia. Sunshine, blue skies, fluffy white clouds and highs in the mid to upper 70s. Too nice to stay in! My husband and I decided to take a day trip to Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald.

As more and more people are becoming plant based, the demand for veg-friendly restaurants is rapidly increasing. Many omnivores that may be skeptical about the lifestyle or what foods it actually entails, would be surprised to know it’s more than just salads, smoothies and quinoa (all of which I truly love). As a foodie myself, I’m always down to check out a new restaurant or cuisine that has vegan options, but especially so when the whole menu is up for grabs! One of the hottest spots right now in Atlanta is Slutty Vegan and I finally got to check them out! Here’s a little bio on them from their website:


​“Slutty Vegan was founded the summer of 2018 by Pinky Cole. Having established roots in the West End community of Atlanta, we have made it our mission to provide quality vegan meals to communities that would have otherwise never had these options. The philosophy here at Slutty Vegan is “VEGANS CAN BE SLUTTY TOO”. We actively seek to dismiss the notion held by many we serve, that vegan food is either too expensive or too bland.”

I love trying out new restaurants, especially when they are vegetarian or plant based. My husband and I were running some errands and came across Vegreen in Duluth, GA when trying to figure out what to have for lunch. After a quick glance and Google search (All vegan restaurant?!) we were sold.

Once we walked in, we were greeted by a hostess and seated. Immediately we noticed how clean and bright the restaurant was. The décor is mostly white, with clean lines and pops of color throughout. It has a modern theme that feels vibrant and inviting.  They also have a few TVs that you can see no matter where you are sitting in the restaurant. It may be showing a big game if it’s on or typically a slideshow of sorts that features various quotes and stories from vegan and vegetarian celebrities.
 
Aside from the food, one thing I love about vegan restaurants is that the full menu is up for consideration. The options at Vegreen include sushi, rice dishes, noodle dishes, main entrees and desserts. We have been there twice now and each time  we fully enjoyed our dishes. For starters, we had the veggie dumplings.

​

Atlanta has no shortage of festivals of all kinds. There are festivals of all sorts, for all tastes, year round in Atlanta. My favorite category has to be the food festivals! Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Atlanta Vegfest. It's been going on for several years, but this was my first time going. It is a gathering of various businesses (mostly food related) that share a general foundation of being vegan-friendly, plant based and environmentally conscious. RIght up my alley!

Happy Fall! One of my favorite seasons has arrived and it brings with it weather that makes being outside much more bearable than the summer heat. I recently set out with my husband to explore something new, Lula Falls. The Lula Lake Land Trust consists of over 8,000 acres of protected land, with selective visiting dates each year. They are only open May-November on the first and last weekend of each month. This helps to preserve the area according to their mission statement per their website:

"The Lula Lake Land Trust preserves the natural and historic landscapes surrounding Rock Creek and Bear Creek, and their tributaries, through conservation, education, and low impact recreation."

Amongst the beauty of North Georgia, tucked away in the mountains, are a plethora of waterfalls that you can easily visit on a day trip from the city. The Georgia mountains are about an hour and a half to a two hour drive depending on where you're coming from in Metro Atlanta. This makes for an easy afternoon trip to get away from the city and into nature. Up until recently, I had only been to two waterfalls in Georgia and realized I was overdue to see some more. So this Labor Day weekend was the perfect time to head out and check another one off my list.

When it comes to being plant-based, it can seem like the dining out options are limited. However, these days there are more and more restaurants that are offering vegetarian and vegan friendly options on their menus. In addition to that, there are more dining options popping up that offer fully plant-based menus that everyone can enjoy. One of these gems here in Atlanta is Herbanfix! They specialize in authentic Pan-Asian cuisine made 100% plant-based and they're located in Midtown Atlanta. 

The entrance

Georgia is beautiful year round, but Fall is my favorite time of year to get outside and enjoy nature. The cooler temperatures and vibrant hues of the changing leaves add something special to any outdoor adventure. My husband and I went to check out Arabia Mountain last weekend and we were not disappointed!

We parked at the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve which offered plenty of parking and trail access. From there we took one of the paved paths that led a little way down and across the street to the base of the mountain. From there we were met with a long, tree-lined boardwalk that led us to the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE) facility. There they have another small parking lot (you can park here for quicker access to the mountain) and the entryway for the trail up Arabia Mountain.