For fellow Atlantans (and out-of-town visitors) who prefer to stick to the suburbs, you’re in luck!  A plethora of walking destinations exists in areas outside of the city that are open to the public year-round.  Two such walking destinations are part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area.  As part of the Chattahoochee River Valley, one can “take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up, or have a picnic on a Sunday afternoon.”

A good place to start exploring the recreational area is at Island Ford, where one can find a trail system that runs parallel to the river in addition to a Visitor Center, playground, soccer fields, etc.  Bringing fly-fishing gear and a camera are two excellent things to consider when visiting the Island Ford portion of the National Recreation Area; the area is perfect for scenic photo ops and a family run down the Chattahoochee River.  If you choose to stick to the trail, keep your eyes and ears open for wildlife and happy kayakers floating down the river.

Another destination that is part of the Recreation Area is the walking trail at Cochran Shoals (located at the end of Columns Drive in East Cobb).  Here one can expect to find walkers, runners, bikers, and many pets, as the path is wide and made of flattened gravel (as compared to the naturally-cut path that snakes its way through the woods at Island Ford).  There are restrooms and picnic tables located along the path, and there are also a number of viewing areas scattered along the way to allow those exercising to take a break to look out onto the River.  A favorite destination for first-timers and regulars alike, this one cannot be missed.

Now that another two walking destinations in Atlanta have been described, there are no excuses not to get outside to experience nature at its finest.  Don’t let the cold weather act as deterrent.  The result is that the aforementioned walking “hot spots” will be less hot than usual (in other words…less-crowed).  So, do yourself, your significant other, and your dog a favor this Valentine’s Day weekend by taking a walk alongside the river.  What could be more romantic than that?

When describing Atlanta to those unfamiliar with the city, one might mention an abundance of trees, friendly people, or perhaps a favorite sports team or two.  Atlanta, Georgia, the “Capital of the South,” is a growing city that in many ways can be compared to other booming metropolises such as New York, D.C. and Chicago.  However, one characteristic separates Atlanta from the aforementioned cities:  a limited public transportation system (MARTA) and lack of unified areas throughout the city that can be reached via foot.  The issue of urban sprawl will be partially mitigated when the Beltline is completed (http://www.beltline.org/), but until then, where to walk to take advantage of the fall season?

The answer lies somewhere between the many parks and many districts that make up the City of Atlanta. Yes, it is true that one cannot walk from downtown Atlanta to Virginia Highlands to Buckhead without hailing a cab or parking one’s own car.  Nevertheless, those living in Atlanta can walk down vibrant urban streets that happen to be in extremely close proximity to nature.

In Midtown, there are streets (such as 10^th and Monroe) that consist of many shops and restaurants that also run adjacent to the city’s most well-known urban greenspace:  Piedmont Park.  Feel like retreating from society to go running in the park, only to find yourself missing your morning cup of coffee as soon as you begin to jog?  This is the perfect destination for you.  Another urban retreat is nestled close by at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Moreland Avenue.  The Oak Grove portion of Atlanta’s Linear Park is not as well-known as Piedmont Park, but it is equally as fun to visit.  Perhaps this is due to its proximity to Little Five Points (the colorful neighborhood frequented by the city’s counter-culture) and Virginia Highlands (a neighborhood comprised of boutiques, great restaurants, and quite a few University of Georgia alumni).  Or, perhaps the success of these two walking destinations can be attributed to the landscape architect who designed them:  Frederick Law Olmsted.  Olmsted, commonly referred to as the “Father of Landscape Architecture,” was the man responsible for the creation of Central Park in New York.  Many say he was also responsible for coining the term, “landscape architecture,” over a hundred years ago.

The areas described are just two of many urban walking spots located close to natural areas throughout the city.   Lucky for us Atlantans, there are too many walking destinations to describe in a single blog post!  Be on the lookout for more descriptions of walking destinations throughout the city.  But don’t wait to walk—get outside to enjoy some fresh air!

Case Study House #22

For many, the name “Julius Shulman” does not ring a bell.  Why should it?  After all, the creative brilliance of the late American architectural photographer was often disguised by the well-known architecture he chose to photograph.  For example, when viewing Shulman’s images of a Frank Lloyd Wright home or a Pierre Koenig structure, it is almost impossible to think of anything other than the extraordinary architecture itself.  What about the man behind the lens?  Julius Shulman was responsible for bringing to light and enhancing the beauty of an art form through creative use of another art form.  He was the bridge between architecture and photography; linking his own vision with that of great architectural masters to create photography that is best represented by the word, “WOW.”

Born in Brooklyn in 1910, Shulman began to pursue photography purely by chance.  One afternoon as a young adult living in Los Angeles, he took a picture of a Richard Neutra house with a Kodak camera.  His photograph was passed along to Neutra, who was so pleased with it that he encouraged Shulman to purchase a view camera in order to photograph more of his designs.  While studying at Berkeley, he began printing his photographs and selling them in small bookstores around town.  His efforts were rewarded by a steady demand for more photographs.

Eventually, California’s beauty and the uniqueness of western design reached the eastern United States through Julius Shulman’s camera.  His internal love of nature shone through his work.  In fact, the photographer always got his best ideas by walking around the outside of whatever building or buildings he planned to photograph.   His work is unique in that he used people in his images to give scale to the buildings and personality to his pictures.  Shulman did not use tricks to illuminate his pictures; he had an incisive vision and an eye that recognized the importance of light to a building.

Shulman died at his home in Los Angeles, California in 2009 after a successful career that spanned over fifty years.  He was the subject of a 2008 documentary film, Visual Acoustics:  The Modernism of Julius Shulman, and he wrote and consulted on a number of books that belong just as much in one’s library collection as they do on one’s coffee table.  His legacy is left to his daughter, Judith Shulman McKee, and to the many fans who continue to appreciate his life work.  Today, a number of the buildings that Julius Shulman captured with his lens no longer remain standing.  However, as a result of the work of this genius photographer, they will remain a part of history forever.

Every spring and summer, leaves produce their own food by using chlorophyll (a chemical produced within their very own cells) to break down energy from the sun. Plants’ green color is a direct result of this wonder chemical. However, in the fall, the food process comes to a halt as a result of cooling temperatures and a decreased amount of daylight. Thus, the chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and beautiful warm leaf colors appear to warm us up (much appreciated by those in skimpy Halloween costumes).

Moreover, temperature, light, and water supply affect when and how the leaves will change each season, and as previously mentioned, the weather in Georgia has been about as predictable as a David Bowie album. Because we have not seen much rain so far this season, we can expect a slightly less-intense fall show. So when is the best time to witness Mother Nature in all of her colorful glory? Depends on where you are. (HINT: if I were you, I would head to the north Georgia Mountains the last week of the month.) Not willing to sacrifice a rowdy Halloween weekend in the city for a little R & R? Plan to be in Atlanta the first week of November.

As Mr. Bowie croons, we we can’t change time, but we can change the way we view the natural world. This fall, slip off your Halloween mask and experience the seasonal rituals we so often take for granted. After all, they will continue to change.