We are often asked to advise potential buyers about the location of Lake Oconee for travel to other important destinations for leisure and services.
I have written several blog posts about the Lake Oconee area in the definition of the Lake Oconee area, and the local benefits of retiring to this low-key area. Today, I am casting a wider net around Lake Oconee to reveal an advantage of living at Lake Oconee- the many desirable destinations that are only a drive away. I'm exploring cities that are within a radius of 1.5 hour drive, 4 hour drive, and 7 hour drive.
I remember my trepidation as my family moved to Lake Oconee from Atlanta in 1990, wondering if I would miss Atlanta and its location in Georgia. However, I soon realized that Lake Oconee is almost a suburb of Atlanta, so I would have the best of both worlds when I wanted them; the serenity of a small town, and the benefits of the large city.
So, I begin my post highlighting the destinations within about a 1.5 hour drive from Lake Oconee.
- Nephew Alex's Mural at the High Museum
The most important one is the city of Atlanta! It is an easy drive (depending on traffic) for getting to the airport, sports events, shopping, or cultural events. (Airport trips are made easy because of the many local limos and drivers for hire.) Some trips to Atlanta for us during the past 20 years have been to see the Braves games, Falcons games, the ACC Basketball Tournament, the 1996 Olympics, and PGA golf tournaments. Cultural events such as Broadway plays, parades, High Museum shows, and concerts were a day trip also. Atlanta is still my place for major shopping, although our area now has many shopping venues of its own. Many of the best doctors and hospitals are in Atlanta when you need them.
Other important destinations within an hour from Lake Oconee are Athens to the north, and Augusta to the east. Athens, home to the University of Georgia, offers its own sports events from collge football, gymnastics, and golf. The university is also the place to go for adult education, a graduate degree, and many cultural events.
- Cool Day at the Masters
Augusta is the home of The Masters Golf tournament. Being only an easy drive down Interstate 20, the Lake Oconee area attracts many Masters patrons who enjoy quieter accommodations and a chance to play golf themselves during Masters Week! I often go to Augusta for a shopping place as it is easier to maneuver with a car than Atlanta.
The Second radius of travel is about a 4 hour drive from the Lake Oconee area. The places that are reachable are Charlotte, Charleston (a favorite place for tourists), Asheville, Greenville, SC, and Chattanooga Tennessee.
Major highways make it a simple drive to reach the coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina. The Mountain areas of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are also within 4 hours from the lake.
The 3rd radius of destinations is one that is 7 hours in duration. Many Lake Oconee residents travel to Florida, during the winter. Often, they take the grandchildren to Disney World or one of the beaches in the summer! Most destinations in Florida: Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, etc can be reached by car in about 7 hours.
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