How many times has a friend or family member asked you to come for a visit? You have every intention of going but you keep putting it off and never go. Too many times we wait for the “perfect time” to travel and although some dates are definitely better than others, there never is the “perfect time.” When my friend of 48 years, Tracey, sent a text, “why don’t you come to Georgia for a few days?,” I started checking airfare and patiently waited (no more than a couple of weeks) until I found a great price. Fortunately, one of the benefits of retirement is travel flexibility, so it’s easy to grab those flights on unpopular days. Since I watch my grandson on Wednesdays, traveling Thursday - Tuesday worked out perfectly and allowed me to secure a round trip flight from Chicago to Atlanta for $120. Can’t beat that! 
About 40 minutes northeast of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a great place to stop for lunch - Three Blind Mice in Lilburn. TBM is a warm, comfortable urban eatery, a great place to enjoy food and wine. Of course we had the Peach Salad (being in Georgia and all) and it was tasty - greens, peaches, cucumbers, spiced almonds, Farmers Cheese and champagne vinaigrette. Add a glass of sauvignon blanc from New Zealand and you have a perfect girls lunch to launch the perfect girls getaway. 
After a long weekend at Tracey's beautiful home golfing, swimming, and gabbing at the pool, we traveled to Lake Oconee for a few days of kayaking and more girl talk (cheaper than therapy), but first we had to get in some retail therapy. A girls trip is never complete without retail therapy. We stopped in Madison (named for President James Madison) on the way to Lake Oconee for lunch and a little shopping. Understandably, Madison, GA was named the #1 Small Town in America by Travel Holiday magazine and Budget Travel magazine voted Madison as one of the world’s most picturesque villages. It’s adorably quaint with nearly 100 carefully restored antebellum homes along with many boutiques and eateries. We chose the Chop House Grill for lunch - the Orchard Spinach Salad was delish while dining alfresco in the near perfect Georgia weather that day. One of my favorite boutiques in Madison is Laughing Moon (right across the street from the Chop House Grill). If you're in Madison, it’s worth a visit.
After arriving at Tracey's SO's beautiful lake house on Lake Oconee, first on the agenda was a glass of wine on the beautiful dock. It was late afternoon and the lake was incredibly calm and serene. A yummy place for lunch near Lake Oconee is Sweet Kneads Bakery and Cafe. They are famous for their chicken salad (Jack’s Favorite Chicken Salad). We had it over greens with Thai soup and it was delectable. Try taking home a quart of the Thai soup with the pepperoni stuffed bread - it's a great option for dinner (that’s what we did)! With the million dollar view of the beautiful lake, hot ginger peach tea and more girl talk on the deck in the mornings for breakfast were priceless.
My dear friend's request, “come to Georgia for a few days” turned out to be a much needed getaway with a childhood friend who means so much to me. Take the trip.
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