best inventory from local vendors
Betsy Digiorgio and Lisa Rieves had the idea of creating a unique clothing boutique that would sell jewelry, clothes, shoes and accessories that metro Atlanta women cannot find in big department stores. And true to that vision, The Honeybee, which opened in 2009 and is located in Smyrna, now sells items from nearly three dozen local vendors. The partners say they are proud to represent such creative individuals and companies as Ronda Smith Jewelry, P.O.M.; Starr Luna; Peace/Love/Mom; Loopty Loo; Maidlene Robinson; KLR Designs; Jill Massey; Choosy Chicks; Booby Dooby; Paddywax; and Dolma Jewelry. What’s even better, the partners say, is that many of these local companies were started “by two friends, like us, who decided to try something new and different in life.” shopthehoneybee.com
best sandwiches
For the last six years, Muss & Turners in Smyrna has created for itself a loyal following, both locally and nationally, particularly for its unique take on the sandwich. The restaurant, owned by Todd Mussman and Ryan Turner, presents an ever-evolving menu of more than two dozen sandwiches with names as unique as their ingredients. Consider the Gobbler, which is made from “shaved house-roasted turkey breast served with Bubby Muss’ Ritz cracker stuffing, Swedish lingonberry coulis and thyme aioli on a toasted challah bun;” the Bucky Goldstein, which is “smoked beef brisket tossed in BBQ demi glace with sliced sour pickle, fried tobacco onion rings and Dijon on a challah bun;” or the Chocolate Elvis, “peanut butter, melted couverture chocolate and sliced bananas on griddled challah bread.” mussandturners.com
best biking trail
Built on an abandoned rail line northwest of downtown Atlanta, the Silver Comet Trail is a terrific way to spend a day biking or walking. The more than 61-mile trail, which starts in Smyrna and ends at the Georgia/Alabama state line near Cedartown, crosses three Georgia counties—Cobb, Paulding and Polk—and features a variety of terrain and scenery, including the Pumpkinvine Trestle, Coots Lake Beach and the Brushy Mountain Tunnel and Riverwalk Park through downtown Rockmart, to name a few. The historic trail is named for the Silver Comet passenger train that was operated on the line from 1947–1969 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. silvercometga.com
