historic,  outdoors,  travel

Historic Banning Mills: Anniversary Trip

January 1, 2025 /

A few months ago, my husband and I took an overnight trip about an hour and a half from our house to Historic Banning Mills. It is located just a little south of I20 on the west side of Atlanta. The area offers trails to walk with swinging bridges, waterfalls, ziplines as well as a few other activities you can book. The mill has a lodge, cabins and some treehouses you can rent for just a couple or a family. In the summer, there is a pool, mini golf and camps for children.

We rented a treehouse for one night: I thought is was pretty overpriced as the accommodations were dated, but it was pretty fun as it was above the ground and you entered it by go across a small swinging bridge.

I brought a few changes of clothes, but there really was not need to dress up: I just like to look nice if I am eating dinner out.

We went on several walks: the first one was that afternoon when we arrived and we walked by the river to the old mill.

I love hiking near water! There were some pretty views to admire.

I enjoy old structures too, so the remnants of the mill were interesting.

I actually fell through a hole in one of the small bridge (not a hanging bridge) and we are pretty sure that it was because our trip was right after the rains from hurricane Helene. Everything was wet and you could tell that some areas had been under water.

There are a couple of these beautiful carved trunks at the entrance of the mills. These were carved in 2020.

We enjoyed our little overnight trip: I think after staying at some really nice places, I have gotten a little picky about accommodations. I do think this would be a great place to bring kids to, but for an anniversary trip, I may want nicer lodging. Funny story: even though we have lived in Atlanta for more than 20 years, neither my husband nor I had heard of this place: someone told him about it while he was traveling for work in South Dakota!

Speaking of husbands, I really like this picture of him, so I decided to share it!

A bientôt!

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14 Comments

  • Joanne

    January 1, 2025 at 8:05 am

    I find I am getting pickier about where we stay too as we have splurged more and more for nicer accomodations (especially when it’s just the two of us for an overnight trip!).

  • jodie

    January 1, 2025 at 5:24 pm

    Okay, that’s funny to hear about this place from a person in SD…that’s how it is though.
    And I’m the same way about accommodations now. Once you have nice ones, it’s hard to go back. Although it’s pretty cool to be in a “tree house”.
    XOOX
    Jodie

    • mimifce

      January 2, 2025 at 10:49 am

      It’s definitely harder now to stay in places that are not as nice. We stayed at a Hilton in Batumi, Georgia that had the best breakfast ever and when we now go to a normal one, I wonder where the rest of the food is, lol!

  • Leslie Susan Clingan

    January 1, 2025 at 7:51 pm

    I remember when we talked about your then upcoming anniversary trip and treehouse accommodations. It sounded like such fun. And I really like the way you walk up on a swinging bridge to the little treehouse. You look so cute in those photos. I’m sorry the interior was not as nice as you had hoped. But hope you guys enjoyed the time together ALONE!!

    We are headed back to Silver City, NM tomorrow, where we recently stayed in a darling cabin for a couple of days. This time we are going so kitty can have his hip surgery. We are staying in an old fashioned motel like the places we stayed when I was a girl. You park in front of your room. I think they are motels rather than hotels. Anyway, it is supposedly clean if not modern!!

  • Mica Away From Blue

    January 2, 2025 at 3:22 am

    it looks liek such an interesting place to stay, and the treehouse idea is so cool! It’s a shame the accomdation wasn’t what you epexcted though, but definitely a unique anniversary trip! 🙂

    Hope you had a nice Christmas and you have a happy new year 🙂