Hometown Wanderlust is an adventurous, weekly blog featuring one girl’s experiences with food, music, shopping, history, art and life in general around Dublin GA. This week, Dublin GA’s favorite redhead hits the road exploring Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference and more!
Visit Dublin GA took a road trip last week to College Park for the annual Governor’s Conference. Even on the road, Dublin GA was right there with us.
Eat
Upon arriving in downtown College Park, I noticed an unassuming restaurant with a simple “Noodle” sign across the front. I LOVE pho and we decided that we definitely would be paying a visit. We checked in and settled comfortably into our hotel, home for the next couple days before heading out to eat. We arrive at the small restaurant, charming as it is colorfully eccentric. While we wait on our meal I notice the perceptible volume of conversation around me, each person leaned over their steaming bowls completely engaged in conversation with each other. Our meals arrive and oh my, DELECTABLE! Add Noodle to your list of must-eats while in Atlanta.
Work
Throughout the sessions during the conference, we smiled with pride as Dublin popped up periodically as examples of what to do and how to do it. As a historical destination, the MLK monument site and mural were featured. Dublin’s award winning restaurants were mentioned as we are home to 4 of ExploreGeorgia.org’s “100 Plates Locals Love. As a “pet friendly” destination, Dublin GA is featured on ExploreGeorgia.org and was used as an example of how to attract 4-legged visitors and their owners. Exceeding in media marketing, examples of the hard work and the determination of Dublin to become a destination were used as learning tools.
Play
We took some time in the afternoon to tour the Center for Civil and Human Rights which I can only describe as moving and incredibly intense. Flipping through Dr. King’s autobiography in the gift shop, I came across a section where Dr. King describes his difficult ride back home on a bus from Dublin to Atlanta after participating in an oratorical contest.
We met MLK monument mural artist, Corey Barksdale, for lunch after which he led us on a “tour” of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. An amazing re-purposed space and beautiful pieces of art of all different styles and components left us inspired with ideas for our own hometown.
Traveling to any place is exciting. Taking in the different sights, sounds, and tastes, exploring new ideas and cultures, but there’s nothing like coming back to your own corner of the world. Inspired. Ready. Refreshed.
