I’m not exactly a country girl, so I was as surprised as anyone that a pilgrimage to paradise meant trekking to rural Georgia. The chance to visit a Baptist preacher-turned-outsider artist’s kitschy studio? Too unique to pass up, so we set off for Summerville, GA.

I didn’t anticipate feeling so connected to Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden or so welcomed by some of the locals. That feeling of being shaken out of your comfort zone? It’s one of the best parts of travel, especially in your own country.

Whether you’re looking for art, grub, or inspiration, our guide to Summerville and the surrounding area has you covered. This trip is deep-fried, small town Americana with a side of funky fixin’s.

After arriving in town, we let the locals be our guide – even when they threw in a detour to Alabama! You’ll start at the roadside diner where locals line up at 5:30 a.m. and end on top of a waterfall. A set of wheels is a must for this classic Southern road trip.

oxxo, Jessica

a RAD AND HUNGRY Mini-Adventure Two Tickets to Paradise – Summerville, GA

sleep in an ARTIST COTTAGE at Paradise Garden

Start your journey in Atlanta and take I-75 N to GA-140 W. Then, take US-27 N to N. Lewis St. Plan on two hours but traffic and time of day may make for a longer journey.

Get the full-on Paradise Garden experience by spending the night in the Artist in Residence Cottage. It’s burstin’ with artwork and vintage touches. Who needs rock star parking when you’re steps away from the entrance to Howard Finster's Paradise Garden! Reservations include unlimited access including after hours entry. Check out all the awesome by moonlight and let the magic wash over you. Availability is limited so book ahead.

eat BARBECUE at Henry’s BBQ

A pork plate for breakfast? Trust. The locals be up before dawn to start their day with Henry’s grubbin’ BBQ. Load up on Southern favorites like biscuits kissed with sunny dots of butter, grits, and the house-smoked sausage or bacon. The staff is the epitome of Southern hospitality. Tell Caitlan we sent you!

On your way back to Paradise Gardens, look out for Ye Olde Trade Grounds (US-27 and Smith Rd.). People flock from all over Chattooga County every Tuesday and Saturday for the Trade Day flea market at this parking lot. Browse everything from vintage jewelry to hunting knives, but the best deal is just gabbin’ with locals.

get INSPIRED at Paradise Garden

Paradise Garden was built by retired preacher Howard Finster when a vision told him to paint sacred art in 1976. He spent the rest of his life spreading his message by creating folk art and expanding his garden. The grounds are a wonderland of weird, featuring everyday bric-a-brac turned awesomeness. Watch your reflection multiply in the glittering Mirror House, try to count hubcaps amassed into a 20-foot-tall tower, and enjoy the gentle stream running through this outsider playground. If Finster’s work seems familiar you may have seen the album covers he created for R.E.M. and the Talking Heads. Protip – watch the short video shown in the visitor center for a glimpse of Finster serenading Johnny Carson by banjo.

shop the CRAFTS at Log Cabin Craft Village

Alabama? Hey, we go where the locals tell us. Drive NW for roughly 30 minutes from Summerville to Mentone on GA-48 W then AL-117 N.

This tiny mountain town is home to a surprisingly eclectic collection of artisans, craftspeople, and souvenir stores. Look for the group of log cabins that’s been converted to shops. The biggest surprise? A Dutch woman who moved from Seattle to Alabama and spends half the year sourcing goods for her shop in Ecuador and Peru!

go HIKING at Desoto Falls

A quick 10 minute drive and you’ll be lookin’ out at Alabama’s highest waterfall! Head west on AL-117 N and turn left onto Co Rd 613 until it dead ends at the DeSoto Falls Recreation Area.

An easy two-mile hike will take you through the lush Chattahoochee National Forest and back. Or just sit and admire the powerful 104-foot falls as they dive into the gorge below. Soak in the natural wonder before hitting the road back to Atlanta.

I went to college in a small town in Eastern Washington. For four years, 8-10 times a year, I drove between Seattle and Walla Walla. I hated the drive – until my senior year. A shift happened during the drive back to college after winter break. I went from hating the natural landscape of Eastern Washington to loving it. The massive fields of turned soil, yellow grains, and sage that extend to the horizon on both sides… The desert landscape that seemed picked over, that reminded me of death suddenly looked golden and rich. I’m stoked to share our mini tour of Quincy (download a print-friendly version, view the custom Google map). It’s small-town USA at it’s best. One of everything, spread out. A city laid out like a ginormous grocery store with half-empty shelves that’s built bigger than necessary – but when you got that much land, it’s hard not to sprawl. It’s personal space where one block seems too close yet too far away.  

You’ll be hittin’ up spots recommended by locals. Why? Because when a local recommends THE spot he gets his grub on, you listen. When he mentions that it’s a hole-in-the-wall spot servin’ up authentic Mexican food AND it’s next to the town USPS, you go! We knew we were golden when we pulled up to the second recommended spot – the town ice cream shop – and spied a father gripping a brown bag full of popsicles with one hand and holding his son’s hand with the other. We didn’t have to read their business card, “The best ice cream bars and popsicles in the state – Mexican style!” to know it!  

The Cave B Yurts may be a splurge but everything else on the itinerary is dirt cheap. So if you’re like me and don’t do camping but wanna get down with nature, head East and get your glamp on! oxxo, Hen

1 // hike the TRAIL to Wild Horse Monument

Vantage, WA / Open year-round, weather permitting.

  Take I-90 East, Exit 139 and follow signs to Wild Horse Monument. You’ll spy the 15 bigger-than-life steel horses from the highway. But the view from below is nothing compared to standing next to them, surrounded by sage, wild flowers, and the Columbia River. You’ll be swallowed by the vastness of the canyons and it’s awesome. To the west, peep the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park. Pro tip – before you climb up, swap out your sandals for sneakers. It’s a short but steep and rocky trail to the top of the ridge (1 mile, round trip).

    2 // eat MEXICAN FOOD at Tacos Jalisco & Carniceria

22 C Street SW, Quincy WA 98848 / (509) 787-1466 / Tue to Sun, 9 am - 8:45 pm

  Don’t be fooled by the decor, this Mexican grocery shop/deli serves grubbin’ food. Split a few tacos and a torta. Order horchata (trust us – just do it). And don’t look crazy when your order is rung up – the prices are that good. Grab a few groceries on your way out (conchas!). You’ll need snacks for later and can grab breakfast for tomorrow morning.

    3 // grab MEXICAN STYLE ICE CREAM at Paleteria La Michoacana

6 D Street SW, Quincy WA 98848 / (509) 787-0873

Daily, 10 am - 7:30 pm (8 pm if they’re busy)

  Be prepared – bring a cooler. Go crazy with the popsicles, order one of each flavor. For $1.50 a pop, why not! And don’t forget to try their ice cream. If you’re a fan of Mexican sweets heavy on the salt and chili powder, try their mangoneada. Served in a huge cup with a jumbo skewer, it’s part popsicle, part slushie – chunks of mango mixed with chili powder, lime, salt and a sour, spicy sauce called chamoy.

    4 // drink WINE at Cave B Estate Winery

344 Silica Rd NW Quincy, WA 98848 / (509) 785-3500

Summer Hrs Mon - Sat 11 AM - 7 PM, Sun 10 AM - 6 PM

    Turn the desert life up a notch with a wine tasting. Find your way to the Quincy Tasting Room and shell out $7 for a Cave B wineglass and 10 tastings, 5 whites and 5 reds. No appointment necessary. Don’t rush it – drink in everything around you. Grab a bottle of wine, a block of cheese, a box of crackers, and the salami plate (all available for sale in the tasting room, at reasonable prices) to take back to your yurt for dinner.

      5 // sleep in a YURT at Cave B Inn

344 Silica Rd NW Quincy, WA 98848 / Reservations (888) 785-2283

  In the middle of a vineyard, with the Columbia Gorge 20 ft from your door stop, you’ll discover a different sort of mecca. Gorgeous yurts framed with sustainable Douglas Fir, a king-sized bed, private bathroom (fully operating showers!!), concrete floor, A/C, patio with chairs… wi-fi?! But the best part? The skydome! Stargazing from bed.

    Wake up early the next morning, brew some coffee or make tea (included in each yurt), bust out the conchas, and eat breakfast outside. Soak in the calm morning air. Totally refreshed (unless you hit the wine a little too hard), squeeze in a short hike down through the gorge to the banks of the Columbia River (1.5 hours, round trip). It’s a steep hike and depending the time of the year, it can be scorching hot. Make sure to pack sunscreen and plenty of water. Ask the front desk staff for a map and fill up your water bottle. Or ask for a complimentary bottle of water. And don’t be surprised by the old car and desk at the bottom of the hike – remnants of a homestead from the 1960’s!