Roadtrip | Life on the Bike and other Fab Things

The Candler Building was built in 1906 by Coca-Cola magnate and former Mayor Asa Griggs Candler. Standing on the site of one of Atlanta oldest churches, it was the city’s first skyscraper and tallest structure at 17 stories.

Now in the Hilton Curio Collection, the building underwent painstaking restoration and reopened as a hotel in 2019. Some of the features include:

Beau-Arts style, drawing upon the principles of French neoclassicism and incorporating Gothic and Renaissance elements
Picturesque, hand-carved marble staircase capped with The Candler Hotel’s iconic winged lion
Ornate décor using brass, mahogany & marble materials, that weaves an intricate family story is infused throughout the hotel
Lobby featuring two original Tiffany glass windows
Mysterious secret bank vault below ground
A historic Ballroom, completely transformed
A variety of window styles and layouts on each of the 15 stories
Detailed arched windows with elaborate cornices that crown the building, radiating its historical effect on downtown Atlanta

A road trip to Atlanta to see my son had been on the calendar for months, and I could not wait to get started.

I opted for the truck instead of the motorcycle because most of the 800 mile round trip would have been spent on the interstate. Truth be told, my son is always happier when I am not riding the bike anyway. Since I was leaving from the office at the end of the day, I decided to stop in Greenville, SC that first night.

Greenville is known for it’s urban revitalization. With a focus on public-private partnerships and investment in natural resources, the city is enjoying the success of a 30 yr endeavor.

I arrived in Greenville at 9:30 on Thursday evening, and as I always do when I travel, immediately went on the hunt for a local restaurant and a cold beer. Local Que was just the place, and I enjoyed a BBQ Quesadilla and this Quest Smoked Porter. Yum!

The next morning, I was up early to ride the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 20 mile bicycle / pedestrian trail that follows along the Reedy River.

Amenities along the trail include lighting, picnic areas, benches, water fountains, restrooms, signage and bicycle racks. Views of the Reedy River are plentiful along the trail.

The Swamp Rabbit runs right through downtown Greenville and over The Liberty Bridge.

“At 345 feet long, 12 feet wide and 8 inches thick, the concrete reinforced deck is supported by a single suspension cable”.

As I stood there on the bridge, attempting to capture the beauty of Falls Park on an overly bright, sunny day, I could feel subtle movement beneath my feet.

Riding on, I passed this pre-civil war building. The shell that remains is used for weddings and other events.

6/20/2016 – I reached out to the Visitor’s Center for more information about this shell building and found out that it is the former Markley Carriage Factory Paint Shop. It was part of an historic industrial complex constructed between 1850 and 1914.