The Wandering Disciple

When it comes to starting your day with a truly satisfying meal, few places deliver quite like The Original Pancake House in Alpharetta, Georgia. Known for its generous portions, classic breakfast favorites, and welcoming atmosphere, this spot has become a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with the comforting aroma of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and warm pancakes on the griddle. The restaurant has a cozy, no-frills charm that lets the food take center stage—and that’s exactly how it should be. One of the standout features of the menu is the selection of large, fluffy egg omelets. These aren’t your average omelets—they’re oversized, packed with fillings, and cooked to perfection. Whether you prefer something classic like ham and cheese or something more loaded with vegetables and meats, each bite is rich, hearty, and incredibly satisfying. It’s the kind of meal that fuels you for the entire day. Of course, no visit would be co...

Atlanta Georgia:  Atlanta is the birthplace of one of the world's most iconic beverages: Coca-Cola. A visit to the World of Coca-Cola is more than just a museum trip; it's an immersive, effervescent journey into the history, marketing genius, and global impact of Coca-Cola.  The story of Coca-Cola begins not in a corporate boardroom, but in a small pharmacy in 1886. Dr. John Pemberton, a local pharmacist, concocted the original formula as a medicinal tonic. It was his bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson, who coined the now-famous name and scripted the flowing, Spencerian script logo that remains instantly recognizable today. The first servings were sold for five cents a glass at Jacob's Pharmacy soda fountain.  The true genius in the early days, however, was Asa Candler, who purchased the formula and the company in 1888. Candler turned a local curiosity into a national sensation through innovative marketing, establishing Coca-Cola as a bottled beverage and a brand with mass ap...

  Atlanta stands as a foundational city in the American Civil Rights Movement . It is from this fertile ground that the initial spark and enduring momentum of the struggle for equality emerged. To pay tribute to this journey, it is home to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights . The center serves as a vital institution dedicated to chronicling and illuminating this pivotal period in American history. Within its walls, the museum provides a powerful and unflinching spotlight on the painful past of discrimination and the arduous struggles undertaken by countless individuals in pursuit of fundamental civil rights and human equality for all. It acts as both a memorial to those who fought and a continuing call to action in the ongoing global fight for human rights . Click on the photo above to see the entire gallery of photos. Taken: April 29, 2021 at National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Atlanta, GA)

  The ascent of Kennesaw Mountain in the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a pilgrimage through history, culminating in a spectacular panoramic view. The journey starts on well-maintained trails that cross preserved Civil War battlefields from the 1864 Atlanta Campaign . The climb recounts the intense fighting, adding historical depth beneath the refreshing forest canopy. The true reward is the 1,808-foot summit. The breathtaking 360-degree vista sweeps across northern Georgia , with the Atlanta skyline visible on clear days. The summit, marked by monuments and observation points , offers a peaceful sense of accomplishment, where the physical effort is instantly replaced by the inspiring, expansive reward of the view.  You can see more photos from the park by clicking on the photo above. Taken: April 30, 2021 at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park ( Kennesaw, GA )

When it comes to being the leader in air superiority, it takes a team effort to maintain the global effort. That's where Team Robins shines. The airman of Team Robins and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex. They are directly responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of some of the iconic Air Force aircraft like the F-15 Eagle, C-5 Galaxy. C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and more.  This effort is on display in the Team Robins exhibit at the Museum of Aviation located on base. The museum spans four buildings and all eras of Air Force aviation. There are over 85 aircraft on display from early gliders to next-gen aircraft.  Taken: December 22, 2014 at Museum of Aviation (Warner-Robins, GA)

Hop aboard the Stone Mountain Railroad and enjoy a scenic ride on the rails around historic Stone Mountain Park. The rock line takes you on a five mile loop that completely encircles Stone Mountain, a 1,686 foot quartz monzonite dome.  Stone Mountain Railroad was once a spur of the Stone Mountain Granite Company used to serve the mines at the foot of Stone Mountain. In the 1960's the rail lines were repurposed to create a tourist scenic rail line and the present day Stone Mountain Railway was born. Today the train is one of the many attractions you can enjoy when you visit Stone Mountain Park.  Taken: December 21, 2014 at Stone Mountain Park, (Stone Mountain, GA)

From this humble home in the Sweet Auburn section of Atlanta came the starting chapter of the journey of a pioneer in Civil Rights. This is the birthplace of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Dr King's childhood was shaped here as he spent the first twelve years of his life here.  Today the home sits as part of the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. The childhood home is joined by Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr King preached, historic Fire Station 6 and a museum that help preserved the legacy of Dr King and his fight to equality.  Taken: December 20, 2014 at Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park (Atlanta, GA)

A giant panda enjoys his favorite treat, a stack of bamboo. Giant pandas spend much of the day eating bamboo and can eat up to 80 pounds of bamboo a day.  Zoo Atlanta has four giant pandas on display and is currently the only place in the United States to see the giant panda. Giant Pandas are owned by the Chinese government and are on loan to the US. The loans for Memphis, San Diego and Washington DC have expired and the pandas were returned to China. The Atlanta pandas are due to return to China sometime this year.  Taken: December 20, 2014 at Zoo Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)

As you stroll through the paths of Grant Park, you are strolling though history. In the shadows of downtown Atlanta, this urban park is the oldest park in they city and features hiking trails, a zoo, a farmers market and more. The park was founded in 1883 when local engineer Lemuel Grant gifted the city of Atlanta 100 acres to create a park in the suburbs. A few year later the city acquired more land and tasked the Olmsted Brothers with developing a master plan for the park. Today the park is a popular attraction and one of the prestigious neighborhoods in Atlanta.  Taken: December 20, 2014 at Grant Park (Atlanta, GA)

Like a beacon in the night sky, the illuminated air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport rises above the airfield. At 398 feet tall, the tower is the tallest in the country and provides guidance for pilots into the busiest airport in the world.  Serving almost 94 million passengers a year, Atlanta has been top ranked in the world for years. It's five runways service over 1,000 flights a day connecting travelers to 225 destinations across the globe. The airport is the headquarters of Delta Air Lines as well as a stop for 26 other airlines.  Taken: December 21, 2014 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, GA)

Gone With the Wind is one of the greatest films of all time. This timeless classic follows the life Scarlett O'Hara and her pursuit of love in the Civil War south. Based on the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell, the film was released in 1939 at a premier in Atlanta. The film has become a prized classic and one of the greatest movies of our generation. Today you can get a glimpse inside the movie and see some memorabilia from the set at the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum. The museum houses the vast privately-owned collection of Dr. Christopher Sullivan. (Photo: April 30, 2021)

For decades we have fought for freedom and equality. While the battle may have started with a colony seeking freedom from monarchy, it continues to fight strong on many levels and for many causes. One of the biggest fights that continues through this day is the fight for civil rights and civil justice. This journey can be seen at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Here you can follow the footsteps of some of the civil rights leaders and learn what inspired them to fight for change. (Photo: April 29, 2021)

While we awake from out turkey inspired food coma, thousands flock to the store to begin Christmas shopping on Black Friday. Stores entice shoppers with big deals and try to bring their budget from the red back into the black. While online shopping has changed the face of Black Friday, there are still plenty of shoppers that can't wait to hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving. In honor of Black Friday, today's photo of the day comes from a historic cash register on display at the Marietta Museum of History. (Photo: April 30, 2021)

With a skull the size of an average human, the Gigantosaurus was a massive carnivore that lived during the early Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous period. Approximately 99.6 to 97 million years ago, this "giant lizard" was found in present day Argentina and believed to have been even bigger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Fernbank Museum of Natural History has a full sized skeleton of the Gigantasaurus in the atrium of the museum. But to put it to scale, they also have a replica of the skull down low so visitors can get up close to the six foot skull and see just how massive these beasts were. (Photo: April 28, 2021)

For decades the secret recipe of America's favorite cola has been locked up inside a secret vault. The vault has been relocated from the bank to a new exhibit at the World of Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta. While you still can not see the recipe, in the Vault exhibit you will be the closest to the recipe as anyone outside the company can get. The Vault exhibit is just one of the many exhibits at the World of Coca-Cola that tell the story of the Coca-Cola empire. (Photo: April 29, 2021)

A hammerhead goes fishing at the Georgia Aquarium. Hammerheads are aggressive hunters, ambushing schools of fish for their meals. Their unique shaped head spreads out their visual field, helping them locate prey better. They also are equipped with sensory organs called Ampullae of Lorenzini which help them sense electric fields produced by their prey making them one of the best hunters in the sea. (Photo: April 29, 2021)

A colorful Taveta Golden Weaver sits in a tree in the aviary at Zoo Atlanta. Found in the African savannah, the Taveta Golden Weaver is a true weaver and makes elaborate nests by weaving together strips of plants. These birds are known to build multiple chamber nests for their colony. In the wild, Taveta Golden Weaver can be found in Eastern Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. (Photo: April 28, 2021)

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the corporate headquarters of CNN is right in the middle of the busy city. Founded in 1980 by Ted Turner as a 24-hour news channel, CNN has grown to a multi-national news platform that reaching almost 600,000 viewers a day. Combined with CNN International, CNN brings news to over 212 countries from its headquarters in Atlanta. (Photo: April 29, 2021)

The expansive atrium of the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport as seen from the upper floors during our stay earlier this year. The interior of the hotel feels much like the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World without the monorail. The hotel is located on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and features guest room with balconies that overlook the airfield. This is a must-stay for aviation enthusiasts as you can watch one of the busiest airports in the world right from your hotel room. (Photo: April 28, 2021)

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Today we honor Dr Martin Luther King Jr and his impact on the not just the civil rights movement but his impact on the nation. Today's we are living though some of the most turbulent moments we have seen in our lifetime. From the social injustices and uprisings, the political turmoil and insurrection to the loss of life from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing a level of instability that most of us have never witnessed. But still today, the words of Dr King provide a beacon of light in these troubling times. So as the events of our world continue to shape us, ask yourself where do you stand? (Photo: December 20, 2014)