We made it to Atlanta in what felt like no time at all. For some reason I was under the impression that the drive was nine hours, but it was more like six and a half. Not too shabby! I didn’t even have to break out the entertainment I packed.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about our drive to Georgia was the fact that I, the queen of highway hypnosis, didn’t fall asleep. Well, that’s a lie. I did fall asleep… but only for 10 minutes.
I awoke to Ryan veering off the highway to a rest stop singing, “Come together… right now… and take a pee,” to the tune of Aerosmith’s “Come Together.” I think it’s safe to say someone was getting a little delirious!
Clearly it was time for lunch, so we took a nice break at Subway for some sandwiches.
I ordered a roast beef sub on honey oat. I love that bread!
A little before 3 p.m. we arrived at our hotel.
(Source)
And what a hotel it is! 
When I first blogged about our plans to visit Atlanta, I had two blog readers (Hi Anne and Jemma!) tell me to stay at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Atlanta. Jemma emailed me to say that she visited Atlanta on business and that the location of the Ritz was ideal – smack-dab in the middle of downtown – and that the rooms were plush and beautiful. I was immediately intrigued!
I emailed the Ritz earlier this week and reached out to them about our trip and was beyond excited when they agreed to host me and Ryan for the weekend. Talk about amazing!
Another thing that is totally amazing?
Personalized pillows! Recognize those initials?
I was blown away when I saw a fluffy “JF” pillow on our bed. (Do you think I can keep the pillow case? I’m not sure how this works…)
As for the bed itself… what a bed it is! So comfortable and clean. It’s the kind of bed you want to snuggle up in at night, sleep in late in the morning and order breakfast in bed… and not move… ever.
Of course we have to move around because we want to make the most of our trip to Atlanta. But, Mr. Bed, we will be back.
We have dinner plans with friends who live in Atlanta this evening, so I gotta go get pretty!
Scuba diving with whale sharks in the morning… Eek!
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I’m highly offended that you called it Aerosmith’s Come Together. 😉 Have a great trip- personalized pillow?! Thats amazing!
I totally agree! I saw you tweet that and my first response was “That’s the Beatles, not Aerosmith!”
We can give the benefit of the doubt and think that maybe he was actually listening to Aerosmith’s version??
I’m a Rolling Stones girl, guys. I like the Beatles, but the Stones have my heart. 🙂 Don’t hate me too much.
same here. harrison=awesome…but richards=deity. true facts!
Welcome to Hotlanta! That hotel where you are staying is like two blocks from where I work, haha! That Ritz is really nice, the beds are amazing. I didn’t even know they did personalized pillows though, that’s too awesome!
oh how I miss Atlanta! I’m so envious! And, the aquarium is awesome!
I’ve never seen a personalized pillowcase in a hotel before… how fancy!
Me neither! Definitely a first!
Did Ryan have an RF pillow to go along with yours?
Awesome!!!!!!! You are going to have an amazing time!
Personalized pillow cases! That’s crazy! You are a SUPERSTAR! 🙂
Have a great dinner!
My husband and I always stop at Subway on road trips – such an easy (and fairly healthy) choice.
That’s so cool that the Ritz offered to host you two – enjoy your vaca! 🙂
Hotlanta knows how to do it big! And I say you nab that pillow… 😉 Have fun tomorrow and I hope you aren’t blogging about missing limbs…you are a brave lil lady!
Have fun in Atlanta!
I was born and raised in there and moved to Alaska after graduating last year. It’s an incredible place and it sounds like you’re already enjoying it (hello embroidered pillow cases!)
That is amazing that the hotel is hosting you for this weekend! I totally agree – it never hurts to ask! Thanks for being honest about that!
Of course! 🙂
Personalized pillows! Do you think they just keep all the initial possiblities on hand? That’s insane!
That is awesome and I agree it never hurts to ask!
Just HAD to read Ryan’s singing while on a spin bike at the gym :p needless to say I laughed out loud and scared the cardio room full of strangers :p
personalized pillows?!?! crazy!!!
and thanks…now ryan’s version of the song is stuck in my head!!! lol.
I say KEEP the pillows 😉 Heh.
Love Subway for lunch sandwiches. Good choice, lady!
I worked for Ritz for 5 years, they’re beds are the best! I have two friends that work at their other Atlanta property in Buckhead! Enjoy!
Get out! I cannot believe you’re staying at the Ritz for FREE; that room is beautiful! You sure know how to use your connections
That is pretty dang sweet! Enjoy the trip!
Eeek! sharks. I am a big baby I suppose. You are the brave one! have fun 🙂
I loved Atlanta when I was there with my boyfriend, super super fun! The Bodies Exhibit was there at the time and that was awesome. I wanted to tell you that Subways breads (yes, all of them…) have HFCS in them! Booooo! >:[
Jillian Michaels offered to do TV commercial for FREE for Subway if they removed the HFCS, but nothing yet! All in moderation of course 😉
i LOVEEE atlanta!!! one of my fav places in the US! personalized?!! oh my- how AWESOME!
I for one LOVE that you referenced the song as Aerosmith’s! A far superior version IMO. I grew up listening to them, so they can do no wrong. Have fun!
I don’t understand what hosting does… Do they show you around Atlanta? Or do they offer free rooms + services? Sorry, I’m a little confused!
it just means they were kind enough to comp our room. we feel very lucky!
DID YOU GET A FREE HOTEL FOR THE WEEKEND?! WAY TO GO!
we were very excited! it just goes to show that it never hurts to ask! 😀
Only popular bloggers will get the ritz comped for sure 😉 congrats
I loved hotels! I always feel so pampered… almost like I’m a princess or something! I hope you have a wonderful time!
Julie,
I am an Atlanta native!!!
If you need a suggestion for Sunday brunch, head to Murphy’s in Virginia Highland…..I also highly recommend Two Urban Licks!! Best Mac and Cheese everrr.
Have fun at the aquarium.
I took my monogramed pillow from the hotel montage in beverly hills a few months ago. My friend who works there said that they can’t really do anything with them after and that they don’t really care as long as you don’t skip out the door holding it above your head. But maybe ask since the room is free. Haha. Have a fun weekend!!
Have a great weekend! I totally agree about the ‘it never hurts to ask’! For example last night my friends and I had gone for dinner and the restaurant gave us complimentary homemade white chocolates! Now me being a choc lover prefers dark chocolate had to ask if they had any of those in the back! My friends were getting all sorts of embarrassed but guess what- they did…anddd of course everyone much preferred them to the white choc!
I live in the A! You guys should check out Six Feet Under on the West Side for dinner/ drinks at night. They have the best view of the city from the rooftop deck.
If you want to check out stuff that Atlantans are into, poke around Scoutmob’s Atl site for interesting happenings. Have fun!
Here’s the link:
http://scoutmob.com/atlanta/scoutfinds/1862
Hi Julie! Love your blog and read every day =) I live close to ATL!!!! Enjoy… I’m totally jealous 😀
you get to stay at a ritz carlton free? you are so lucky! i have always dreamed of staying in one of their luxurious hotels! and those pillow cases are awesome! have a great trip!
Have so much fun with the sharks! In the words of Bruce from Finding Nemo:
“I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food.”
Wow that hotel room looks awesome! That is so cool that they’re hosting you! Have fun!
Holy cripes. I don’t even get emails returned. You go girl!
95% of the time, people ignore me… but sometimes i get lucky! have you tried making a media kit about your blog? i made one after seeing katy widrick (katywidrick.com) post about it and it really helps b/c it’s professional and lays everything out there. highly recommended!
Wow the hotel is fabulous! I’d love to sleep in a bed like this and have breakfast in there!
Oh my gosh, that hotel looks so swanky! How on earth are there JF intiials on your bed…do they do that deliberately?! They can’t keep a whole warehouse full of initialed pillows, right? I’m confused, lol! 😛 Whatever the reason, so cool! And absolutely amazing that you were able to stay there for free! Happy Atlanta exploring! 🙂 xyx
That is the weirdest thing, personalized pillows in a hotel!
OMG good for you getting hosted by the Ritz! That’s amazing. I’d say that’s a good perk of being an incredibly awesome blogger 😉 Have fun!
So glad you are visiting atlanta! I’m a long time reader and I believe this is my first time commenting. Anyway, you have to go to Empire State Sputh for a dinner if you can. It’s a fantastic contemporary southern place in midtown near piedmont park. There’s lots to do in the area–Take a visit to kai lin art if you can– it’s a great gallery on peachtree around 5th street. If you’re downtown you’re close to Castleberry hill which is loaded with great galleries and cool restaurants!
Have a great time here!
It looks like your having fun. I’ve never been to Atlanta before. It looks like there. The Ritz is always a sure bet when traveling. Although I’ve stayed there many times I’ve never had an monogrammed pillow… Did you have to ask for that? JW
Fairmont hotels are another good standby!
Dang Julie, that is AWESOME 😀 Go you for the free room– that is so cool! And pillowcases?! I have never seen that either! I would hope you can take them- & I’m really curious if Ryan got one too. 🙂
Hope you guys have SO MUCH FUN!!
That hotel is awesome for having a pillow with JF on it =) Glad you had a great trip to ATL! =)
yay for being in GA!! i just moved to Georgia (Athens) in April for a job at UGA and I have to drive through Atlanta to visit my hometown in Alabama. I like Atlanta as a city (it was the first/only “big” city i ever saw growing up) but i HATE the traffic!! On another note, i’m getting married next month and i think we might be going to Orlando for the honeymoon!! i need to go back and read your post about the non-theme-park side aspects of orlando!!
Ok this might be asking for TMI, but did you call the Ritz and ask the manager? Send via email? Just curious because I think it’s a genius idea!
I emailed the PR contact!
oh my gosh this is soo crazy but the subway you stopped at is in my hometown! 🙂 we have like five subways in Tifton, Ga and I definitely recognize that one. Such a small world!