Atlanta to Great Smoky Mtns road trip: 24 stops worth the detour

The Atlanta Chinese community's go-to for cart-service dim sum on Buford Highway. Order: Har gow and shrimp dumplings.

a chain of falls in a dramatic gorge with rim-trail overlooks

staircases into a dramatic 1,000-ft gorge; permit for the floor

A Cherokee comfort-food buffet stop for the Newfound Gap Road day, especially useful on the quieter North Carolina side.

a tall, delicate fall on the Cherokee reservation near the Smokies

a wide fall and big pool, the reward of a beloved gorge hike

Emory-area favorite smoking until the meat runs out, so arrive early. (Decatur) Order: Pulled pork and mac and cheese.

One of the last of the Parkway's 26 tunnels before the road ends at the Smokies, named for a 19th-century Cherokee leader -- a five-second reminder that this whole drive terminates inside the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' homeland.

Downtown Decatur tapas destination pairing Spanish-inspired small plates and charcuterie with an extensive Iberian wine and sherry program. Order: Pork cheek bocadillo.

Eighteen of Jack's favorite holes from around the world, recreated outside Atlanta. A greatest-hits round you can actually book.

taller than Niagara, tucked on a college campus

a wide, gentle cascade near Lake Rabun, lovely in any season

a Belgian-inspired Decatur brewery with a strong sour program

wrapped in The Battery — a year-round dining-and-music district that changed the ballpark model

The marquee layout at a 45-hole winery resort, no overnight stay required to play. A parkland design winding past vineyards 45 minutes from downtown Atlanta.

a roaring roadside fall on the dramatic Cullasaja Gorge drive

the tallest fall in the Smokies, in old-growth forest

Cult roadside smokehouse fusing Texas and Korean barbecue traditions. (Cumberland) Order: Korean-style smoked brisket.

a rare double fall a few steps off the highway near Cherokee

A scenic 36-hole public club beside the granite dome of Stone Mountain Park, with lake and mountain views east of Atlanta. A handy metro round.

Historic civil-rights-era institution (founded 1947) still turning out classic Southern plates near downtown. (Castleberry Hill) Order: Fried chicken and collard greens.

Reservation-only lunch tea room tucked in the hills serving homemade seasonal fare with a devoted local following. Order: Wild plum tea and daily quiche.

a series of falls with mountain views near Highlands