Atlanta to Raleigh road trip: 17 stops worth the detour

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.

Southern Railway's Spencer Shops with the largest surviving roundhouse in North America; seasonal train rides.

Widely regarded as Atlanta's best Ethiopian, with communal injera platters and vibrant veggie combos. (Briarcliff) Order: Doro wat and veggie combo.

No-frills counter famous for some of the best banh mi in the city, with a near-constant lunch line. (Buford Highway) Order: Banh mi.

a quartzite summit and cliffs near Charlotte

Southern steakhouse in a stunningly restored mid-century church serving wood-fired prime rib carved tableside. Order: Dry-aged tomahawk.

A Robert Trent Jones design on Duke's Durham campus, long and tree-lined with a true championship pedigree. Open to the public and rich in college-golf history.

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

Chef Ricky Moore's beloved counter serving fresh, locally sourced fish and shrimp in simple, expertly fried preparations. Order: Fried fish sandwich.

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

Zoo, aquarium and science museum on one admission, plus a treetop ropes course - a genuine triple-header, not a generic zoo stop.

Lively neighborhood spot known for wood-fired pizzas and seasonal snacks with a bustling bar in downtown Durham. Order: Wood-fired pizza.

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.

a granite-dome walk-up over Atlanta

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