Walmart's New Look

If you live in Dahlonega and Beyond, then you know that our major shopping center is Walmart. To be honest, when D&B located to Dahlonega, we were underwhelmed with the Walmart store. Poorly lighted, disorganized and cramped, it wasn't exactly the crown jewel in the Walmart chain.

But Dahlonega's Walmart is undergoing a remodel. Even the old logo is going away... (Have you noticed Walmart's logo is no longer Always Low Prices. Since 2010, it's been Save Money. Live Better.)

Although not quite completed, the remodeling has truly put a sparkle on the Dahlonega store. Now well lit, bright, and so much cleaner looking, the store is definitely better organized. The electronics center is triple the original size, with giant LCD and LED television screens lining the walls. Incredibly, the store even has an impressive selection of computers and other hardware. (Look out Best Buy. Appears that you're Walmart's next target.)

Unfortunately, our trip to the almost-new Walmart was a snatch and grab (We were looking for a computer cable.) So D&B didn't have time to fully explore the store department-by-department, but from what we saw the store definitely earns a D&B Thumbs Up. The remodel should be finished August 5. Can't wait to see the final product.

Happy Birthday to our Zedonk!

Pippi, Dahlonega's very rare Zedonk, just celebrated her first birthday. Pippi (short for Pippi Longstocking) is half Zebra and half Donkey and looks just like you would think a Zedonk would look - long Zebra legs on a donkey body.

The question is - What  kind of birthday cake do you make for zedonk? Maybe a carrot cake or perhaps a rich chocolate zucchini cake, a pumpkin cake or even a potato cake? Guess D&B will just have to do more research on this topic.

Anyway, Pippi made international news last July when she was born. Since then Pippi has become one of the top tourist attractions for Georgia with tourists coming from all over the world to see Dahlonega's newest treasure. 

Pippi lives with her donkey mom at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve along with monkeys, snakes, lions, tigers, wolves, a camel, a grizzly bear, and yes...a zebra.

While the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve may not have the international clout and reputation of the San Diego zoo, this Dahlonega zoo does have something no other zoo in America has...little Pippi.

Highest Waterfall East of the Mississippi

Just outside of Dahlonega (and a few miles from the home of D&B) is Amicalola Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi. And right now, the Amicalola Falls State Park, home to the cascading waterfall, is in the running to be named the America's Favorite Park.

If you've ever been to the park and hiked up to the viewing platform or even up to the top of the falls, you've got to agree that the park is beautifully maintained and that waterfall is spectacular. The park has numerous hiking trails, rental cabins and a spectacular lodge on the top of the mountain.

We've hiked up to the falls in all kinds of conditions - sweating in 100 degree temperatures and several times all bundled up climbing up snow covered trails. It's always fun and now a family tradition on Christmas Eve.

If you've never been to the park, check it out. And if you are an Amicalola Falls lover, be sure to cast your vote for the park as America's Favorite.

Hot Dogs Bad For Your Health?

 

Who would have thought that hot dogs were as dangerous as cigarettes? Now they tell us. We've grilled and boiled hundreds of hot dogs over the years and eaten just as many.

A couple of questions about the study that found hot dogs cancerous: Did this study compare people who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day with  people who ate a pack of hot dogs a day? Or was one cigarette compared to one hot dog? Hmmm. (Here's a thought. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that eating a pack of hot dogs every day isn't exactly healthy.)

While D&B probably won't serve hot dogs at any at-home cookouts, that doesn't mean we won't take a health risk ever now and then and actually indulge in a hot dog....especially when that dog is smothered in chili, onions and cheese.