My Dream, as a huge fan of beverages...

...Today we went to World of Coke!!!

Yes, basically a big commercial for Coca-Cola that you pay to see... but it was actually pretty fun and interesting! And delicious.

 So the first step is sitting through a movie... really an extended commercial. But, I'm a sucker and with the right combination of music and video I'll cry every time. (Done.) BUT... with my new experiences with creating video, I found their hand-held camera work (trying to make it seem more grass-roots) a little *too shaky. Distracting.

The next stop was the ACTUAL, PHYSICAL vault where the secret formula for Coca-Cola is stored! On the way was a great history lesson about the development of Coke -- and some fabulous old bottles and jars and other things that made the prop person in me go crazy.

I think this was my (second) favorite part of the day. A huge collection of memorabilia and ephemera. Advertising and signs and cards and cans and pins and... EVERYTHING. It occurs to me, as we move further and further from print media -- displays like this one will be impossible to create. That makes me sad.

Aaaaand... my favorite part. So many Coke Freestyle machines! PLUS, right next door was the tasting area for Coke products from around the world. (Yes, Beverly is still totally gross -- but yes, I tasted it again anyway.)

The adorable part was as you leave (and enter the amazing gift shop) they gift you a Coca-cola in an 8oz glass bottle. A great souvenir of the experience!

I kind of want to make something like this for IKEA... but I think it would have to be more like a theme park.

On the way back to the hotel, it was The Vortex for lunch. It had popped up on my search for roadside attractions... because you enter through a huge skull.

This was a perfect addition to the day because they serve the beverages in 32oz cups!!! (I didn't need a refill. Shocking.) They have great burgers, and really tasty tater tots. Delicious!