Halloween Hikes + Michelin Fried Chicken

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What's up, neighbors!

Halloween is a week out, and this is the weekend everybody squeezes the fun in before the real thing. Our pick is the 41st annual Halloween Hikes at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. They flipped the format this year. It's a self-guided trick-or-treat trail through the woods now, with the center's woodland characters handing out treats from little themed houses. It's our Event of the Week, so grab timed tickets for the trick-or-treat trail before the good slots are gone.

Saturday evening the little goblins get their own party in Sandy Springs. Spooky Springs brings candy stations, fog machines and face painting to the Playable Art Park from 5 to 7, and it's free. That's our free pick this week.

Sunday afternoon belongs to the grown-ups. Canton Street lines up its BOO Y'ALL scarecrows, and the SIP & Stroll tasting passport gets you a pour and a bite at each stop. The money goes to Roswell Woman's Club grants, so really the second glass is basically charity.

Also inside this week: Sandy Springs is planning a small tax increase, a Roswell spot with Michelin-recognized fried chicken, a Chamblee bookstore that looks like a movie set, a down-to-the-studs Roswell rebuild to guess the price on, and a sweet 13-year-old Beagle mix whose fee is already covered.

- Andrew

When was the last time you actually looked at your homeowners policy?

For most folks in Atlanta and the Perimeter area, the honest answer is "when we bought the house." Which would be fine, except home values around here are up $150K to $200K+ since 2020. If your policy hasn't kept up, your dwelling limit is probably short of what it would actually cost to rebuild today. That gap won't show up on your bill. It only shows up when you file a claim, which is the worst time to find out.

Peachy Insurance is Atlanta-based and built to make this kind of check painless. No call center, no upselling, no runaround. Just a licensed local agent who looks at your full picture and gives you a straight answer on where you stand.

Three things worth a quick look while it's on your mind:

Takes about 5 minutes. Free, no pressure.

Get a free coverage review or text/call 770-520-7095 (Mon-Fri, closed weekends)

Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA
Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24, 2026
6:00-10:00 PM (Sunday, October 25, 5:00-9:00 PM)
$25 in advance, $30 day-of
Pick your timed entry for Halloween Hikes

Roswell's nature center has been running Halloween Hikes for 41 years. A lot of us did this one as kids, and now we drag our own kids to it. This year they changed the format. It's a self-guided trick-or-treat trail through the woods now, so you move at your own pace instead of shuffling along behind a tour group.

As you go, you stop at little themed houses run by the center's woodland characters. Every stop hands out a treat and a sticker for the Halloween passport, and your kids will want to hit every single one. That's the whole fun of it.

Got a teenager who thinks trick-or-treating is beneath them? Point them at the Haunted Quest, a 1.5-mile scavenger hunt on the river boardwalk, recommended for ages 12 and up and a good bit spookier than the main trail.

Back at the festival area there are glow games, s'mores, storytellers and food trucks (Bangin' Burgers & Buns on Friday, Burger 21 on Sunday). Sunday also brings live music, with Alma Mexicana at 6 and Mariachi Búhos de Oro at 7.

A few tips before you go. Entry is timed and parking is tight, so plan to show up about 30 minutes ahead of your slot. Sunday starts an hour earlier, which is easier on the little ones and on a school night. And buy ahead, because day-of tickets jump from $25 to $30 at the gate.

A trail of treats through the woods, a haunted river quest for the big kids, and s'mores at the end. This is the kind of Halloween your kids actually remember years later. Grab your flashlight and GO.

Southern | Michelin-recognized fried chicken in an old house on Canton Street

Once the nights in Roswell finally cool off, this is the place my wife and I start circling. It's a restored historic house on Canton Street with a garden patio, and late October is about the best stretch of the year to sit out there.

The fried chicken is why most people come. It's a Springer Mountain Farms half bird for $28 with your choice of side, and it's big enough that we always walk out with a box.

Start with the Fancy Cornbread with honey butter ($11.50). If you want something a little different, the Hogs 'n Quilts ($15) wraps BBQ pork and coleslaw in a chive crepe with Georgia vinegar sauce.

For sides, mac 'n cheese ($8.50) and collard greens ($7.50) are the classic move. Save room for the Nanner Puddin' ($13).

The Michelin Guide handed it a Bib Gourmand, which is their way of pointing at good food that won't wreck you on price. And it still feels like a neighborhood place, not a place trading on an award.

Mondays are the deal night. They run a three-course $35 prix fixe on T&M Mondays on top of the regular menu. Wednesdays bring prime rib from Chatel Farms in Reidsville, Georgia, at $62 while it lasts.

Here's the honest part. It's dinner only, and Sunday brunch is on pause right now. Entrees mostly land between $23 and $42, so treat this as a real night out, not a Tuesday takeout run. On busy nights they may stop takeout altogether, and the prime rib is first come, first served with no holds, so don't count on it if you're rolling in late.

Dogs are welcome on the patio too, which is a nice bonus if you're already strolling Canton Street.

Price: $$$
Hours:
Mon - Thu 5-9 PM
Fri 5- 0 PM
Sat 4-10 PM
Sun 10 AM-2 PM, 4-8:30 PM
Website: tableandmain.com

There's a little old building on Chamblee Dunwoody Way, hemmed in by new apartments, and inside it is a bookstore that looks like a set from Little Women.

That's not an accident. Owners Grace and Tyler Smith both work in film, and Grace's background is set decoration. She built the shop to feel like the attic in Little Women, candles floating over the card room, real chairs where you can actually sit down and test-drive a book before you buy it.

The kids get the best corner. There's a small stage for story times and puppet shows and a rack of dress-up costumes, which is how a quick stop turns into an hour before you've noticed.

Grown-ups aren't an afterthought. Books for adults, toys for the little ones, and a writing desk stocked with cards and envelopes. Write a letter there and the front counter will mail it for you. Anything that isn't on the shelf, they'll special order.

With Halloween coming, they're throwing a Halloween Book Bash with a tarot reader and a horror author signing on Friday, Oct. 30, from 7 to 10 PM. There will be a costume contest, spooky crafts, and a reading and signing from horror author Michael Wehunt.

Fair warning. It's dim inside on purpose, and one reviewer joked you might want a flashlight to read the spines. And they're closed Mondays, so don't make the drive on a Monday.

Price: $
Hours:
Tue-Thu and Sun 10 AM-7 PM
Fri-Sat 10 AM-8 PM
Mon Closed
Website: wildasterbooks.com

5 Beds
4.5 Baths
5,386 sq ft
1.19 acres

A) $995,000

B) $1,125,000

C) $1,275,000

D) $1,450,000

Sandy Springs announced on Oct. 7 that it plans to set its property tax rate 0.2635% above the rollback rate. The rollback rate is the rate that would bring in the same money as last year once rising home values are factored in. Anything above it counts as a tax increase under Georgia law.

The city says its adopted FY27 budget needs the higher rate, and state law requires three public hearings when that happens. The first one already came and went on Oct. 20. The last two are Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA.

Want to weigh in? You can sign up at the meeting or fill out the city's online public comment form ahead of time.

Source: City of Sandy Springs

At an Oct. 6 work session, Sandy Springs leaders walked through an updated housing study, and the headline finding is blunt: the median household can no longer afford a typical home in the city. Most of the new single-family houses going up are multimillion-dollar teardowns. And fewer than 600 apartments have been built since 2021, against 2,084 delivered in 2017 alone.

"We're not going to be able to build $400,000 houses in Sandy Springs when land costs are a million dollars per acre," Mayor Rusty Paul said. Council Member Andrew Chinsky linked the housing squeeze to heavier traffic, since many people who work in Sandy Springs have to drive in from somewhere cheaper.

These findings feed straight into the city's 20-year comprehensive plan. Residents can weigh in at the next planning workshop on Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Studio Theatre inside the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

Brookhaven Municipal Court is running a limited amnesty program through Oct. 30, and it's aimed at folks carrying an active bench warrant or a suspended license tied to an unpaid Brookhaven traffic ticket. If that's you, you can pay a reduced appearance bond, get the warrant withdrawn, and walk out with a new court date.

If your license was suspended over an unpaid fine, you can pay it or ask for a new court date and start getting your driving privileges back. The court is at 1793 Briarwood Road, Brookhaven, GA, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in arraignment hours are limited, so check the city’s amnesty program page for the current dates before you go.

You can check eligibility and submit a request on the city's amnesty program page. Payment can be cash, money order, cashier's check or card. Personal checks aren't accepted.

Source: City of Brookhaven

The DeKalb County Board of Education voted to make Dr. Norman C. Sauce its permanent superintendent on Oct. 5, after he'd been running the district on an interim basis. This is the system that serves Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville schools, so it matters around here.

The vote was 4 in favor, 1 against, 1 abstaining and 1 member absent. The member who voted no said the hire skipped a competitive search but added that she doesn’t oppose Sauce personally; a second member abstained, echoing that concern. Board Chair Allyson Gevertz called it a pivotal moment for the district after a rough year that followed the former superintendent being indicted on 17 counts tied to his previous district.

Sauce is the first Italian-American superintendent in the district's 153-year history.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

The City of Chamblee and Keep Chamblee Beautiful are running a Rivers Alive Nancy Creek Stream Cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Volunteers meet at 2165 Savoy Drive, Chamblee, GA.

Rivers Alive is Georgia's yearly push to pull trash out of local waterways. It's an easy one for families, scout troops, or anyone who needs service hours and wants to earn them close to home.

Spots are limited and registration is required, so sign up for a cleanup slot before you go.

Source: City of Chamblee

Some dogs want to chase every squirrel in the yard. This one would rather find a sunny spot and stay there all afternoon. She's a 13-year-old Beagle mix at the Atlanta Humane Society, and she knows exactly how she likes her days to go.

Her name is Ambree. Medium girl, about 40 pounds, already spayed, and well past the chewing-your-shoes stage. Her caretakers say she's got excellent manners, knows her routines, and has spent years quietly getting good at being a house dog.

She likes gentle pets, quiet company and a comfortable bed. She still goes out to sniff around the yard and check what's new. She just doesn't feel the need to run laps anymore.

She can get a little cranky now and then. At 13 she's earned a few opinions. Underneath that she's a sweet, gentle dog who just wants someone to take her as she is. She'd do best as your only pet so she gets all the attention to herself.

Here's the good part: Tito's Handmade Vodka is covering her adoption, so her usual $50 fee drops to $0. She also qualifies for the Welcome Trial program, which means you can take her home for up to 14 days to make sure it's a good fit before making it official.

If you work from home, like a slow walk around the block, or have been missing a dog on the couch, say hello to Ambree, the sweet senior Beagle mix. You don't need an application ahead of time. Just visit her at the Atlanta Humane Society's Perry Boulevard location and ask for ID #44048104.

🏚️ Halloween Fun House - East Roswell Park | 9000 Fouts Rd, Roswell, GA | 4:30-7:00 PM | Free, for kids 8 and under | More: roswell365.com
The city turns the whole East Roswell Rec Center into a Halloween festival, inside and out, with magic shows, inflatables, face painting and safe trick-or-treating. We like it because it's built for the little ones, so nobody's getting spooked by a teenager in a chainsaw mask.

🧟 Teen Night: Hallow-Teen - Fernbank Museum | 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 6:00-9:00 PM | $10 advance ($7 members), $13 at the door, ages 13-17 | More: fernbankmuseum.org
A museum night just for teens, with a costume contest, cookie decorating, slime-making and Incredible Predators in 3D at 7 and 8. We're dropping ours off and getting dinner nearby for once.

🎭 Spookhouse Annie - Center for Puppetry Arts | 1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM | $20 ($16 members), ages 4+ | More: puppet.org
Annie's buddy Dave is nervous about a playdate in her haunted house, and the monsters turn out to be sillier than he feared. Heads up for sensitive kids: the show uses haze, black light and strobe effects.

🌾 Scarecrows in the Garden - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 9:00 AM-7:00 PM | $27.95 adults, $24.95 kids 3-12 (weekday online), under 3 free | More: atlantabg.org
The display ends November 1, so this is one of the last good weekends to see the 50th-anniversary row of supersized scarecrows. Friday tickets are cheaper than Saturday.

🏛️ Barrington Hall - Roswell Historic House Museums | 535 Barrington Dr, Roswell, GA | 11:00 AM-4:00 PM | Free | More: roswellgov.com
A free, quiet hour in one of Roswell's 1840s mansions, with docents on hand for kid questions. Start by 3:15, since every building closes at 4 sharp.

🧱 Brick or Treat - LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta at Phipps Plaza | 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM) | From $24.99 online, $27.99 day-of | More: legodiscoverycenter.com
The Minifigure Monsters run the place through Halloween, and the Ghoulish Glow zone has kids building glow-in-the-dark ghosts. Park near Davio's and head straight up to the third floor.

🍬 Spooky Springs - Abernathy Greenway Playable Art Park | 70 Abernathy Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA | 5:00-7:00 PM | Free | More: sandyspringsga.gov
Our free pick this week, details below. Candy stations, face painting and fog machines all around the playground sculptures.

🦖 Dinosaur Trick-or-Treat - Fernbank Museum | 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-1:00 PM | Included with admission ($27.95 adults, $25.95 kids 3-12 weekend online), members free | More: fernbankmuseum.org
Themed treat tables and crafts under the giant dinosaurs in the Great Hall. Bring your own bucket, because the museum doesn't hand out bags.

🦁 Boo at the Zoo - Zoo Atlanta | 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | Included with admission (Any Day tickets $39.95 adults, $31.95 kids 3-11), under 3 free | More: zooatlanta.org
Saturday's stage has a Princess & Prince show at 10:30 and 2:30, with Ghoulish Grooves with Alyssa in between at 12:30. Kids can grab both exclusive trading cards on the way around Trick-or-Treat Lane.

🧛 Monster Mash - Center for Puppetry Arts | 1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM (Spookhouse Annie at 11 AM, 1 PM or 3 PM) | Show tickets $20 ($16 members), includes Monster Mash and the museum | More: puppet.org
This is the last Monster Mash of the year. The atrium becomes a costume dance party with a kids' DJ, walk-around puppets and a mask-making station.

⛳ Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat Mini Golf - The Fringe at Area 51 | 5100 Commerce Pkwy, Roswell, GA | 4:00-6:00 PM | $10 adults, $7 kids 3-12, family 4-pack $7.50 per person | More: roswell365.com
Goblins hand out candy on both courses, and you get the second course free. Give yourself about 90 minutes, and everyone trick-or-treating needs a golf ticket.

🥕 Sandy Springs Farmers Market - City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 8:30 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: citysprings.com
This week's kid activity is Build a Birdhouse, with Lauran Hunt and Gray Matters on the music. Do a morning lap with the stroller, then come back to Sandy Springs for Spooky Springs that evening.

🍫 Kids Halloween Chocolate Making - Chamberlain's Chocolate Factory | 1575 Old Alabama Rd, Suite 205, Roswell, GA | 1:00-3:00 PM (arrive between 1 and 2) | $25 per chocolate maker, reservation required | More: roswell365.com
Each kid picks three treats to make, like chocolate pretzel rods, Oreos or a Rice Krispy treat, and takes them home. A parent has to stay on site.

🍂 Fall Family Fun - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Included with admission ($32.95 adults, $29.95 kids 3-12 weekend online), under 3 free | More: atlantabg.org
Pumpkin bowling, pumpkin rock painting and pumpkin-scented Play-Doh in the Children's Garden. Get there at 10 and you can also catch the frog feeding in the Fuqua Conservatory lobby.

🚗 Trunk or Treat - Northminster Presbyterian Church | 2400 Old Alabama Rd, Roswell, GA | 4:30-6:00 PM | Free | More: roswell365.com
Decorated cars, candy, games and prizes in the church lot, and everybody's welcome. Ninety minutes is just right before a school night.

🏡 Archibald Smith Plantation - Roswell Historic House Museums | 935 Alpharetta St, Roswell, GA | 1:00-4:00 PM | Free | More: roswellgov.com
Roswell's least-known historic house makes for a calm Sunday walk. Plan 60 to 90 minutes, and call (770) 225-2457 for the cellphone tour of the grounds.

🦎 Live Animal Encounter + Meet a Ranger - Fernbank Museum | 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | Ranger 11:30 AM, animals 2:00 PM (museum 10 AM-5 PM) | $27.95 adults, $25.95 kids 3-12 (weekend online), members free | More: fernbankmuseum.org
A Fernbank Forest ranger heads outdoors before lunch, then educators bring out animals from the collection at 2. Your ticket also covers a Giant Screen film and parking.

🎤 Ian Lara - The Punchline | 3652 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 7:30 PM or 9:30 PM (also Sat 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM) | 21+, reservations required | More: punchline.com
We've been waiting for a good excuse to get back to the Punchline, and Ian Lara is it. He has a Comedy Central half-hour, an HBO special and several Tonight Show sets.

🪕 American Patchwork Quartet - Roswell Cultural Arts Center | 950 Forrest St, Roswell, GA | 7:00 PM | Tickets from $31 | More: roswell365.com
Multi-GRAMMY winner Clay Ross leads a quartet that blends American folk, jazz and country with West African and East Asian sounds. An easy date night with parking right next to the theater.

👻 Haunted Nights - You42 Studios | 11000 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA | 5:00-10:00 PM (Sat and Sun 2:00-10:00 PM) | $10 pre-order | More: roswell365.com
One ticket gets you unlimited trips through the haunted house maze, plus a classic horror movie on the 30-foot LED screen on select nights. We'd go after dinner and keep going back through until someone screams.

🎙️ EMO Karaoke Night - Park Bench | 900 Battery Ave SE, Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA | 8:00-11:30 PM | No cover | More: batteryatl.com
Get your friends together and sing along to all the 2000s heartbreak anthems. Groups and celebrations are welcome.

🧘 Yoga with Periwinkle Yogi - Spruill Event Studio | 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 8:00-9:00 AM | Free | More: spruillarts.org
We like starting Friday with a free hour of yoga at Spruill before the weekend gets busy. All levels are welcome, and the teacher is also a Reiki practitioner, so expect a calm class.

🛟 Free Community CPR/AED Training - Sandy Springs City Hall, Barfield Room | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Free, registration required | More: citysprings.com
The Sandy Springs Fire Department teaches this certification class, and it's capped at 30 people. Two hours on a Saturday morning is worth it to know what to do in an emergency.

🔨 Blacksmithing Skulls with Michael Dillon - Art Center West | 1355 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $160, ages 16+ | More: roswell365.com
Local metal artist Michael Dillon shows you how to forge raw iron into a skull you take home, timed nicely for Halloween. It's entry level, but wear closed-toe shoes.

🎸 Amp It Up Live Music Festival ft. Heart of Atlanta - Roswell Junction | 340 S Atlanta St, Roswell, GA | 11:00 AM | Free | More: roswell365.com
Heart of Atlanta, a Heart tribute band, headlines an afternoon of local acts. The festival raises money for Perfect Harmony Health's music therapy scholarships.

👩‍🍳 Garden Chef Demo: Shobha Swamy - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 11:30 AM or 12:30 PM | Free with Garden admission ($32.95 adults weekend online) | More: atlantabg.org
Plant-based chef Shobha Swamy cooks a seasonal recipe in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Afterward we'd walk through the scarecrows while the leaves turn.

💃 October Ballroom Dance Event - Roswell Adult Recreation Center | 830 Grimes Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA | 7:30-10:30 PM | $12 per person (exact cash at the door, or pay online) | More: roswell365.com
Choose a beginner or intermediate lesson, then join everyone on the dance floor. You don't need a partner, and singles and couples are both welcome.

🎹 Dueling Pianos - Park Bench | 900 Battery Ave SE, Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA | 8:30-11:30 PM | No cover | More: batteryatl.com
Two pianos and a room full of people shouting requests. General seating fills up, so reserve a table if your group is bigger than four.

🍷 SIP & Stroll at Boo Y'all - Historic Canton Street | Canton St, Roswell, GA | 2:00-6:00 PM | $55 per person or $100 for two | More: roswell365.com
Your passport gets you a pour and a bite at each participating spot along Canton Street, with the BOO Y'ALL scarecrows lining the sidewalks. Pick up your passport at North End Kitchen + Bar or Rock 'N' Taco.

🎷 Joe Alterman's Toast & Jam Jazz Brunch with Jonathan Karrant - Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Studio Theatre | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 11:00 AM or 1:30 PM | $30-$80 ($30 is a concert-only seat, no brunch) | More: sandyspringspac.com
Pianist Joe Alterman hosts this monthly brunch with talk-show-style interviews, and this time his guest is Billboard-charting jazz singer Jonathan Karrant. Expect mimosas, a carving station and live jazz.

🖼️ Realism Revisited - Oglethorpe University Museum of Art | 4484 Peachtree Rd NE, Brookhaven, GA | 2:00-5:00 PM (Sat 12:00-5:00 PM) | $5 | More: museum.oglethorpe.edu
For $5, this is one of the cheapest good afternoons around. The show pairs Matisse and Raphael Soyer with metro Atlanta realist Melvin Toledo, on a campus that's lovely in the fall.

🎸 John Scofield's "Electrospective" ft. Oteil Burbridge, Larry Goldings and Adam Deitch - City Winery Atlanta | 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 5:00 PM or 8:30 PM | Tickets from $102 | More: tickets.citywinery.com
Three-time Grammy winner John Scofield brings his funk-jazz grooves with players from Dead & Co. and Lettuce. Plan a long Sunday supper and order wine at your seat.

🕯️ Roswell Ghost Tour - Roswell Town Square bandstand | 617 Atlanta St, Roswell, GA | 8:00 PM | $20 adults, cash or Zelle | More: roswellghosttour.com
A 2.5-hour, one-mile walk past antebellum mansions and Founders Cemetery with guides who are paranormal investigators. Reserve ahead, since tours only run with six or more people.

Sandy Springs throws its own trick-or-treat night for the little ghosts every October, and it's free. The Playable Art Park on Abernathy, the one with the giant climbable sculptures, gets candy stations, face painting, fog machines and music for the evening.

Think of it as a dress rehearsal for Halloween. The kids break in the costume, fill a bucket, and burn off energy in a safe spot a week before the real thing. There are food vendors too, so you can call it dinner and skip cooking.

One heads up on parking. There's only ADA parking on site, so if you're close, just walk over. Everyone else parks at Sandy Springs Christian Church, 301 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA, and strolls in from there.

The whole thing runs two hours, 5 to 7, so get there early while the candy stations are still stocked. Happy haunting!

🚗 Click here to get directions on Google Maps

Windy fall storms plus a lot of tall old oaks make tree damage one of the most common claims around the Perimeter. Here's the general rule. If a healthy tree blows onto your house, garage or fence, your homeowners policy helps pay for the damage, even when it was your neighbor's tree. Hauling the tree away is usually covered only up to a set amount, often $500 to $1,000. A tree that drops in the yard and hits nothing usually isn't covered at all, unless it's blocking your driveway.

One big exception: a tree that was already dead or rotting when it fell. Damage from skipped maintenance usually isn't covered, so it pays to have a pro look at anything that's leaning or shedding big limbs now, before a storm makes the call for you. And if a tree lands on your car instead of the house, that's the comprehensive side of your auto policy, not your homeowners. If a storm does hit, Georgia's Insurance Commissioner says photograph the damage, call your insurer right away, and hang onto every receipt.

Not sure what your policy pays for tree removal, or what happens if your neighbor's tree is the problem? That's a quick question for your Peachy agent.

Read the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's storm damage claim tips