I just had the pleasure of spending a bit of time in Atlanta again after about a 10 year absence, and let me tell you – that place is UNRECOGNIZABLE! So much growth even in the last few years means that there are lots of new things to check out. Unlike Charleston and Savannah, Atlanta really has little evidence of it’s 19th century history, and instead is modern and growing and – to be honest – a bit of a disjointed mess with all the developments from the 1996 Olympics slowly being taken over by newer developments. That said- it DOES still have some history and charming areas, and it is such a vibrant city – so here are some tips if you’re considering visiting.
Where to Stay: We stayed downtown in the heart of the Superbowl Madness, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it (and certainly not the Sheraton, which was not the best of hotels, I’m sorry to report). The Omni is probably the best choice for right downtown, but there are much nicer options a few neighborhoods north in ritzy Buckhead. Don’t count out Midtown, however, which seems to be much newer than downtown, and is still centrally located to visit wherever you needed to, with slightly easier driving conditions than downtown. Parking is going to be fairly pricey, no matter what, and traffic is seriously pretty terrible, so if you aren’t staying in Buckhead or further afield, consider leaving your car behind! (Besides the MARTA subway system, there are TONS of the little electric scooters all over town too!)
What to Do: There really is a LOT to do in Atlanta, it’s just not dripping with history like it’s other southern neighbors. Almost nothing of the pivotal civil war battle remains, however there is quite a bit left over from the ’20’s and of course from the civil rights era. In fact – the Martin Luther King National Park is worth the visit on it’s own. This area just east of downtown contains the house where MLK Jr was born (which you can tour, but you have to sign up in the visitor’s center the day of), the famous Ebenezer Babtist Church where he preached (along with the newer, larger version across the street), his tomb, and of course a variety of exhibits about his life, the fight for equal rights, and his enduring legacy. Everything is situated on Auburn Avenue, which has it’s own fascinating history as the most prosperous street in the segregated South. On the entire opposite end of the spectrum, you can visit Margaret Mitchell’s house, where this slightly scandalous society miss wrote one of the classic novels of the 20th century. You can take a tour of her apartment, and also see a number of exhibits about the making of the film “Gone with the Wind” and it’s premiere in town, which was a really big deal (look for the mention of MLK Jr who actually performed with the church choir at the premiere!). The tour guide did a really good job showing how her upbringing in the segregated South influenced not only her life but of course also the novel, and that it should NOT be taken as a historically accurate account of that time period. Deftly handled for a controversial subject, I have to say. There’s also the Atlanta History Museum (which can be a combo ticket with the MM house) which includes some fun exhibits about the south (BBQ!), a very good exhibit about the Civil War, a gorgeous 1920’s mansion, and a civil-war era farm house. If you’re not into history, then most of the stuff you’ll want to see is right downtown. The Coca-Cola World is a fun touristy spot to spend some time & taste some truly odd flavors from around the world. Next door is the fabulous Atlanta Aquarium, which is one of the largest in the world. On the other side of Centennial Park (don’t miss the Olympic Rings fountain!) you’ve got the CNN Center, which you can also tour if you’d like to get a behind the scenes look at making a news show. If you want a bit of nature, there’s a central-park like “Piedmont Park” that has everything from a giant track to tennis courts to a botanical garden to a little lake to wander around. As you can tell- there’s plenty to fill up a weekend away!
What to Eat: I was worried that Atlanta was going to be full of primarily chain restaurants, but I was pleasantly and completely wrong about that. There are TONS of wonderful dining options. Most of the really good places downtown were closed for private events while we were in town, but there were awesome spots in the surrounding neighborhoods that I’ll share with you. In West Midtown (where Georgia Tech is located) we tried to get into The Optimist, but again – closed for a super bowl party – so we ended up at the nearby Bocado which was super delicious. There’s also an awesome game bar in this area called The Painted Duck which was super fun on a quiet night (but apparently is packed on weekends). Over in Midtown, one of the best meals of our trip was actually in a hotel – I am usually not one for hotel restaurants, but the Saltwood Charcuterie Bar was fantastic. Plus, right around the corner was a cute little hipster bar called the Establishment that had some seriously delicious cocktails. Finally, and I may have saved the very best for last, when we headed a bit east of downtown to a cute new, re-emerging neighborhood of the Historic 4th Ward. BeetleCat was simply adorable, and the food was to die for. I mean – anyone can do Fried Chicken & Waffles… but they take it a step further and do fried chicken, fried egg, and two glazed doughnuts! Plus, their lobster roll won an award IN MAINE for best lobster roll in the world. You may not believe me, but it’s true, and both would be definitely worth the trip. The whole neighborhood was cute & looked to be chock full of tasty spots.