I'll be visiting downtown Atlanta for the first time later this week from Thursday through Sunday, and I can't wait!! I won't have a car, and will most likely take the train from the airport to downtown where my hotel is. I don't have much planned and will be with my family the whole time. Any ideas on what I need to check out before I leave?

I've already done some research and am aware of the obvious points, such as the CNN tour and the Georgia Aquarium. I'm looking for some of the lesser known family destinations though. For example, having spent the entire year so far in northern Wisconsin I'll be ready to hit up a good park in the 70 degree weather (or possibly even some kind of waterfront area? I know this might be difficult in the ATL.) Sorry if this thread is a repeat, but I was not able to find another 'what to do in Atlanta' thread here. I'll make it up to you all by taking some sub-par pictures of my trip with my $100 camera. :lol:

The Atlanta Botanical Garden should be really nice this time of year.

Piedmont Park in Midtown is very nice, has a lake with a landing and walking paths, it's accessible from the Midtown Marta station on 10th St, and it will be hosting the Dogwood Festival this weekend:http://www.dogwood.org/.

Other great parks that won't be as crowded: Freedom Park, where the Carter Library is located...and Grant Park, where the Zoo and the Cyclorama are located, near Freedom Park.

Downtown there are some beautiful smaller parks, all within walking distance of each other...Hurt Park by the 1913 Hurt Building; Woodruff Park near Five Points has nice fountains and the famous sculpture "Phoenix Rising from the Ashes"; Centennial Olympic Park by CNN and the Aquarium; Hardy Ivy Park across the street from Suntrust Plaza, small but has some great public art including the Carnegie Monument.

The Dogwood Festival is this weekend??? Oh man, I always miss that thing....:bash:

Okay, good tourist things to do (in my opinion):
1. Go to the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza (have a drink it's cheaper that way). The views are amazing and you can see for miles. Go to the binoculars facing 191 Peachtree building and look into people's offices (it's fun).
2. Somehow get to Virginia-Highlands or Little Five Points. If you make it to VH go eat at Everybody's Pizza. It's excellent! Atlantans on here will know how to get there via bus or train. They're both worth it.
3. Take the train to Midtown, get off, and go walk around. It's beautiful. Go to Piedmont Park (as someone has already said).
4. Go to Atlantic Station. It's pretty cool and you get some amazing views of the city.
5. For added fun, have too much to drink, ride the train to the airport, and then hop on the airport train and refuse to get off. Then go to Houlihan's, have even more to drink, ride the Hartsfield train some more demanding to know where it goes after you get to the last stop, and then hop back on MARTA, head downtown, and ask homeless people for cigarettes and money. This is really a lot of fun and surprisingly safe. :)

Good luck and hope you enjoy the city--it's a great one.

You might also want to try the Imagine It! Children's Museum near Centennial Olympic Park if you're looking for some kid-oriented fun.

Stone Mountain Park would also be a fun side trip. There's a fairly large "lake beach" there, though I'm not sure if it's open yet.

I believe the "Titanic" exhibit is still running at the Civic Center in SoNo, and the Fernbank has a pretty cool "Lizards and Snakes" exhibit going on right now.

The best activity to do in Atlanta when your visiting is sit in traffic of course. :lol:

The best activity to do in Atlanta when your visiting is sit in traffic of course. :lol:

That might be kinda dangerous for him and his family since they won't have a car....LOL...:nuts:

That might be kinda dangerous for him and his family since they won't have a car....LOL...:nuts:

:lol: Oh. I didn't realize that.

Intelligent people don't have to sit in traffic. There are alternatives, at least in Atlanta there are...

Thanks very much for the thoughtful responses everyone. It seems like the Dogwood festival would be a great idea. From my initial research I've been pleasantly surprised as seems like Atlanta is very easy to get around in using public transit.

Keep those ideas coming!

Thanks very much for the thoughtful responses everyone. It seems like the Dogwood festival would be a great idea. From my initial research I've been pleasantly surprised as seems like Atlanta is very easy to get around in using public transit.

Keep those ideas coming!

Araman, the forecast is looking a bit dicey for the weekend. You might wanna checkout Piedmont Park on Thursday or Friday before the rain moves in on Saturday.

^ Although the rain means you won't starting choking from the excessive amount of pollen which seems to blanket Georgia in the Spring.....

Araman, the forecast is looking a bit dicey for the weekend. You might wanna checkout Piedmont Park on Thursday or Friday before the rain moves in on Saturday.

Yeah, I saw that. Thursday morning there will be a fresh 6-8 inches of snow in Appleton though, so I'll be happy enough that I'll be going straight from that to Atlanta's 70 degree sunny weather.

as much as I dislike the city (dont hate on my educated opinion because im living here now), there are surprisingly many things to do here.

A list:
1) Thrashers games
2) Braves games
3) Six Flags over GA, (some new rides, ride Goliath)
4) Acquarium (overrated and if you have been to one you have been to all, and this one is no exception and does not seem like the largest one at, and is designed more for kids in mind)
5) World of Coke tour is 9$ but u get to taste like 50 brands at the end :)
6) Underground ATL where you can get your own fitted hat embroidered with your own words (we are talking more hip-hop oriented crowd here)
7) CNN center, havent done this one yet and dont plan on giving my money to CNN anyway
8) Jimmy Carter center in the Highlands
9) visit the Highlands and eat in Little 5 points
10) MLK Jr house, havent done this one yet either, dont know where it is
11) Decatur-love this place, shops and restaurants

Buckhead has its own short list:
1) spend the afternoon at Lenox and Phipps Plaza shopping
2) eat somewhere in Buckhead, many restaurants to chhose from
3) take construction photos plz!
4) go to nice restaurant for dinner
5) bar hop
6) go to club...i.e. tongue n groove
7) call a cab or stumble over to MARTA will be long walk and prob closed

sorry araman: didnt see the family part or your whole post for that matter hehe! Centennial Park near downtown is a walk from your downtown hotel.

Piedmont Park and the surrounding area on the north side is by far my fav park in ATL and one of my fav areas. It is also the largest. Very nice, go there!

Waterfront, ha! What a joke here, this is part of the reason why Im moving back to FL! You will not even find a retention pond here or any palm trees for that matter, and so dont waste your time looking.

sorry araman: didnt see the family part or your whole post for that matter hehe! Centennial Park near downtown is a walk from your downtown hotel.

Piedmont Park and the surrounding area on the north side is by far my fav park in ATL and one of my fav areas. It is also the largest. Very nice, go there!

Waterfront, ha! What a joke here, this is part of the reason why Im moving back to FL! You will not even find a retention pond here or any palm trees for that matter, and so dont waste your time looking.


simms you spoiled Floridian!

two words: strip club! ;) j/k

hmm, ear wax records is a cool story, especially if you like rap/hip-hop and vinyl.

go to the top of the Westin Peachtree...the tall round building. the restaurant's sundial. get a water or a coke or something up there and i think they won't charge admission.

-

Good suggestions simms3, but in your bitterness towards the area you gave some misinformation:

1. The aquarium is far from child-oriented...I took my elementary-aged class there and found it was definitely not a great trip for 7 year-olds. And I'm sure they are probably lying about it being the largest aquarium...:ohno:

2. The Carter Center is not in Virginia-Highland. It is in Freedom Park, and I believe it's neighborhood location would be considered Old Fourth Ward or Inman Park.

3. Martin Luther King Jr.'s childhood home/birthplace is located at 501 Auburn Ave. in Sweet Auburn. It is a National Historic Site and a National Park.

4. MARTA runs from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. (12:30 a.m. on weekends)

5. There is a good-sized lake in Piedmont Park. It's not the Atlantic Ocean of course, but I wouldn't call it a retention pond either. Outside of the city there is Lake Altoona and Lake Lanier, both large recreational lakes.

If you go to the world of coke... make sure you try Beverly. :cheers: :banana:

araman0 - The bad weather isn't supposed to start until Sat. around 4:00pm, so I would suggest the Dogwood Festival. The Disc Dog Southeast Finals will be going on, and the kids would probably love it. It's a very family-friendly festival with lots of arts & crafts, etc. Just take MARTA to Midtown or Arts Center and follow the crowds - it's an easy walk from either station.

Atlanta boys and girls, I don't live in Atlanta any more. Has anyone ever been to 'Eats' on Ponce, near Piedmont? Is it still there? I used to go there after the gym and LOVED their jerk chicken, black beans & rice, and corn bread. When I lived in the ATL, Eats was a very popular dive.

Atlanta boys and girls, I don't live in Atlanta any more. Has anyone ever been to 'Eats' on Ponce, near Piedmont? Is it still there? I used to go there after the gym and LOVED their jerk chicken, black beans & rice, and corn bread. When I lived in the ATL, Eats was a very popular dive.

Yes, I've been there many times. I belong to a group that likes to meet there for dinner prior to our meetings, though I must say I've never understood what the fuss is all about. Yes, it's cheap, but that jerk chicken is always as dry as the Sahara!

Hmm, hey what's that Mexican place on Ponce with the seating on the roof? I love that place......

Hmm, hey what's that Mexican place on Ponce with the seating on the roof? I love that place......

El Azteca on Ponce has outdoor seating, but I'm fairly sure it's not on the roof.

Speaking of rooftop seating, my partner and I went to the new Six Feet Under location on 11th St. in West Midtown this weekend. Not only does it provide stunning views of the Midtown skyline, but great views of Downtown and Buckhead as well. It was amazing how may cranes we could count on the three skylines.

Is Einstein's still there on Juniper, near 14th? When I moved to Atlanta in 1995, my twin brother helped me and that was the very first place I ever ate at in Atlanta. They had/have great outdoor seating.

Regarding Eats, it was addictive for me. I loved it.

^Absolutely - They've expanded to almost what seems like 3/4 of the block. It's still very popular, and actually has never looked better.

Growing up one of my family's favorite activities in Atlanta was riding the elevators in the Marriott Marquis. As a skyscraper fan you will really enjoy the glass elevators in the 40-story atrium hotel.

[QUOTE=simms3;12615134]as much as I dislike the city (dont hate on my educated opinion because im living here now), there are surprisingly many things to do here.

A list:
1) Thrashers games
2) Braves games
3) Six Flags over GA, (some new rides, ride Goliath)
4) Acquarium (overrated and if you have been to one you have been to all, and this one is no exception and does not seem like the largest one at, and is designed more for kids in mind)
5) World of Coke tour is 9$ but u get to taste like 50 brands at the end :)
6) Underground ATL where you can get your own fitted hat embroidered with your own words (we are talking more hip-hop oriented crowd here)
7) CNN center, havent done this one yet and dont plan on giving my money to CNN anyway
8) Jimmy Carter center in the Highlands
9) visit the Highlands and eat in Little 5 points
10) MLK Jr house, havent done this one yet either, dont know where it is
11) Decatur-love this place, shops and restaurants

Buckhead has its own short list:
1) spend the afternoon at Lenox and Phipps Plaza shopping
2) eat somewhere in Buckhead, many restaurants to chhose from
3) take construction photos plz!
4) go to nice restaurant for dinner
5) bar hop
6) go to club...i.e. tongue n groove
7) call a cab or stumble over to MARTA will be long walk and prob closed[/QUOTE

8) ATL.....>> nice weather..c",)........and they have lots of coke!!!!!

Growing up one of my family's favorite activities in Atlanta was riding the elevators in the Marriott Marquis. As a skyscraper fan you will really enjoy the glass elevators in the 40-story atrium hotel.

Actually, just walking into the lobby and looking up takes your breath away. I was speachless when I saw that hotel's inside for the first time. It is a sight to see.

^Absolutely - They've expanded to almost what seems like 3/4 of the block. It's still very popular, and actually has never looked better.

This is great to hear. Has anything been developed on the surface lots across the street, between Juniper and Peachtree?

Eat at the Vortex in Little 5 Points.

Go up to the observation deck of the 725ft Westin for $5.

DO NOT EAT AT THE VARSITY, it's seriously disgusting and completely unsanitary.

This is great to hear. Has anything been developed on the surface lots across the street, between Juniper and Peachtree?

Not yet but the area is exploding with development and those lots are prime development sites. The longtime owners of the land had been reluctant to sell until recently.

The project in the rendering below will be directly across Juniper street from Einstein's and is planning to break ground in June of this year. Its the second phase of the a 3-block, 4-tower project called 12th & Midtown.

The phase one condo building is already under construction as seen here (http://www.oxblue.com/client/brasfieldgorrie/1010midtown/).

http://www.danielcorp.com/graphics/property/lg_image1(big).jpg

Hmm, hey what's that Mexican place on Ponce with the seating on the roof? I love that place......


Is it LaFonda Cantina? Cuban or Carribean food...it's in the two-story space with the rooftop area that used to be Mellow Mushroom.

Wow, my trip was a week ago and this thread is still going strong! Thanks again for all the suggestions. I had a great time in the ATL's warmer weather even though I didn't get to do nearly all the things I wanted. LSyd, I wish I would have seen your post while I was there so I could have checked out Ear Wax Records. Oh well, next time.

Overall I was fairly impressed with the city and definitely see myself visiting it again in the future to catch all the things I missed this time around. The downtown area was much more urban than I had pictured it being, and I was extremely impressed with Atlanta Underground. Though a lot of the older city neighborhoods seemed like they were in somewhat neglected conditions, I was very impressed with the quality and quantity of the new construction visible all over downtown. The Georgia tech / Midtown area was very nice and seemed like it was undergoing a complete transformation for the better. Buckhead was on fire with all its construction! (I wish Chicago had a suburb similar to Buckhead with flashy new construction, but then I'm also glad all of Chicago's new construction seems to be happening to the south of downtown, expanding the city's main skyline southward.) I can tell that this city has a bright future in store.

So without further delay, here are the pics...

First 4 are all from my hotel at the Hilton.
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/1.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/2.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/3.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/4.jpg

Atlanta Zoo...
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/5.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/6.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/7.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/8.jpg

Not Sure which building this is.
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/9.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/a.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/b.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/c.jpg

No joke, but about 10 seconds after I took the picture below the guy walking (wearing a tie) was digging in the trash can to the left of the picture.
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/d.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/e.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/f.jpg

From what I understand, this is Atlanta's oldest skyscraper.
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/g.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/h.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/i.jpg

My favorite in the ATL, 191 Peachtree.
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/j.jpg

I've never had good luck taking night shots with digital cameras. Any suggestions on which cameras do better than others with night shots?
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/k.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/l.jpg

Yours truly
http://www.arashakbar.com/cities/atlanta/m.jpg

Did you play any Yahtzee while you were there? I miss the world famous Yahtzee games that you can only get in Atlanta, besides central Florida.

No, but I did have Yahtzee growing up. I didn't think it was something exclusive only to Atlanta though.

Hmmmm...I'm trying to figure out that Yahtzee post...

You got some nice pics of downtown. Here are some thoughts:

1.Yes The Flatiron Building is the oldest that I'm aware of, built in the 1890's.
2. The building under construction is a 39 story residential tower, 12 Centennial Park.
3. The small columned structure you snapped in a drive-by is really neat...it's a memorial built from the remains of the destroyed downtown Carnegie Library.
4.That guy going through the garbage didn't look the type huh? Maybe he accidentally threw his phone away or something. :)
5. Which neighborhoods did you get to visit? Apparently they weren't the right ones to tour if they looked neglected, cuz there are some really nice ones that you probably would have liked.
6. Underground IS kinda cool, especially if you look at how it came to be and view it as a historical piece of Atlanta's history. Locals don't like it very much, probably because we remember when it opened and how the quality of retail has diminished since then.

Oh, maybe so. I can't remember, but it had roof seating and it was on Ponce and I could've sworn it served Mexican food....:)

Nice pictures. I was in Atlanta yesterday. Downtown looks awesome with all the new development. Way Off-Topic: Although I am a bit crabby about Atlanta considering the AJC ended subscriptions in Augusta. What a crock man. I mean, I can get the New York Times home delivered but not the AJC? I can't afford the New York Times!!!! It's $5 for a Sunday paper!!!

What? You missed all the Yahtzee parlors all along Peachtree? You really missed out, especially the late night yahtzee russian roulette style games, they are a blast - literally.

Okay...oh, those aren't Yahtzee parlors, those are strip clubs! I can see how you confused the two, it happens a lot...actually Yahtzee was banned in the city limits back in 1942, but there are a lot of closeted players still around. The police just recently raided house where a known Yahtzee ring was operating and arrested 27 people.

FYI: Buckhead is not a suburb of the City of Atlanta. Glad you enjoyed yourself, come back anytime.

Great pix. :yes:
So the Varsity is no good? :(

Great pix. :yes:
So the Varsity is no good? :(

No - Varsity isn't any good. Well, the chili-slaw dogs aren't too bad, but not the best.

FYI: Buckhead is not a suburb of the City of Atlanta. Glad you enjoyed yourself, come back anytime.

I figured that out yesterday when I was doing a bit of research. Even better for the ATL then!

No - Varsity isn't any good. Well, the chili-slaw dogs aren't too bad, but not the best.

Um, what's so bad about the Varsity. I like their hamburgers (though not their hot dogs). You people are fast food snobs!! :)

I am a fast food snob b/c I love fast food - for a real drive-thru experience go to the Beacon in Spartanburg. Otherwise, for better hot dogs go to Nu-Way in Macon.

I am a fast food snob b/c I love fast food - for a real drive-thru experience go to the Beacon in Spartanburg. Otherwise, for better hot dogs go to Nu-Way in Macon.

Sounds like elitist comments to me, though I will follow your suggestion to Nu-Way......:)

Sounds like elitist comments to me, though I will follow your suggestion to Nu-Way......:)

As a Macon native, I can tell you if you don't like the Varsity, you won't like Nu-Way, either. Don't make a special trip!

^ I thought the Varsity was an over-rated McDonalds & I love Nu-Way. Of course, I grew up on The Beacon, so I know the difference between quality greasy food & the yuppie version.

I actually like both the Varsity and Nu-Way, though I think it's as much for the nostalgia as it is the food. There's something about those fire-engine red weiners smothered in slaw, cheese, and chili that just screams "Macon"!!

Are you people intentionally trying to ruin my Zone diet?