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Atlanta Travel Guide

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For other places with the same name, see Atlanta (disambiguation).

Atlanta [1] is in the Southeastern United States. It is the state of Georgia's capital and largest city.

Contents

Understand

Climate

Atlanta is located on the Piedmont Plateau, at an approximate elevation of 741 to 1,056 feet above sea level. The city is thus somewhat cooler than other places in the US South, a fact that certainly helped the growth of the city before the introduction of air conditioning.

Atlanta experiences a very wide range of temperatures. Temperatures in winter can drop into the single digits on occasion, and most winters bring some snowfall. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures frequently reaching 90°F/32°C. Rainfall is high in late winter and early spring, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit.

History

Atlanta was originally founded as Terminus in 1836, the name reflecting its function as a railway terminus, and renamed Atlanta in 1847. Atlanta remains a key junction point of the US rail system, with several lines connecting in a complex of junctions within the downtown area.

During the American Civil War, the city became the target of a major Union invasion in the American Civil War as part of Union General William T. Sherman's March to the Sea. Union forces entered Atlanta on September 2nd, 1864 and Sherman ordered Atlanta burned to the ground on November 11 in preparation for his march south. As a consequence almost all of buildings in Atlanta date from after 1864.

In the late 20th century, Atlanta has grown to be a major commercial center and is the home of several major enterprises, including Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS and CNN. At the same time, Atlanta became one of the major centers of the American civil rights movement. Martin Luther King was born in the city, and his boyhood home on Auburn Avenue in the Sweet Auburn district is preserved by the National Park Service as a National Historic Site; his final resting place is in the tomb at the center of the reflecting pool at The King Center.

In 1996, Atlanta hosted the 26th Olympic Summer Games of the modern era. Sadly the games were marred by a terrorist attack on the Centennial Olympic Park, which killed 2 and wounded many more. Subsequently the games were also criticised for poor transport facilities and consequent traffic congestion, and are regarded by many (usually those far outside Atlanta) as the least successful games of recent times. However they have left a legacy of civic improvements and sporting facilities which benefit the visitor.

Visitors

Atlanta is essentially a place to live and work. There are many interesting things to see in the city, it is well worth the trip from cities such as Chattanooga, TN or Athens, GA for big name concerts and excellent dining.

Because of this, Atlanta has become a major conference and exhibition city. Most of the venues are in the area around Peachtree Center, and when there is a large show in town, it can sometimes seem as though every other person in the city is wearing a nametag.

This Atlanta guide [2] offers some good information on attractions, restaurants, shopping, universities, and other useful info for visitors.

Atlanta Neighborhoods

  • Buckhead
  • Dunwoody
  • Midtown
  • Virginia-Highlands
  • Morningside
  • Grant Park
  • Poncey-Highlands
  • Brookhaven
  • Candler Park
  • Inman Park
  • East Atlanta
  • West End
  • Garden Hills
  • Kirkwood

Get in

By plane

Atlanta's principal airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, situated 8 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

It should be noted that Hartsfield is largely set up as a hub airport, with much of its traffic being transfer rather than arrival or departure traffic. The airport has a single groundside terminal, connected to 5 mid-airport concourses by underground walkways and rail transit. The concourse furthest from the terminal (concourse E) is dedicated to international flights and all immigration and customs formalities are conducted there. This makes international arrival procedures rather cumbersome. Passengers arriving from overseas will need to clear immigration controls, reclaim hold baggage from a baggage carousel, clear customs, check hold baggage back in, ride the underground transit to the main terminal, reclaim hold baggage again from another carousel, and finally exit the airport.

Hartsfield airport is the terminus of the southern branch of the MARTA rail system (see 'Get Around' below), and for travellers going to locations in downtown, midtown or northern Atlanta this forms a good and economic way of getting there. Most MARTA stations have taxi ranks to aid completion of the journey, and some hotels (especially in the Sandy Springs area) have free shuttles which will collect from their nearest MARTA station on telephone request. Alternatively the airport has the usual complement of taxi ranks, airport shuttle vans and car hire offices.

For more information:

For travel assistance with Hartsfield:

  • Park Atlanta - Long-term private parking for Hartsfield Airport

By train

Atlanta is served by Amtrak's Crescent train, which runs daily and serves New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans (and vice-versa). Southbound, the train leaves New York just before 3pm, calls at Atlanta at around 9am and reaches New Orleans by 8pm. Northbound, the train leaves New Orleans at around 7am, calls at Atlanta at around 8pm and reaches New York by 2pm.

In Atlanta, the train calls at the Amtrak station at 1688 Peachtree St. N.W., which is several miles north of downtown. MARTA Bus route 23 stops in front of the station. However, as much of the city is not accesible by MARTA, you may need to budget for a taxi to complete the journey.

For more information:

By bus

Greyhound Bus Lines provide bus service to Atlanta from many locations throughout the US. Buses arrive at, and depart from, the Greyhound terminal at 232 Forsyth Street, which is on the southern edge of the downtown area and directly beneath MARTA's Garnett Station (see 'Get Around' below).

For more information:

By car

Atlanta is linked to the rest of the US by the interstate highway network. The principal interstates serving the city are I-75 (serving traffic from Chicago and Detroit to Florida), I-85 (connecting the Mid-Atlantic to New Orleans) and I-20 (connecting California and Texas to South Carolina), all of which cross through Downtown.

I-285 (commonly called the Perimeter by Atlantans, and the Atlanta Bypass on overhead signs) rings the city at a distance of about 10 miles out, crossing and connecting with all the above freeways as well as the airport.

Despite their sheer width (maxing out at 9-lanes per direction -- some of the widest roads in the world), Atlanta's highway system is reduced to a crawl (if not complete stop) during rush hour. Atlanta rush hour rivals that of Los Angeles, in that is generally runs from 7am-10am in the morning and 4pm-8pm in the evening during the work week. Because of this, Atlanta's surface streets have become overcrowded as well during peak times, and a 3-mile commute can be an hour-long affair.

Get around

By foot

Within the downtown and midtown areas, walking is a reasonable way to get around. All the streets have sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. However, other sections of Atlanta and, outside of the city, can be distinctly unfriendly places for pedestrians. Many streets have neither sidewalks nor pedestrian crossings, and the width and traffic density of some streets make then almost uncrossable; the problem seems to be worst in the most recently developed areas. In some areas you will need to reconcile yourself to using car, taxi or shuttle for journeys of less than one hundred yards.

By transit

Atlanta is served by MARTA, (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) which operates both rapid rail and bus networks in the city of Atlanta and the counties of Fulton and Dekalb.

The rail network comprises two principal lines making up a cross. The north-south line runs from a southern terminus at Hartsfield airport through downtown and midtown Atlanta, before splitting into two branches serving terminals in north metro Atlanta at North Springs and Doraville respectively. The east-west line runs from an western terminal at Hamilton E. Holmes, via an interchange with the north-south line at Five Points station in downtown Atlanta, to an eastern terminal at Indian Creek. Trains run on all lines every 10 minutes during peak periods, reducing to every 20 minutes on Sundays.

The bus network comprises over one hundred different bus routes, with many routes operating every 20 minutes or so. One feature of MARTA is the close integration of rail and bus services. Many rail stations have integral bus stations, and in some cases the buses enter the station's 'paid area' thus avoiding the need to use transfers.

A single ride on MARTA costs $1.75 including transfers. Single use Breeze Cards are sold in vending machines at all rail stations or at RideStores at Airport and Five Points stations. When starting the journey by bus, swipe the card at the fare post next to the driver. When starting the journey by train, swipe the car at the fare gate, your now cash depleted card will act as your transfer. When transferring to a bus, give the operator your breeze card. When transferring to a train, swipe the transfer ticket through the reader on the turnstile.

Note for Weekend Travel: MARTA has a tendency to run slower on the weekends. Typical wait times are 30 minutes for trains and up to an hour for buses. Be sure to accommodate for this.

For more information:

By taxi

Until the past few years, Atlanta had poor cab service, cabs being few and far between. It is getting easier in the downtown area along Peachtree St. up to the Buckhead area to flag one down, but your best bet is to go to a hotel or a MARTA train station to get one.

Lately, it has been possible to call a cab (Atlanta Checker Cab Company for example) and have them do pick ups within 5 minutes around the Midtown/Downtown area. The prices are high (expect to pay $10 within Midtown/Downtown and an extra $10-20 if you're going to Buckhead/North Atlanta).

By car

Cars are the most popular form of transport in and around Atlanta and as such, traffic can be pretty bad. Though the Interstates are wide, rush-hour can bring them to a standstill. Traveling during business hours or on non-holiday weekends, though, can be quite easy.
Keep your eyes peeled as you drive, because the average speed on area freeways can exceed 80 miles per hour, and native Atlanta drivers have learned the art of moving from the far side of the road to make an exit. If you keep your cool and watch the traffic, you'll soon learn the flow. Given a day or two of experience, you'll be driving like a native, though it is unclear whether or not this is a good thing.

Atlanta's fragmented commuinties and county disputes have produced a local road system that in many areas has not kept up with the explosive growth of the region. When changing counties or city limits roads can change from eight lane to two lanes within a block. Keep a lookout for right and left lane must turn signs. Signal early, most drivers will allow you room to merge if its not rush hour.

Car Rental Companies include:

  • Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266, [3].
  • Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212, [4].
  • Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700, [5].
  • Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665, [6].
  • E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171, [7].
  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331, [8].
  • Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131, [9]].
  • Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389, [10].

See

Downtown Atlanta

Downtown Atlanta is the central area of Atlanta, which, despite the rise of Midtown and Buckhead, still contains much of the commercial activity of the city. All the places to see here are within 10 minutes walk of each other, and within a similar walking distance of any of the MARTA stations at Five Points, Peachtree Center or Omni-Dome-World-Congress Center.

  • Centennial Olympic Park, The focal point of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Centennial Park has now become the center for tourism. The Georgia Aquarium, the new World of Coke (under construction), the CNN Center, Phillips Arena and Georgia Tech are all in walking distance. http://www.centennialpark.com/
  • CNN Center, Marietta Street (adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park), telephone (404) 827-2300. The world headquarters of CNN shares the CNN center with a large tourist oriented shopping mall and food court. Here you can eat food from around the world whilst watching CNN's multi-channel output to the world on large screens. In addition studio tours are available, which include demonstrations of the technology used and visits to viewing galleries overlooking the newsrooms and newsreaders of CNN, CNN Headline News and CNN En Espanol. Tours run 9am-5pm every day. Admission to the center is free; tours cost $12 (adult); $11 (senior); $9 (child). http://www.cnn.com/StudioTour/
  • Georgia Aquarium The largest aquarium in the world with over 100,000 animals in 8 million gallons of water. Open Monday - Sunday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; $22.75 (adult); $17.00 (child age 3-12); $19.50 (senior age 55+). http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/
  • Underground Atlanta - +1 404 523-2311 Fax: +1 404 523-0507 A shopping and entertainment district under Downtown Atlanta. http://www.underground-atlanta.com/
  • The King Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, 449 Aubum Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30312, telephone 404-526-8900. The memorial of Martin Luther King Jr. Which was established in 1968. The place shows Martin Luther King, Jr's nonviolent Social Change works. The historic site features a museum and preserves the neighborhood that includes Dr. King's birth home and Ebenezer Baptist Church. This is one of the place you should visit in downtown Atlanta. http://www.thekingcenter.org/ and http://www.nps.gov/malu/
  • Philips Arena, Home to the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers as well as the Georgia Force. Philips also hosts concerts and other major events. http://www.philipsarena.com/
  • World of Coca-Cola, 55 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (adjacent to Underground Atlanta), telephone (770) 578-4325 extension 1465. Pay good money to receive the word from the marketing department of the world's largest soft drinks company. Open M-Sa 9am-5pm; Su 11am-5pm. $7 (adult); $5 (senior); $4 (child). http://www.woccatlanta.com/

Midtown Atlanta

Midtown Atlanta is the area immediately north of Downtown. It has significant commercial activity, but it is also a major restaurant and arts quarter, with much 'urban living' apartment coverage. All the places listed are within 15 minutes walk of each other, and within a similar walking distance of the MARTA stations at Midtown and Arts Center.

  • Arts Center, Home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, the Alliance Theatre, and the Atlanta College of Art. http://www.woodruffcenter.org/wac/index2.asp
  • Atlanta Botanic Gardens, 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE, telephone (404) 876-5859. Relatively small but interesting botanic gardens, with displays of local plants and the Fuqua Conservatory of tropical and desert plants. Accessible by car but parking is limited, at weekends park at Old Colony Square adjacent to the Arts Center and catch the shuttle bus provided. By transit, catch MARTA rail to Arts Center station then catch bus 36 (27 on Sunday) or walk via the Arts Center courtyard, 15th Street and Piedmont Avenue (15 min walk). Open Apr-Sep Tu–Su 9am–7pm; Oct–Mar Tu-Su 9am–5pm. $12 (adult); $9 (senior); $7 (student). http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/
  • Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, telephone (404) 688-3353 for tour information or (404) 817-8700 for the box office. A fabulous and historic Moorish style cinema and theatre dating from the 1920s and now designated a National Historic Landmark. Tours available M,W&Th 10am; Sa 10am and 11am. $10 (adult); $5 (senior/student). http://www.foxtheatre.org/
  • Margaret Mitchell House, 990 Peachtree Street, telephone (404) 249-7015. A museum dedicated to Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone With The Wind and based in her original home. Open every day (except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Thanksgiving Day) 10am-5pm. $12 (adult); $9 (senior/student); $5 (child). http://www.gwtw.org/
  • Piedmont Park Atlanta's largest park at over 189 acres. Great for spending a sunny week-end dog walking, sleeping, reading a book or picnicking. Parking is tough to come by so try to look out by finding street parking or pay about $2-5 at the public parking lots on Juniper (1 block to the West). Not visiting Piedmont Park on your trip to Atlanta would be like not visiting Central Park on a trip to New York. http://www.piedmontpark.org/
  • Shakespeare Tavern It is a place out of time; a place of live music, hand-crafted period costumes, outrageous sword fights with the entire experience centered on the passion and poetry of the spoken word. With an authentic British Pub Menu and a broad selection of Irish ales and premium brews, the Shakespeare Tavern is a place to eat, drink, and nourish the soul. http://www.shakespearetavern.com/
  • Crescent Avenue, Area off Peachtree near the Margaret Mitchell house. Just north of the Federal Reserve Building at 10th St. Lots of hip nightclubs and restaurants located in renovated homes on side streets. With Virginia Highlands, has taken much of the nightlife from the Buckhead area which mostly attracts hip-hoppers now.

Intown Atlanta

These are areas within the City of Atlanta that are commonly referred to as "intown" by Atlantans.

  • Zoo Atlanta, Grant Park, telephone (404) 624-5822. This zoo specializes in primates and African animals but also has a (breeding?) pair of Giant Pandas and a children's zoo. Open every day 9:30am-4:30pm; Sa-Su during daylight saving time 9:30am-5:30pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. $16.50 (adults); $12.50 (seniors); $11.50 (children). http://www.zooatlanta.org/
  • Cyclorama Home of the world's largest painting, "The Battle of Atlanta" and home of the historic Civil War locomotive, "TEXAS" (hero of the "Great Train Race") Located next to Zoo Atlanta in Grant Park.
  • Atlanta History Center, the Atlanta History Museum, the Swan House, (an opulent 1920's mansion), and the Tullie Smith House, 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW. http://www.ngeorgia.com/attractions/atlanta_history_center.html
  • Fernbank Science Center and Museum of Natural History. Planetarium, dinosaurs, IMax theatre. Great for kids.http://www.fernbank.edu/
  • Virginia Highlands, Area east of Piedmont Park in the center of town known for its nightlife and restaurants. The part of Atlanta most like a real city (along with Midtown and Little Five Points). Pedestrian friendly and packed sidewalks till late at night. Go east on 10th street past the park. Do a quick zig-zag to the right at the Grady High School football stadium, then a left at Virginia Ave. Keep going about another mile on Virginia Ave. to the intersection of N. Highland Ave.

Suburban Atlanta

All these sights can be found somewhere in the suburban sprawl that is Atlanta. A car is probably the best way to visit them, but some are accessible by public transit as indicated in the listing.

Outside Atlanta

  • Stone Mountain - The town of Stone Mountain is host to Stone Mountain Park, a wooded park with dozens of attractions surrounding a giant granite dome. Be sure to catch the spectacular fireworks and laser show which happens at sunset every Saturday night throughout the summer months and is free to watch.

Sports

  • Braves Baseball [11] -- If you're heading down to "The Ted" (the local nickname for Turner Field), take MARTA to the Five Points station and hop on the $1 Braves Shuttle. This is MUCH easier than parking, and MARTA makes a great designated driver should you want to drink at the game.
  • Falcons Football [12]
  • Hawks Basketball [13]
  • Thrashers Hockey [14]
  • Georgia Force Arena Football [15]
  • Georgia Tech Athletics [16]
  • Georgia State Athletics [17]
  • Emory Athletics [18]

Do

  • Have breakfast at the Flying Biscuit Cafe on McLendon or Piedmont Avenue.
  • Eat anything--anything--at the Varsity, but make sure you're prepared for heartburn.
  • Meet up with the goths and dance all night at The Masquerade.
  • See the wall Hank Aaron hit #715 over at Turner Field--this section of the original outfield wall from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was preserved when the new ballpark was built.
  • Visit Centennial Olympic Park, where you can play in the fountain and pay your respects to the victims of the 1996 Olympic Park Bombing.
  • Hike up Stone Mountain and watch the sunset, then come down and see the bizarre, kitschy Laser Light Show.
  • Visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Museum.
  • Check out the mummies and the Moche pottery exhibition at the Michael C. Carlos Museum.
  • Check out dinosaur fossils at the Fernbank Natural History Museum.

Learn

Higher Learning

Atlanta is home to some of the nation's best universities and colleges.

  • Emory University [19], located just east of downtown in Druid Hills. Emory is a private research university with a top medical school, and is home to the excellent (and free) Michael C. Carlos Museum of Art and Archaeology. There are two undergraduate colleges, Emory College and Oxford College (in Oxford, Georgia); graduate and professional programs include the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Medical School, Law School, Goizueta Business School, Woodruff School of Nursing, Allied Health School, and the Rollins School of Public Health. Admission is highly competitive.
  • Georgia Tech [20], just across I-75/85 from midtown, is one of the US' best research universities, and is also a basketball and baseball powerhouse. Georgia Tech offers a multitude of activities including concerts and plays at the The Ferst Center for the Arts and athletics. Visitors can pay for wireless internet while on campus and can stay at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.
  • Georgia State University [21] is located in the heart of downtown and is a predominantly commuter university without a centralized campus; however, this is changing rapidly. For example, a new four-building, 2000-bed housing complex is scheduled to open in fall 2007. Georgia State University is home to the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts, which was voted "Best World Music Venue" in 2004 by Creative Loafing.

Among the most distinguished of Atlanta's educational institutions are Morehouse College (men) and Spelman College (women), the best-known historically black colleges in the United States. Morehouse and Spelman are part of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically black colleges that includes Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College.

Atlanta is also home to Agnes Scott College, a women's college located in Decatur.

Specialized colleges and universities in the Atlanta area include the Columbia Theological Seminary, the Art Institute of Atlanta, and Savannah College of Art and Design's Atlanta campus.

High Schools In addition to the public school system, Atlanta is well-supplied with private high schools of all types. Well-known parochial/religious high schools include St. Pius X (Catholic); Marist (Catholic); W.D. Muhammad (Muslim); Landmark School (Evangelical Christian); and Yeshiva High School (Jewish).

The best-known of the prep schools are Woodward Academy, the Westminster Schools, Pace Academy, and the Lovett School. The Paideia School, Atlanta's 'hippie prep school' is a funky cousin to this group. All the schools in this category are expensive and highly competitive.

Elementary Schools The City of Atlanta operates a struggling public school system; conditions are somewhat better in the county school systems, particularly the wealthier Cobb and Gwinnett counties. The City of Decatur runs an excellent small system of public neighborhood schools. Atlanta abounds in small Catholic elementary schools; the junior editions of the prep schools above take in large numbers of wealthier students.

Work

Atlanta (and the surrounding region) is home to 24 Fortune 1,000 companies including United Parcel Service, Bellsouth, Coca-Cola Company, Georgia-Pacific, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, The Southern Company and Equifax.

Buy

Atlanta seems to have developed the strip-mall virus, as they pop up more and more intown. Strip malls such as 'The Peach' in Buckhead is just such an example -- housing a Publix grocery, Linen's 'n Things, and Barnes and Noble, along with several of the smaller, independent sellers of all things. The heady perfume of asphalt from the oversized parking lot is just enough to make you dizzy enough to support such retail development intown.

For those seeking a more sanitized experience of "Downtown Americana" we have Atlantic Station, an outdoor mall disguised as a new urban "city-center" development sitting atop a three-story parking garage. All the standard players have shown up -- the Old Navy, Victoria's Secret, etc. While some Atlantans have declared the development to be fantastic, others call it "Disney Downtown for middle-class suburbanites."

Some of the more respectable independent shopping establishments include:

  • Junkman's Daughter, 464 Moreland Avenue NE (At Little Five Points), tel: (404) 577-3188. A warehouse full of quirky gifts and funky fashions. Open M-Th 11AM-7PM; F 11AM-8PM; Sa 11AM-9PM; Su 12PM-7PM.
  • Criminal Records, 466 Moreland Avenue NE (At Little Five Points, right next to Junkman's Daughter), tel: (404) 215-9511. The best place in Atlanta for CDs, records, used CDs, comics, toys, posters and magazines.


Of course, Atlanta has it's share of malls:

  • Discover Mills - Suwanee - discount/outlet shopping at its best.
  • Mall of Georgia - Buford - huge, simply huge.
  • Cumberland Mall - Atlanta
  • Phipps Plaza Mall - Buckhead, Atlanta - where the blue-bloods refill their Burbery reserves.
  • Lenox Square Mall - Buckhead, Atlanta - standard department-store shopping with a selection of the standard shops.
  • Perimeter Mall - Dunwoody - where you'll see the suburban white kids hanging out in the evening.
  • North Point Mall - Alpharetta

Eat

Close In

  • Mary Mac's Tea Room, 224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, 404-876-1800, [22]. Daily 11AM-9PM. A landmark of southern cooking. Not fancy, just good.
  • The Varsity, 61 North Avenue, 404-881-1706, [23]. "Whatayahave, whatayahave, whatayahave?" Famous establishment, founded in 1928, located near Georgia Tech on North Avenue & Spring Street featuring fresh burgers, hot dogs, and other various fast fare. Visit the website so you'll be prepared: Hint: try "two dawgs walkin, ring one, and a large PC." Open Su-Th 10AM-11:30PM, Fr-Sa 10AM-12:30AM.
  • Hard Rock Cafe, 215 Peachtree St. NE, 404-688-7625, [24]. Packed with memorabilia from rock legends with roots south of the Mason-Dixon Line, this cafe serves up food every day. Dining Room: Su-Th 11AM-12AM; F, Sa 11AM-1AM; Bar: M-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 12PM-12AM; Merchandise: Mon-Sat 10AM-1AM Sun 10AM-12AM
  • Carver's Grocery, 1118 W. Marietta St., (404) 794-4410 You'd drive by this place and not even know it existed if it weren't for the cars parked up and down both sides of the adjacent street. This place is a real dive but it is some of the best southern cooking you can find within miles. It's a great place to see a variety of people. It's only open around lunch, and they take cash only. If the American Flag is flying out on the telephone pole, then you know they are open that day. Daily specials, some of the best sweet tea and desserts you can get. Go hungry!

Little Five Points

This bohemian district to the east of downtown Atlanta contains many interesting eateries. Here are some of them:

  • Vortex Bar and Grill, 438 Moreland Avenue, (404) 688-1828, [25]. Founded in 1992 by three siblings, the Vortex serves some of the best burgers with the wildest and widest array of toppings. (Note: must be 18 or older to enter due to smoking laws.)
  • Savage Pizza, 484 Moreland Ave NE, (404) 523-0500, [26]. Good pizza, cheap prices, good wall murals. Next to Criminal Records and Junkman's Daughter.

Midtown

  • MF Sushibar, 265 Ponce De Leon Ave, (404) 815-8844, [27]. "Magic Fingers". Excellent sushi. It's expensive but has a good selection and is of a high quality.
  • Willy's, 1071 Piedmont Avenue, (404) 249-9054, [28]. Actually an Atlanta chain, but this one is in Piedmont Park on Piedmont and 12th Street. Has lots of outdoor seating, and it is not uncommon to see dogs leashed to the tables. This place has great, cheap burritos served in the California style (they add the fresh ingredients and roll it up in front of you). The hard shell charolitas are a favorite. Similar to burrito chains such as Moe's (which originated in Atlanta) and Chipotle.
  • Flying Biscuit Cafe, 1005 Piedmont Avenue, (404) 874-8887, [29]. Serves breakfast all day everyday and famous for brunch. Great place for kosher and vegetarian eaters as they have no beef or pork products--just great free-range chicken sausage (SOYsauge can be substituted), turkey bacon, black bean cakes. Long wait on the week-end so get there early when they open at 7am. The original location, which is still open, is in Candler Park, 1655 McLendon Ave.
  • Kool Korners Grocery, 349 14th Street NW (corner of State St), (404) 892-4424. Take-out lunches Monday through Saturday. Known for making the best Cuban sandwiches in Atlanta (with jalapeños upon request). With its friendly owner, Ildefonso Ramirez, and its hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, Kool Korners is a local landmark. One can expect 5-15 minute lines of students, construction workers, and corporate executives from 11:30 a.m. onwards. As-yet-untoasted cubanos are pre-made in the morning, and the store can run out of them later in the day. Call ahead for large orders. Locals often eat the sandwiches in their cars. Cubano, plantain chips, Latin soft drink, and a Moon Pie: $8.

Virginia Highlands

  • Fritti, 309 North Highland Ave, Atlanta, 404-880-9559, [30]. Fritti offers European-style pizza. Italians have said that this is the closest to true Italian pizza as it gets in Atlanta. Appetizers are wonderful - the calamari is very lightly fried and the Funghi Fritti (fried crimini, portabella, and shittake in rice flour batter, rosemary and truffle oil) is to die for. Vegetarians have several options at this location. Large groups can be accommodated if you call ahead and reserve the private dining room upstairs. Reservations are not necessary but are recommended, especially for weekend dinners. Pizzas average $12-14 per person - if you get an appetizer you will probably not finish the whole thing. Excellent selection of Italian wines by the glass (though overpriced).
  • Blind Willie's, 828 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta, 404-873-BLUE, [31]. Blind Willie's is an established blues club featuring live blues, and a selection of Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans-style food.

East Suburbs

  • Zyka, 1677 Scott Blvd, Decatur, 404-728-4444, [32]. Fast food the Indian way. The decor is simple, and the food is served on plastic plates, but the food is served quickly, hot and wonderful. They have the best naan in the US. Some of the food is spicy and sometimes oily, so keep an eye out.

Drink

Midtown

  • The Library, near GA Tech.
  • Manuel's, at Highland and North Avenue, an Atlanta Democratic Party institution where you're likely to find campaign staffers and off-duty cops knocking back stiff drinks under a portrait of JFK.
  • The Righteous Room, at Ponce de Leon and North Highland. Great jukebox.
  • Atkins Park, which may be the oldest bar in Atlanta, on N. Highland. Ask for the Key Lime Pie shot if you're in a girly mood.
  • Pura Vida, on N. Highland, serves great mojitos and draws a Latin crowd for music and tapas.
  • Dark Horse, also on N. Highland, draws an older crowd.

Buckhead

  • Anything in Buckhead, which should be a sign to those who like to avoid college students.
  • Fado's in Buckhead, which employs some actual Irishmen and women

Virginia-Highland

Virginia-Highland is a popular area for twenty- and thirty-somethings. The better bars are:

  • Limerick Junction in Virginia-Highland, where the drinks are cheap and the fiddling rocks.
  • Neighbors and Moe's and Joe's in Virginia-Highland.

Emory

  • Neighbors, bound to be thronged with Emory students.

Gay and Lesbian

  • Mary's, 1287B Glenwood Avenue, (404) 624-4411, [33]. A gay-friendly neighborhood bar in East Atlanta Village.

Other

College students favor:

  • Famous Pub and Sports Palace and Maggie's in the Toco Hills Shopping Center.

Sleep

While there are plenty of options in the city of Atlanta itself, be sure to check the metro area cities, too, as you may get cheaper rates for being just outside of the city. Many of them may actually be closer to the places you'd like to visit and the interstate system around Atlanta, when its not rush hour, will carry you quite efficiently.

  • Amberley Suite Hotel, 5885 Oakbrook Parkway Atlanta/Norcross, Georgia 30093 Toll Free: 1-800-365-0659 Phone: 770-263-0515 Fax: 770-797-3894, Amberley is situated in the high-tech Oakbrook Campus Business Park (Perimeter Northeast), near the historical district of Norcross, GA's prestigious Gwinnett County. [34]
  • AmeriSuites - Airport North, 3415 Norman Berry Drive, [35]
  • AmeriSuites - Buckhead, 3242 Peachtree Road N.E., [36]
  • AmeriSuites - Downtown, 330 Peachtree Street, [37]
  • AmeriSuites - Perimeter Center, 1005 Crestline Parkway,[38]
  • Courtyard - Downtown, 175 Piedmont Ave NE, [39].
  • Crowne Plaza - Airport, 1325 Virgina Ave., [40].
  • Crowne Plaza - Perimeter NW, 6345 Powers Ferry Rd NW., [41].
  • Embassy Suites - Airport, 4700 Southport Rd, [42].
  • Embassy Suites - Buckhead, 3285 Peachtree Rd NE, [43].
  • Embassy Suites - Centennial Olympic Park, 267 Marietta St, [44].
  • Embassy Suites - Galleria, 2815 Akers Mill Rd SE, [45].
  • Embassy Suites - Perimeter Center, 1030 Crown Pointe Parkway, [46].
  • Fairfield Inn - Downtown, 175 Piedmont Ave, [47].
  • Hawthorn - Northwest, 1500 Parkwood Cir SE, 770-952-9595, 800-338-7812, [48]. 50 luxury suites with daily complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning and social hour Monday through Thursday in the evenings.
  • Holiday Inn - Airport South, 6288 Old Dixie Hwy, [49].
  • Holiday Inn - Airport North, 1385 Virginia Ave, [50].
  • Holiday Inn Select Atlanta Capitol Conference Center, 450 Capitol Avenue SW, [51].
  • Holiday Inn Select - Perimeter, 4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., [52].
  • InterContinental Buckhead, 3315 Peachtree Road NE, (404) 946-9000, [53].
  • Microtel Inns & Suites Atlanta Buckhead Area, 1840 Corporate Blvd. Tel: (404) 325-4446[54].
  • Microtel Inns & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center, 6280 Peachtree Dunwoody Road. Tel: (678) 781-4000 [55].
  • Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland Street, [56].
  • Sheraton Gateway - Airport, 1900 Sullivan Rd, [57].
  • Sheraton Suites - Galleria, 2844 Cobb Parkway SE., [58].
  • Wyndham Garden - Northwest, 1775 Parkway Pl NW., [59].
  • Wyndham - Vinings, 2857 Paces Ferry Rd, [60].
  • Wyndham - Midtown, 125 10th St NE, [61].
  • Wyndham, 160 Spring St NW., [62].
  • Atlanta Vacation Rentals, View photos and descriptions for vacation rentals in atlanta [63]

Contact

In order to make local phone calls, all ten digits of the phone number are required. As such, you'll notice that all phone numbers will include an area code. Currently they are 770, 404, and 678. At one point you could determine where a number went by the area code, but they have now become quite jumbled.

Stay safe

Atlanta is routinely ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. As in most large urban areas, one should use caution and not let their guard down.

The homeless are not shy about asking for change. Very common outside MARTA stations and at Atlanta Underground. TSA has put a stop to sticker selling at the Airport and the new fare gates on MARTA have put a stop to most harrasment while on the train.

Cope

Get out

Metro Area Cities

For those more interested in scenic beauty and outdoor activities, the Appalachian mountain chain begins about sixty miles north of Atlanta. The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Springer Mountain in north-east Georgia, an easy drive from metro Atlanta.

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