Know&Go Guide: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
What can I say about Atlanta that hasn’t been said? From above, it’s a city nestled inside a forest, on the ground it’s a hive of activity with standout skyscrapers dotted amongst the urban jungle.
Home to amazing Southern food, vibrant markets and enormous stadiums, Atlanta laid out the welcome mat for me with glorious weather, architectural delights and charming people.
This was my first visit to this much talked about city, having missed it ten years ago during The USA 50/50 Challenge due to time and geographical constraints. I was very lucky to stay in an ideal location downtown, within walking distance to Centennial Olympic Park and Pemberton Place. These two public spaces are bordered by and hold many of the main tourist attractions: College Football Hall of Fame, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca Cola and National Center for Civil and Human Rights, all of which and more I visited.
I particularly enjoyed walking through the Fairlie-Poplar* central business district, as this is where I found the best collection of late 19th/early 20th century civic buildings, including the Healey Building and the Elbert P Tuttle Court of Appeals. Walking through Midtown (see below) also presented some lovely finds, including the “Fabulous” Fox Theater built in 1929, during the hey-day of the glamorous picture house, and the vast Georgian Terrace Hotel.
One sunny evening, I decided to walk from my hotel to a restaurant meeting in Midtown because it took me along the famous Peachtree Streetˆ. Pretty early in, my new shoes started to aggravate my feet, so I took them off and walked for fifty minutes and 3.7 km (2.5 miles) barefoot – stopping frequently to take photos of many architectural delights found in Midtown. I’m surprised and pleased to say that the street was so clean, I incurred no damage at all!
Atlanta is a delightful destination with much to say for itself and I barely scratched the surface. I enjoyed my visit and will happily return when the opportunity arises.
*For more about the Fairlie-Poplar district read Historical Concepts article.
ˆTo read more about why Peachtree Street is famous, please read Discover Atlanta’s article.
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I highly recommend the frequent, fast and efficient public transport – MARTA (Red or Gold lines) – between the airport and downtown Atlanta. It’s may be just 16 km/10 miles away but the traffic can be epic, while the train does it in 24 minutes for only $2.50 one way. The re-loadable Breeze card costs an additional $2 and can be purchased from machines at stations.
I would recommend you load it up – remembering to include your return to the airport – and use the excellent subway and bus system while in town, as attractions around Atlanta are quite spread out and catching Ubers can add up quite quickly. Remember to tap on and off. Also, I recommend you download the MARTA On the Go app for Google and Apple.
Depending on which terminal at which your domestic plane arrives/leaves – North or South – you’ll probably have to take the Skytrain to/from the central concourse. If you are travelling internationally, you can jump on/off the free International Transfer Shuttle outside the station. -
Experience
Southerners Extremely Crazy!
Unless you’ve experienced the American south during college football season, you have no idea what I’m talking about, but the above is what I called the SEC or SouthEastern Conference. Their devotion and fervour make the NFL Super Bowl crowd look like weenies.
With your ticket you are given a smart tag – which lets you operate the many interactive exhibits – and the 775 school helmet wall lights up your nominated team. (Mine was the Oklahoma Sooners, as they were the team I came in contact with first during The USA 50/50 Challenge.)
You can interact with large smart screens that show highlights of your choice and quotes from famous coaches and players. I had the most fun at the Peach Bowl Field where I threw a ‘perfect’ ball first time (see above).
If you have an interest in sports or even if you don’t, this is a fascinating place showing how much love, devotion and money is invested in college football in this country.
Open Thur-Mon 10am-5pm.
Humanity in all its colours, good and bad
This is a very peaceful and zen-like building, it’s even shaped like a hug. The content is confronting and sobering, however, it’s presented with such a calm sense that you are moved in many different ways, while the overwhelming feeling is of hope for humanity.
Open Tue–Fri & Sun 12-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm.
Excellent electric car tour of Atlanta
This 90 minute tour was a fabulous way to see more of the city in an eco-friendly manner, with insights and information from a knowledgeable guide. I was shown the extensive mural system that exists throughout the neighbourhoods, the all embracing ‘Happy House,’ and how the Atlanta Beltline defines the city among many other highlights.
“Beware the splash zone,” they said!
I was warned about the volume of water the dolphins were going to erupt from their pool (see above) but I still sat in row 8 inside the splash zone… and I’m happy I did. The dolphin show was wonderful and just having that sort of interaction made the lengthy wait worthwhile.
It was the largest aquarium in the world when it opened in 2005, until S.E.A Aquarium in Singapore knocked it off its perch in 2012. It’s centrally located inside Pemberton Place with other attractions, so you can knock out a few in one day as I did. However, this one is open late, so I would suggest leaving it to the latter half of the day if you have time constraints, to explore all the exhibits thoroughly. Unfortunately, the food options were limited and expensive.
Open Mon-Fri 10am-9m, Sat-Sun 9am-9pm.
Missed opportunity to be an outstanding attraction
The most famous soft drink on the planet makes a lot of money, but none of that was on show here. I wish it were so much better than it is, which is just disappointing.
Two of the exhibits were good: Scent Discovery when the Scent Challenge quiz was running; and the Taste It room, at the end of the tour, where you can taste all of the international varieties of their products; these were understandably the most popular while I was there, due to their interactive nature.
The rest of it is mostly static exhibits showing the many phases of the logo & bottle and the truly stupendous amount of derivatives and copies that appeared in its early years. In this day and age, interactivity and involvement are givens with the most successful attractions.
Open Mon-Thu & Sun 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm.
“A transformative project that connects people, parks, and places across the city.”
I encountered the BeltLine while visiting Ponce City Market, as the Eastside Trail runs beside it. Running a large 35 km/22 mile loop around Atlanta this green and open space uses the old rail loop and was created to bring the neighbourhoods together and promote health and fitness.
Consume
“Southern classics with a sophisticated spin”
This was the restaurant I walked the length of Peachtree Street to get to and let me tell you, it was worth the effort. The food here was fabulous.
I chose share plates so that my host and I could enjoy more than a one plate meal delivers. We had all the classics: pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes and fried chicken, finishing with the most iconic Southern dessert, banana pudding.
While these are all standard Southern dishes, every one was elevated and beyond delicious.
Open: Lunch Thu-Fri 11am-2pm; Dinner Tue-Thu 5-9pm, Fri-Sat 5-10pm; Brunch Sat-Sun 10am-2pm. Closed Mondays.
“American comfort food with southern flair”
I had breakfast in this restaurant, located in the lobby of the Glenn Hotel, every morning of my three night stay. The generous breakfasts set me up for busy days and the service was always friendly and professional.
Open daily for Breakfast 6-11am and Lunch 11am-3pm; Dinner Sun-Thur 3-9pm, Fri-Sat 3-10pm.
Most amazing chicken tenders
After visiting the Georgia Aquarium I wandered around looking for somewhere open for lunch on a Sunday and this place appeared like a mirage before me. I was lured inside the scrupulously clean restaurant with a free sample of the most luscious chicken tender ever. I ordered the Chicken (Tender) and Waffle special and sat down to enjoy it.
I know the origin of chicken and waffles (early morning dinner/breakfast in Harlem for jazz bands back in the day) but I’m still on the fence about both in the same mouthful, so I just eat the waffle separately as dessert. Both were delicious and the BBQ buttermilk ranch dipping was the perfect complement to the chicken.
Open daily 11am-8.30pm.
Amazing food hall with too many choices
The variety of offer is enormous. There are rooftop bars, outdoor restaurants and a food hall offering many and varied culinary treats.
Tucked away in the ‘dessert corner’ of Ponce City Market taste-bud heaven awaits
I first encountered this bakery in its home town of Franklin, Tennessee, where I lined up on a Sunday morning with about fifty new friends at The Factory at Franklin to get some of these tasty treats. This was ten years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. So, when I saw them here at the Ponce, I pounced (*ahem*). They only have two locations outside of Tennessee and both are in ATL.
They make the best donuts and cronuts any side of the Mississippi!
Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm (or until sold out).
Purchase
Vast complex offering shopping and dining in the Old Fourth Ward
I love it when an old edifice is repurposed instead of destroyed and this one takes the biscuit. This former Sears catalogue facility houses national and local retailers, restaurants, a food hall, boutiques, offices and residential units.
Located on the BeltLine, it offers free work spaces all over and bike parking underneath. All of which were being utilised and it felt like a really loved community space. If I lived in Atlanta, I’d hang out here a lot and even live in the building if I could.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-9om, Sun 11am-6pm.
Women owned leather goods and accessories
I didn’t get much time to shop for goodies on this trip as it was so quick, but I had to pop into this inviting shop while I was in Ponce City Market. You can take classes and have things custom made if what’s on the shelves doesn’t meet your needs.
I decided to commission a key tag, which was made in front of my eyes, to commemorate my first visit the ATL.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm.
Rest
Super stylish hotel inside a 1920s Neoclassical Revival building in an historic location
Designed by the George Fuller Company who also created the Flatiron Building in New York, this beauty is a rare survivor and a standout in its setting. They’ve lovingly created the interior to take full advantage of the building’s bones and it’s suitably grand. You’ll find 39 lions adorning the roof line and a couple inside the elevators as well.
I stayed for three nights and it was a joy to enter the gorgeous lobby, where I was always greeted warmly by name, and head up to my comfortable corner suite for some downtime, especially in the lovely bathroom.
The lobby of the hotel houses a stylish bar and the rooftop holds the Skylounge, which offers great views over the city, along with your cocktails.
This guide details all of the things The Packed Bag experienced. Please visit Discover Atlanta for more.