So next month I’m going to a conference in Atlanta, a town which I know nothing about. I HOPE to spend a lot of my time in job interviews or catching up with friends, but have this fear that A) I won’t have many interviews and B) not many of my old pals will show up and I’ll be horribly bored in a hotel room by myself.
So: recommendations for activities. Again, I know jack about the town (west coast kid) and won’t have anything but the public transit. Ideas? Food? Drinks? Sights? Any cultural caveats for this west coast small-town girl? I like art and architecture and odd and kooky things and puttering around. Liquor is a good bet, too. Not dirt poor but on a limited budget. I’ll be staying downtown and spending time near the big conference hotels.
I haven’t been there in a couple of years, but I don’t seem to remember any shortage of either public transpostation OR good places to eat.
There is the MARTA system which can get you around pretty well. It used to be safe enough. Maybe that has changed, but talk to your hotel’s concierge. I’m sure they can fill you in.
The buckhead area always had a lot to see and do (and eat and drink). The Underground is fun too if you get the chance.
I’m sure an actual Atlanta Doper will be along shortly and can tell you more.
Unless you want to confine yourself to the downtown area, I would strongly suggest you rent a car.
Plenty of good places to eat - ask your hotel what they recommend. Don’t forget that the ATL is the birthplace of MLK, Coca-Cola, Gone With the Wind, and the 1995 World Series Champs.
I’ve never thought of Atlanta as a tourist friendly place though… it’s a great place to live, work, and shop, but as far as touristy things to do, it doesn’t really have much to offer.
Trivia: It’s the country’s second-highest major city, with an average elevation of over 1,200 feet (Denver, of course, is #1). Downtown is hilly, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking of walking a lot and aren’t used to exercise.
You might want to check out The High Museum of Art. Depending on the exhibition, it’s a great place to spend your time.
For kooky things, you could try Little Five Points It’s Atlanta’s corner for artsy and alternative business. It’s got plenty of places to eat and lots to look at. Expect to see piercings.
I would also recommend a rental car.
What conference are you going to? We (CDC) are putting on a chronic disease conference in early March, and I’ll be there.
I haven’t been here in Atlanta very long, so I can’t give you much in the way of fun recommendations, but perhaps we can get some dopers together for an evening of booze and rowdiness.
When I’m taking folks from out of town around Atlanta, I actually prefer taking Marta. It’s just not worth the traffic hassels and parking lot fees in town. To ride the train is $1.75 one way. Depending on how many days you’ll be here and how much train riding you think you might do, you might want to look into a visitor’s pass. It’s MARTA will give you the basics on the Train.
Underground Atlanta is fun for people watching. Olympic Park is nice for a stroll if it’s a nice warm day. World of Coca Cola always seems to be a request form my guests. The High Museum is quite nice. If somehting is showing at the Fox Theater I think it’s a venu worthy of a trip. I think the tour at CNN center is also a fun thing to go on. If you want a day of shopping, Lenox Mall, Phipp’s Plaza and Perimeter Mall are all just a train ride away.
I’m not too familar with places to eat downtown, so can’t really help you there except to say Make reservations when you can. One the weekend the waits can be quite lengthy.
Not anywhere close to downtown, but should you happen to find yourself on River Parkway, right across from the River Parkway apartments there’s a shopping center with a… Krogers? In this shopping center is a Thai restaurant. In this Thai restaurant they serve a yellow curry which surpasses any food I have ever eaten in any restaurant, anywhere. Pair it with a Thai iced tea and the resulting oral orgasm may be the high point of your life.
Other than that, I have no advice to offer. Mr. Armadillo went to school at Georgia Tech, and on the times I’d be visiting we’d spend most of the week holed up in the apartment with occasional breaks for Thai food. The only touristy thing we ever did was visit the Coke museum, which in and of itself wasn’t too exciting, except for the sample room at the end of the tour. Whatever you do, don’t drink the German coke. Or when you do, don’t blame me… I warned you
