This worked really nicely when we went to Boston a few years ago, so I’ll try again for a potential upcoming trip…
TheMrs.&I are (likely) headed to Atlanta in mid-May. I’ve never been, but we’ll be in Tallahassee for someone’s wedding and are taking the drive up as sort of an anniversary vacation trip. We’ll probably have maybe 4 days in town.
We’re mid-30s, no kids… about what you’d expect of someone here, we really like history, politics, some sports, TheMrs. likes art galleries and I’m ok w/ them…
there’s the obvious things, like Six Flags Over Georgia and the Coca-Cola thing…
Any other suggestions? Great restaurants? What are the various neighborhoods?
If you like ancient history, the Carlos Museum at Emory University has a surprisingly expansive collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and ancient American artifacts. Really nice museum.
(I do not recommend the Fernbank Museum of natural history. Not a good collection, in my opinion.)
If you like aquariums, the Georgia Aquarium is definitely worth a look.
Starlight Drive-In is a fun thing to do on a warm evening, and sort of a hipster hang-out. Pack a cooler of PBR, bring some grub, and a couple of camp chairs.
If you’re looking for exercise, try a hike up either Stone Mountain or Kennesaw Mountain.
Piedmont Park is a nice place to relax and enjoy the skyline view.
Cyclorama (mentioned above) is walking distance from/shares a parking lot with the Atlanta Zoo. (Even if you’re a huge fan of the movie, do NOT go to the Gone With the Wind museum, btw- one of the most overpriced collections of nothing you’ll ever see; not worth a trip if it was free.)
I mention because diff’rent folks/diff’rent strokes and all- there’s a Medieval Times there.
Tara and Spoke have everything we have here nailed down. There’s nothing else to see here!
As for the YRGR, meh. It’s 10 minutes from me, and with 2 kids, it was a must-do one time per year, but for a couple of grown-ups? It’s a sad little place with some sad animals in too-small cages IMHO.
You are probably too young to have grown up with the Br’er Rabbit stories, but we have a museum dedicated to those: The Wren’s Nest (the home of Joel Chandler Harris). May be too kid-oriented for you, but I mention it for the sake of completeness.
A good restaurant is Houston’s. Excellent food and atmosphere! The one where I’ve eaten is apparently closed/relocated, but I’ve enjoyed eating there every time.
Yes, definately see something at the Fox - movie, concert, play - whatever is in town. The venue is worth it!
Eat at The Varsity, an Atlanta tradition located adjacent to the Georgia Tech campus. Best chili dogs and onion rings on planet Earth! Don’t forget to try a frosted orange while you’re there. Also, the original Krispy Kreme doughnut shop is downtown on Peachtree St. It’s worth a stop for a hot glazed doughnut or 12 and a cup of coffee. If you like old fashioned 24 hour diners, the Plaza Diner, also on Peachtree, has been around forever. Classic diner food with some twists and a very ecclectic clientele make this a favorite late night stop.
I believe you are thinking of the Majestic Diner, which is on Ponce de Leon Ave. I’d go there more for the people-watching at 2 a.m. than for the food.
The Krispy Kreme is also on Ponce. It is an old one, but I think the original was in North Carolina.
When I was growing up, the Starlight Drive-in was definitely located in a part of town you didn’t want to go near; it was dangerous. (So was the Zoo.) Has that changed? I wouldn’t mind seeing a drive-in movie again.
One addition about Houston’s. The last time I went, the Hawaiian Ribeye was a special of the day. Looking at the menu, it looks like it’s a permanent item.
Grant Park, the neighborhood around the zoo, has gentrified.
The Starlight is due south from East Atlanta, which has become a bit of a hipster neighborhood. So the hipsters drive south on Moreland Avenue to visit the Starlight Drive-In, and they have made it a fun place. It’s still in a somewhat dicey area, I guess, but I have never felt unsafe there.
Then again, different people have different tolerances in defining “safe,” I imagine.
If you want to see a drive-in movie, you should give it a shot.
Yeah, I was scratching my head for a minute there, wondering if I had lost my mind!
Met the Mrs. next door to the Majestic Diner long ago; after getting off duty at 7am, I’d grab a dozen hot donuts from KK on Ponce, and head to the roof of the Days Inn on P’tree to watch the sunrise.
Sadly, no.
Houston’s is a good choice for a chain. I used to bartend at the Lenox Road store, and every morning the chef had to make 1 each steak, chicken, ribs, etc. for the manager to taste test. One bite of each, and it was off to the kitchen trash.
Us hungry vultures would wait by the dishwasher, and snag ribs and steak for breakfast, ignoring corporate policy of throwing away perfectly good food! We were rebels, man!
Inman Park and Decatur have some nice small restaurants to try. The Marlay House is a nice Irish pub with great food.
Fritti in IP was nice. Use the Googleand read a bit to see what you might like.
