Happy Friday friends! I hope you have enjoyed this weeks travel theme! What has been your favorite travel guide? I saved my favorite for last because it’s one I have been meaning to write for years now. Today I am sharing my very own city- Atlanta!
I’ve done various posts on Atlanta but never a compilation of all things Atlanta. So here it is my friends, my travel pretty Atlanta! To kick off this post, here are a few pieces of valuable advice that I recommend reading before you visit Atlanta!
Advice #1: Traffic
If you are visiting Atlanta for the first time keep in mind how awful our traffic is. You will most likely want to get a hotel in the area you want to be in. But if you want to explore all the city, avoid jumping on the road between 7:30AM-9:30 AM and 5:00 PM-7PM. Our public transportation, MARTA is great to take to big shows or games downtown but thats about it. It doesn’t have many stops and can be kind of shady at night. I used it every day for two years going to grad school downtown and never had a problem but some people get uncomfortable being on it.
Advice #2: ITP and OTP
Another piece of advice is understand the commonly used terms ITP (inside the perimeter) and OTP (outside the perimeter). These terms are used widely hear for reference on where you are in the city. They refer to the areas inside/outside the interstate 285 loop. ITP is everything inside the city so think downtown, midtown and Buckhead and OTP is everything outside like Roswell, Alpharetta and Smyrna- just to name a few. For more on this click here.
Advice #3: Safety
Just like any other big city, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to safety. This might “duh” advice for some but you’d be surprised how many people come to Atlanta and think they are still in a small, safe town. First of all, never ever leave anything valuable in your car. My sister learned this the hard way when she left her lap top in her front seat for a few minutes and her window got smashed in for it. Even if you don’t necessarily think it’s “valuable”, just don’t leave anything in plan sight of your car. Second, no matter what part of town you are in, be very vigilant at night when you walk places. So lets jump right on in.
Where to Stay
As mentioned above, I highly recommend you stay close to where you want to spend the majority of your time at. For example, if you want to see all the famous Atlanta traction {like the Georgia Aquarium, Coke Museum} I recommend you stay downtown. Nevertheless, here are a few hotels that are in great areas that are relatively easy to get to:
- St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead
- Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown
- The Ritz Carlton Downtown Atlanta
- Loews Atlanta
I am not a big fan of Airbnb in Atlanta because you could end up in a not so safe area. With so many hotel options I recommend you find one that fits your budget and your plans. If you are looking to save money, try staying OTP in the Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell or Alpharetta area.
Where to Eat
Despite what some critics might say, Atlanta has a vast and thriving culinary scene. Over the seven years I have seen how Atlanta has slowly started to get attention for all its new and creative restaurants. I could provide you with hundreds {no really, I’ve eaten at more than 400+ restaurants in Atlanta!} of recommendations but since you are probably only here for a weekend, here are my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. Tip: This list is in no particular order so I recommend checking out where they are located and go from there.
- Sundial– best view in the city
- Staplehouse- tough to get a reservation but if you plan ahead it will be worth it. Amazing food!
- Atlas– romantic, upscale.
- Gunshow- Southern-style dim sum restaurant.
- Anticos- best pizza in Atlanta.
- General Muir- all around delicious.
- Taqueria Del Sol- Atlanta staple with great tacos and cheese dip.
- Fat Matt’s- best ribs you will ever have!
- Holeman & Finch- best cheeseburger in the city
- Table & Main- best fried chicken, OTP.
- Bread & Butterfly- one of my favorite lunch spots.
- I Love Pho- name explains everything.
- 8Arm- great breakfast.
- The Optimist- excellent seafood.
- O-KU– my favorite sushi in the city.
- Bar Taco– best margaritas.
- Upbeet– healthy and delicious.
- Spiller Coffee- my favorite coffee in Atlanta.
- Leon’s- great food and late night drinks.
- Victory Sandwich Bar- great sandwiches and drinks.
- Ria’s Bluebird- best pancakes.
- F& B- great French food.
- Delicias de la Abuela- great Colombian food.
- Marcel’s- upscale, all around delicious.
What to Do
- The Georgia Aquarium
- Coca Cola Museum
- Civil Rights Museum
- The Heigh Museum of Art
- Biking or Scooter down Beltline
- Ponce City Market
- Krog Street Market
- Piedmont Park
- Virginia Highlands
- Westside Provisions
- The Battery for shopping and baseball
- The Fox Theatre
- Avalon
- Downtown Roswell
Where to Shop
- Ponce City Market
- Avalon
- Westside Provisions
- Lenox Mall
- The Shops at Buckhead
- Perimeter Mall
- Phipps Plaza
- Outlets- Dawsonville and Woodstock
I hope this guide helps you get the most out of your stay in Atlanta! Make sure you also check out my restaurant tab on my home page for more recommendations including the prettiest and healthiest places to eat. Enjoy your time in ATL!
Xo,
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