A question for Atlanta experts

I would recommend staying in midtown, near the Arts Center or Midtown MARTA stations for ease of transport. There are much better dining options in midtown (as compared to downtown) and it's a nicer and livelier neighborhood to be walking around in after dark.

Other attractions for someone interested in walking, exploring and history:

Atlanta History Center
MLK Center
Carter Center
the Fox Theater
Margaret Mitchell house
the Cyclorama

Check out Stone Mountain Park. Would need to drive there. Its got a granite mountain with a carving of Lee, Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson.

Hi cd,
Based on what you write, take a look at this website -
http://www.preserveatlanta.com/walkingtours.htm

They do great (low-cost) walking tours of different areas of Atlanta. There are several there that are still on my "to do" list.

If you like history, Stone Mountain park is the first thing that comes to mind. There's a lot to do there but at least go to Memorial Hall (in front of the carving) and perhaps the Antebellum Plantation across the street. You can take a cable car up the mountain for fabulous views. If you want to walk, that starting point is a bit away. Check out the park website for more information.

The other that comes to mind is the Atlanta History Center that includes the Swan House. You can have lunch at the Swan House - http://www.swancoachhouse.com/restaurant.html
and enjoy the grounds and the other features of the Atlanta History Center -
http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/

The Botanical Garden is nice if that is of interest to you -
http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/home.do

Depending on when you plan to visit there are lots of neighborhood festivals and tours of homes on most weekends. I love these and they highlight historical neighborhoods. Coming soon is one I'm really looking forward to -
http://www.decaturgardentour.com/
I'm touring one day and volunteering the other.

My favorite place to stay would be (hands-down) the Midtown area. Try Priceline there. One of my favorite hotels has been on Hotwire for the past few months in the mid-70s. It's the only 3.5* hotel in Midtown on Hotwire so pretty easy to know what you are getting. http://www.hotelindigo.com/h/d/in/1/en/hotel/atlfx?&cm_mmc=mdpr-_-googlemaps-_-in-_-atlfx&dp=true
It's the Holiday Inn Group's first foray into boutique hotels and the vibe is great and the decor is fun. The rooms are small but well appointed. Across the street is the Fox Theatre and try to work in an even there if you can -
http://www.foxtheatre.org/history.htm

There are lots of great restaurants around there. I have a long list of recommendations.

The best thing about the location is that you can jump on MARTA and get to most of the places you list. The other two area would be Buckhead (too car centered for me) and Downtown (dead at night). Midtown is "the" walking area of Atlanta to be. We have our own version of Central Park in Piedmont Park.

That's a start

Good suggestions so far. Would add to the above, depending on your interests:

-State capitol building
-High Museum of Art
-Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University
-Oakland Cemetery
-William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

Thanks Cheryl, Tchoiniere, Starrs and bachslunch.

This gives me a lot to research! What fun! One more question. We will be coming into Atlanta by 75 and leaving by 75. We're wondering if we should just get a hotel in MidTown for 3 days and take one of those days to drive to Stone Mountain and return to Atlanta OR stay the first night at Stone Mountain and the other two in Atlanta. If a night at Stone Mountain, which hotel? There's a Marriott Inn and a Marriott Resort.

I didn't even think to suggest Stone Mountain because I think of it as a summer outdoor destination and you are coming in December. But I know they do a whole big light show for Christmas too. I think they do a special laser show for Xmas too iirc and that might be fun (if cold).

Most of those outdoor walking tours aren't done in the winter afaik. But Centennial Olympic Park has a seasonal outdoor skating rink.

I've never stayed at St. Mtn. overnight so I can't answer your question about that. I wouldn't want to change hotels for only 3 nights, but it might be fun to stay there to see the Xmas lights at night.

Hi,

I wouldn't stay in Stone Mountain as it is a very do-able trip from Atlanta, and not near I-75. Marta goes there, and if you are driving you can plan your trip there to avoid rush hour. Well, as much as possible in Atlanta.

Someone mentioned the Cyclorama and I would second that, and if it is nice day I would spend time at the zoo and Grant Park.

Midtown is a great location to stay and you can do all these things from there. Enjoy your trip.

Just drive out to Stone Mountain from Midtown for the day. Plan not to drive during rush hour and you'll be there in a few minutes. As you drive out on 78E, which is Ponce de Leon Drive at first and Scott Boulevard and then becomes the Stone Mtn Freeway. The first part (Ponce de Leon) is one of the prettiest drives in Atlanta and you'll pass little roadside parks that were designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead - who designed Central Park and the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

Thanks, you guys are great! We will stay the 3 days in Atlanta and drive out to Stone Mountain and back. DH just threw a hitch in my get-a-long....there are friends in Lawrenceville that he wants to have dinner with, so that probably means 4 days in Atlanta.

When in December (early, mid or late)?
The Rockettes will be at the Fox theatre through the first week -
http://www.foxtheatre.org/Atlanta_RadioCity_Christmas_Spectacular.pdf
As someone else said, Stone Mountain will be decorated for Christmas.
Give us a general idea on when you'll be here and I'll look for specific things you may enjoy (no need to share specific dates).

Thanks Starrs, we are looking at Dec 28 thru Jan 1. Leaving the morning of Jan 2

Okay. I'll be scouting out for special things going on then.

You might want to go ahead and book hotels if you haven't already. The Peach Bowl is held on December 31st so there will be lots of SEC and ACC football fans in town.
The suggestions for places to go are good. If you are headed out to Stone Mountain you should stop by the town of Decatur, cute shops and places to eat. Ponce de Leon runs right through Decatur. I also like the neighborhood of Virginia Highland for places to eat.

I disagree- I would stay at the Evergreen one night in Stone Mountain. It would be a nice break and it's a really nice hotel.

Thanks listentostars, how far is it into Atlanta from Stone Mountain?

Never mind listentostars, I just re-read Starrs post where she said it just takes a few minutes.

Stone Mtn is about 15 miles and less than 30 minutes (without rush hour traffic) from Midtown. I used to live in Stone Mountain and am in Midtown every week. Actually, I used to be an "information hostess" at the park. Evergreen is a nice conference hotel, but once you are there you are...well, there. I'd prefer staying in Midtown and walking to restaurants, etc. rather than 1 night in the park. Just personal preference.

BTW, I got the Hotel Indigo for this weekend on Hotwire for a steal. It's the only 3.5 Midtown hotel, so you know which one you are getting when you bid on it. It's the Holiday Inn group's first foray into a boutique hotel and I love the vibe. Lots of places to eat nearby, although we ate at Avra (Greek restaurant) twice in two days. Went for dinner on Friday night and went back for dessert on Saturday night. LOVE the place - and the wait staff. The baklava is excellent but the Mille Feulle is about the best dessert I've ever had. http://www.avragreektavern.com/dessert.html

Thanks Starrs for the Avra link! I've printed it to take with! Sounds delicious!

The Hotel Indigo on Hotwire is up to, I think 113.00 each night for the dates we want. Darn!

That's high. I've gotten it for 1/2 that on three different locations. I'm guessing it's the time of year.

I may have a Plan B for you. When friends found out I was staying there this weekend, they made an offer to sign me up for a special program. I'll follow up on that offer, check the rates, and then see if I can make it work for you too. More to come...

I LOVE Avra!

Thanks starrs! That's really nice.

My experience at the Atlanta Hotel Indigo was a mix of good and bad, the bad coming when nothing was done despite repeated calls to the desk about a horribly noisy dog problem in a nearby room. For better of worse, Hotel Indigo is a "pet friendly" chain.

The pet rooms are on the third floor.

I asked for an upgrade to a king on a different floor and the only other king available was on the pet floor. I stayed where I was.

It is a pet-friendly hotel, but like most pet-friendly hotels only certain rooms or floors are used for pets.

At the Indigo, that's the third floor.

The Indigo is a very small hotel so there may not have been a room to be moved to.

starrs, thanks for the offer, but I went thru Priceline and got the Hyatt for $56.00. I feel good about it as the Aquarium is just a few blocks walk. They say it is a 4 star hotel, so should be pretty nice for a great price.