Five Hour Layover in Atlanta

Old Dec 8th, 2005, 06:13 PM
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Five Hour Layover in Atlanta

My grown daughter loved Atlanta when I used to take her there as a child - now she and her boyfriend have a five hour layover there. She's talking about taking MARTA to the Underground and World of Coca-Cola. I suggested the new aquarium.

Is the Underground still on a downhill fall, or has it gotten better in the last few years? Should she bother? Do you think she'll be able to get into the aquarium on a Sunday without buying tickets in advance?

Any ideas appreciated!
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 06:29 PM
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We live in Atlanta and I highly suggest the Aquarium, if they can get tickets in advance. We have an annual pass and went last Saturday for the first time- there was a sign that said they were sold out. We spent 3.5 hours there and saw everything.

If she likes art, the High Museum just added a new building.

Underground is just a bunch of shops, restaurants and bars. The city is trying to revive its night life with late hours.
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Old Dec 9th, 2005, 06:16 AM
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No, no, no. Tell your daughter not to waste valuable time going to Underground Atlanta. It is a dirty, unpleasant place, packed with tourists walking around looking at tacky merchandise in kiosks. Plus, the Five Points MARTA station is probably the worst-looking station in Atlanta, with people under the influence of drugs or mental illness, milling about. I mistakingly took visitors from Spain there, forgetting how bad it all looks, and the mom was very anxious and uneasy as we walked through the crowd.

Atlanta doesn't have a lot that can be enjoyed in just a few hours. If they are young, they might enjoy taking the MARTA to Lenox Square and walking through it to people watch (and visit some of the stores). It's always fun to look at the nice cars that are valet parked right outside the main entrance to Lenox. Since Atlanta is the home of hip-hop, (I once saw Jermaine Dupree at Lenox Square)you'll see lots of flashy cars.

Vicki
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Old Dec 13th, 2005, 05:46 AM
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I think it depends what time of day and what day of the week it is to be able to leave the airport, visit and come back in five hours. I don't have a timetable with me, but it seems like on the weekends, the Marta trains come about every 20 minutes. I would budget an hour to get to town and an hour to get back. Atlanta is a busy airport and at peak times lines build up at security.
Maybe a more frequent traveler can tell you if a five hour layover gives time to get into the city and back.
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Old Dec 16th, 2005, 05:20 PM
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I grew up in the ATL and still visit often, and I don't know if I'd take a chance getting downtown from the airport with a five hr layover and try to do an activity like the aquarium. Remember, you'd have to get back and go through security again. You didn't say when the trip is taking place, but during the holidays you can assume it won't be a quick trip through security. 5 hrs at the airport isn't exactly big fun, but it beats missing the plane.

Underground Atlanta--don't bother.
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Old Dec 16th, 2005, 05:56 PM
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The day of the layover is crucial. Security lines in Atlanta are shorter than they were last year, but that does not mean that on a busy day the wait is only 30 minutes! The day of the week and the time of day are important factors. (E.g. Friday afternoons can be very tedious.)

The other factor, which must be taken into account this time of year,is the weather.

If conditions are bad in Atlanta, or if they were bad at the originating airport, or even at an airport well back in the aircraft's schedule, the incoming flight could well be late.

There are a lot of unknowns here.
Until some of the parameters can be filled in with hard data, I would be hesitant to make a call on go or no go.

Perhaps someone has a suggestion on how to check the length of the security lines before exiting the terminal areas. I know of no way to view the lines for length without going up to the main terminal area. Perhaps an information desk will be staffed and could come up with an answer.

Probably the best way would be to ask passengers coming down the escalator from the security check points one question: "How long are the lines?"
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