gem_gem

My husband is going to a conference in Atlanta from Feb. 6-11. I"ve never been to Atlanta and would love to go with him. I believe it is at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway so I'm starting to research my options to see if it is worth it for me to tag along.

1) We'd rather not get a car and I think the hotel has MARTA access. Can we get around to some sights and interesting places without a car? We don't mind walking but also would like some ideas of what to see that is nearby (if anything) for evenings when we don't have a lot of time.

2) What sights are not to miss? We love museums, historical places, aquariums, botanical gardens, etc. I like to shop in unique stores. We love food, good beer and wine and are both vegetarians so restaurant recommendations are welcome.

3) Is there anything special going on that week? Festivals, fairs, concerts?

I'm not hesitant to go out on my own during the day and will take the usual precautions for being in a strange place so feel free to suggest things for a woman on her own for daytime. My husband will join me in the evening and perhaps some afternoons. We are 50-somethings.

Thanks for any suggestions you can make.
GEM

bigbomoho

im sure youll get lots of ideas--ill give you a few.First the AP is south of town,not near anything youd want to walk to.MARTA is a good alternative,but will limit you as to seeing things.Id put the aquarium on the top of your list__MARTA will get you within a half. Id figure 1/2 day there.World of Coke is nearby,b not my fav place, too commeercial, but interesting. We have a good museum, the HIGH whic has good diaplays,and the orchestra is there as well.Nice area to walk around.Theres a very good history museum on West Paces Ferry thats good.Stone Mtn is excellent,but youd have to take a bus there.Check out things to do on Fodors and see what else.BTW, if youre a shopper, you can take MARTA to Lenox Mall and Phipps plaza, very nice top end stuff here,again a mARTA stop--have fun

starrs

The hotel is on the new Sky Train (that goes to the new rental car center) and is a quick ride to and from the airport. The station is next to the MARTA station so when you are ready to go sight-seeing just take the SkyTrain back to the airport and jump on MARTA. MARTA only has two lines - running north/south and east/ west connecting at 5 Points.

As you leave the airport on MARTA you'll travel through Downtown then Midtown and on to Buckhead if you want to do the shopping big mentions above a Lenox Mall.

The Aquarium and World of Coke are via the Downtown stops.
There's a lot to see and do in Midtown.
Great shopping at Lenox.
If you want to head toward Stone Mountain, transfer to the east line and get off in Decatur. Decatur would be a good day trip for you because it's a cute little town with shopping and restaurants. You could continue on to Stone Mtn if you want, but I'd rather take a car to Stone Mountain because it's so big (5 miles around the mountain and a huge park ).

starrs

If the weather is nice, take MARTA to Midtown and walk to Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. If it's too far to walk I think the base fare in Midtown is $10 no matter where you go (I'll check on that).

The High Museum is great. Dali will be gone but Toulouse-Lautrec will be there -
http://www.high.org/main.taf?p=3,2

Check their calendar for possible lectures, etc.

http://www.piedmontpark.org/programs/park_tours.html
http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.or...classes/events

You may be interested in the Margaret Mitchell house -
http://www.margaretmitchellhouse.com/

Across the street is a great place if you like beer -
http://www.tacomac.com/

Up the street is a place with very good food and beer -
http://www.gordonbiersch.com/locatio...own-atlanta-ga


DO go on the hour tour of the Fox -
http://www.foxtheatre.org/tours.aspx


The Atlanta Preservation Center has other tours you may be interested in -
http://www.preserveatlanta.com/walkingtours.htm

bigbomoho

Great suggestions from Starrs!!

gem_gem

bigbomoho and starrs,
Thank you - you both provided some good ideas. There is nothing like personal knowledge to help make choices.
I ordered the Atlanta streetwise map from Amazon and will process all your suggestions with some more research. I think I can then determine what is easily accessible and what is too much.
I appreciate that you both took the time to respond!
I may post some follow up questions too, as I get into the details.
GEM

Kwoo

I also suggest the Martin Luther King Center and the Carter Library & Museum.

starrs

Kwoo, how do you suggest she get to those locations without a car?

suec1

I feel compelled to comment that Atlanta is not a city like New York. There are good suggestions here for some sites to see but IMO Atlanta is not a major tourist city. Yes the shopping is good but not sure I would say Lenox or Phipps have alot of unique stores - Decatur is better for that. Another pleasant neighborhood is Virginia - Highlands and you can get there by MARTA (train to bus). The public transportation here is also not on par with New York. Atlanta grew from the mid-1970's on and it is a city that was developed more for personal automoblies than public transportation. If you are going around by day, esp. just from the airport up to the downtown area or Lenox / midtown it will be OK but at night or to go further afield than the main MARTA train, don't expect rapid connections. If you and your husband go into the city at night be aware that it is much more of a communter city than a city where people live. I've lived here 35 years and am a fairly happy resident - maybe I am too much of a pessimist on my city - I just wish it had more of a NY vibe.

bachslunch

The Carter Library can be accessed via city bus, and the MLK complex is a few blocks walk from a MARTA light rail stop. Can't remember the exact details, but this can be researched easily enough at MARTA's website.

In fact, most attractions in Atlanta can be accessed via light rail or city bus. I know because I've done so.

starrs

The MLK complex is 8 blocks from the MARTA station and, as much as I love my city, I wouldn't recommend that she walk there alone during the day while her husband is at a conference. Feb can be very cold too.

MARTA has faced budget cuts and bus service has been affected. I'm not saying it's not possible to travel to those two locations via public transit, but I would not recommend it to someone who is not familiar with the city and a woman traveling alone. If the recommendation was via cab, then I'd agree. If it were summer and she could add on a visit to the Sweet Auburn market, I'd agree.

My suggestions are for locations closer to MARTA stations and in areas with more business/tourist foot traffic. I wouldn't walk those 8 blocks in Feb alone and I wouldn't recommend it to a guest to the city.

bachslunch, are you the one who visited Alabama via public transit?

starrs

I just did a search. Yes, you traveled to Montgomery via Greyhound and public buses. While I commend you for your efforts, that's not something most people would be comfortable in doing.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...fm#dest-header

Perhaps the OP is just as familiar with and comfortable with public transportation in unfamiliar cities. If not, I'm recommending locations close to MARTA stations and/or taking cabs. One common refrain we often hear is that Atlanta's public transit system (including buses) is not the same as public transit in other cities. We are a car-centric city, for better or worse. It can be done, just not easily.

bachslunch

starrs, thanks for replying. Yes, in fact I did visit both the Carter Library and MLK complex via public transport (and a walk of a few blocks in the case of the MLK complex, specifically two medium sized blocks along Decatur St SE, then a left and 5 short blocks along Jackson St SE -- note that the bus stops right at the Carter Library). I didn't get any sense of danger in doing so during the day, either. I suppose others may feel differently, but that wasn't at all my experience. Not so sure I'd want to wander around the MLK complex area at night, but that's a different story -- same's true of Downtown after dark.

I also did take the bus (both Greyhound and city bus) in Montgomery, AL when I did a day trip there from Atlanta. Greyhound in general isn't the luxury way to go (and I will echo any concerns one may have about the Atlanta to Savannah route via Greyhound because of its apparently chronic and severe lack of timeliness), but the trip to and from Montgomery was reasonably timely. And I wound up taking the city bus in Montgomery from the bus terminal to downtown because the taxi I called for never showed up. Like those in Indianapolis and Memphis, Montgomery's buses indeed have a notably more "inner city" feel than public transportation in Atlanta does (this was not encountered here, actually), but I had no problems. I don't mind riding the same bus with poor folks, myself, as long as robberies and assaults aren't part of the deal.

I have heard that there were some cutbacks in service in Atlanta's public transport since my visit, but am unaware of how extensive this has been. There's no question a car can make a visit to Atlanta more efficient, especially to places like Stone Mountain (the walk to the park from the end of the bus route is lengthy here). And one can always take a cab anywhere in Atlanta if one really wants to. But unless MARTA's service has been cut back to an almost non-existent minimum, if one wants to be without a car and avoid cab use in Atlanta, I see no reason one can't do so.

bachslunch

To be fair re using a car in Atlanta -- for those with mobility problems, a significant history of circulatory problems, or severe breathing issues, note well that Atlanta is in fact a very hilly city to negotiate on foot. For folks with these kinds of problems, a car is probably wise.

gem_gem

suec1m - Thanks for your perspective. I too live in a city that sounds like an interesting place but the actual downtown is not exciting (Phoenix) so I am familiar with that type of place. Atlanta is a place though that I have not been to (and I've hardly been in the South at all in general) so I am hoping it has enough to keep me going for a few days. Starrs' suggestions are great and I think I could have some fun.

But I am not very familiar with public transportation so anything tricky is probably not a good idea.

I don't have any mobility problems or anything, so 8 blocks of walking doesn't sound discouraging - but I also want to be smart about it and take some precautions. I'm not a nervous person or afraid to be alone but I also have enough street smarts (I hope) not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time just to prove a point.

I think I'm only talking about a few hours a day on my own - after sleeping in, using the hotel gym and enjoying some down time, then I will venture out for the rest of the day.

Suggestions for affordable day spas would be welcome.

Thanks to all who have taken time to respond. I am enjoying all the information.

GEM

starrs

Well, I was about to recommend the Natural Body spa at 4th and Peachtree in Midtown, but according to the website they aren't there anymore.



I love NB and went to the original location many years ago. I've only heard very good things about the other locations too. There's one downtown at CNN center and one in Decatur near the MARTA stop.

If I were you, I'd take MARTA to Decatur and go to that location.
http://www.naturalbody.com/locations.php?gmap=1&lid=4

There's a unique restaurant in an old filling station (gas station) nearby that's very popular. It's the kind of place you'd be comfortable visiting alone. But there are lots of good restaurants in the little town of Decatur -

Leon's Full Service -
http://www.leonsfullservice.com/
Amazing variety of sauces for their frittes and the rest of the food is good too

http://www.leonsfullservice.com/food.html


A nice French restaurant -
http://www.cafealsace.net/

A very good Asian fusion restaurant on the corner -
http://www.eurasiabistro.net/eurasia/eurasia.html

The Brick Street Pub is good.
http://www.brickstorepub.com/

People are raving about the Iberian Pig. I've not tried it yet.
http://www.iberianpigatl.com/kitchen.html

Good sushi at Sushi Avenue -
http://www.sushiavenuedecatur.com/

And really good Southern food with a twist at Watershed -
http://www.watershedrestaurant.com/

Spa day, lunch and strolling the shops = a very good day spent in Decatur

OneWanderingJew

Starrs--Did you see the updated review of Watershed in the AJC this past weekend? V. disappointing--and you know I love that place.

starrs

Really? No. The paper is in the car, as yet unread.

They had an afternoon tea during the holidays that sounded wonderful.

Thanks for the update. I'll read it when I get home.

flyguy

http://www.rathbunsrestaurant.com/
Rathbuns is my favorite resturant in the city. Cab it or Marta blue line to Inman Park stop puts you about a mile. Call for a cab once on the blue line.

sanchesnutt

Hope you enjoy your visit to Atlanta in February but I feel compelled to tell you that February is probably the worst month to visit Atlanta. It can be rainy and in-your-bones-cold. Bring an umbrella and a warm jacket or coat. Natives will be in sweaters, blazers and jackets. No one here likes to wear a coat.

Atlanta is no NYC. Thank goodness. However, Atlanta is not really a city for tourists. It's more of a place to live.

Atlantans love shopping, love business and love their trees. I suggest a visit to a hotel in Buckhead like the W. If you can get up at least 5 to 10 floors and it's a clear day you can get a good perspective on Atlanta. I have had many non-Atlantans exclaim, "It's a city in a forest!"

I do recommend the MLK area as that is unique to Atlanta.

Can you tell us from where you are coming? I might recommend different things depending on where you are from.