Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

Atlanta, the state's capital and seat of Fulton County, was founded in 1837 and sits on the Piedmont Plateau in northern Georgia. Though the metro area spans 8,000 square miles, don't let the sprawling size—or all the transplanted "Yankees"—fool you into thinking Southern hospitality is dead. It's alive and well in Atlanta's pith-helmeted downtown ambassadors, drawling coffee mug-fillers, waving neighbors, and good ol' boy politicians.

Downtown Atlanta. Downtown has begun to shake its reputation for being desolate and a bit dangerous, now that tourists are flocking to sites like the Georgia Aquarium and more residents are looking at living in the city center. Daytime is when the area is most active with workers, conventioneers and, yes, panhandlers. But these days there is some activity after twilight at the district's restaurants and lounges.

Sweet Auburn. This mile and a half along Auburn Avenue, considered the epicenter of African-American history and achievement in Atlanta, has undergone restoration since landing on a 1992 list for endangered historic places. Here you can visit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home, church, and grave.

Midtown. You'll see Atlanta's most beautiful and chic people in Midtown, living in luxurious high-rise condos and frequenting the district's trendy restaurants, clubs, and shops. Regular folks fit in here too, enjoying sunny days at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and in the grassy oasis that is Piedmont Park.

Buckhead. Buckhead was known for its glamorous condos, majestic homes, and moneyed residents like Elton John, along with a notorious entertainment district that looked like college Spring Break every night. The latter is now largely gone, soon to be replaced by Buckhead Avenue's luxury retailers and ritzy boutiques.

Virginia Highland & the Emory Area. Stroll through the leafy neighborhood at the intersection of Virginia and North Highland avenues and you'll find a concentration of trendy stores, patio bars, cozy music venues, and tasty eateries. The area has a sunny disposition, and sits not far from the venerable Emory University and a collection of shops, pizza joints, and bars.

Little Five Points & Inman Park. There's a lively mix here, with the majestic old mansions and adorable bungalows of Inman Park situated just down Euclid Avenue from the quirky assortment of bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, vintage-clothing shops, and street characters of Little Five Points. The area remains fiercely off-beat and independent.