Ana

Hi, hope you can help. A friend and I are meeting in Atlanta for a wedding in about 2 weeks. She's flying out from the west coast and I'm flying down from Boston. Her flight lands approx. 10-12 hrs before mine. I've told her not to bother picking up the rental car until I arrive. Any suggestions on what/where she can spend all that time before I arrive? From reading prior messages, it seems she can travel easily by MARTA -- are there any good day spas that are easily accessible using the subway system? Any other thoughts?

cg

I would recommend that she head to Lenox Mall, which is the Lenox stop on Marta. She needs to take the Doraville train from the airport.

Lenox is a nice, upscale mall and I believe it does have a couple of day spas in it (can't remember the names, might be tied to the department stores) - the mall's website is www.shopsimon.com. The Swissotel, which is right across the street from the mall, also has a good spa.

Other possibilities are taking the train to CNN and taking a tour, or going to Underground Atlanta (both are easily accessible from Marta - going to CNN will require one easy train switch), but Lenox would be my first choice if she's at all a shopper.

J T Kirk

If your friend likes to shop, she can take MARTA to Lenox Square, which is a large mall with some designer stores (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, Neiman marcus). Across the street from Lenox, is Phipps Plaza which is were all the uppity stores call home (Tiffany's, Saks, etc.)
Or take MARTA to Perimeter Mall, yet another shopping mall. They have Nordstrom's, which has a spa.
There are lots of day spas in Atlanta, but the one at Nordstroms is the only I know which is convenient via MARTA.

Ana

Thanks for the suggestions. Do you have any idea how far/how long it would take to get to the Lenox & Perimeter malls from the airport by MARTA. Also, what train/general directions would you suggest?

Randy

Also you could ride marta to Five points stop downtown,underground Atlanta is fun,and the World of Coca-cola is worth checking out.....Marta's web site is itsmarta.com

teh

I wouldn't recommend Underground Atlanta for a girl on her own. It's not unsafe but wouldn't be much fun on your own. I'd go to Lennox. It's close by and a great place to shop and have lunch.

T.M.

I think Underground Atlanta is perfectly safe during the day. As a single professional woman, I have no qualms about going there. Downtown professionals often go over for lunch at the food court. I'd highly recommend the World of Coke and lunch at Johnny Rocket's, which is close by.

One option, if she likes art, is to get off MARTA at the Arts Center station and go the High Museum of Art. It's right next to the station. They have some fantastic exhibitions.

As for day spas, I think Spa Sydell has a location very close to Lenox Square. A massage/manicure is a great way to relax after being in an airplane.