Where to stay in Atlanta?
 

We'll be visiting Atlanta for a long weekend in June with our three sons (13,11,9). We'll be doing family touristy things -- zoo, Braves game, etc. (suggestions welcome!) and we're wondering what part of the city to stay in. We'll have a car but prefer a city experience where we don't have to drive to everything. Or, if there's a hotel with a great pool in the area we'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

Unfortunately, Atlanta isn't a good example of a large city with excellent public transportation. Good but not excellent.

That said, plan on park and drive.

Millineum Park, CNN, Coke, and a host of other things are downtown so that would be a good option and fairly close to Turner Stadium.

You'll be driving to the locations you mentioned, so other than dinner options, I don't know that a "city experience" is going to be a day time concern for you. Plan your itinerary and then choose a central location.

I'd also suggest Stone Mountain, in Stone Mountain, GA, just east of Atlanta. It's outdoors, a park, and you can climb to the top of the Stone Mountain. Lots of history to the site, including a carving on the side a la Mt. Rushmore. You can take the train around the base.

Lake Lanier is north of the city, and a big outdoor water park. The zoo won't take more than a morning for you folks.

Don't forget the new aquarium, either.

Lots of hotels downtown. It's a big city, so take your pick.

Thanks. Since location isn't that important if we'll be driving everywhere, are there any good hotels worth looking into?

All the chains are there. Take your pick and shop for rates. Probably stick to the northern side of town as opposed to the airport area. It can be kind of dicey in that neck of the woods.

Now that the Aquarium is open next to Centennial Park there is a good many things in that area. CNN Center, the park, the Aquarium. There is an Embassy Suites right beside the park. And it would be fairly easy getting to Turner Field from there. In fact, the hotel might have a shuttle. You could ask anyway. Otherwise, your probably going to have to drive to other things from that area. Fernbank Museum of Natural History is close to Emory University, which is not real far, but no mass transit options to get there. You can catch Marta to midtown and Buckhead. The High Museum is in Midtown. They've just done a major addition. The Atlanta History Museum is in Buckhead, although not real close to a Marta station. They have some nice exhibits sometimes.

There are lots of hotels in the Buckhead or Midtown areas. From there you can take Marta downtown to get to the Aquarium and Turner Field. BTW, you might want to go ahead and make an Aquarium reservation soon. I hear they are booked pretty far out.

My husband and I, being huge hockey fans, (not the Thrashers)have gone into ATL 3 times this year for a game. We used priceline.com all 3 times and asked for a hotel 4 star, downtown (walking distance to CNN,Phillips Arena, Coke place, and others) and we got to stay at the Marriott Marquis all 3 times at a great price.
As far as othr things to do and see, The Aquarium is unbelievanble. And STONE mOUNTAIN Park is really cool (the Laser show is not to be missed) I'm not real crazy about Lake Lanier ,but that;s justme. Six Flags is cool too, but you'd have to drive thee, for sure.