Usually, I’m the one traveling, but this week MrsMJ left me alone in Atlanta while she flew to Orlando for a meeting. Rambling aimlessly, without direction, I decided to stroll around our new hometown of Atlanta. Most of the thoughts I read on Atlanta center on the airport and some storm-inspired delay experienced by unfortunate airline passengers. The most common word I see used to describe our much maligned airport? “Pit.” I’ve learned to kind of like the airport…. I don’t fly through, I fly in and out, and I have PreCheck. Maybe I’m spoiled.
But Atlanta is so much more than the airport….and notoriously bad traffic. If you get out of your car and look around, you’ll find a city of mostly nice people, interesting architecture (outside of the downtown concrete jungle), good food, and my new favorite thing, Sweetwater beer. đŸ™‚ I started my walking tour downtown with perhaps our most famous export.
CNN Center is co-located with the Omni Hotel. You’ll find a busy lunch crowd visiting one of the many fast food options available here. If you’re looking for something slightly more upscale, Dantanna’s Downtown is located here. Lunch is usually busy, but the evenings are quiet unless there’s a concert or sporting event going on. If you’re so inclined, you can tour the CNN studios.
Adjacent to CNN Center is the Centennial Olympic Park. It can be a mass of humanity during warm summer days, but it’s also home to this.
OK, it’s not exactly the London Eye, but ….it’s here, and SkyView Atlanta is ours. đŸ˜‰ On the other side of the park is The World of Coca Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. Just a short MARTA ride from downtown you’ll find a special neighborhood. Why special? What other neighborhood do you know of that describes itself like this?
“We’re all here ’cause we’re not all there”
That just about sums it up “Little 5.” I couldn’t think of a better place to enjoy my new favorite beer, Sweetwater IPA, or a better spot to enjoy it than at the Brewhouse Cafe.
Coming soon – Exploring Atlanta’s Midtown and Piedmont Park.
[…] wrote a post about being left alone in Atlanta not too long ago when MrsMJ was on a business trip. In that, I […]
how about doing some mattress runs in atlanta surburbs? hyatt has promotion in ATL, 1500 bonus points per stay.
Marta is not bad on weekdays, though absolutely painful on nights and weekends. 20 minute waits are a real pain. They also don’t increase frequencies on sporting event days, so you will still wait forever when going home from Turner Field or Philips Arena/GA Dome
@mowogo,
Can’t argue with you about that. I’m fortunate to live near a “2 line” station so I notice it less.
I miss Piedmont Park. Sit on the Park Tavern patio and enjoy some microbrew for me!
@Vincente,
It is a nice spot, isn’t it?
And note, that all of the above can be accessed via Marta which comes right into the airport!
@John,
Absolutely! I use Marta more than most I know. But I live near a station.
Make sure to tour Decatur