Atlanta Attractions
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Living in the ATL
Living in Atlanta has some pros and cons. Cons include the traffic and its mix between a parking lot, a scene from the Hunger Games, and an Indie 500. Pros include the fun and diverse city life, beautiful scenery, wonderful local shops and deliciously scrumptious local food. Living in Atlanta doesn't always feel like you're living in a big city. At 8 am, 10 am, 1pm, and 4-6 pm, it definitely does. But sitting in one of Atlanta's awesome coffee shops or walking on the Beltline, it feels more like a big town. Atlanta is becoming more and more of a hot spot for Millenials as a lower cost of living and awesome night life attract many to this big Southeast city. This page is devoted to our favorite sites and stops in the diverse city of Atlanta. If you're going to be in town, make sure to check some of them out!
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"Having lived in Florida my whole life, I was delighted to learn when I moved here that there are seasons besides summer and January. Springtime in Atlanta is my favorite. All of the trees and bushes are beautiful, and the weather is perfect for walking to class!"- Sarah M
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Places to go
Piedmont Park
We absolutely adore Piedmont Park. It is has been reviewed to be one of Atlanta's best parks, and I agree. Even just walking the park's paths is something I enjoy doing on a nice day. You can find so many things to do in this park as many groups meet here to enjoy doing some outdoor activities. There's even some swing sets for you to express your inner child. I highly recommend visiting this park if you're in Atlanta. It's one of the best. They have festivals galore, like a brunch festival, ice cream festival, BBQ festival, and it's a popular meet up to have fun in group fitness classes.
The Beltline
What used to be 22 miles of railroad in the middle of Atlanta has been transformed into a fantastic walking trail. If you visit the beltline, you'll notice families, runners, bicyclists, and others just taking a stroll down this fun trail. They have fitness classes, art exhibits, parades, special events, and volunteer opportunities galore. When you visit, make sure you check out some of the local shops in the area. I really loved Dancing Goats cafe (delicious coffee) and Binders Arts and Supplies (what can I say, I love making art!).
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"There are too many great things about to Atlanta to list them all here. One of my favorite spots is the belt line, especially during the spring. It's a great way to exercise, photograph urban art, and it connects you to a ton of cool restaurants and bars at Krogg street market and other picturesque places like Piedmont Park. One of my favorite pastimes is going to live concerts and Atlanta has a lot to offer." -Ellie
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"The Beltline is my favorite unique feature in Atlanta. I love having a few miles of pavement to run where I'm not worried about getting hit by a car or worried about being Taken. It's also great for taking a walk, coffee from Inman Perk in hand, going rollerblading, or taking the pooches for a stroll. The stretch through Midtown is connected to shops and restaurants, Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market, and Piedmont Park and is always featuring new art displays all along the path. I love the Beltline." -Liana
Fox Theatre
"I have really enjoyed going to see shows at FOX theater! The building is really cool and has a pretty interesting history. They usually have some great deals for students for the bigger shows that come through town (though to get the deals you have to show up about 2 hours before the actual performance). That is necessarily a bad thing though as we have found a mexican restaurant right down the street that makes some killer margaritas." -Brianna
Centennial Olympic Park
"Some of the most fun I've had has been exploring this city and seeing its tourist attractions. There are so many just in the downtown area aone: Centennial Olympic Park - a tribute to the 1996 Olympics, complete with a huge ferris wheel that gives a beautiful view of the city. There are often events there as well like concerts, art shows, and food events." -Heather
World of Coke
"Being in Atlanta you are in the Coke capital. Part of the tour includes tasting Coke products from around the world!" -Heather.
"I also love the World of Coke. The tour is okay, it has some pretty interesting history about coke. So if you love the history of coke, this is your museum. The best part is the coke at the end. You get to try a bunch of coke from around the world. It's delicious. And you get to take home a souvenir coke with one of their new flavors!" -Amanda
Georgia Aquarium
"The Georgia Aquarium is ranked the #1 aquarium in the USA. It's got some pretty amazing sections with tons of really beautiful animals. My favorite part is the large view tank where you can watch manta rays, sting rays, sharks, and multicolored fish swim by. Plus there's a pretty awesome and unique Dolphin show." -Heather
College Football Hall of Fame
"If you're a football fan this is definitely the place for you. It's only been open for a little over a year. when you enter you select a football team and then the whole tour is completely interactive surrounding facts about your team. At the end you get to kick field goals, tackle, and throw footballs." -Heather
Good Eats & Drinks
The Vortex
"As a foodie I just love eating in Atlanta. One of my favorite places is The Vortex, where you can get the craziest burgers you've ever seen that are also delicious (my fav: The Zombie Apocalypse. A hamburger patty topped with pulled pork, a fried egg, bacon, and BBQ sauce between two slices of Texas toast). The restaurant also has a lot of character because it's set up like a biker bar but not at all intimidating to non-bikers. It's actually my favorite place for dates with my boyfriend when he comes to visit!" -Ellie
MetroFresh
"Looking for something healthy, quick, and reasonably-priced? Try MetroFresh! Getting tired of fried chicken and grits? Try MetroFresh! Want the chef to refer to you as a "metrofreshual"? Try MetroFresh! Right along the Beltline in Midtown, this is probably the place I've eaten at the most frequently in Atlanta. I'm a fan." - Cristina
Inman Perk
"This is my favorite coffee shop to go and get work done. Inman Perk has great coffee, with all the fancy customizations you could want (almond milk, yes. sugarfree syrups, yes.) plus cafe-type food options, which I haven't tried, so can't vouch for the quality. They have a good amount of seating and outlets to plug into (critical). Just beware on Sunday afternoons, it will be packed with people working away on their laptops. It's just a cozy spot to settle in and focus on schoolwork with some good coffee. Oh, and they have access right onto the Beltline if you need to take a walk to relax." - Liana
Desta Ethiopian Kitchen
"I am always looking for good Ethiopian food and Desta is the first place I tried in Atlanta. It has some amazing reviews online and I though it was worth a try. The food is great and they have a big menu of imported Ethiopian beers too!" -Brianna
Eclipse di Luna
"I first went to Eclipse di Luna with the my class but have been back multiple other times since. Eclipse di Luna is a fun, kind of quirky tapas bar. Their menu has a ton of vegetarian options. They also host paint nights every now and then that I have been hoping to be able to check out eventually." - Brianna
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Downtown Decatur
"I would say that one my favorite parts about living in Atlanta is walking around Downtown Decatur. It is a super cute place with tons of great restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. They also have some great festivals and events throughout the year, like the Decatur Wine Festival, and a farmer's market! I would say one of my favorite places in Downtown Decatur is Farmburger, which has great burgers that you can customize. My go to is a burger with smoked gouda cheese, local bacon, and smoked paprika mayo that is made in-house- YUM!" -Megan
Dekalb Farmer's Market
"If you ask anyone in the program, my absolute favorite place to eat/go to/shop/etc. is the Dekalb Farmer's Market. To call it a farmer's market is a bit deceptive. Imagine a warehouse stuffed to the brim with people and local food. Now you've got the Dekalb Farmer's Market. It's a staple of the locals in Decatur, and it's taken me under its wing. It is wonderful. I seriously cannot say enough good things about it. The food is delicious and they have an entire isle devoted to spices, a seafood section, a meat section with every sort of meat you can imagine, and the list goes on. Seriously, if you can do your grocery shopping here, your mouth and your wallet will thank you." -Amanda
Brunch
We have a special place in our hearts for brunch here in Atlanta.
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"Everyone has already covered food but joy cafe in Buckhead has one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. You're not living if you haven't been." -Jamie
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"I'm a big fan of Sweet Melissa's in downtown Decatur. I love their platter with delicious pancakes, yummy hashbrown potatoes, and bacon galore. The best part is their coffee. I normally don't like the coffee they serve at breakfast places, it usually tastes like dirt. But this one was different. Delicious!" -Amanda
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"The General Muir has a fun brunch menu and pastry baskets which makes it a great destination for brunch" -Brianna
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"The nook has a 32 oz Bloody Mary and had an entire meals worth of toppings." - Erin
Breweries
"I have to give a plug for the breweries here because beer is basically my favorite hobby. Sweetwater, Orpheus, Red brick, etc. They are all awesome." -Jamie