Where to Go in Atlanta, Georgia

Ah, Atlanta. City of street art, Coca-Cola and good food. I loved my time here, back in March. It’s taken me *forever* to get around to creating this post, but I always love looking back on my time here.

What you need to know before traveling to Atlanta:

• You’ll need to Uber/Lyft a lot. It depends where you are, but be prepared to spend some serious cash on ordering cars (also assuming that you’re flying to Atlanta). The city is very spread out.
• Be prepared to walk a lot. Despite needing a car to get to different parts of the city, once you’re in a certain area, you’ll be able to walk to different places. Bring comfortable shoes.
• The tourist-y places are great, but make an effort to go to smaller, local restaurants and don’t be afraid to ask people what are some great things to do.
• We had some of the best service while in Atlanta. Everyone was super friendly and had no problem talking to a bunch of strangers (I went with a group of friends).

Now, places to go:

Ponce City Market. One of my favorite places we went to on this trip. It has everything you could want here: restaurants, places to drink and have dessert, unique stores and even has the offices of Pinterest there. A couple of the places we went to were at Ponce City Market: The Mercury, Five Daughters Bakery and El Super Pan. The inside is super cute, and you could stay there for hours. It’s a great place to start and end your day.

Piedmont Park. On the outskirts of the downtown area, this park is a beautiful spot to enjoy a nice day and skyline views. Walk the trail, then find a hill to sit and take in the view.

World of Coca-Cola. I was honestly a little hesitant to go here only because I knew it was a huge tourist trap, but it was a great experience, and you get to try different sodas from around the world.

CNN. Somewhat close to World of Coca-Cola, this is another really cool stop (but I’m also a huge journalism nerd). I did the VIP tour and it was completely worth it.

Krog Street Market. Located in Inman Park and off the BeltLine. It’s mix of shops and a food hall with a couple of different options.

BeltLine. Speaking of the BeltLine, it would be a crime if you didn’t follow the BeltLine while in Atlanta. Known for being lined with street art and stretching past many of Atlanta’s best features, it is a must do.

Little Five Points.  A cool, quirky neighborhood. I recommend checking out Charis Books, Rag-O-Rama and any of the restaurants lining the streets.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Center. Another nerd-type thing I guess, but I was genuinely inspired by Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn and all they’ve done. Plus, the gardens are beautiful.

Centennial Olympic Park. Located between World of Coca-Cola and CNN, this park is huge and another must-see.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. This was interesting to see, plus a chance to learn more about one of the most important figures in U.S. history. I definitely recommend.

Where to eat:

Adios Cafe. I can’t recommend this place enough. Fantastic service and food (plus great mimosas).

Rosie’s Cafe. Another place with great service. And not a tourist trap.

Five Daughters Bakery. Unique doughnut flavors abound in this small shop located in Ponce City Market.

Krog Street Market. The food hall has options for everyone in your group, and a ton of healthy options.

El Super Pan. Also located in Ponce City Market, this Latin restaurant was really good, and I reccommend ordering sangria.

Julianna’s. Another lesser known spot, Juliana’s is in Inman Park (by Krog Street Market) and is a great place to grab brunch. The crepes were so good, plus the place is very cute.

Ladybird. We love a camp-themed restaurant. The yellow umbrellas waving outside of this restaurant are welcoming, and you can sit outside at picnic tables. Located by Ponce City Market.

New Realm Brewing. Also located by Ponce City Market off the BeltLine. It’s right in the middle of all the action happening in that area, and is perfect for dinner or a quick beer.

Note: It was super easy to eat vegetarian, and eat healthy, while in Atlanta. There are plenty of options at most restaurants for vegetarians/pescetarians.

Where to drink:

The Mercury. Located in Ponce City Market. The Mercury has good drink deals and the drinks themselves are strong. So basically, perfect. And you can still feel classy.

Big Sky. Definitely for the younger crowd. This bar was so fun and has two levels (plus a huge neon ATL sign perfect for photos).

Stagecoach. A little walk away from Big Sky is this bar with saddles for seats. I really enjoyed Stagecoach, it had a fun vibe and was pretty open.

Atlanta is a beautiful city with a lot to offer, no matter what you want to do. The food scene truly is something else, plus it has a rich history worth checking out. Atlanta may not seem like an ideal vacation spot, but it’s great for a few days of sightseeing and eating your heart out.