<p>I’ll be there for a few days. What should I do? Where should I eat?</p>
<p>Are you staying downtown? Bringing kids? Renting a car? when?</p>
<p>Downtown access:
World of Coke
Aquarium
Margaret Mitchell House</p>
<p>Midtown:
Piedmont Park
High museum - Picasso to Warhol exhibit
a show at the Fox Theater
Swan house at Atlanta History Center</p>
<p>LOTS of great restaurants- but depends on where you are staying</p>
<p>Gibson1514 is right. Except Piedmont Park is just a park and other theaters have great shows, too.
Atlanta says it has a mass transit system, including a subway, but it goes practically nowhere. Keep that in mind if you are not renting a car. And the area is spread out. Keep that in mind if you are thinking of taking taxis to sights, because that would be expensive.
TripAdvisor can help you, too.</p>
<p>To add the Gibson’s list…</p>
<p>Downtown:
Zoo Atlanta (in Grant Park)
CNN Center</p>
<p>Near Downtown:
Atlantic Station (for some shopping or check out free movies and the open air market)
MLK site</p>
<p>Outside Downtown, but inside the Perimeter(city of Atlanta):
Fernbank Museum of History
Fernbank Science Center
Underground Atlanta </p>
<p>Outside Perimeter:
Stone Mountain Park (if you have a car and can drive for an hr or so, but this is a MUST-SEE)</p>
<p>Restaurants:There are many great restaurants in Atlanta, so as Gibson said, it will depend on where you’re staying. Davio’s at Phipps Plaza is a favorite, but it is well north of downtown Atlanta.</p>
<p>“Atlanta says it has a mass transit system, including a subway, but it goes practically nowhere.”</p>
<p>They call it MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), but it’s really Metro Atlanta Ridiculous Transit Authority. Marta isn’t all that bad if your destination is on their route, but they really don’t go much places. From the airport to GA400 (basically Dunwoody,north Atlanta) is it.</p>
<p>This is their route map if you need it:
[MARTA</a> > Schedules And Maps > Rail Schedules or Route](<a href=“http://www.itsmarta.com/rail-schedules-or-route.aspx]MARTA”>MARTA)</p>
<p>When will you be here? Where are you staying? PM me and I will be happy to help</p>
<p>I was in Atlanta about 12 years ago and saw the sights. The only place that still stands out to this day is the Martin Luther King Historic site and museum. I would go there above anywhere else.</p>
<p>I was in Atlanta was about 5 years ago. I would second the recommendation for the
High Museum. I also enjoyed the Martin Luther King Historic site. I went to see the Atlanta Botanic Garden while my husband was at meetings. We stayed outside of the city at Calloway Gardens, which is a resort. Gardens there were quite nice. I don’t know if those gardens were open to the public or only for guests.</p>
<p>We’re staying downtown at least the first two nights (Cancer Society something or other), not sure if we’ll just stay on or find some place cheaper for the other two nights. My husband will be busy with his meeting, I’ll be sight-seeing. I have a cousin in Atlanta I’ll look up assuming they’re free. Need to remember to send them an e-mail. We’ll have a rental car. </p>
<p>I spent about a week in Atlanta January 1979 - as part of a project photographing firehouses - we stayed in the basement of the fire department headquarters. 
I’m sure it’s changed a bit!</p>
<p>I just visited the Martin Luther King Center a few weeks ago. I toured MLK’s birth home, which I had not done before.</p>
<p>The National Park Service has a really nice exhibit in their facility but you have to go to the King Center itself to get tickets for the house. They are free but can only be picked up the day of.</p>
<p>Also downtown, is the Carter Center, which is Jimmy Carter’s presidential library.</p>
<p>What time of year are you visiting?</p>
<p>I don’t know that many downtown restaurants. In Buckhead the Atlanta Fish Market is a fav
[Atlanta</a> Fish Market | Buckhead Life Restaurant Group](<a href=“http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/atlanta-fish-market/]Atlanta”>Atlanta Fish Market | Buckhead's Widest Selection of Fresh Fish) or any of the Buckhead life restaurants.</p>
<p>If you visit the Atlanta History center( have lunch at the Swan house on the property , very southern and girlie) the Buckhead Diner is close by:
[Buckhead</a> Diner | Buckhead Life Restaurant Group](<a href=“http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/buckhead-diner/]Buckhead”>http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/buckhead-diner/) </p>
<p>The Midtown area has regenerated in the last 10years. Atlantic station is good for shopping and the Bodies/ Dialogue in the Dark exhibit is amazing. We love South City Kitchen which is nearby
[South</a> City Kitchen Midtown - Southern Restaurant - Atlanta, GA](<a href=“http://www.southcitykitchen.com/midtown/index.htm]South”>Hours & Location Midtown | South City Kitchen in GA)
Fried chicken is the best, as are their Parmesan fries.</p>
<p>If you are a history buff, the Cyclorama is fabulous–in Grant Park on the grounds of the Atlanta Zoo–but you don’t have to go to the Zoo. It’s probably a 15 minute drive from where you are–a 360 degree mural depicting the Battle of Atlanta, it’s extremely professional and absolutely unique-- narrated by James Earl Jones (I think) and you will learn Civil War history with a Southern tone, as well as learning about the artistic and logistical challenges of restoring and maintaining a gigantic canvas series of paintings depicting in great detail exactly what happened.</p>
<p>Staying downtown, but will have a car. Any good BBQ? We’re visiting at the end of the month. All the restaurant suggestions look yummy!</p>
<p>Emory and Georgia Tech</p>
<p>i like the old library/grad admin building. “the Carnegie building”</p>
<p>Not quite sure about great BBQ joints, but definitely go to Davio’s at Phipps Plaza. Total Awesomeness! Buckhead life group restaurants are very good as well. Or come up to Cobb County,there’s Fusco’s via Roma in Kennesaw and Maggiano’s Little Italy and Marietta. Both of those are good as well.</p>
<p>I sent you a message. Lots of good options. Welcome!</p>
<p>So how come noone told me to go to the Krispy Kreme? After the fourth time we passed it (and having been virtuous by going for a run in Piedmont Park) we finally succumbed. OMG - now I understand why NYC was so excited. Especially the hot ones. (Dunkin’ Donuts has better coffee though.) :)</p>
<p>So far, I’ve been to MLK stuff (loved Ebenezer Baptist Church with recording of sermons and music), Atlanta History Center and Swan House, got there too late for lunch though, Aquarium, High Museum (where I met CC friend), BBQ at Fox Brothers, “Anything Goes” at the Paideia School (my cousin’s son was in it - great production), and said run in Piedmont Park followed by Krispy Kreme. Not sure what we’ll do (if anything) before meeting my cousins again later this afternoon. Will probably go to Southern Kitchen tomorrow.</p>
<p>Two other restaurants to try: The Varsity which isn’t such a big deal in terms of the food, but the drive in experience is fun: [The</a> Varsity :: What’ll ya have!](<a href=“http://www.thevarsity.com/]The”>http://www.thevarsity.com/)</p>
<p>And The Flying Biscuit: [The</a> Flying Biscuit Cafe](<a href=“http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/]The”>http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/) I have never been a big grits girl; when we moved down to the South I thought they were kind of nasty. But then I had them at the Flying Biscuit and they are all kinds of good. I’ve honestly had dreams where I was eating them.</p>
<p>Glorious weather in Atlanta today!! Perfect for lots of outdoor activities.</p>
<p>Another pitch for the Cyclorama, in Grant Park just south of downtown next to the zoo–a unique portrayal of the Battle of Atlanta (hint: the South lost) and a must for history buffs.</p>