Atlanta has many nicknames, the Big Peach, the City Too Busy to
Hate, Capital of the New South, and Hotlanta, to name a few. But whatever you
choose to call it, if you haven’t been to ATL in the last few years, you’ll be
surprised to see several new attractions in the ever-growing downtown and even
a new mode of transportation to get you around in a jiffy.
How to Get Around
Ask any Atlantan and you’ll undoubtedly be told that it’s a must to have a car in Georgia. Despite this, many travelers breeze into town on the city’s MARTA rail network right from the airport. There are two lines (red and gold) that will take you directly into the heart of downtown, with many of the main hotels located close to Peachtree Center station. One stop north will take you to Civic Center, just around the corner from one of my favorite properties, the W Downtown. The outdoor heated pool with panoramic views make it worthwhile on its own, but fine dining at BLT Steak, craft libations at in-house bar Drinkshop, and the luxurious Bliss Spa put it over the top.
For the Sports Fanatic
Atlanta may be home to many professional sports teams,
including an upcoming soccer franchise, but the region’s first love is
undoubtedly college football. Host of events like the Peach Bowl, the SEC
Championship, and the Atlanta Football Classic, it’s no doubt that the love of
the game was central for choosing the new home of the College Football Hall of
Fame, recently relocated from South Bend, Indiana. Also conveniently across the
street from Centennial Olympic Park, peruse the names of over 1,000 players and
coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame with interactive, multimedia displays.
The adjoining fan experience includes a 45-yard indoor football field allowing
visitors to run their own drills, complete with a replica goal post and HD
scoreboard.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Time for a Drink
Once in the Old Fourth Ward, take a gander at the first distillery in over 100 years (since prohibition!), the Old 4th. You’ll want to call ahead for tour times and reservations. Sadly tastings are limited to one-ounce pours by law, but for another fun way to imbibe, hop down the street to the popular barcade, Joystick Gamebar for libations created with vodka from the distillery.