Try this experiment: tell a fellow Metro Vancouverite you're vacationing in Atlanta, Georgia, and see how quickly they ask, "why?"
Once you've been, though, the answer becomes obvious: Atlanta is a remarkable city with rich historical significance, a vibrant arts scene, incredible food and drink, abundant green spaces, loads of sports and entertainment, and fantastic tourist attractions to explore. In short, Atlanta is awesome.
I got to know A-Town over four packed days, focusing primarily on the city’s core and a few popular neighbourhoods located within the "ITP," which is local shorthand for "inside the perimeter," referring to the loop created by I-285 around the city.
Incidentally, locals tell me they don’t call the city "Hotlanta," but it's not far off. Georgia has a humid subtropical climate and the hot, sticky weather peaks in July and August. However, the busiest months for visitors are May through December, with plenty of exciting things happening across the city. Be sure to check the weather forecasts before your trip, secure travel insurance, and familiarize yourself with the cancellation and change policies for your bookings.
What to see and do in Atlanta
Considered the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, Atlanta offers several opportunities to get to know the city’s pivotal role in American history. Visitors can explore the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and other key landmarks, all of which offer powerful and immersive learning experiences.
The MLK National Historical Park sprawls multiple blocks and buildings, starting with the welcome centre with several rooms featuring photographs and videos. Outside, you can see the beautiful blooms and powerful messages in the World Peace Rose Garden before venturing across the street to see the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where MLK and his father both preached. Down the road is the breathtaking memorial, with the eternal flame, reflecting pool, and final resting place for Mr. and Mrs. King. Carry on further to see the many preserved and restored homes on Auburn Avenue (aka "Sweet Auburn"), including the birthplace of MLK Jr.
In contrast, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a contemporary indoor museum with a clever layout that seamlessly transports you through crucial points in the movement, including several evocative and immersive spaces that will command your attention and stick with you long after you leave. Pop down to the basement level to visit the Morehouse College "Voice to the Voiceless," gallery, which features a rotating selection of documents and items from the university's extensive collection.
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is located across from a landmark in its own right, Centennial Olympic Park, which played a central role in the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta. You'll want to set aside some time to roam the pathways and pose by the rings before or after you cross Baker Street. (Note: The Fountain of Rings in the park is closed for renovations until December 2024.) There, in a convenient grouping in the picturesque Pemberton Place, the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola flank the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
The Georgia Aquarium is a marvellous venue that reflects a nice balance of "theme park"-style experience and marine stewardship. You can dip your hand into two touch tanks for close encounters with rays and sturgeons, stand on a moving walkway surrounded by sea creatures in tanks on all sides, or enjoy live shows. The sprawling venue is on two floors with multiple rooms and features, and you may find at several turns the scope of the tanks and displays take your breath away.
For a different kind of immersive experience, the World of Coca-Cola takes you through the history of the beverage, which got its once-humble start in Atlanta. Get your photo taken with the company's iconic polar bear, sip the abandoned "New Coke" formula, and risk setting off the alarms in the Coke recipe's "vault room." The museum is a thrill for all your senses (there's even a room dedicated to smelling things) but the highlight for many is the "tasting room," where you can dispense mini pours of Coca-Cola drinks from around the world, like Romania Sprite (made with cucumber) or Chinese Sour Plum Fanta (which isn't everyone's cup of tea).
On the other side of town, Atlanta is home to an outpost of the Museum of Illusions, which is a great place to spend some time outside of the heat and trying out all sorts of visual teasers and goofy photo-ops, from tilting rooms to brain benders.
For sweeping city vistas, head to the SkyView Atlanta for a spin on the 20-storey Ferris wheel. The attraction, which is adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park, is open for day and night rides in its air-conditioned cabins, and is a fun way to experience the city.
Atlanta has several popular shopping districts, each with its own unique appeal.
Known as Atlanta's upscale shopping destination, Buckhead is home to luxury malls like Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, featuring high-end retailers, while Little Five Points has more of an eclectic vibe with its array of indie bookshops, vintage clothing stores, and quirky businesses.
Atlanta's Midtown offers a mix of boutiques, galleries, and local designer shops along Peachtree Street, as well as Colony Square, which blends retail with dining and entertainment. Then there's West Midtown's Westside Provisions District, which is home to stylish boutiques, home décor stores, and gourmet food markets, offering a mix of modern and artisan shopping experiences.
Outdoor adventurers will revel in Atlanta's bountiful green spaces, from sprawling public parks to the city's renowned Botanical Garden. Enjoy a slice of city life with a trek on foot or wheels along the Beltline, a 22-mile loop of trails, parks, and future transit connecting 45 Atlanta neighbourhoods. The Eastside Trail was the first section completed; the multi-use path connects Midtown with Reynoldstown, running 2.4 miles from 10th and Monroe to the Krog Street Tunnel.
The Krog Street Tunnel itself is an attraction. It's one of Atlanta's most unusual landmarks: a functioning tunnel for vehicle traffic, it was built in 1913 and connects Cabbagetown and Inman Park. It's a living mural, filled with vibrant street art, that makes for a thrilling brief stop. Take note it's a fairly compact passageway that seems quite safe but shows signs that folks loiter in there overnight.
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights 📍100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park 📍 450 Auburn Ave NE
- Georgia Aquarium 📍 225 Baker St NW
- World of Coca-Cola 📍 121 Baker St NW
- Museum of Illusions 📍264 19th St NW, Suite 2200
- SkyView Atlanta 📍 168 Luckie St NW
- Krog Street Tunnel 📍 1 Krog St NE
- Centennial Olympic Park 📍 Atlanta, 30313
- Atlanta Beltline 📍Access points are located all along the 22-mile loop
Where to eat in Atlanta
While Atlanta is brimming with things to see and do, when it comes to fuelling up for the day's adventure, the city's food scene is a worthy draw all on its own. In fact, food is what drew me first to Atlanta, in particular as in October 2023, it joined the ranks of North American destinations like Vancouver in becoming a Michelin Guide city.
That said, through casual conversations with several locals and industry professionals, it became immediately apparent that the food scene in Atlanta has been poised for global recognition for quite some time. Whizzing through the bustling streets, I could tell from my POV in the backseat of an Uber just by looking at how many thriving restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and the like dot each city block, that food is of utmost importance to Atlantans.
Admittedly, I used the Michelin recommendations as my guide; that's what it's for, after all, and experienced everything from farm-to-table seasonal fare in an elegant, understated setting at Miller Union to sky-high breakfast sandwiches on fluffy Michelin-endorsed biscuits at Bomb Biscuit Co. And of course, it wouldn't be a visit to Georgia without a taste of the south; again, I went for two different kinds of experiences on the spectrum, with globally-inspired and gently upscale soul food at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours and Korean-infused BBQ eaten standing up in an umbrella-shaded courtyard at Heirloom Market BBQ. Frankly, I'm still dreaming about the green tomato kimchi and tender brisket from Heirloom.
Deviating from the vaunted "guide" proved to be as delicious, with towering fried chicken, waffles, and peaches at Atlanta Breakfast Club, a TikTok sensation worth the hype; donuts from the expanding Florida-based brand The Salty; and cold brew from Dancing Goats Coffee.
It's also easy to find terrific eats near local attractions. Between marvelling at sea life at the aquarium and drinking in the history of Coca-Cola, it's a short walk to Atlanta's only coal-fired oven pizza at Max's, an easygoing casual spot for crowd-pleasing food. After an afternoon of shopping in the Westside Provisions District, slip into Cooks & Soldiers for tapas-style fare and sangria. The restaurant was a 2024 James Beard Foundation award semi-finalist for Outstanding Hospitality.
Even if you aren't planning your day around your meals in Atlanta, two of the city's top attractions have serious foodie cred. Atlanta's Krog Street Market is a decade-old food hall located in the growing Krog District just north of Atlanta's historic Cabbagetown and a few blocks east of the Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park. Inside you'll find craft brews, ice cream, and all sorts of locally-owned restaurant stalls, including the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand pick Fred's Meat & Bread, a must-stop for 10-napkin sandwiches, burgers, Old Bay seasoned fries, and regional soda pops served to-go or at their lunch counter.
KSM makes use of the 1889 Atlanta Stove Works building; a mile north, the Ponce City Market's sprawling gourmet food hall is in the 1926-built Sears & Roebuck building, topped with several floors featuring retail shops, offices, and a carnival-style fun zone on the roof.
Ponce City Market celebrates local food enterprises, with a jaw-dropping line-up of businesses, including one section dedicated to sweets, like local ice pop maker King of Pops. You can grab a seat at the counter and a cup of coffee from Spiller Park in one of the centre zone stalls, or duck into one or more of many sit-down restaurants around the perimeter for anything from Iranian cuisine to fresh seafood, pizza, burgers, or ramen.
- Krog Street Market 📍 99 Krog St NE
- Ponce City Market📍 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
- Miller Union 📍 999 Brady Ave NW
- Bomb Biscuit Co. 📍 668 N Highland Ave NE
- Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours 📍 1133 Huff Rd NW #D
- Heirloom Market BBQ 📍 2243 Akers Mill Rd SE
- Atlanta Breakfast Club 📍 249 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW
- Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria 📍 300 Marietta St NW,
- Cooks & Soldiers 📍 691 14th St NW
- Fred's Meat & Bread 📍 Inside Krog Street Market
- Dancing Goat Coffee 📍Multiple locations, including Ponce City Market
- The Salty 📍Multiple locations, including across from the Krog Street Market
Where to stay in Atlanta
I stayed three nights at the Glenn Hotel, a boutique-styled hotel (part of Marriott Bonvoy's Autograph Collection) with a signature photo-worthy "Atlanta" mural on its side. Located steps from Centennial Olympic Park (and the former CNN Center, poised for redevelopment), the hotel is a great choice in particular for visitors who have plans to see a game or show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or State Farm Arena, which are both nearby.
The rooms exude luxury and comfort, particularly the large stylish bathroom with its huge windows and walk-in shower. The hotel's staff are lovely and helpful, and the Glenn is steeped in clever southern charm, from the cute voice recordings in the elevator announcing each floor (she said "wow!" on my floor) to the plush downstairs bar/lounge. There's a nice on-site restaurant perfect for breakfast, and a rooftop cocktail bar for evening fun.
If you happen to be booked on an early flight back to YVR out of ATL, I highly recommend checking into the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway the night before you leave. It's located right on the SkyTrain line, which means you are minutes from the terminals and can cut out the stress of getting to the airport from your early morning agenda. I was doubly thankful to have a place to catch some extra sleep when I learned at 5 a.m. that our 7 a.m. flight was delayed until noon.
- Glenn Hotel 📍 110 Marietta St NW
- Atlanta Marriott Airport Gateway 📍 2020 Convention Center Concourse
Getting to Atlanta from Vancouver
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport, with a sprawling network of terminals and a jaw-dropping steady stream of passengers to boot. Travellers heading to Atlanta from Vancouver will find bountiful options for flights, often at incredibly appealing prices, though only WestJet offers nonstop service between YVR and ATL.
To find great prices on flights, use platforms like Google Flights, FlightHub, or Kayak to compare rates for trips. For example, I found my round-trip flights for two passengers for about $450 CAD (including taxes) by searching for deals and wound up booking through United, though Air Canada was the provider for the outbound legs.
I would only suggest the flights I took for bargain hunters; we flew overnight from YVR to Edmonton and then to Montreal before departing YUL in the morning for ATL, and arrived weary and ready for lunch. On the way home our flights were ATL to Denver with a long layover that would have been long enough to sustain a trek into Denver for lunch and some exploring before boarding the flight to YVR, however, a storm in ATL the night before grounded our aircraft resulting in a delayed departure from ATL. These details probably make the case for flying direct, I suspect, but we have an overall positive experience at every turn, even with some delays.
Once on the ground in Atlanta, ATL is easy to get around thanks to the airport's electric-powered people movers. Between terminals and baggage claim, it's the Plane Train, and the newer supplemental line, called the SkyTrain, will connect you to airport hotels and the car rental centre. And from there, your adventures can truly begin.
How to get around Atlanta: Cars, public transit, and scooters
While Atlanta does have an extensive public transit system, including its MARTA bus, train, and streetcar service, it's hard to dispute that the car is king in ATL.
I purchased a multi-day MARTA pass, loaded onto a Breeze card, at the Atlanta Airport. There are automated kiosks (exactly like Vancouver's Compass card vending machines) and a customer service walk-up window. Getting into the downtown core via MARTA was fast and simple, but ultimately as my trip played out, I found it was often inefficient to try to use transit to get around the city, with trip times at four or five times the drive time, eating up 45 minutes to an hour of exploration.
Renting a car is also an option; ATL has a fairly well-organized two-level car rental facility accessed by the SkyTrain.
Uber and Lyft are ubiquitous in Atlanta and proved the best way to get around without wheels of my own, though traffic congestion is a major gripe for motorists in the city. Other micromobiity options include Lime and Bird dockless scooters; be sure to acquaint yourself with local rules for riding before embarking on a journey.
Thanks to Discover Atlanta for facilitating some portions of the trip. All opinions and inclusions are those of the author and were based solely on personal experience. None of the businesses or entities featured were granted any previews of the story before publication or paid for their inclusion in this guide.
