Visit the Underground. It’s an under ground marketplace for local artists, artisans as well as some nice shops. It’s very ethnic and cultural, lots to see and do. You can get lots of gifts here. Be sure to carry cash with you as alot of vendors don’t take credit cards.

Actually the underground is not that exciting. After 5 minutes it turns into a bore and is way over crowded. I would visit the aquarium and after a few hours have a picnic in centennial park. Depends on which Sunday you attend, but there is usually events going on there.

Even if those events are seem boring, you can always catch a tour at the CNN center. All of these things are close by, underground, cnn and aquarium around the centennial park.

Also if you are looking for unique shops that is not very touristy and completely different I would check out little 5 points. Oh and marta services all of these locations.

I agree with the Underground suggestion http://www.underground-atlanta.com. In downtown I highly recommend the Georgia Aquarium http://www.georgiaaquarium.org. There is also the CNN building which gives tours and Centennial Olympic Park. Downtown seems to be a “working” city and not too much night life in the evenings. But there are tons of options in the surrounding areas.

Underground is cool. If you’re looking for some good food, be sure to catch a (admittably expensive) cab up to Buckhead for Ted’s, Mellow Mushroom, or whatever else sounds good. You’ll find a lot of good places on PeachTree Street (the main Peachtree that goes through Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead).

Also, the Fox always has stuff going on, so give it a shot.

Give Little Five Points a shot if you can get out there (via Taxi). There are some very eccentric shops and some good food out there.

Lastly, Azio’s is a great Italian-style pizzeria just south on Peachtree Street in Downtown, if Mellow Mushroom (off of 26th and Peachtree) et al don’t appeal to you.

I didn’t find the Underground very cool, but the new aquarium is supposed to be AWESOME. I have been looking forward to going to it. Buckhead has a great mall with tons of shops, my favorite being the Apple Store. There You could also take a tour of the Coke factory and there are tons of good places to eat and fun clubs in Atlanta!

You will have more things to do than you have time for them. I would walk over to Piedmont Park – it’s our little version of Central Park in NYC – and stop on the way at The Flying Biscuit for some food to eat at the park. That is definitely a very “Atlanta” thing to do and what almost everyone who lives in Midtown (where you will be) has done at least once. For dinner, check out Noodle at 8th and Peachtree or better yet, Baraonda one block south of the Fox. They have what I’ve heard are the most authentic Italian pizzas this side of Venice, and they are incredible.

If you are into history or Gone With the Wind-type stuff, you might be able to get a tour of Margaret Mitchell’s house at 10th and Peachtree, but I’m not sure if they do them on Sundays.

You can take MARTA (the subway system) to a Braves game if they are home that day and get a $5 last-minute seat. There’s a MARTA stop at North Avenue and West Peachtree Street. It’s a great stadium and has lots to see if you walk around during the game.

All of this will be within walking distance and will make for an authentic Atlanta experience. Hope this helps!

I would also agree with the walk to the park and stopping in at the Flying Biscuit. Very low key, but both cool things to do.

I lived in Atlanta from February 1996 to June 2004 (And I miss it terribly, but that’s another story).

I’ve been to Underground Atlanta several times and frankly it’s highly overrated.

If you are near the Fox Theatre (660 Peachtree Street), then you’re where the area known as “Midtown” begins (Midtown is between Downtown and Buckhead)..  There are lots of good (and relatively new) restaurants in the area (many of which are on Peachtree Street – where the Fox is).

As far as things to do, if you’re into Art there’s the High Museum of Art which is in Midtown (and just up the street from the Fox @ 1280 Peachtree) .

I’d recommend going downtown.  There’s not much there outside of the Centennial Olympic Park Area, but that includes said park, the CNN Center (studio tours) and the Georgia Aquarium.  I’ve done the CNN tour twice.  If you’re interested, get advance tickets and pop for the “interactive” tour, you get to visit the studio floor (the regular tour only looks down on it).

I can only recommend the Georgia Aquarium by word of mouth. It opened after I moved away (unfortunately).  But I’ve heard nothing but great things about it.

Then of course there’s the park itself which is kind of interesting.   It’s fun to watch kids playing in the Olympic Rings Fountain on a Summer Afternoon (often times Grownups as well).

If you’re into history, the Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Site  and the King Center are just east of downtown Atlanta.  Getting there will take you through the Sweet Auburn Historic District (considered the cultural & historical heart of Atlanta for African Americans).

If you’re into Science then I’d recommend the Frenbank Science Center and Natural History Museum.  I’ve been there several times.  It’s east of Downtown/Midtown off of Ponce de Leon Avenue (The Fox Theatre is at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Ave and Peachtree St.).

You can get to any of these places via MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority – Rail and Buses).  The North Avenue Station is a half block walk from the Fox.  You can head downtown (for Centennial Park/CNN/Georgia Aquarium – 4 Block walk from the Peachtree Center Station) or North to the Arts Center Station (High Museum) or farther North to Buckhead (Shopping, Dining, Drinking…).

If you’re in to “funky” neighborhoods a visit to Little Five Points can be quite entertaining (from a people watching standpoint).  The only downside to it is that it can be a bitch to get to via MARTA (at least one or two bus rides from Midtown and part of the ride isn’t in the “best of neighborhoods”.).

Atlanta’s Answer to New York’s Greenwich Village is  Virginia-Highland (yuppie-ish neighborhood named for the streets which intersect in the middle of it). It’s got interesting shops and good restaurants. It’s a rather pretty neighborhood too. I like it myself, but I could never afford to live there.

Fernbank and Virginia-Highland are accessible via MARTA Bus (#2 from North Avenue Station.   – I used to live on that route).


I hope this helps.

You can have many experiences in Atlanta, as it is truly a Southern Grand Dame with cosmopolitan features, yet the best place to go in town for this season is

www.bodiestheexhibition.com
a phenomenal look at the phenomenon we call the human body
( click through to Atlanta Exhibition at the Atlanta Civic Center > Purchase Tickets ) Weather depending, it is a short walk from the Fox, a bus or taxi ride away.

You can spend your time doing many ‘Atlanta’ oriented things, and this is coming from a native born Atlantan of forty-four years…Yes, we still exist, though we have been elevated to the critical level on the ‘Endangered Species List’...

But, to really see how advanced, broad, caring and diverse Atlanta IS and CAN BE…I would spend my time at this exhibit.