Visiting Atlanta

Atlanta truly has something for everyone. If you're a tourist visiting for the first time, a sporting event at one of Atlanta's major venues may be in order, or a trip to Six Flags or a tour of CNN Studios. If you live in the north Georgia area, you'll find wonderful opportunities from the world famous Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to travelling exhibits at the High Museum as well as stops by practically every major touring musical group. If food is what you crave, Atlanta offers some of the world's best restaurants and certainly some of the best meals you'll find anywhere in the South. Overall, Atlanta is not a destination, it is an experience. Visit for a weekend of live here for years and you will always find something new and enjoyable in the capitol of the South.

Quick Tips:

Atlanta can be a confusing city for a newbie. Transportation around the city is easy, but having an agenda for what you want to see or do is a must. If you're driving into Atlanta from out of state, stopping at a state welcome center and picking up some brochures can be helpful; otherwise the internet and travel magazines are almost certain to have something about Atlanta. If you arrive still clueless as to how to fill some extra time, your hotel might be able to offer some suggestions, but even if you just walk around downtown, you're likely to find something that you'd like to see.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you're flying into Atlanta, the cheapest and easiest way to make your way into the city and then make your way around the city is MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, between buses and the light rail system you can go practically anywhere in the city for .75 fare each time you get on. Multi day passes are available as well. If you're not comfortable with driving in heavy city traffic which is what you'll find in Atlanta most of the time, park at a MARTA station out of the perimeter (the affectionate name given to the I-285 loop) and take the train in or leave the car at the hotel and hop on the train or a bus. Stay away from cabs if at all possible; you're likely to find that they're reasonably expensive and at times may take you longer than the train to get you to your destination.

Located in the heart of the city and across the interstate from Georgia Tech''s campus, this Hampton Inn location is a nice find for an affordable hotel room in the center of the city. Having stayed here a couple of times, I''ve found consistently that the rooms are clean and the service is great. The staff is knowledgeable about the surrounding area and the city in general and will go out of their way to help you get to or find out about anything that you''re interested in. If you''re traveling around the downtown area, the hotel is located about a block from a MARTA light rail station which will deliver you to just about any major downtown attraction. Also, the world famous Varsity restaurant is about a half mile away. Beware that Georgia Tech football weekends and anytime a special event is in town, the hotel fills up fast and can be a bit louder than most hotels, but for about $50 a night, you can''t beat the price or the service of this chain hotel.

If you enjoy fine dining and fabulous views, the Sun Dial atop the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta is a sure fire favorite. The glass elevator ride to the top of Atlanta's tallest hotel is worth making the reservation here alone. A gorgeous view awaits you once you step off the elevator and into the restaurant. With glass walls from ceiling to floor and a restaurant that makes a complete revolution about once an hour. The menu is pricey, but the food is wonderful. The last time I visited, my meal included a house salad, a 23 ounce porterhouse steak that was so tender you could almost cut it with a fork served with mashed potatoes and French green beans. Dessert was their magnificent chocolate sin cake with thick layers of chocolate and fudge. Top off your meal with a visit to the Sun Dial bar, a level above the restaurant and have a drink while the room revolves at twice the speed of the restaurant. The wait staff is extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding area and can easily point out any landmark you may be interested in. You'll also find an interesting panel with information about the hotel and Atlanta and signs on each column in the restaurant giving information on which cities and suburbs are in that particular direction. All in all a wonderful, yet pricey dinner experience. If you're just planning to drop in at the bar, there is a $7.50 cover charge that covers the elevator ride to the top and they do last call about 1 AM.

Looking for great Italian food at an affordable price? Maggianos is a chain restaurant with two locations in the greater Atlanta area alone. However, the trendy Buckhead location is perhaps the best restaurant of the two. The house specialty is called the family style dinner and requires a minimum of four people willing to try it. For $19.95 per person, you get a choice of two appetizers, two salads, two pastas, two entrees and two desserts. The best part? Each of your choices is bottomless; as long as you're hungry they will keep bringing out fresh plates of whatever you desire. Add a glass of the house chianti or a fine bottle of wine from Maggianos' wine cellar and you're sure to have one of the most enjoyable Italian meals you've ever had. If you're not into the family style dinner, Maggiano's menu has practically every Italian dish you could ask for and they are individually priced between $10-$20 per entree. On your way out, make a stop in the Corner Bakery which is attached to the restaurant and take home a box of their fabulous home baked cookies or other treats.

The winner of Atlanta's best Greek restaurant, Athens Pizza is a family owned and Greek run pizza kitchen with the best Greek pizza I have ever had. Their specialty pizzas are incredible, with everything from salami, pepperoni, ground beef, and ham, to spinach and mushrooms. Not in the mood for pizza? Their gyros are excellent and everything on their menu is reasonably priced. The service is incredible. If you don't have time to stop in and eat, give 'em a call on your way home and stop in and pick up a pie or they deliver if you're in the area. If you're looking for a pizza alternative to the standard mass chain pizzerias, Athens Pizza is a wonderful, value oriented alternative.

If the Statue of Liberty is synonymous with New York, The Varsity is Atlanta. Started as a neighborhood hangout across the interstate from Georgia Tech in downtown Atlanta, The Varsity has grown into a phenomenon. From the moment you walk in the doors, you'll notice several things. First, the lines are ALWAYS long, regardless of what time of the day you go and worst when there is a special event nearby. Secondly, the bulletin boards as you come in the front door showcase the numerous celebrities, including Presidents that have eaten there. Next, you're bound to recognize the rudeness of the wait staff taking orders as the endless of chant of "What'll ya have?" echoes through the 20-25 cash registers. Once you place your order and head to sit down you'll recognize the enormity of this fast food restaurant. Each room has a television in it that is dedicated to one particular station and you'll be chastised if you try to change the channel unless you're changing it to a sporting event involving one of Georgia's teams. But, you're not here to watch TV, you're here to eat. The Varsity is infamous for their chili dogs and onion rings and if you dare to order a salad here in this mecca of grease, you're sure to be laughed at. They're also famous for their chocolate shakes and frozen oranges (imagine an orangesickle slightly melted in a cup). Perhaps one of the best parts about The Varsity is that it's cheap, you can feed the family for less than $20. If you've been to Atlanta and haven't experienced The Varsity, you haven't truly been to Atlanta. It's easy to find downtown and they have plenty of parking, so drop in and try one of the restaurants that has put Atlanta on the map.

If you like sushi and are on a budget, Ru Sans is a good choice. With a few locations around the city, the Midtown location is my favorite. Although you might arrive to find a line, the wait is worth it. Located on the second floor of a strip mall, as you enter the restaurant you'll see a full fledged sushi bar with a nice variety of choices tempting your eye and chefs that can do masterful things with their food.

Ranging in price from $1 up, I like the California rolls as well as the traditional, clam, shrimp, and oyster sushi rolls. Their oriental fried rice is terrific and if you're comfortable with chop sticks, you'll fit right in here. If you're a beer lover, you'll find some brews that you might not be able to find elsewhere. A Ru Sans favorite of mine is the Asahi Black, a dark beer that's a bit carbonated, but complements the food nicely. Whatever sushi you choose, you're likely to be impressed not only by the food but by the bill. Stop in to any of the Atlanta locations and give Ru Sans a try, they're a nice alternative to the overpriced sushi restaurants that can be found in and around the city.

Our most recent excursion through Atlanta brought us to perhaps the most generically named restaurant I've ever come upon. The City Cafe Diner was billed as a Greek restaurant, but the menu options and decor would lead you to believe that it was, in fact, anything but a Greek restaurant.

Think a 1950s bistro on steroids. The booths were pink, the walls mirrored, and red tables and chairs and blue neon make this restaurant almost garish to look at. However, the food was fantastic, and we were surprised to learn that the menu is so huge that even our waitress claimed to have not ever seen some of the items ordered.

With over 200 items on a menu that apparently changes between lunch and dinner, if you can imagine it, you can find it at the City Cafe Diner. Yes, there is Greek food; in fact, I tried the Gyro Plate, which included a hefty beef and lamb gyro that was full of flavor and very filling, a hefty dose of fries, a smattering of Greek salad, and a small cup of tzatziki sauce. My wife tried the seafood platter, which included crab-stuffed mushrooms, a portion of fried fish, scallops, and shrimp. The portions were so large, neither of us could finish our dinners, and both of us left with takeout boxes.

If you still have room for dessert, the dessert display that you pass as you come through the front doors will leave you undoubtedly craving some sweet concoction. The cakes have to be 8 inches tall, and the chocolate cake I tried was some of the most decadent-looking and -tasting dessert this chocolate lover has ever encountered.

Not only are the portions large, but meals are also somewhat inexpensive (less than $10), and the food is so full of flavor and so eclectic that if you're like us, you'll leave looking forward to your next dinner here. I can't wait to try something new on my next trip through Atlanta. The restaurant is open 24 hours, so whenever the craving hits, they'll be waiting for you.

If you're a classical music buff, you're probably familiar with the fact that the Atlanta Symphony is one of the world's top tier symphony orchestras. With concerts in Woodruff Arts Center in mid-town nearly every Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, you certainly won't be disappointed by the quality of the music or the selections performed. With a repertoire that ranges from Beethoven to Holst to Scriabin and everything in between, the symphony's technical proficiency is second only to their musicianship. Tickets are reasonably priced, starting at $19 and if you're a student with a current ID, you can get in on their "Student Rush" program for about $12-14 half hour before the concert begins. With a new music director this season, the Symphony is again packing the hall and bringing some of the biggest names in classical music to Atlanta. The buzz certainly surrounds this ensemble. If you can arrive early, in the lobby of Symphony Hall you'll find bars serving wine and beer as well as a gift shop that deals in the Symphony's CDs. If you're unable to make it for a concert, drop into your music store and pick up their recording of your favorite classical piece; you won't be disappointed.

As you enter the parking lot, you'll notice the roller coasters dominating the park's skyline and as you walk towards the front entrance you'll pass within feet of a couple of them. After entering the entry plaza, hang a left towards the Georgia Scorcher, a stand up coaster that is fun and offers a very brief peek of the Atlanta skyline as you crest the first hill (on clear days). Continue on your way around the outside of the park to the Riddler and to Batman, which is a copy of the Batman rides at several other Six Flags parks. As you make your way around the back of the park, you'll find a couple of the water rides and then the Ninja, also a copy of a coaster found in other Six Flags parks. If you're looking for a rough ride the Ninja is for you. You'll next come to the Great American Scream Machine, a class out and back wooden coaster and finally to the Georgia Cyclone, another classic wooden coaster modeled after the Cylcone at Coney Island. This season (2001), the park is adding another coaster and what they describe as a rotating tower drop ride. Overall, a good park for riding coasters. If you're looking to take a break from the fast paced action of the thrill rides, there are several restaurants within the parks, plenty of shows, in airconditioned theaters and plenty of souvenir shops located around the park. If you're traveling to Six Flags during the peak summer months, you might consider coming after 4 PM when you can often get discounted tickets, sometimes with a Coke can and when the crowds begin to diminish a bit. The best times to visit are probably early spring when the park first opens for the season or in August or September after schools open. Remember also that the weather can and does often change without much notice so it's not a bad idea to bring a change of clothes or that much needed sunscreen and leave it in a locker inside the park (lockers can be rented for about $2). Also, keep in mind that parking is going to cost you about $8 for the day regardless of when you come. If you live in the area and are going to make more than one trip during the course of the year, buy a season pass...they're about the same price as a two day ticket and will get you in day or night any day the park is open. Overall, Six Flags over Georgia is a pleasent experience and a great day of fun for the family or the thrill ride seaker.

Over the past decade, the Atlanta Braves baseball team has been one of the most dominating teams in Major League Baseball. Playing it's home games at Turner Field, the one time Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, the Braves offer a great family outing at a reasonable price. The easiest way to get to the ballpark is to take the Braves Shuttle, courtesty of MARTA that will deliver you to the ballpark and keep you from having to pay exorbitant parking rates anywhere near the stadium. The stadium itself is perhaps one of the finest in baseball today, with it's blend of old and new features. As you first enter the entry plaza beyond center field, take notice of the billboard sized photo of the ball that Hank Aaron hit for his record breaking 715th homerun. You'll often find live bands and other entertainment in the entry plaza as well and will also find the entrance the Chop Shop, the steak house in the ballpark (which practically requires reservations, but you can stay and watch the game as long as you're eating/drinking) and a neat innovation in ballpark concessions called "Taste of the Majors" which features regional foods in hommage to the visiting team. You're likely to find such things as Philly Cheese Steak when Philadelphia is in town or Dodger Dogs when LA is visiting. One thing to be aware of if you're on a tight budget is that concessions at the ballpark are pricey, but you can bring in a small cooler, provided that it will fit under your seat and it contains no glass or aluminum bottles and no alcohol. So, fill up your cooler with Cokes and snacks and head to the ballpark without the worries of spending big bucks. Also, an interesting twist to buying tickets is an offer called "Skyline Seats" which the club sells day of game for $1 in the upper corner of the stadium and as the name suggests provides a great view of the skyline. Be warned though that these seats are rarely available if you show up anywhere near game time, so it's probably best, if you want to ensure seeing the game, to give in and buy a ticket. If you're a Braves fan or a fledgling Major League Baseball fan, the Braves rarely disappoint and will usually offer their fans a good win and a reasonable fire works display after the game. Overall, a wonderful experience at a reasonable price and as always features some of the top names in the game today.

Mercer University's Atlanta campus can be easily located in the Chamblee-Dunwoody area of Atlanta, just north of the city and slightly inside the I-285 perimeter. The campus houses several schools including the Southern School of Pharmacy, the Mercer business school, the school of nursing, etc. When you visit you'll find a campus that initially is a bit disappointing and actually failry unappealing to the eye. Reminiscent of a small community college campus, Mercer's Atlanta branch would be an utter disappointment if it weren't for the quality of the academic programs and the friendliness of the people. Ranking in the top 30 in several of their graduate programs, you'll find an strong academic arena located almost within metropolitan Atlanta. Barely a 10-15 minute drive in to downtown, Mercer's location allows it's students to participate in an abundance of opportunities that Atlanta offers from food to culture to sporting events and concerts. For those that are more familiar with Mercer's main campus in Macon, GA, the Atlanta campus is certainly worth a visit and for those looking at universities should definitely be on your list.