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Writer's pictureLauren Diaz
8 min read

Guide to Atlanta

Atlanta is a great city to spend a short weekend with tons of fun activities and some incredible food. You can also find a few fun day trips from there if you are willing to rent a car. We stayed in the city for 3 nights (Friday - Monday) in the fall of 2024 with a day trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains to go apple picking and to Covington to visit the town of “Mystic Falls” as seen in the Vampire Diaries. So here’s everything we did!


If you want a short/saveable itinerary visit our social media channels for the video versions:


Things to Do in Atlanta


Things To Do:


As a disclaimer, I collaborated with Discover Atlanta and CityPASS who provided me with an Atlanta CityPASS to see the sites but all thoughts/recommendations are my own. I will mark which activities are included with the CityPASS but I would say it is very worth it. First of all, it saves you money, and second, it makes it extremely easy to just show up and enter the attractions without having to make lines or worry about buying tickets in advance! The pass costs $94 per adult, and can be purchased here.


Georgia Aquarium



The Georgia Aquarium is easily the best aquarium I've ever been to. They have so many incredible and immersive exhibits, really fun shows like the Dolphin Presentation, and such a great variety of fish and marine life. I definitely recommend giving yourself a half day to take it slow and enjoy everything the aquarium has to offer.


Address: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313


Price: Included with CityPASS, $40 - $65 per Adult otherwise



World of Coca-Cola



The World of Coca-Cola is such a fun experience! This museum does a deep dive into the history of the brand showcasing memorabilia and immersive exhibits. I love seeing all their marketing materials that have evolved throughout the years. They also get all your senses involved with a whole room dedicated to smells and then the best room where you get to try different Coke products from around the world. This along with the aquarium are definitely at the top of my list of must-do activities in Atlanta. 


Address: 121 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313


Price: Included with CityPASS, $21 - $26 per Adult otherwise



College Football Hall of Fame



This museum was a lot more entertaining than I expected. It’s definitely great if you are a huge college football fan but even if you aren’t they have a lot of interactive displays and games that you can take part in while you’re there. There’s something for everyone here, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just along for the ride.


Address: 250 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313


Price: Included with CityPASS, $35 per Adult otherwise



Centennial Olympic Park


view of centennial olympic park in Atlanta

Before or after you visit Pemberton Place (the complex where you’ll find World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium), you can take a stroll through Centennial Olympic Park. This park was originally built for the 1996 Olympics but now it’s a large green area where you see people hanging around, playing sports/games, having picnics, or taking a ride on the ferris wheel.


Address: Centennial Olympic Park Dr &, Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313


Price: Free



Zoo Atlanta



I love a good zoo and this one did not disappoint. It’s small but it’s extremely well kept, clean, and has a pretty big variety of animals. All of the animals were really active while we were there so it was fun to see them roaming around in their habitats.


Address: 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315


Price: Included with CityPASS, $23.70 - $28.70 per Adult otherwise



Fernbank Museum



This museum is also on the smaller side but was cute. It features exhibits on the history of animals native to Georgia, fossils, dinosaurs, and more. We decided to check it out since it was included in our CityPASS, but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to pay for it again. It’s perfect for kids, with a lot of interactive play areas to keep them entertained. Plus, they have some nice outdoor trails and playgrounds to explore!


Address: 767 Clifton Rd N E, Atlanta, GA 30307


Price: Included with CityPASS, $25.95 per Adult otherwise



The Krog District



This neighborhood is so cool! We initially went to the area to visit the Krog Street Market which offers a great selection of restaurants with a variety of food. But we ended up spending some extra time here walking around, exploring the local shops, and checking out a section of the Atlanta BeltLine where you can find art and sculptures. It’s a great area to stroll, eat, and take in all the creative vibes. 


Address: 99 Krog St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307


Price: Free



Atlanta BeltLine



Continuing off of the Krog District, let’s talk about the Atlanta BeltLine. It’s pretty much an extensive series of parks and trails built on former railways. Some of the easiest sections to visit as a tourist are the area off of Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market since you’ll likely already be visiting. It’s really lively with people exercising, pop up vendors along the trails, street art/murals, and more. If you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors, this is a great way to do so. 


Address: Multiple


Price: Free



Ponce City Market



This is an area that you can easily spend a half day in. You’ll find a ton of shops from local vendors selling prints to larger stores like Nike, bars, restaurants, a rooftop, and access to the BeltLine. Whether you’re shopping, grabbing a bite, or just enjoying the atmosphere, I would say it’s a must-visit! I’ll talk more about specific food vendors you should try while you’re there in the “Where to Eat” section below. 


Address: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308


Price: Free unless you shop



Delta Flight Museum



If you’re into planes, this is the museum for you. The museum is pretty much at the airport so it’s easy to visit before your flight home. Here you’ll get a look into the history of Delta including planes, flight attendant uniforms, advertising materials, and more. You can also enter some of the planes which is always a fun experience. 


Address: 1220 Woolman Pl, Hapeville, GA 30354


Price: $15 per Adult



Extras (that we didn’t get to):


Sometimes it’s hard to make it to every place on your list so here are a few that we didn’t make it to this time that are also highly recommended:


  • Swan House: this is a mansion that was featured in some of the Hunger Games movies

  • Piedmont Park: a 200+ acre park in the center of the city (think of it like Atlanta’s Central Park)

  • Atlanta Botanical Garden: A huge botanical garden that exhibits lots of different plants in the middle of Piedmont park (I visited years ago and I remember it being very nice)


Day Trips:


Blue Ridge Mountains



Since we were there in the fall we took a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains to go apple picking. It’s a really nice escape from the city if you’re looking to be a bit more immersed in nature. The scenic drives were so pretty with the leaves turning, and the area is full of orchards and wineries. We went to Mercier Orchards which I highly recommend. Here you can visit their large store that sells all things apple - cider, apple cider donuts, pies, etc. You can also pick your own apples for $10 per person. They’ll take you up in a tractor, give you a bag, and you can roam the orchards, picking apples straight from their trees. The perfect fall activity if you ask me!


Covington



We’ve been dying to visit Covington as Vampire Diaries fans! It’s a great day trip from Atlanta to explore the area and have lunch. To be honest, I wouldn’t spend more than half a day there, there’s not a whole lot to do. I recommend going in the morning walking around the shops, seeing all the important houses from the show, and having lunch at the Mystic Grill. I’ll be working on a full video recap soon with more details.


Where to Eat:


Bomb Biscuit Atlanta



Their name says it all. You are going to have some BOMB biscuits at this place. They have a variety of breakfast and lunch-style biscuit sandwiches that you are sure to love. I highly recommend trying their fully loaded hot honey biscuit that has sweet and savory hot chicken and pimento cheese, a 10/10. 


Address: 668 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30312



Buttermilk Kitchen



This is one of the best breakfasts I've had in a while. They have all your typical southern food favorites - chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, cornbread muffins, etc. Be sure to make a reservation, they get packed on the weekends. Our favorite dish here was the spiced maple chicken and grits, wow. I don’t even like grits and this was amazing, a sweet, savory, and spicy piece of fried chicken, bacon, pimento cheese, grits, and eggs your way, incredible! 


Address: 4225 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342



Ponce City Market



I’ve already mentioned Ponce City Market as a place to visit but it is also a great place to eat, so let’s dive into the food. They have several stalls inside their food hall, here are the ones that I would recommend trying that we really enjoyed:


The Tap on Ponce: if you’re a beer lover you need to stop by this bar. They have at least 50 beers on tap from local brews to international favorites. 


Botiwalla by Chai Pani: this is an Indian restaurant that was so good! We got the Chicken Tikka Roll that is essentially a burrito but with chicken tikka and naan, and the SPDP (Sev Potato Dahi Puri) that was really unique and bursting with flavor.


Minero Atlanta: this is a Mexican concept at the food hall and they had a fire burrito. We got the al pastor one that is stuffed to the brim with rice, beans, and all the goodies. 


Ton Ton Ramen & Yakitori: we didn’t get ramen this time, but I bet it’s amazing. We tried the Invincible Dan Dan Mazemen that is brothless, and it was incredible, my favorite bite at the market.


Address: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308


Reservations: none


BoccaLupo



I am very picky about Italian food and was so impressed with this restaurant. They aren’t traditional but more so take the classics and put a twist on them. We loved every single dish we tried here from appetizers to desserts, they have great reviews for a reason. Here I would say the must-orders are the flash fried shishitos with gnocchi romani and the chicken parm which was one of the best i’ve ever had.


Address: 753 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307




Oreatha’s At The Point



We originally had reservations for their sister restaurant but they had an unexpected closure and sent us here, and we were not mad about it. They have a really cool menu that mixes southern food with different international cuisines. Think thai-inspired catfish, pastas with proteins like oxtail and smoked duck, etc. The crawfish poutine and jambalaya were the highlights of the meal. 


Address: 2287 Cascade Rd, Atlanta, GA 30311



Roshambo



This was another highly recommended restaurant throughout our research. They call themselves a modern American restaurant that also mixes in elements of a classic diner. They have a pretty extensive menu with a good amount of variety. We went for “The Party Bucket” which is basically a bucket of fried chicken served with biscuits, collard greens, and mac and cheese. I don’t know what they put in this fried chicken but it was amazing. The biscuits were also so light and fluffy. Truly, a great meal. 


Address: 2355 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305



Where to Drink:


Bold Monk Brewing Co.



We really enjoyed this brewery. They have a full service restaurant, a full bar, and a nice selection of Belgian-inspired beers. The decor is eclectic with church pews as seating in some areas to lean into the Monk theme. It’s a cozy spot to hangout and try some great brews.


Address: 1737 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW suite d-1, Atlanta, GA 30318



Best End Brewing Company



Best End Brewing is in the Lee + White complex, which is a really cool area that has a lot of shops, businesses, a whole food hall, and a couple of breweries, including this one. They had a great selection of beer and you can get flights which I always recommend. 


Address: 1036 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310


Reservations: none


I hope this helps you plan your time in Atlanta! As always, be sure to follow our social media channels for all the food & travel tips and tricks. Thanks for reading!


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