You’ve lived here a few years – maybe your whole life. When visitors come, you’re the resident tour guide. You’ve seen it all! Or have you? Here are three unique ways to see Atlanta and learn her secrets. They’re not just cheesy tourist adventures; they’re awesome expeditions for locals, too.
Atlanta Movie Tours
Do your film passions range from adventures like Hunger Games and The Walking Dead to classics like Gone with the Wind and Driving Miss Daisy? Atlanta Movie Tours provides a blockbuster showing of Atlanta's premiere filming locations. Hop aboard a luxury coach, and hear the scoop from a local in the Atlanta showbiz industry. You'll visit both well-known Atlanta attractions and little-known landmarks, gleaning significant Y'allywood backstory and secrets in the process.
The most popular tour is The Big Zombie Tour, Part 1, focusing on The Walking Dead Atlanta filming locations like the CDC and Jackson Street Bridge. Sure, you could scout these locations yourself, but you'll miss the expert angle and in-the-know commentary. Regardless of the tour selected or your "residency" status – local or tourist – Atlanta Movie Tours is a can't-miss excursion.
Most tours are three hours and $65 per ticket. Purchase tickets from their website.
Peachtree Food Tours
If you think you know Peachtree Street in Midtown, think again. John Hannula, owner of Peachtree Food Tours, tells stories about the likes of Midtown's Civil War history, the making and decay of the area's mansions and the rebirth of this magnificent city. He'll leave you with tips and commentary on over 60 restaurants in Midtown, as well as guide you through an historic hotel and one of the city's oldest churches.
“But do I get to eat?” Yes! You and up to seven other attendees visit six culinary delights in Midtown. Sample southern shrimp and grits with a glass of white vino, then head toward the best burger on Peachtree paired with a few brews. You’ll continue enjoying bites, sips and conversation to entertain even those who have lived here a lifetime.
Public tours are held on weekends and last four hours. $100 includes six gastro stops, with alcohol at three of the venues.
Bicycle Tours Atlanta
Explore new Intown neighborhoods, soak up Atlanta's civil war and civil rights history, and hit the highlights of the city's art scene – via bicycle! Best known for their Heart of the City Tour, Bicycle Tours of Atlanta offers multiple options for enjoying the city from a unique perspective. Owner Robyn Elliot indicated that locals are often the most surprised because they don't expect to learn so much about their own city.
Two new tours arrive in April, though registration opens at the end of February. Old South and New Beginnings takes guests on an informative and inspirational journey through Atlanta's transformation from the Old South to the New South, visiting historical and cultural landmarks of the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement. In partnership with Keller Williams Intown Atlanta, Open House Neighborhood Bicycle Tour introduces riders to three or more Atlanta's neighborhoods, including open house tours in 6-8 homes on the market. It is Robyn's hope that these new tours give locals an appreciation for what's in their own backyard, encourages suburbanites to feel comfortable finding a new home inside the perimeter and emphasizes the ever-growing bike-friendly aspects Atlanta.
Bicycle tours are designed for those that lead an active lifestyle. Prices range from $49-69 per person. The Heart of the City Tour is currently three hours and covers about 10 miles. Bike rental, helmet rental, water and snacks are included with the price.
