From City of Atlanta proper to the reaching fingers of the metro-Atlanta borders, the list of things to do grows each year. Museums, green spaces, shopping venues, restaurants, festivals.....how do you choose? Here are 10 must-do Atlanta experiences to get you started.
1. Take in a parade with personality. (Intown Atlanta) Inman Park Spring Festival's parade is a people watching paradise. Colorful costumes, creative themes, and the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable invite spring with sass and funk. Other notable must-do's include the Dragon Con Parade and the Children's Christmas Parade.
2. Shoot the 'hooch. (Helen, Ga) Come mid-summer, when air-conditioning is all you crave, take a day trip to the bavarian-inspired village. Situated above Lake Lanier and the dam, you do not have to worry about daily water release schedules. Pink, green, or blue- take your pick of dueling tube colors and let the cool waters carry you for the day.
3. Eat chicken and waffles. (Downtown) While not confined to Atlanta, our city is home to one of the more famous establishments for eating this perfect pairing of salty and sweet- Gladys and Ron's Chicken and Waffles.
4. Challenge a visitor try the Beverly. (Centennial Park) When out of town guests come, they always want to do our bigger attractions. While you are busy playing tour guide, take advantage of the satisfaction, and photo op, as you encourage your World of Coca-Cola newbies to guzzle down a glass of this infamous Italian aperitif.
5. Go to a "secret" bar. (ITP) Yes, they exist. No, they are not that secret. A little effort on Google and a few inquiries will find you the answers to enter the not-so-obvious-but-we-all-know-they-are-there bars, such as Prohibition, Eleanor's, or Edgewood Speakeasy.
6. Get an Appalachian Trail picture. (Dawsonville, Ga) Make an afternoon of climbing the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast. Take a picture by the "From Georgia to Maine" rock, and then follow the Southern Terminus Trail to the top of Amicalola Falls.
7. See it snow at The Fox Theatre. (Downtown) Take the magic of this historic venue and exponentially amplify it. During select holiday shows, such as the annual Mighty Mo & More, Peachtree Street sees flurries cascade from the top of the marquee.
8. Listen to the music of the city. (various city locations) Whatever your musical style, Atlanta has the perfect dish for you. From yearly happenings, such as Music Midtown, to weekly music specials at Centennial Olympic Park, music imbibes the soul of Atlanta.
9. See a drive-in movie. (Southeast Atlanta) Opened in 1949, Starlight Drive-In is Atlanta's only surviving drive-in theater. Take in a night of nostalgia and a double-feature.
10. Have a picnic dinner on the lawn. (OTP East) Spend the day hiking, enjoying the attractions, or just having dinner on the lawn. Whatever you choose, don't leave before the sun goes down and the show begins. Stone Mountain's laser show, updated in 2014, has a more diverse show featuring historical favorites, music, and of course, choreographed lasers and lights.
What tops your list of things every Atlanta resident should do?
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