Autumn is a great time of year in Atlanta. Things tend to stay a bit warmer down here than they do up north. And warmer weather means we've got options that other cities just can't match.
Sure, you can scare up a mainstream out-of-towner list outlining attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola or the Varsity, but those attractions are Atlanta 101. Or you could look for a list that's a little more local and find things like Music Midtown and Netherworld, but even those events are well-known and well-documented parts of Atlanta's collective fall consciousness.
If, however, you're looking for the kind of list that outlines the most underrated things one could do with their time during a fall day in Atlanta, then you've come to the right place. These off-the-beaten-path suggestions capture the essence of autumn in Atlanta.
1. Ditch your ride for a day
Rent a Beltline bike and ride a picnic basket full of Publix subs and pasta salad out to Piedmont Park. Stroll down Wylie Street to check out the street art in Cabbagetown. Take in the possibilities when the streets are car-free at Atlanta Streets Alive. Whatever you prefer, one of the best things you can do is leave the keys behind for a little fun in the fall sun.
2. Eat Buford Highway
If you are already an expert on regional Chinese cuisines, the latest trends in Peruvian food service and know a good Dim Sum when you see one, then you can head on over to Buford Highway - sans research - and enjoy the cultural landscape for the melting pot it is. If you are a rookie on the subject of authentic global food but want some in your belly, you might want to Google a fan favorite or two in advance, as there are more than 1,000 immigrant-owned businesses along Buford Highway.
3. Attend obscure fests
Porchfest. East Atlanta Strut. Chalktoberfest. The Grilled Cheese Festival. The Edgewood Mac & Cheese festival. The King of Pops Field Day. No matter what you are into, there is a neighborhood in Atlanta with a festival for that. And not all of our fall festivals descend into over-attended, under-manned chaos! (We're looking at you, L5P Halloween Parade)
4. Hit a thrift store
If you couldn't attend the fall extravaganza that is Hipster Yard Sale, worry not. In a city with as much first-hand shopping as Atlanta, it only stands to reason that there would be plenty of second-hand shopping available too.
5. Run like crazy
Once the summer heat finally fades, Atlanta becomes a pretty fun place to run. The Oakland Cemetery opens itself for the Run Like Hell 5K and the city's two running of the bulls take place. The first is an actual running of bulls and the second involves Atlanta Roller Derby chasing you. In both cases, as with the cemetery run, there are reasons to feel very afraid. Not the fearful type? Then toss on your cape and try the Super Run. If that's not silly enough, bounce your way over to the Great Inflatable Race.
6. Rediscover local music
Local rock and roll isn't dead, it's just stashed away in East Atlanta Village. Look no further than local act Dot.s for proof that a trip to The Earl or 529 is well-worth your time. Need a good music calendar? Stomp and Stammer has your back. Prefer the blues? Northside Tavern and Blind Willie's are can't-miss choices. Prefer rap music? Boogalou makes the whole trap lean.
7. Laugh it off, man
There are several great comedy shows to choose from in any given week in Atlanta. Whether you prefer the one-off nature the 1 a.m. secret shows, or the dedicated stand-up pumped out nightly at Laughing Skull or the Punchline, there are no shortage of places to make fun of the things you love to hate and hate to love.
8. Knock out that Brittany Spears' "Toxic" karaoke cover you've been practicing
When it comes to embarrassing and/or distinguishing oneself in front of both peers and strangers, nothing quite compares to the one-stop shop of karaoke performance. Atlanta has options, for the brave. There is the Tuesday and Saturday "Mary-oke" at Mary's, and heavy metal karaoke five nights per week at 10 High (beneath Dark Horse Tavern), and of course the utter zoo that is Monday nights at The Local. But there are also under-the-radar spots like Chaplin's in Roswell, and all the karaoke you could even dream of in multiple locations across Buford Highway.
9. Party like it's 1981
If karaoke is a little too on-stage for you, but you still love a throw-back era good time, then Atlanta still has a few amazing locations for your consideration, from the "I just crashed someone's wedding" feel of the dance floor at Johnny's Hideaway to the long-closed, just-returned legend - and ultimate throwback - that is the world-famous Clermont Lounge.
10. Rediscover our shared history
Our underrated shared history, that is. Try the Delta Flight Museum. Or better yet, the Waffle House Museum. Check out a huge collection of Muppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Or leave your mark with a StoryCorps recording of your own at the Atlanta History Center.
11. Reconsider Dr. King at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
Beyond anything else in Atlanta, whether you are a resident or a visitor, there is nothing more important to the city - not Delta Airlines, not Coca-Cola, not the new stadiums - nothing more quintessentially Atlanta, than spending time in consideration of Dr. King and his contributions to the civil rights movement.
