Atlanta may be large, but the people are so kind it makes it feel small. I was blown away by how friendly people were in restaurants; aside from the hospitality, I met someone new every place I went.
As the capital and most populous city in Georgia, Atlanta is a lively metropolis filled with local art, museums & some really good southern food.
I’ve flown into Atlanta a million times for connecting flights, but have never made it out so I was excited to finally step foot in this vibrant city and explore for a weekend.
Here are my top tips & things to do in the city!
{What to Expect}
Atlanta is BIG. The neighborhoods are pretty spread apart so look at a map before you go to figure out which things are close by each other. Traffic is WILD. Think LA/NYC. I would recommend an uber, walk if you can or lots of prayers if you decide to drive.
The people are SO kind and friendly. If you’ve never experienced southern hospitality, you’ll get a generous dose in Atlanta. The city is vibrant in culture, good food and fun things to do.
{Getting Around}
Traffic is crazy in Atlanta so unless you feel super confident on 6 lane roads I would recommend an uber or walking. The neighborhoods are pretty spread out so plan ahead to see if the things you want to do are all in the same area or not.
{Eat}
Gusto! I was so impressed by Gusto!’s clean, bright restaurant, creative menu & incredible service. Plus an Avocado Wings Wall is pretty hard to beat.
Gusto! was started by a former NFL Quarterback on a mission to revolutionize the fast food industry & serve better for you food with great service. Incredible grain bowls, salads, wraps & FREE sweet potato chips… I’d say your mission is accomplished Gusto!
Recess: As I bellied up to this delicious farro bowl with sautéed veggies & chicken I was surprised to learn they have only been open for about a month! If you’re looking for a good hearty grain  bowl, salad or sandwich, recess is the place for your organic blends. They are located in Krog Street Market, which has tons of other fun restaurants & little shops you can walk around and see.
West Egg Cafe: Start your day with the most delicious breakfast at West Egg Cafe. They have an incredible brunch menu featuring banana bread french toast, crab omelets & avocado toast. I inhaled this spinach salad with bacon, goat cheese & 2 fried eggs with a side of cheese grits of course because I’m in the south. 😉
4 River Smokehouse BBQ: If you didn’t know, BBQ is my favorite kind of food & I love you Washington, but you just don’t do it like the south. Whenever I make my way to the southern states I always try & find me some good pulled pork, Mac & cheese, and corn bread. 4 rivers smokehouse checked all of my boxes. Friendly staff, simple, delicious menu choices & even an outdoor patio to enjoy your meal.
Â
Try the burnt ends, pulled pork, Mac & cheese, sweet potatoes & CORN BREAD. And then call a cart to roll you out of the restaurant.
Â
Cheesecaked: If we’re talking about Southern Hospitality, this place gets a 11/10. The second I walked in I was greeted by the most smiley girls who immediately started complimenting me and helping me with the menu.
I found this place on instagram (shocker) and was captivated by their overflowing milkshakes.
They serve cheesecake, extreme milkshakes & ice cream/cookie/brownie sundaes!
Â
They even have board games for you to play with friends while you enjoy your sweets. The customer service was so good I will definitely be coming back here on my next visit!
Â
Butter and Cream:Â With tons of fun flavors & lively culture, butter and cream is a great stop to grab a refreshing treat. I tried the butter pecan and dark chocolate sorbet!
Â
Jenis: Jenis is probably my all time favorite ice cream shop to visit when I’m in the South. It’s located in Krog Street Market & they have some of the most creative, mouth watering flavors you will ever taste.
Â
Other restaurants that were recommended and on my list, but I didn’t get to try (you can only eat so much in 2 days people) are as follows:
Â
- The Optimist
- JCT Kitchen
- Donetto
- Superica
- Bar Mercado
- Chattahoochee Coffee Company
{Do}
Walk the BeltLine: Â The BeltLine is a 33 mile walking path that makes a loop through Atlanta’s downtown and neighborhoods and past some fun local art. On a nice day this is the perfect place to be to see the city, get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
Wall Crawl: Atlanta is the epitome of wall mural dreams. I had so much fun stumbling upon incredible, colorful art covering buildings as I drove around the city. Of course I had to stop at a few to get a pic for the gram & you should too!! Check out the article I wrote about where to find my favorites! Atlanta Wall Crawl – The Best Wall Murals in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia Aquarium:Â Unfortunately, the one day I had to explore in Atlanta it was pouring down rain almost the whole day. But luckily I found some pretty fun activities to do inside like the Georgia Aquarium!
Â
An adult ticket is $43.51 and parking is $12. I was by myself (and tend to walk pretty fast) and spent a little over an hour in the aquarium. There were some shows and exhibits I didn’t do but there is a pretty good selection of animals to see. Just not sure if it’s worth over $50 if you’re by yourself. Save money and book your ticket online!
Â
 
Ponce City Market: This indoor market/shopping center is similar to Krog Street Market but a bit bigger with more selection. This is a great place to explore, shop and eat  and if the weathers nice, go out on the roof! This place is definitely worth checking out.
Â
If you want to see some more cool museums check out World of Coke, Delta Museum and do the CNN Tour.
Whether you’re traveling solo or exploring with your tribe, Atlanta is a great destination for a weekend getaway. With so many things to do and see in the city, it’s foodie, shopper and history buff heaven.
Have so much fun on your trip! Join the #DoStuff team on the homepage so you can catch all the latest travel tips, healthy recipes and encouragement! Thank you so much for reading today, I appreciate you!!
Shop the post!
xx Nicole #DoStuff
