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The Inside Scoop on Amazing Atlanta
By Kevin Forest Moreau
THE INSIDE SCOOP ON YOUR NEW CITYA AN T TA L
If you’re looking for a new city to call home, there are many reasons why Atlanta should be at the top of your list. And if you’ve already made the move, congratulations! Either way, there’s a lot to learn about this great city and its surrounding metropolitan area. On the pages that follow, we’ve broken down mostly everything you need to know about this capital city of the Southeast, from its top-flight arts scene to its stellar attractions, entertainment options and dining choices.
BUSINESS
Atlanta serves as global headquarters to one of the nation’s highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies, among them Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, Southern Co. and UPS. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s also a hotbed for tech startups: Mailchimp, Kabbage and Scoutmob all started here. The Atlanta Tech Village is the nation’s fourth largest tech hub, with more than 300 startups. Atlanta also enjoys a robust media industry: Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and other properties, is headquartered here, as is The Weather Channel.
HEALTHCARE
Atlanta is well known for its hospitals and healthcare institutions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) heads a list of locally based organizations and research facilities that includes the American Cancer Society, the Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medi-
cine. Grady Memorial Hospital is renowned as one of the best trauma and burn centers in the nation, while Northside Hospital delivers more babies per year than any other community hospital in the country.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is regarded as one of the nation’s premier pediatric hospitals. The Shepherd Center, one of the nation’s leading catastrophic-care hospitals for patients with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and degenerative disorders, is headquartered here. Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, part of Piedmont Healthcare, has been recognized on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Hospitals” list.
TRANSPORTATION
Originally founded as a railroad stop called Terminus, Atlanta is still a major rail center. But its modern status as a major transportation hub is largely due to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, consistently ranked as the world’s busiest. On the ground, four major interstates (285, 20, 75 and 85) conduct drivers in all directions. Of course, that also results in traffic congestion—a reality for any metropolis of Atlanta’s size— but the city also boasts a number of publictransportation options, including MARTA, the area’s main rail and bus service, CobbLinc, Gwinnett County Transit and Xpress, a commuter bus service. The Atlanta BeltLine, a multi-use trail and park space encircling the city, provides a scenic option for pedestrians, cyclists and inline skaters.
MARTA, metro Atlanta's main public transit system, includes bus and rail service. Located in downtown Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium is the world's largest aquarium.
FAMILY FUN
Atlanta is a magical place for children. The Center for Puppetry Arts displays hundreds of fascinating puppets from around the world, with an entire wing dedicated to the work of Jim Henson. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers fun, informative exhibits for youngsters and preteens. The Legoland Discovery Center is an interactive playground filled with the world-famous building blocks, designed to delight and inspire children ages 3 through 10. Six Flags Over Georgia offers roller coasters, water rides and other thrills.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Atlanta is the arts capital of the Southeast. The Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre stages thought-provoking and crowdpleasing works, some of which have gone on to Broadway. The thriving theater scene also includes such acclaimed companies as Theatrical Outfit, 7 Stages and True Colors. The Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are all worldclass performing arts institutions. Venues including Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, the Fox Theatre, the Ferst Center for the Arts, the Rialto Performing Arts Center, Spivey Hall and Ameris Bank
Amphitheatre, among others, host big-name concert tours and high-caliber national theatrical productions. The High Museum of Art, the Southeast’s leading art museum, hosts high-profile permanent and rotating exhibits year-round.
ATTRACTIONS
Atlanta is chock full of exciting things to see and do. The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest, with hundreds of species on display, including dolphins and sea lions. The World of Coca-Cola is a colorful interactive shrine to America’s favorite beverage, and Centennial Olympic Park, with its dancing Fountain of Rings, commemorates the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown is home to 30 gorgeous acres of themed gardens and an elevated walkway that lets visitors stroll amongst the treetops. Jawdropping dinosaur skeletons greet visitors to The Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which spotlights the natural world with engaging exhibits and IMAX films. Stone Mountain Park boasts 3,200 scenic acres of golf, hiking trails, rides and more, with colossal Stone Mountain as the centerpiece.
The AJC Peachtree Road Race is the world's largest 10K.
Centennial Olympic Park, with its dancing Fountain of Rings, commemorates the 1996 Summer Olympics. Located in downtown Atlanta, the 22-acre greenspace hosts several events each year
SPORTS
If you’re a sports fanatic, you’re in the right place. The Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta United FC draw thousands of fans each year. Minor league sports include baseball, hockey and lacrosse, and the city hosts the PGA’s Tour Championship and the Truist Atlanta Open tennis tournament. The South loves college football, and the city is home to the sport’s Hall of Fame. And we don’t just watch sports here, we play: The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) is the world’s largest recreational tennis league, and 60,000 runners trek down Peachtree every July 4 in the world’s largest 10K, the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
DINING
Centennial Olympic Park, home of the 1996 Summer Olympics.
From hot dogs to haute cuisine, Atlanta is a foodie’s dream. The Varsity is the world’s largest drive-in, famous for chilidogs and onion rings. Paschal’s is world famous for authentic soul food, while Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack is the place for mouthwatering BBQ. Mary Mac’s Tea Room has been officially designated “Atlanta’s Dining Room” for dishes like fried green tomatoes and chicken and dumplings. The city is also a mecca for trendsetting cuisine, led by restaurants like Bacchanalia and Aria.
THE BENEFITS OF IN-TOWN LIVING
“The best feature of living in town is the accessibility to people, places and things that are within walking distance,” says E. Camille Chillis, who lives in a Midtown high-rise and is active in the Midtown Neighbors Association. She describes her in-town neighbors as eclectic, seasoned, innovative, professional and environmentally conscious.
Nearby to Midtown homes are the historic district, greenspaces, a park, eateries, lounges, schools, theaters, gardens, shops and museums. Midtown residents are close to such attractions as the Fox Theatre, Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the High Museum of Art.
There are more in-town choices today than ever. Revitalization of Atlanta’s in-town neighborhoods is bringing new development and more people to some of the most underutilized areas of the city. The Atlanta BeltLine, a former railway corridor around Atlanta repurposed as a multi-use trail with some stages already open, cradles the southern and eastern borders of the Grant Park area. Revitalization around the BeltLine will include developments that creatively cluster together homes, condos, apartments, businesses, retail and restaurants. As a result, the Grant Park area is currently a hot real estate market.
DECIDING WHICH OPTION IS BEST FOR YOU
By Larry Anderson
Residents of in-town neighborhoods love the convenience and proximity to everything, while hearty suburbanites are happy to brave long commutes as the price they pay for more square footage, a big yard and lots of fresh air.
It’s like the story of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse. The familiar tale illustrates a contrast of lifestyles that is as familiar today as ever. Fortunately, newcomers can choose among great intown neighborhoods and also the very best suburbia has to offer.
But how to choose? To provide food for thought, we asked advocates for both options to weigh in with their strongest arguments.
High Museum of Art is located in the Midtown Neighborhood.
Zoo Atlanta is located near Grant Park.
Midtown is in close proximity to the Atlanta Botanical Garden
“Homes that go on the market are typically sold in just a matter of days,” says Lauren Rocereta, former president of the Grant Park Neighborhood Association. “This is an amazing time to live in town since Atlanta is seeing so much revitalization.” Rocereta describes her close-knit community as an “edgy, fun” neighborhood that includes a national and local historic district and is home to Zoo Atlanta and the historical Oakland Cemetery.
Neighbors joined together in the mid-1960s to fight encroaching commercialism in Atlanta’s Ansley Park community, near Midtown, and adopted a neighborhood plan to discourage homes from being chopped into boarding houses and commercial buildings being added. Ansley Park also resisted “white flight” in the 1960s and 1970s by adopting a neighborhood resolution that welcomes all people, regardless of race, color or creed. An attractive in-town neighborhood today is the result of the effort.
Ansley Park was originally designed in 1904 as the first “car-friendly” neighborhood in Atlanta. “The winding streets, welcoming sidewalks, and four parks within our neighborhood make this a perfect place to relax and to raise a family,” says Kevin Grady, former president of the Ansley Park Civic Association. Grady and his wife have lived in Ansley Park for more than 30 years and raised their sons there. “We love the convenience of the neighborhood,” says Grady. “It’s easy to get anywhere in the city, either by car or MARTA.”
Ansley Park is near to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Piedmont Park, Midtown businesses and restaurants. Promoting a social atmosphere, the Ansley Park Civic Association sponsors regular dining groups, Christmas caroling, Easter egg hunts and outings to local restaurants.
THE APPEAL OF LIVING IN THE SUBURBS
Advocates of suburban living are just as passionate about their neighborhoods. Julianne Rivera has lived in the Towne Lake community in Cherokee County (about 30 miles northwest of downtown), for more than 20 years. She and her husband raised their children there and now have grandchildren who love to come visit. She cites the appeal of close proximity to anything you need. u
“You’re near downtown Woodstock, but not amid all the hubbub,” says Rivera. Her family enjoys the amenities of the Towne Lake Hills subdivision, including three pools (with a kiddie pool and a large water slide), tennis facilities, golf, a clubhouse with a restaurant and a large playground. Nearby there are good walking trails, and it’s easy to get on and off Interstate 575. “I feel like we’re in the foothills, but close enough to go into the city,” Rivera says.
“There is a camaraderie that’s tremendous,” she says. “I know of at least eight families who moved out of state and then moved back into Towne Lake Hills because it has a family feel to it. There are tremendous friends, great for all ages. We choose to stay because the people have created our home—the neighbors, they’re not just neighbors. They’re family.”
As a college town with local theatre and concerts and plenty going on, Gainesville (about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta) is the right suburban lifestyle choice for Christi Lazear, a retired flight attendant and former art teacher. She and her husband live in Cresswind at Lake Lanier, an active adult community. The social life inside the community appeals to Lazear, including a clubhouse, tennis, a theatre group, a kayaking group and a travel club. “It’s like a camp for grownups,” she says. The Gainesville area has anything she wants, says Lazear. It’s close to the mountains and to Athens (“where I have a kid”). “It’s the best of both worlds,” she says. “You can get into Atlanta, but the local theatre is very good, too.”
Suburban growth has changed the face of many communities around Atlanta. Prime examples are Suwanee and Gwinnett County. Amber Wickham, a resident of Suwanee and travel agent, has lived in Gwinnett her whole life, and her family has been around for six generations. “To say we have seen the area change is an understatement,” she says. “Thirty years ago, this area would be unrecognizable to today’s average Suwanee resident.” That evolution is one factor in making Suwanee (about 30 miles north on I-85) the right place for Wickham. She says the area now has cultural and civic events that rival those of Atlanta, and “the hometown feel you get from a small town.”
When Suwanee’s population boomed, leaders intentionally reserved greenspace
Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays is a community event in Smyrna.
for parks to be used by children and families, says Wickham. Sims Lake Park, for one, is great for taking a leisurely stroll, while dogs love running and playing at the dog park at Settles Bridge Park. Wickham’s son enjoys PlayTown Suwanee, built by residents of the city. Several city parks are linked by the Suwanee Greenway, a walking trail along Suwanee Creek.
SOMETHING TO LOVE FOR ANY LIFESTYLE
Although the options of an in-town community or a suburb might seem a straightforward choice, the distinction is not always so clear. An example is the Smyrna community, which has characteristics of both an in-town and a suburban community.
Smyrna offers culture, value and proximity to downtown, but is geographically—slightly— outside the perimeter. “We are historically considered a suburban community, but with the addition of Truist Park, our feel (is) a vital mix of both suburban and in-town,” says Jennifer L. Bennett, Smyrna’s community relations director. The Cobb Galleria Centre and the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre are adjacent to Smyrna’s city limits. The walkable community also welcomes events and happenings such as summer concerts downtown and the popular Smyrna Food Truck Tuesday series showcasing the city’s quality of life. There are tons of residential living choices, from lofts and luxury rentals to porch-to-sidewalk craftsman homes and heavily forested large-lot neighborhoods. “The sense of community is strong and satisfying,” says Bennett.
Whether seeking to live in-town or in suburbia (or some combination of the two), Atlanta has abundant choices for newcomers, whatever their preferences.
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids
neighborhood SPOTLIGHT
Gainesville
By Muriel Vega
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gainesville continues to attract new residents and businesses with affordable housing, plentiful recreation and proximity to Lake Lanier. Gainesville was named a top 10 place to live in Georgia by movoto.com and one of America’s top 15 “most fun and affordable” cities by Bloomberg Businessweek.
Park Creek Apartments Lake Lanier Islands Resort
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Gainesville is known as the “chicken capital of the world” for its thriving poultry industry. But according to citytowninfo.com, it’s also a hub for manufacturing industries such as textiles and apparel, auto parts and industrial machinery.
Housing
Whether you’re looking to retire or start a new family, Gainesville offers a variety of housing options. Latham Creek Manor offers homes with a median sale price of $232,400—with some of the ranch-style homes offering between 1- and 2-acre lots. The Mundy Mill subdivision offers affordable homes starting in the low $300s, near the emerging Oakwood area. With Brenau University and the University of North Georgia (formerly Gainesville State College) nearby, rental options are plentiful. The Peaks Apartments are close to all of the city schools and boast a shimmering swimming pool and children’s play area. Another option is Park Creek Apartments, a gated community near public transit.
Local Treasures
Browse the more than 50 shops and restaurants in charming, historic Downtown Gainesville, tee up at the public Chattahoochee Golf Club or walk the Rock Creek Greenway, a 2-mile trail connecting downtown to Lake Lanier. The area’s natural attractions, including Lake Lanier and the Blue Ridge Mountains, draw outdoor enthusiasts year-round: Camp overnight and stretch out on a 40,000-square-foot beach looking out on the lake at River Forks Park or venture to Lanier Islands Resort in nearby Buford.
Shopping in Downtown Gainesville Culinary Treats
Recess Southern Gastro Pub is a popular choice for dinner with an expansive menu. Atlas Pizza is a local favorite for pies, wings and sandwiches—be sure to try the White Pizza. Grab one of the delicious po’ boys at the Atlanta Highway Seafood Market and take home some fresh seafood. Scott’s Downtown and Luna’s Restaurant and Piano Lounge offer fine dining in casual, comfortable settings. For dessert, get an ice cream cone at La Mejor De Michoacan.
Arts and Entertainment
The Quinlan Visual Arts Center exhibits local artists and offers art classes. The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, a 168-acre extension of the popular Midtown Atlanta attraction, offers family programs, traveling exhibits and a wedding venue; the outdoor amphitheater seats 2,000. The Brenau Downtown Center hosts concerts and other events. The downtown square hosts weekly, monthly and annual events. Interactive Neighborhood for Kids is a hands-on children’s museum where kids can role-play and climb aboard a real 1927 fire truck. The Beulah Rucker Museum highlights the region’s African-American history and heritage. N
