We spent 48 hours in Atlanta, Georgia in February and got to take in some of the city. Here’s what our time there was like!

When we arrived at the hotel, our room was not ready yet, so we dropped our bags off at the reception office and went out exploring!  Since the Centennial Olympic Park was nearby, we started from there. It was built for the Olympic Summer Games of 1996 and it is a 22-acre greenspace. Some areas in and around the park were under construction while we were there. The weather was almost perfect with a few clouds in the sky, which was great because we didn’t need to worry about rain! There weren’t many people around the park, only a few. We saw a family & their kids running and playing around the Fountain of Rings. It is an interactive fountain in the shape of the Olympic rings. Simple things like this make kids happy! Right outside the park, there is a giant ferris wheel and the Olympic Rings sculpture is right at the edge of the park near it. The park is surrounded by so many museums and places such as the Coca Cola Museum, CNN Centre, the Georgia Aquarium, and so many more. 

After that we decided that it would be perfect to eat something nearby where we were. After a quick look on Tripadvisor for a restaurant, we found what was best for us. It was just a few minutes away by foot & the reviews were promising! So, we went! The Big Kahuna was much more than a place to get a hamburger. Albert loves trying burgers in different states and places that we visit! They offered an impressive menu with items ranging from Baja-mex, Mexican, salads, and different contraptions. It’s a good stop for a quick bite (but Albert’s favorite burger place is still Inside Live & Rock Cafe in Bergen!!!!).

We stopped back at the hotel and got ready for the rest of the day because exploration was waiting for us! We went to meet our friend Lulu that lives there to give us a tour of the city! Our first stop was Ponce City Market which is located in one of Atlanta’s most cherished neighborhoods & it is a multi-use building. Inside, there are food (and beer!) stalls, cafes, cute shops, and clothing stores. It is a nice place to sit and people watch, or to come and wander around!

From there, we walked on the Beltline to Krog Street Market. The Beltline is a former railroad track that has now been converted into a multi-use trail. There were people running, walking, biking, scootering, skateboarding, walking their dogs – everything! Currently, the trail is a 22 mile long loop and connects so many neighborhoods in the city. We saw a lot of cool street art, passed a lot of cute outdoor restaurants and breweries, and just took it all in. Krog Street Market reminded us of a mini Ponce City Market, but just with food vendors. Most of them were closed because it was a little late in the day, but it was still nice to see! We walked through Little Points which is a small area with cute shops and street art. Lulu told us that once her friends saw a man with an alpaca outside one of the restaurants there.. What!?! At the end of the day, we headed to Wrecking Bar Brewpub for dinner, which had a nice small delicious menu! 

The next morning, we wandered around the city by walking from our hotel in Downtown Atlanta, through Midtown, to Piedmont Park. We walked by the Fox Theater which is currently a performing arts venue, hosting concerts and other events. Do you see the elaborate design on the outside? It was originally meant to be a large Shriner’s Temple when the idea first came up in 1928. Once they were building it, it became too much of a financial burden, and it ended up being purchased by William Fox and turned into a magnificent movie theater. What a place! 

We walked around Piedmont Park and took in the views. After that, we went to Jackson Street Bridge because it offers a good view of the city. Those who watch The Walking Dead might recognize the view!

After, we went to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park. We were able to take a step back in time, seeing and learning about the places he was born and where he lived, worked, and worshipped. We also got to learn about the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. We started at the Visitor’s Center where there was an exhibit all about his role in the Civil Rights Movement. We spent a lot of time there, and then headed to the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, his birth home, and saw Dr. King’s Tomb and Reflecting Pool and the Eternal Flame. He was a co-pastor at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church from 1960 until his death in 1968. We would definitely suggest going there, as it is a great reminder of history! 

We were getting hungry so we went back to Krog Street Market for lunch and ate at Recess which is a California inspired food stall. They also had $2 Frose that day so.. We couldn’t go wrong!! Once we left there, it looked like it was going to rain, and we had a soccer match to go watch on TV, so we headed to the pub! We stayed there to watch the soccer match, drinking beer and allowing the fans around us to entertain. Luckily we were indoors because it poured while we were there! Once we left the pub, the temperature had dropped a lot and it was super windy. Later that night we met up with Lulu for dinner in Decatur. It was freezing but she also showed us around nearby a little bit. We said goodbye to Lulu, headed to the hotel, and woke up the next day ready for our flight! 

We tend to book short trips sometimes when we don’t have too much time off from work and want to go on a quick getaway. With Atlanta, Georgia just a short plane right away, it was the perfect 48 hour trip, and we felt like we saw a lot while we were there!!