How to spend a weekend in Atlanta + five tips to guide you.

Labour’s Day is just around the corner, and for those looking for a quick weekend getaway, this post is for you.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this post, I want to mention that I recently started rewatching The Vampire Diaries, and I realised it was set in Georgia! The same Georgia I was in a couple of weeks ago. I could have visited Mystic Falls!

So, for any fans looking to visit Atlanta for the long weekend, take a short road trip (40 mins drive) to Covington.

There’s a tour where you get to see Mystic Grill, visit the Lockwood mansion, the Gilbert House and other notable locations from the movie.

Now if you’re wondering what I was actually doing while I missed the opportunity of a lifetime, here’s what I saw while in Atlanta.

DAY 1

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

This is a stunning place. This month’s attraction (and what sold me) was the Alice in Wonderland exhibit featuring Alice, the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts, Singing Flowers, the White Rabbit, and the Chess set (my favourite from the instalment).

The property has a bar station once you walk in, and restaurants in the garden with indoor and outdoor eating, assuming one wants a short break and a meal from walking around. Plus they have a ‘Cocktail in the Graden’ event on Thursday nights.

Of course not to forget the real star of the show, The Earth Goddess; very much reminded me of Moana’s Te Fiti. If you had to see just one thing, it should be her.

CIRQUE DU SOLIEL

If there’s a Cirque du Soleil show within a five-mile radius, I’ll be there, and Corteo happened to be showing on the weekend I was there. There won’t be another show in Atlanta till December so if you’re looking to catch a show while you’re visiting, you might want to schedule it for December.

OVERSTORY ROOFTOP BAR (Restaurant)

I arrived too late for the food and in time for the drinks, but I should tell you the view is amazing. Great location for anyone looking to get some Instagram-esque pictures.

DAY 2

GEORGIA AQUARIUM

I tend to avoid zoos and aquariums as objects of tourist attractions, or places that offer ‘swim with the dolphins’, ‘ride the elephants’ kind of activities, but I did make an exception for this one because it was either this or the World of Coca-Cola, and I could care less about coca-cola.

Once the largest aquarium in the world, now the 6th largest (but still the largest in the states). They literally have a whale shark (the biggest fish in the ocean). I was so awestruck. I’d never seen one before, and no picture can do it justice. You have to see it for yourself! Their tank is roughly the size of a football field. These things are magnificent!

CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

Located in the same square as the aquarium, the Olympic Park was originally built to host the 1996 Olympic Games but has since been rebuilt and now serves as a legacy. There’s nothing much to do here, except walk around. There is a water fountain area for kids, and a Skyview Ferris Wheel for those looking to get a panoramic view of downtown.

ATALIAN (Restaurant)

For my last night, I dined at Atalian restaurant, and in case you were wondering, it’s an Italian restaurant. Shocker! Dinner was fantastic, expensive but worth it!

While I wouldn’t say it’s an Instagrammable location, it’s cosy and will be perfect for date nights.

TIPS

• Stay Downtown or Midtown. I stayed downtown because it was a train away from the airport, and within walking distance to the attractions I planned to see, but mind that there’s a homeless population in the area so remain vigilant.
  
• Alternatively, Midtown is closer to the other tourist attractions like the Botanical Garden, Atlanta Beltline, Piedmont Park, and if you’re looking for more nightlife activities, Midtown is the place to be as most places downtown close early.

• The World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, Civil History Museum, College Football Hall of Fame, and CNN Centre tower are all in the same block downtown so you can pick what you like and fit it all in one day.

• If you’re into tourist attractions, you can get a city pass that lets you see five attractions at a discounted rate.
  
• Atlanta’s transit system is called MARTA and if you’re looking to save on Uber, this is a great option. I took it from the airport to the hotel and it was only a 20 minutes train ride. Tap to Pay is not an option so you can buy tickets at the station or download the Breeze Mobile app to purchase e-tickets.

I did not get to explore Atlanta’s nightlife on this trip so that’s something I’ll look into next time I happen to be in the city. They’re also known for their food, another thing I did not get to try because I eat the same three meals on rotation, but an adventurous eater will most likely have a blast here.