Friday, August 29, 2008

Things to do









Enjoy a Haunt

  • What: Oakland Cemetery
  • Where: 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta GA 30312-2220. Find it now - click here.
  • When: Daily, dawn to dusk

  • Why: Founded in 1850, it is the final resting place of author Margeret Mitchell, golf legend Bobby Jones, former Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson and many other notable citizens. It is noted for its many large magnolia and oak trees. On October 5, 2008, Oakland will be home to Sunday in the Park with live music, free guided walking tours, an artisits market and a free kids activity area from 12 Noon to 6 pm. On October 24-26 guided walking tour with ghost story telling will be offered for $15 for adults and $5 for kids with advanced ticket purchase.
  • Web: http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/index.html
  • How much: Free to visit, some events charge



Research Things







  • What: Georgia State Archieves

  • Where: 5800 Jonesboro Rd, Morrow GA 30260

  • When: 8:30 am - 5 pm Tuesday-Saturday

  • Why: Fill out branches of your family tree, research Georgia history through historical documents and get copies of vital records.

  • Web: http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/

  • How much: Free




See Grant Park



  • What: 131 acre park just south of downtown, home to Zoo Atlanta and the Cyclorama it was the first large park in Atlanta.

  • Where: 800 Cherokee Ave, Atlanta GA; Find it now - click here

  • When: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm daily

  • Why: History and animals. The Battle of Atlanta was fought here during the Civil War in 1864, and portions of Fort Walker are preserved in the southeast corner of the park. Originally part of the estate of Col. Lemule P. Grant, it was donated to the city in 1883. The park was designed by famous architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The Cyclorama, a 360 degree detailed panorama of the Battle of Atlanta, should not be missed. Zoo Atlanta, home of hundreds of animals, including giant pandas is a kid's favorite.

  • Web: http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/ghd.htm

  • How much: park is free, attractions vary by event

Enjoy Centennial Olympic Park


  • What: Downtown park created for the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta in 1996.

  • Where: Downtown Atlanta, just west of the city center and next to the Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca Cola. Find it now - click here.

  • When: Daily

  • Why: A nice green space in the middle of the city, it’s home to the Fountain of Rings, a zero-depth pool kids can play in during the heat of Summer. The fountain features a water show several times daily. The park is also home to several free concerts during the summer, the city’s 4Th of July fireworks show, and ice skating during the winter (nominal fee).

  • Web: http://www.centennialpark.com/

  • How much? Free

Eat at the Varsity downtown





  • What: Atlanta dining institution

  • Where: 61 North Ave, Atlanta, GA 30308. Find it now - click here.

  • When: Sunday – Thursday 10am – 11:30 pm, Friday – Saturday 10 am – 12:30 pm

  • Why: An Atlanta institution for over 80 years, it’s the largest drive-in restaurant in the world. Over 30,000 visit on game days when Georgia Tech has a home football game across the freeway.
  • Web: http://www.thevarsity.com/

  • How much? $-$$



Have a picnic at Piedmont Park






  • What: Atlanta’s own version of Central Park

  • Where: Midtown Atlanta, 2 miles northeast of downtown along 10Th Street from Monroe Avenue and Piedmont Avenue. Find it now - click here.
  • When: Daily from 6 am to 11 pm

  • Why: The place to be in Atlanta during nice weather, especially during the summer. Piedmont Park was home to the Cotton States and International Exhibition (a World’s fair) in 1895. The 185 acre park is home to numerous free events during the year including the Dogwood Festival, Atlanta Pride Festival, concerts, the weekend Green Market and others. Facilities include: dog park, fishing sites, picnic shelters, playground, city pool, tennis courts, athletic fields, playgrounds and jogging trails. The Park is also home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

  • Web: http://www.piedmontpark.org/

  • How much? Free

Krispy Kreme factory tour

  • What: The best spot for fresh donuts and coffee

  • Where: 295 Ponce De Leon Ave NE , Atlanta GA 30310. Find it now - click here.

  • When: throughout the day
  • Why: free donuts! If you’ve ever had one you don’t need to ask why. For those of you who have not, these are melt in your mouth glazed donuts best when the “Hot Now” sign outside is lit.

  • Web: http://www.krispykreme.com/

  • How much? free to $


Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • What: Birth home of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and center of the civil rights movement, now a national historic site. Home of the the tombs of Dr. King and his wife Coretta Scott King, the King Center, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the African American panoramic Experience, the Atlanta Preservation Society and the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta

  • Where: Cabbagetown neighborhood east of Downtown. Find it now - click here.
  • When: Daily, but hours vary seasonally but are generally 9 am -5 pm. Only 15 people per tour, so go early in the day as they fill quickly.
  • Why: To better understand our nation’s history and what people did to gain civil rights equality. This is a must see for anyone middle-school age and up.

  • Web: http://www.nps.gov/malu

  • How much? Free to $. GPS Ranger Tours are $9.95.

Tour the proposed Belt Line project

  • What: Tours travel through the 45 neighborhoods that will be connected by the Belt Line, with scheduled stops in West End and at the Bellwood Quarry*, the future site of one of Atlanta’s largest parks.
  • Where: Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA Station located at 1055 Dekalb Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. Find it now - click here.

  • When: Friday and Saturday mornings, lasts about 3 hours

  • Why: There’s simply no better way to learn about the Belt Line’s vast potential to transform Atlanta’s inner core.

  • Web: http://www.beltline.org/GetInvolved/TourtheBeltLine/tabid/1746/Default.aspx#Form

  • How much? Free

Outdoors Tai Chi

  • What: Tai Chi classes in the park

  • Where: Web Bridge Park in Alpharetta on Old Milton Pkwy just west of Jones Bridge Rd.

  • When: Saturday mornings at 7:30 am

  • Why: Relax, meditate and get limber!
  • Web: n/a
  • How much? Free

Atlanta Citypass

  • What: Discounted admission to six of Atlanta’s most popular area attractions. Includes: Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta and CNN Studio Tour AND choice of Fernbank Museum of Natural History or Atlanta Botanical Garden AND choice of Atlanta History Center or High Museum of Art

  • Where: various sites

  • When: Daily, hours vary by attraction

  • Why: Major savings on area attractions. You can save up to $59 in attraction fees; the average ticket price is only $11.50 per person on this plan.
  • Web: http://www.buyatlantatours.com/tours/atlanta-citypass-tickets.html#itinerary

  • How much? $$

Georgia State Capitol Tour

  • What: 45 minute guided tours of the historic Georgia State Capitol and Georgia Capitol Museum. Tours are limited to 50 people.

  • Where: Georgia State Capitol at the tour desk located near the Washington Street entrance. Find it now - click here.

  • When: Non-holiday weekdays, times vary by season, but usually at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 2 pm.

  • Why: A brief overview of the law making process, capitol history, a visit to the public galleries of the Senate and House of Representatives and a visit to the Georgia Capitol Museum.

  • Web: http://www.sos.ga.gov/State_capitol/
  • How much? Free

Governor’s Mansion


  • What: The official home of Georgia’s Governor, built in 1967 on 18 acres in Atlanta’s Buckhead area.
  • Where: 391 W Paces Ferry Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305. Find it now - click here.

  • When: Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays between 10 am and 11:30 am. Reservations needed for groups of 10 or more.

  • Why: One of the largest residences in the area at 24,000 square feet. All the furnishings are considered to be museum quality

  • Web: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/photo_gallery/0,2686,78006749_78041668,00.html

  • How much? Free

I.N.K. (Interactive Neighborhood for Kids)


  • What: A hands-on children’s museum where kids can interact and role-play through practical experience by being a baker, dentist, banker, store clerk and many more.

  • Where: 999 Chestnut Street, Gainesville, GA 30501. Find it now - click here.

  • When: Monday-Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

  • Why: Designed to actively engage children, this museum is very popular with schools in the North Metro area.

  • Web: http://www.inkfun.org/
  • How much? $8 for children and adults, $6 on Sundays

Michael C. Carlos Museum

  • What: Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University

  • Where: 571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322. Find it now - click here.
  • When: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 12 noon – 5 pm
  • Why: nationally recognized for its major collections, the museum’s mission is “The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets art and artifacts from antiquity to the present in order to provide unique opportunities for education and enrichment in the community, and to promote interdisciplinary teaching and research at Emory University.”
  • Web: http://www.carlos.emory.edu/

  • How much? $7 donation, free for museum members, faculty staff and students of Emory.

Jimmy Carter Library and Museum

  • What: The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, part of the Presidential Library system, which is administered by the National Archives and records Administration.

  • Where: 441 Freedom Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30307

  • When: Monday-Saturday 9 am – 4:45 pm, Sunday 12 noon – 4:45 pm

  • Why: A 69,750 library and museum dedicated to Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

  • Web: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/
  • How much? $8.00 - Adults; $6.00 - Seniors (60+), Military, and students with IDs; Free - Children (16 and under)

Virginia-Highland

  • What: Atlanta’s most popular destination for dining, shopping and nightlife consisting of several distinct, walkable “villages”.

  • Where: Bounded by Moreland Drive on the west, Briarcliff Road on the east, Amsterdam Avenue on the north and the Inman Park neighborhood on the south.
  • When: Daily, hours vary by location.

  • Why: Historic homes, eclectic shops, some of the best restaurants around and great people watching. Close to the Carter Center, so make a day of it.
  • Web: http://www.virginiahighland.com/
  • How much? Varies by location and event

Sweet Auburn

  • What: Historic African-American neighborhood along Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue; once referred to as the “richest Negro street in the world” for its success and prosperity.
  • Where: Auburn Avenue between Courtland Street and Randolph Street.
  • When: Daily, times vary by location
  • Why: Home to Martin Luther King, Jr. national Historic Site; Sweet Auburn Festival, one of the most popular in the city (annually in early October); Sweet Auburn Curb Market, a collection of independent food stores and restaurants all in one building.

  • Web: http://www.sweetauburn.com/
  • How much? Some free, others vary by location.

Inman Park

  • What: Historic Atlanta neighborhood and shopping district
  • Where: Two miles east of downtown, just south of the Carter Center. The area is roughly bounded by Lake and Austin Avenues to the north, Moreland Avenue to the east and DeKalb Avenue on the south.
  • When: Daily, hours vary by location.

  • Why: History and lots of things to do. The area was the site of the battle of Atlanta during the Civil War. Today it is home to many historical homes that made up the city’s first planned community. The Inman Park Festival, held the last full weekend in April, is probably one of the city’s best, being regarded as its most spirited and eclectic with plenty to do for the whole family. The Little Five Points district is one of the city’s most eclectic shopping areas, and you can see many street vendors and artists on summer weekends. Don’t miss The Junkman’s Daughter, but be aware this store is not for kids.
  • Web: http://www.inmanpark.org/

  • How much? Free events during the festival, others vary by location.

The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception




Free Chicken Strips

  • What: Free order (3 strips) of Chick-n-Strips

  • Where: All participating Chick-fil-A locations

  • When: Labor Day, 10:30 am to close
  • Why: Chick-fil-A is giving away free chicken strips to celebrate Labor Day. All you have to do is go to a participating location wearing your favorite football team's attire or logo. Go early, this is only while supplies last.
  • Web: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/
  • How much? Free


Cheap Kids Dinner


Decatur Book Festival

  • What: The AJC Decatur Book festival

  • Where: Downtown Decatur, GA. Find it now, click here.
  • When: Labor Day weekend
  • Why: All things books and literature, and a whole lot more. The DBF is one of the premier book festivals in the United States. Events include author readings, discussions, book signings, children's stage and activities, live music, cooking demonstrations, book fair and a street market. And lots of food (unfortunately, this is not free).
  • Web: http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2008/index.php
  • How much? Free to $$$