hotels/Atlanta

[grest]

Will be spending a couple of nights in Atlanta in early June, attending a Braves game among other things...don't know Atlanta at all. Looking for advice about where to stay that won't be too complicated re: getting to the ball park. We will have a car, if that makes any difference, though public transportation is okay to get to the park if it isn't too much of a hassle. Thanks!
Connie

[johnmfaeth]

Atlanta has tons of hotel choices in all ranges. When paying myself (as opposed to being reimbursed by a client), I like the Day's Inn's in notheast Atlanta.

They are by the highways entrances/exits on I-85 and are always clean and decent. Plus they have pools which are great for the warm, muggy Atlanta summers.

And their are lots of Waffle Houses around there which serve pretty good grits with breakfast...

[BSQ]

Braves games are so easy to get to via MARTA, that I wouldn't necessarily plan my hotel stay next to the ballpark.... mainly because there's not alot around there, and it's not exactly one of the best neighborhoods.

Some areas to consider: Midtown, Atlantic Station, Buckhead & maybe even Preimter. Kinda depends on what other things you want to see and do during your stay and what part of town would make for a good hub.

[grest]

Thanks for your replies...what are your recommendations about what to see/do in Atlanta during such a short first visit?
Connie

[Haggis]

Typically, I think you will find that Atlanta is very pleasant (weather-wise) in June, and going to Games can be terriffic and/or a nightmare depending upon how you travel & the time-of-day.

A few tips:

1) Use www.georgia-navigator.com to help with getting about the city if you have web access. It can alert you to traffic snafu's that occur all too often here. Its not uncommon for a 20 minute trip to become 2+ hours because someone was rubber-necking.

2) You have to understand that Atlanta is not a very good tourist destination, but if you are mobile & have time then attractions that are worth visiting include:

a) Aquarium
b) Stone Mountain
c) Cyclorama
d) Buckhead @ night (if you like to party)

3) I agree with the prior poster that down-town isn't a very desirable hotel destination. But, that all depends upon your perspective and what you are hoping to accomplish when you visit. And MARTA is by far an easier choice for getting down-town even if your hotel isn't directly on a MARTA station. It might mean an extra 30 minutes of travel time waiting for trains, etc.; but if traffic stinks it might save you 2 hours (its a crap shoot).

Hope you have a great visit and your team wins (whomever that might be).

Allan
North Atlanta Burbs.

[Carol C]

If you have kids and enjoy camping you can tent or RV camp right inside Stone Mountain Park. In June it's really nice & mosquitos won't eat you alive in your lakeside campsite.

For things to do, I second the Georgia Aquarium. I also highly recommend the Martin Luther King Jr Historical Site. The DeKalb Farmers Market is off the beaten track and interesting if you're a foodie.

I don't recommend the Cyclorama, Underground Atlanta, World of Coke. CNN Center's tour is pretty good if you or others in your party are into behind the scenes of tv or news production.

Neat things to do at night...

Attend an event at the Center for Puppetry Arts on Spring St Midtown
Plenty of fine dining and interesting/trendy/ethnic dining in neighborhoods
Go see/hear a live band in a club
Attend a play...Atlanta has some great live theatre offerings
Go to Oakland Cemetary to look at the old big mausoleums & then grab a beer and good seafood sandwiches, tacos or salads at Six Feet Under across the street, where you can sit at a table on the roof & watch the sunset

Pick up Creative Loafing when you get here...this weekly freebie rag lists lots of events and club & restaurant display ads will tell you what's up

Go Braves!

P.S. Edited to say...I forgot a suggestion. Check out the marriott.com website for any special packages they might have at the Marriott Marquis. They often have nice specials featuring tix to the Aquarium and breakfast & valet parking for free. Might be worth it, especially if you enjoy earning Marriott points.

[BSQ]

The Big Chicken

[BSQ]

sorry ... couldn't resist the previous post.

Stadium Area: take a tour of the stadium! If you’re attending a night game, tours our done during the day. Game time … arrive a little bit early, grab a hot dog & beverage and head on up to the top level. Take a seat in the giant coca-cola chairs and enjoy a great view of the city. If you take MARTA to the game, you’ll probably see all of Underground Atlanta. (it’s not really worthy of it’s own trip) … but the Nutty Bavarian Almonds are yummy. Oakland Cemetery isn’t too far from the stadium as well.

Downtown: CNN Center – if you’re into CNN, take the tour. Georgia Aquarium (visit the website and make reservations), Centennial Olympic Park is a good place to People Watch (if you have kids, bring a change of clothes, cause they will surely end up playing in the Rings fountains). World of Coca Cola will be opened in the new location by the time you visit. If you like everything Coke, it’s worth a visit … if nothing else for all the advertising. (me personally I’ve seen it one too many times). If you are one who collects Hard Rock Pins or Shirts, there’s one on Peachtree Street. See a movie or catch a play at the Fox Theater.

Some other stuff …
Little Five Points
Lenox Mall, Phipps Plaza, Perimeter Mall, Mall of Georgia, Bass Pro Shops, North Georgia Premium Outlets.
Blues & BBQ: Fat Matt’s Rib Shack
Stone Mountain - an all day activity
Carter Library
MLK Memorial and Sweet Auburn Walk
Six Flags
High Museum
Margaret Mitchell House
Zoo Atlanta

Check out creative loafing online. You might find a Best of 2006 link, as well as things going on around town. If you rent a car, you might want to get a navigation system, it really comes in handy when there’s a traffic mess and you just turn off and it will give you an alternate route.

And on a whim, if you do set out to find the Big chicken, and don’t feel like eating KFC … Williamson Brothers BBQ is a most excellent choice.

[Carol C]

Originally Posted by BSQ

sorry ... couldn't resist the previous post.

Stadium Area: take a tour of the stadium! If you’re attending a night game, tours our done during the day. Game time … arrive a little bit early, grab a hot dog & beverage and head on up to the top level. Take a seat in the giant coca-cola chairs and enjoy a great view of the city. If you take MARTA to the game, you’ll probably see all of Underground Atlanta. (it’s not really worthy of it’s own trip) … but the Nutty Bavarian Almonds are yummy. Oakland Cemetery isn’t too far from the stadium as well.

Downtown: CNN Center – if you’re into CNN, take the tour. Georgia Aquarium (visit the website and make reservations), Centennial Olympic Park is a good place to People Watch (if you have kids, bring a change of clothes, cause they will surely end up playing in the Rings fountains). World of Coca Cola will be opened in the new location by the time you visit. If you like everything Coke, it’s worth a visit … if nothing else for all the advertising. (me personally I’ve seen it one too many times). If you are one who collects Hard Rock Pins or Shirts, there’s one on Peachtree Street. See a movie or catch a play at the Fox Theater.

Some other stuff …
Little Five Points
Lenox Mall, Phipps Plaza, Perimeter Mall, Mall of Georgia, Bass Pro Shops, North Georgia Premium Outlets.
Blues & BBQ: Fat Matt’s Rib Shack
Stone Mountain - an all day activity
Carter Library
MLK Memorial and Sweet Auburn Walk
Six Flags
High Museum
Margaret Mitchell House
Zoo Atlanta

Check out creative loafing online. You might find a Best of 2006 link, as well as things going on around town. If you rent a car, you might want to get a navigation system, it really comes in handy when there’s a traffic mess and you just turn off and it will give you an alternate route.

And on a whim, if you do set out to find the Big chicken, and don’t feel like eating KFC … Williamson Brothers BBQ is a most excellent choice.

Visit the Big Chicken and dine at Chik-Fil-A!

[KellyH]

I've been able to get a 4* hotel for $75 per night at the JW Marriott in Buckhead which is close to the Marta station on Priceline. I'd try Priceline.com - 4* only and you will most likely get the hotels close to the MARTA - very nice. Go to www.biddingfortravel.com and read the posts on what people have gotten for Atlanta to get an idea of a price to start bidding. Buckhead is a great place to be - central and close to lots of good restaurants. The stadium is not in the best part of town so I'd avoid that area if I were you.
Good luck!

Kelly

[grest]

Thanks, everyone...this is exactly what I was looking for....except maybe the chicken thing, but who knows? It might be my next great mystery!
Connie

[BSQ]

You MOCK the Big Chicken????

When I lived in knoxville, my boss mentioned he had a business trip to Atlanta ... When he told me where he was staying, I let him know he wasn't far from the Big Chicken. he too laughed and rolled his eyes (much like the Big Chicken does).... until the first night there, they ordered a pizza ... the directions to get to the place included, "we're just past the Big Chicken."

[grest]

cluck cluck...