Atlanta area DISers can I ask a few questions????

[Beauty]

We are going to Atlanta and I need some advice.

Well actually we are going to Canton. Exactly how far is that from Atlanta?

Also we are only going to be there for one night...we will get there late Saturday afternoon and then leave Sunday at about noon so we won't have much time. Whats the best mall in the area?? You know I've got to shop...LOL!

Can you drive up to Stone Mountain at night? I would just like to see it.

Anything else that would be nice and not take much time....any good eating places??

 

[ead79]

Beauty,

Canton is about 30-45 minutes north of Atlanta. Town Center Mall is the nearest mall to Canton, but Lenox Mall and the Mall of Georgia are larger. They would be a pretty long drive though. Town Center Mall is located on Barrett Pkwy. in Kennesaw, and there is nearly every restaurant imaginable on Barrett Pkwy. You will have lots of choices, LOL!

 

[Beauty]

Elisabeth,

Which is the largest mall? Which has a Disney Store? What about a Yankee Candle Store?

Thanks so much.

We also saw on the websight that Stone Mountain had a huge laser show, is it hard to get into?? Would it be worth our time? Also is we couldn't get there until 7 or so would we still have time to do anything....the sight says it closes at midnight.

 

[olena]

The laser show starts just after dusk. If you can get there around 8, you should be OK. The show is pretty neat. When you enter Stone Mountain, you have to pay to park and anything inside the park is free. The audience sits on a huge field facing the mountain face. If you go, bring a blanket to sit on. You can bring lawn chairs, if you prefer. Definitely bring bug repellent.

Stone mountain is on the East side of Atlanta. Keep in mind that Atlanta is very spread out, when you include all the suburbs. You'll be staying on the Northwest side of town. Town Center Mall will be the closest mall. It's on Exit 269. They have a Disney Store, but no YC store. If you go to the Disney Store there, tell them you're a DISer. Belle1962 and Joyce Harris work there.

Mall of GA is much bigger and they have a nice YC store. Here's a list of the MOG stores. There doesn't appear to be a Disney Store there. The Mall is in Buford, GA, which is a good distance Northeast of Atlanta. It might be too far, if you're getting there so late. If you were there earlier on Saturday, you could spend the day at the Mall and hop on down to Stone mountain that night. As it is, I think it would take you a minimum of 75 mins to get to Stone mountain and 90 mins to get to Buford from Canton.

If you don't want to drive to Buford, you might want to try North GA Premium Outlets. It's only 38 miles from Canton and you can see what stores they have via the link.

 

[olena]

Actually, you wouldn't be far from the outlet mall in Dalton either.

 

[Beauty]

Wow Heather, thanks!!!!!

Now where is that boyfriend of Michelle's located? You know the big chicken.

 

[olena]

LOL! Just down the road from me! Exit 263!

 

[sha_lyn]

Canton here. I'm jsut 2 miles from dwontown Canton. The Atlanta "area" (285 loop) is about a 25 min drive from my house with no traffic. Town Center is about 25 min if you include the time to get into the parking lot and find a space. Mall of GA is about an hour and 15 min. North Point is about 40 min.

If you like Italian, ther is Provino's. It is on River Stone Parkway (AKA, hwy5, old Hwy5, Holly Springs Pkwy, Marietta Hwy, Canton Hwy or Ballground Hwy) in the shopping area of River Stone that is in front of the the theatre (Carmike RiverStone 16).
What type of food are you interested in. There is a new seafood place on Bells Ferry Rd at the lake (think the anme is Little River Grille, or it was at one time) that is suppose to be good. Since it is a seasonal place on the lake it changes hands often. I've heard that this "season" it is very good. For Upscale there is FeatherStones in Bridge Mill. Canton has the usual chains (outback, AppleBee's etc) the ones we don;t have you can usually find 20 min away in Woodstock. If you want "fine" dinning and a nice atsmophere there is the Tate House (about 15 min northin Tate)or the Wood Bridge Inn (20-25 min north in Jasper)

there is Kani House (www.kanihouse.com) in Woodstock. It's a Japanese steak house/sushi bar. It and Provinos are our favorites.

Any ??? just ask away, either on this thread or PM me.

 

[browneyes]

Actually, you wouldn't be far from the outlet mall in Dalton either.

That's my area of Georgia. Calhoun has a better outlet mall though. Calhoun is closer to Canton.

Beth, the laser show at Stone Mountain is amazing. I think you'd really like it. Be sure to bring something to sit on though. You have to sit in the grass.

 

[Robinrs]

Beth, I went to see the Laser Show the first year got to Atlanta and it BLEW my mind! You will love it!

Good thing you're coming on the weekend, during the week the traffic is TREACHEROUS!

 

[Megan's Mom]

My vote for lunch would be the Varsity. Best Hotdog I have ever eatten and it is a classic place to go to. Close to the Georgia Tech campus.

 

[browneyes]

Megan's Mom, I agree. Anyone that goes to Atlanta HAS to go to The Varsity. They have pretty good onion rings (really greasy though).

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

I knew I shouldn't have read this thread!! Provinos, the Varsity, Stone Mountain...wahhhhhhh now I'm homesick!!!

I can smell that chili dog and oh, wouldn't a frosted orange be so gooood!

Beauty, have a good trip! And all you Hotlanta Dis'ers eat a dog for me!

Melissa

 

[DisneyVillain]

The Maul of Georgia is the largest in the SE, and does have a Disney Store. It is also 20 miles NE of the perimeter. I personally don't think it would be worth the drive from Canton. It's just a mall.

Many of Atlanta's best restaurants are in the Buckhead area, and you will also find Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza malls there.

I second the reports on the laser show at Stone Mountain. Cost is $7 per car to get into the park. The laser show and the walk-up trail are about all that covers. For additional cost you can ride the cable cars to the top, visit their lame little village, ride the old train around the mountain, ride the paddle wheel boat, and probably some other equally unexciting activities. I recommend the walk-up trail if you will be there during the day, and the laser show if you will be there during the evening. The rest is overpriced, IMO. We like to picnic by the lake and then go to the laser show. "Alcohol can be brought to Stone Mountain Park, however, consumption is prohibited on streets, in parking lots or any posted areas. Alcohol is not permitted at the Lasershow or on the Walk-Up trail." www.stonemountainpark.com

The Varsity is not about the food. It is about the atmosphere. It has been there for 75 years, and there is always a crowd. It is definitely unique.

 

[ead79]

Another fun tourist thing to do in Atlanta is visit the World of Coke (it's in downtown Atlanta). They have a neat tour, then you can taste Coke products from around the world (I'm told that Ice Station Cool at Epcot is similar, but I've never been there when at Epcot). It would be closed in the evening, so you would only be able to go if you get into town a little earlier.

Stone Mountain's laser show really is cool. I'm a local, and I still try to go at least once a summer.

 

[sha_lyn]

Thre is a Varsity at Town Center also. Not the same atsmophere, but the food is as good or a little better. Hummm. Now I want a chilli burger, onion rings and a frosted orange.

Without traffic the restaurants in buckhead would be at least a 30 min drive. I had dinner at Satay Ria,near Piedmont hospital, a couple of weeks ago with friends. We then went over to a great dessert/coffee place called Cafe Intermezzo on Peachtree Rd about a mile from the hospital.