Atlanta Vacation, what do I need to know??

[bored]

I always heard some not so good nicknames for the MARTA, and I didn't believe them until I rode it once. Once was enough and if I'm ever in town for Braves games I drive. Still scary driving into that part of town.

 

[Swimalie]

I absolutely agree! If you stay farther out of the city you'll be spending a LOT of time in a car. Also, Norcross (especially right around I-85) is not a nice place. It's dirty and not particularly safe.
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I know you clarified the "right around I-85", but the Norcross area is a big area and a lot of it is nice. Keep it mind Berkley Lake would be considered in that area and for years it was the area with the highest per capita income in the country. Yes, the mall area isn't the nicest but the Forum area, near Peachtree Ind (think the Hilton) is nice. My parents live there (their mailing address is Duluth, though) and have for years now. I feel 100% safe there and would highly recommend it any time. I also just stayed at their house for my swim meet and drove every day to GA Tech in mid town and it never took me longer than 30 min. It's not a bad drive and you'll probably get a better price out there.

I've stayed here before and it's a shirt drive to the highway but also near a lot of nice restaurants and shopping. http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ATLHPHF-Hilton-Atlanta-Northeast-Georgia/index.do

 

[mindyd]

We are going to Atlanta for the Weekend to visit American Girl we are doing the American Girl package at the Marriott Alpharetta on 5750 Windward Parkway. Is this a okay area? My daughter loves Kermit The Frog and were thinking of going to the Center Of Puppetry Arts is this something worth doing?

 

[GaPaige]

It's a great area (it's where we live ). There are lots of interesting restaurants and some great parks. Check out northfulton.com and northfultonshops.com for local coupons. Parks we like are Sweet Apple, Wills Park, Roswell Area Park and Cogburn Park (smaller, but closest to your hotel). Feel free to ask me any questions.

 

[GaPaige]

I know you clarified the "right around I-85", but the Norcross area is a big area and a lot of it is nice. Keep it mind Berkley Lake would be considered in that area and for years it was the area with the highest per capita income in the country.

Yes, Berkely Lake and Downtown Norcross are really nice. My mom lives in Norcross on the other side of 85 (also where I grew up ) and it's a completely different place over there (my mom won't sell b/c she swears there will be urban renewal there ). I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone from out of town stay at either the Jimmy Carter Blvd. or the Beaver Ruin exits right off of I-85.

 

[mindyd]

It's a great area (it's where we live ). There are lots of interesting restaurants and some great parks. Check out northfulton.com and northfultonshops.com for local coupons. Parks we like are Sweet Apple, Wills Park, Roswell Area Park and Cogburn Park (smaller, but closest to your hotel). Feel free to ask me any questions.

Thank You I am so happy it is a good area I was worried. Is there a Restaurant you would recommend for Dinner my daughters are 11 and 9. Is the Center Of Pupperty Arts worth going for to see Kermit?

 

[GaPaige]

We haven't been to see Kermit, so I can't comment on that. If you want to eat at American Girl, you need to make reservations in advance. Sometimes we just go for the huge banana split (our family of 5 can't finish it!). If you like Mexican, Pure is fantastic (just go early to avoid long waits). We love The Union, The Diner, Atlantic Seafood, Xian China Bistro, and Vinny's on Windward. Atlantic Seafood and Vinny's are on the "nicer" end and I probably would go on the early side with my kids.

 

[mindyd]

We haven't been to see Kermit, so I can't comment on that. If you want to eat at American Girl, you need to make reservations in advance. Sometimes we just go for the huge banana split (our family of 5 can't finish it!). If you like Mexican, Pure is fantastic (just go early to avoid long waits). We love The Union, The Diner, Atlantic Seafood, Xian China Bistro, and Vinny's on Windward. Atlantic Seafood and Vinny's are on the "nicer" end and I probably would go on the early side with my kids.

Thank you so much! We have reservation for lunch at AG and thanks for the information on the Restaurants I will look through them now . I really appreciate the help.

 

[Swimalie]

Yes, Berkely Lake and Downtown Norcross are really nice. My mom lives in Norcross on the other side of 85 (also where I grew up ) and it's a completely different place over there (my mom won't sell b/c she swears there will be urban renewal there ). I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone from out of town stay at either the Jimmy Carter Blvd. or the Beaver Ruin exits right off of I-85.

Where did you go to HS? I went to Norcross (the old one) and my parents live right near the Forum and Berkley Lake - near their city hall.

Mindyd, my parents love Atlantic Seafood. Sadly, I don't get a chance to go to Atlanta often enough to go there.

 

[GaPaige]

Where did you go to HS? I went to Norcross (the old one) and my parents live right near the Forum and Berkley Lake - near their city hall.

LOL I'm ashamed to admit I went to Meadowcreek! I swear it was different then!

 

[Swimalie]

LOL I'm ashamed to admit I went to Meadowcreek! I swear it was different then!

So was Norcross back then.... I graduated in 88. We moved down form NY my sophomore year. I had a choice of Norcross or Milton. So much has changed in that area since I left. I moved to Oregon in 2001 so it's been a while.

 

[jessica52877]

We are going to Atlanta for the Weekend to visit American Girl we are doing the American Girl package at the Marriott Alpharetta on 5750 Windward Parkway. Is this a okay area? My daughter loves Kermit The Frog and were thinking of going to the Center Of Puppetry Arts is this something worth doing?

You already got a great answer, but no problems with the area at all. Have a great trip.

I have never been to the center of puppetry arts so I also can't comment, but I have heard wonderful things about it.

Norcross, the areas mentioned here are beautiful (along with Alpharetta). I lived right behind the Forum when I first moved here.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Oh yeah! This place is fantastic. I've never seen a menu with so many pages. They give you complementary spinach pie and huge pieces of delicious thick toast. Every thing was great. Great deserts also.

 

[GaRain]

So was Norcross back then.... I graduated in 88. We moved down form NY my sophomore year. I had a choice of Norcross or Milton. So much has changed in that area since I left. I moved to Oregon in 2001 so it's been a while.

LOL - I graduated from Brookwood in 89.....talk about a different place back then!

 

[Swimalie]

LOL - I graduated from Brookwood in 89.....talk about a different place back then!

Hi neighbor.. or rival. I was in the band at Norcross and I remember your band well. I was also on the swim team and competed against you all a lot.

 

[GaRain]

Hi neighbor.. or rival. I was in the band at Norcross and I remember your band well. I was also on the swim team and competed against you all a lot.

HA! My brother was in the marching band.
I was in drama, so no competing with me!
But wow, what a small world - as they like to say!
This was back in the day when Brookwood didn't have a football stadium! We played our home games at Parkview!
Now, taking my niece who will be a freshman there this fall to games AT the school is a little odd!