Few days in Atlanta

[Mad Mark]

hello my american friends. I am hoping you can give me some advice and assistance. We (me and the better half) are coming over from the UK to Atlanta in September for a few days then driving down to WDW.

We'll be hiring a car (i will be buying a Sat Nav) and plan to stay around Stonemountain somewhere. At present we are considering staying around the Rockbridge Road area near the shopping centres.

We plan on doing the Zoo and the aquarium in one day, driving between the two and then on the following day go to Stone Mountain.

How does this all sound? I guess what I'm asking is, does the location of the hotel sound ok and is it practical to drive between the Zoo and the aqaurium?

Any other advice or recommendations will be greatly received http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks in advance.

 

[clarabelle]

I am not familiar with the hotel
but driving between the zoo and the aquarium is doable.

I want to love the Atlanta Zoo -it being my states Zoo -but I am afraid you might find it a bit disappointing.

If you want a really casual lunch consider the Varsity.
It is a old fashioned drive -in (you can eat inside as well)
Greasy onion rings and fried peach pies.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I am not familiar with the hotel either. They have two hotels in the Stone Mountain park. One looks like an old plantation house. I have never stayed there but I have been to events at the Marriott and it looks nice.

The aquarium is amazing. I have never taken anyone that wasn't awed by it and the whale sharks.

As you are adults only, unless you want to see the pandas I would skip the zoo. It's good, but not great.

Near the aquarium you can do the CNN tour (see backstage while they film). There is also the World of Coke nearby which is interesting as well. These are in walking distance of the aquarium.

Other suggestions:

- Braves game (can't get a more American experience than baseball)
- The King Center (Martin Luther King Jr)
- Atlanta Botanical Gardens (the weather should be very nice for this)
- High Museum of Art

You can look into getting a City Pass but it may not be worth it for only 2 days. Here is the website http://www.citypass.com/atlanta

I hope you have fun in our fair city!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I am not familiar with the hotel
but driving between the zoo and the aquarium is doable.

I want to love the Atlanta Zoo -it being my states Zoo -but I am afraid you might find it a bit disappointing.

If you want a really casual lunch consider the Varsity.
It is a old fashioned drive -in (you can eat inside as well)
Greasy onion rings and fried peach pies.

I agree that the zoo is disappointing. I couldn't believe it myself, but it was.

I also agree that the Varsity would be a good place for lunch. Be sure to get a t-shirt.

I am not familiar with the hotel either. They have two hotels in the Stone Mountain park. One looks like an old plantation house. I have never stayed there but I have been to events at the Marriott and it looks nice.

The aquarium is amazing. I have never taken anyone that wasn't awed by it and the whale sharks.

As you are adults only, unless you want to see the pandas I would skip the zoo. It's good, but not great.

Near the aquarium you can do the CNN tour (see backstage while they film). There is also the World of Coke nearby which is interesting as well. These are in walking distance of the aquarium. Other suggestions:

- Braves game (can't get a more American experience than baseball)
- The King Center (Martin Luther King Jr)
- Atlanta Botanical Gardens (the weather should be very nice for this)
- High Museum of Art

You can look into getting a City Pass but it may not be worth it for only 2 days. Here is the website http://www.citypass.com/atlanta

I hope you have fun in our fair city!

I like this idea!

As for Stone Mountain, I have not been in years but my sister and her family love it. She said that there is a lot to see and do there. I think that they have a place to stay there too so I would check into that.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We just went to the Zoo on Saturday, after not having been in 30 years, and found it to be so wonderful. We spend probably 4 hours there, just enjoying the animals

Skip The Varsity (we need a puking smiley), I haven't figured out why everyone thinks it is so great. We have gone twice and that was 2 times more than I needed to go.

You have to go to the Aquarium and World of Coke, they are across the plaza from each other and you can do both of those in 1 day. The dolphin exhibit will be open by then.

One of my supervisors live int he Stone Mountain area and she recommended the Fernbank to us, because DH and I have been looking for things in that area to do that we haven't done yet. On Friday evenings, they have Martinis and IMAX http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/imax/martinis/. One day Dh and I will take the time to go.

We also want to the the CNN studio tour.

We weren't impressed with Stone Mountain, but I am deathly afraid of heights (how DH got me to the top is beyond me and coming down was even worse )

We love Atlantic Station, particularly the IKEA store, my supervisor said you can have a wonderful, cheap meal there; me I just love to shop there. I want to see the Bodies Experience. There is alot of shopping and great food choices, and DH loves the Target on stilts (as he calls it).

I don't know how much you can do in 2 days, with traffic, though.

Suzanne

 

[Mad Mark]

Thanks very much for all the replies, really appreciated

 

[Swalphin]

I live in Atlanta it is pretty big and traffic can be awful. Do you have things you must do or open to suggestions, what types of things would interest you besides the zoo and aquarium. I'll check back to see if you post and if I can be of any help with ideas.

 

[momof1princess]

DD13's HS marching band is taking a short trip to atlanta (we're about 2.5 hours away) in april, and they're planning on going to stone mountain, six flags and a braves game. i hear the aquarium is amazing, and i agree that the CNN studio tour would be really interesting.

 

[budmonster]

hello my american friends. I am hoping you can give me some advice and assistance. We (me and the better half) are coming over from the UK to Atlanta in September for a few days then driving down to WDW.

We'll be hiring a car (i will be buying a Sat Nav) and plan to stay around Stonemountain somewhere. At present we are considering staying around the Rockbridge Road area near the shopping centres.

We plan on doing the Zoo and the aquarium in one day, driving between the two and then on the following day go to Stone Mountain.

How does this all sound? I guess what I'm asking is, does the location of the hotel sound ok and is it practical to drive between the Zoo and the aqaurium?

Any other advice or recommendations will be greatly received http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks in advance.

DH and I went there last May for our Anniversary and found it to be a wonderful city to visit. Loved the Aqaurium and I would suggest the Coke Museum next to the Aqaurium. It was a very interesting to see and if you do go I would suggest to pay the extra few bucks for the VIP tour...well worth it. Have Fun.

 

[smb6]

The zoo and the aquarium are both in downtown and not too far from each other. The World of Coke is great also, fairly recently remodeled/new location.
There is a full day (plus) worth of stuff to do at Stone Mountain also. And fyi- there is a cyclorama directly next door/on same property as zoo if your interested.... And I second eating at the Varsity!

 

[Robinrs]

Which hotel are you considering? There are two nice onsite hotels which are a bit pricy depending on the dates. We took a "in town" vacation and stayed at the Country Inn and Suites across from Stone Mountain. It was really nice and very close to the park.

 

[elizke]

Ooops, double post....

 

[elizke]

I like the zoo! Been there many times, since before the gorillas were allowed outside. : ) I love the gorillas and elephants. It may not be the largest, but I tend to enjoy a more manageable zoo.

The aquarium is expensive, but good. World of Coke is worth a visit too.

Stone Mountain is nice. I enjoy the ride up, but it's good for a hike up too, and a cool laser show at night.

We had our parents' 50th anniversary party at the Stone Mountain Inn, and it was very nice. Historical atmosphere and great food! (At least it was then, about 9 years ago....)

 

[Mad Mark]

Thank you so much for all the replies, i love disboards

Swalphin, we are open to any and all suggestions. We like the outdoors which is why we plan on visiting Stone Mountain and having never been to Atlanta we feel we must see at least some of the city itself. Shame we only have two full days!

Robinrs, we are strongly thinking about staying in the Country Inn and Suites. Looks nice and there seem to be a few restaurants in walking distance. Always nice to hear a first hand good review of a place.

We seem to be coming round to the idea of parking near the aquarium and then visiting the Aquarium, World of Coke and maybe CNN if we have time.