The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Atlanta, Georgia Now
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Atlanta, Georgia doesn’t settle for doing anything the way it’s always been done. The city didn’t create freedom, soda, grits or hospitality—they elevated them into something sacred. They didn’t invent hip-hop—they just took it to a whole new level. And that small difference doesn’t just set Atlanta apart, it defines the city. These are the top five reasons why Atlanta, Georgia should be on your bucket list.
Source: Discover Atlanta
1. THE SHOPPING
With legendary shopping at over 350 of the world’s finest retailers right in the heart of Buckhead—Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza fashionably anchor Atlanta’s retail landscape. At Lenox Square, shop Bloomingdales, Macy’s, and Neiman Marcus, plus designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo, or more casual staples like J. Crew and Banana Republic.
At Phipps Plaza, Atlanta’s premier shopping destination—you’ll find fashionable Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, as well as specialty retailers like Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Tom Ford, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, and Prada.
2. THE ART
Located in Midtown, the High Museum of Art is the Southeast’s most renowned art museum. Boasting a celebrated collection of art ranging from classic to contemporary, as well as architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the museum is home to more than 17,000 pieces of American, European, African, decorative and folk art, plus photography and contemporary works.
In addition to its main collection featuring Monet, Tournier, Tiepolo and Ernst among others, the museum welcomes several visiting exhibitions throughout the year. The High Museum of Art invites the public to Friday Night Jazz the third Friday of each month. The evening features music, drinks and art.
While Midtown is the heart of the arts, many Atlanta neighborhoods have found their creative aura through highly talented local and international artists delivering diverse and vivid murals across the city. Covering everything from walls and crosswalks to underpasses and high rises, this prevalent aspect of the city’s art scene continues to evolve and reinvent the perspective of Atlanta. Neighborhoods with the best murals in the city are the Atlanta BeltLine, Old Fourth Ward, Cabbagetown & Inman Park, Little Five Points, Downtown & Castleberry Hill, Midtown, and East Atlanta Village.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
World-renowned and award-winning—Certified Master Chef Rich Rosendale brings Atlanta a collection of his greatest hits featuring an ever-evolving and seasonally rotating menu, that is R3 Rosendale Concepts. With innovative cuisine, inspiration, and adventure as the driving forces, experience a unique culinary experience designed to leave you wanting more. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the R3 Margarita—concocted with housemade pineapple syrup, fresh-squeezed lime, Herradura Blanco tequila with smoked sea salt foam, garnished with candied pineapple and edible flower, as well as the Peppercorn Smoked Old Fashion with Angels Envy bourbon, sugar cube and Angostura orange bitters. Smoked in a cloche with peppercorns and cherry wood, this signature cocktail is garnished with orange peel and brandied cherries.
R3 Rosendale Concepts, an incubator for culinary excellence where mixologists and chefs can create and test new ideas and evolve old ideas—crafted their menus with inspiration from local cuisine, seasonal ingredients, and personal experiences of the R3 culinary team. Favorite dishes include a variety of first courses including Shellfish Ceviche, Wood Smoked Steamed Clams, She Crab Soup, Hummus and house-made Flatbread, Burrata Salad, and a Charcuterie Board with artisanal bread, meats and cheeses, as well as entrées such as Black Garlic Rubbed Australian Lamb Chops with English pea purée, potato pavé, chili oil, and red vein sorrel. For a casual lunch, pop in and enjoy a delicious handheld and craft beer, perfect for travelers exploring the city.
The Lobster Roll, 18-hour Pit Smoked Brisket Sandwich, Burrata & Prosciutto Sandwich, and House-Made Pita Sandwich are all served with house-made chips and garlic basil aioli. For those craving something sweet, end your experience with the Caramelized Rum Cake—composed of moist rum cake, golden pineapple and Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Renowned plant collections, beautiful displays, and spectacular exhibitions make the Atlanta Botanical Garden the loveliest place in town to visit every season. An urban oasis in Midtown, the Garden includes 30 acres of outdoor gardens, an award-winning Children’s Garden, a one-of-a-kind Canopy Walk through Storza Woods, and the innovative Edible Garden featuring an Outdoor Demonstration Kitchen.
The Fuqua Conservatory at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is an organic biosphere and home to important collections of tropical palms and conifers; the Fuqua Orchid Center is home to the foremost collection of species orchids in the United States. Conservation gardens and amphibian displays highlight the Garden’s work with carnivorous plant bogs across the Southeast as well as endangered species of frogs from around the world.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Designed by Philip Trammel Shutze in 1928 for Edward and Emily Inman, Swan House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Noted architect Philip Trammel Shutze designed Swan House and its gardens, as well as many other important buildings in Atlanta. He adapted Italian and English classical styles to accommodate 20th-century living for Swan House, which many consider his finest residential work. Now the headquarters of the Atlanta Historical Society, Swan House has a variety of silver, paintings, textiles, and many examples of English and American antique furniture dated from the late 18th and early 19th centuries on display.
Source: Discover Atlanta
Take a stroll through 10-acres of peaceful, native woodlands, a preserved secondary growth forest that sprang from cotton fields abandoned long ago. Deep in the woods, a forest opening is the setting for a log cabin surrounded by a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers. Thriving honey bee hives are in the lower meadow surrounded by an experimental American chestnut orchard. Formal gardens surround and showcase the 1928 historic Swan House and have been preserved as they were in the 1930s. Reminiscent of great Italian gardens, it is perched on a hill with a cascading fountain, terraced lawns, roses tumbling over stone walls, and clipped hedges—making this one of Atlanta’s most Instagrammed sites.
WHERE TO STAY IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Welcome to “the Beverly Hills of the South.” Nestled into the heart of Atlanta’s stylish Buckhead neighborhood—the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead places you in the center of the city’s cultural, dining and fashion scenes. Rising 42 stories over Buckhead, the luxurious boutiques of Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square are a five-minute walk away. Unforgettable luxury and irresistible Southern charm meet in harmony from the moment you pull up to the valet.
Guest rooms and suites feel positively residential, so you'll feel at home in Georgia’s capital city. Guest rooms are fitted with large picture windows, plush furniture to sink into, and an expansive marble bathroom—while luxurious suites include a separate living area and private terrace. The indoor pool, Waldorf Astoria Spa, and private English gardens provide a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle just outside. Your stay at Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead includes a personal concierge to ensure that your stay is unforgettable. Book below to reserve your room at the lowest price, guaranteed.
Note: This information was accurate when this article was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
