Do It All
Welcome to the District
It's where every Atlanta adventure begins
The ATL Airport District is the sweet spot between Downtown Atlanta and the world’s busiest airport. Come and experience the easy, quirky, laid-back side of the A, where the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind—and the hotels cost 30% less.
Do It All
let's go!When you’re in town for a week with access to a car, you can spread your wings and venture beyond the beaten path.
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Local history starts here in the ATL Airport District with the Delta Flight Museum. Discover the fascinating history of Atlanta’s hometown airline, explore two retired planes, and strap into a full-motion flight simulator—the only one of its kind open to the public in the U.S
The Thing To KnowThe flight simulator is not included in the price of admission and needs to be reserved in advance.
After living out your high-flying dreams, hop across to downtown Hapeville and pick up a coffee and snack from JPresso Cafe to enjoy on your drive into town.
First stop, the King Center. Take your time in this sacred place and pay your respects to one of Atlanta’s most illustrious hometown heroes, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife, the eminent Coretta Scott King. Tour the Sweet Auburn home where MLK was born and stroll west through the historic neighborhood to learn all about the families who built it.
The Thing To KnowParking and admission to all parts of the King Center are free, but the birth house tours are first come, first served. Sign up at the visitor center.
Stop by Sweet Auburn Market for lunch and choose from all kinds of global fare in this eclectic farmers-market-slash-food-hall. (We’re partial to the original Grindhouse Killer Burgers, but you’ve got nearly a dozen eateries to choose from and you really can’t go wrong.)
The Thing To KnowAny purchase over $5 earns you an hour of free parking. Just ask the vendor to validate your ticket.
Round out your Hometown Heroes tour at the Carter Center, just 2.5 miles from Sweet Auburn. Here you can learn about the life of Jimmy Carter, the only U.S. President to hail from Georgia, and all of his important work before, during, and after the presidency.
The Thing To KnowKids 16 and under get in free.
Such an educational day can really stoke the ol’ appetite, so hit up Krog Street Market. (Atlanta loves its food halls, y’all.) With at least 16 very different—and all amazing—restaurants at your disposal, you can skip the exhausting “what’s for dinner” discussion and dine together at the communal tables. There’s also a bar and a Hop City craft beer and wine shop, so grown-ups can enjoy an end-of-day brew. Do some full-belly shopping around the market, then treat yourself to Jeni’s splendid ice cream (you’re on vacation!) before heading back to the ATL Airport District for some well-earned Zs.
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We’re getting wild today, so we’ll need a hearty breakfast! Rosie’s Café in East Point is perfect—hot and delicious breakfasts, served as Stackers, Platters and a la carte, are quick enough to get you to Zoo Atlanta before the crowds. Admire the animals while they’re out enjoying the cool morning air. There’s a splash fountain and playgrounds in the KidZONE, along with the Treetop Trail, Endangered Species Carousel, Rock Wall, Safari Slide, Petting Zoo and Zoo Train.
The Thing To KnowMost attractions are included with admission, but a few are priced separately at $3 each. An all-day bracelet is available for $9 and gets a kid-parent combo unlimited access to everything but the Treetop Trail (which is $14.95).
We recommend lunch on the zoo’s Grand Patio. You’re welcome to bring in a picnic, but the park’s food and prices are both better than you’d probably expect. Besides, you’ll have a better time if you’re not hauling everybody’s lunch around like a pack mule.
If you're still in the area for dinner, head over to the Summerhill neighborhood for Wood’s Chapel BBQ, then finish the evening with a heavenly soft serve from Big Softie and a brew at Halfway Crooks Beer.
The Thing To KnowHalfway Crooks also serves pie!
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Let’s continue the adventure today and catch some air at MTB Atlanta’s Ride ‘n’ Fly Trails at Sykes Park in East Point—after a quick breakfast at your hotel, of course. Hop on mountain bikes and make your way around this quality single track trail. The park has a great new pump track where little ones can catch some air, too.
The Thing To KnowBike rentals are available at various places around town—find a complete list at atlantabike.org/rentals—but we recommend picking some up for the day from Atlanta Bicycle Barn near the Beltline. It’s super convenient to the day’s second ride, which will make drop-off as easy as Halfway Crooks pie.
Afterward, head over to Piedmont Park (Atlanta’s answer to NYC’s Central Park) to take in breathtaking views of the city and spend some quality time with a well-manicured version of nature. There are playgrounds, a splash pad, and a small lake where you can feed the ducks.
For lunch, grab some grub at the corner of 10th and Piedmont in one of Atlanta’s most vibrant neighborhoods, Midtown. Here, The Flying Biscuit offers creative Southern brunch options.
Afterward, get some more miles in on Atlanta’s Beltline, a wide, art-and-tree-lined path designed to get you through the heart of the city away from cars. There’s an entrance at the corner of 10th and Monroe, at the opposite end of Piedmont Park. Rent a bike or scooter for an added boost of fun.
The Thing To KnowMotorized vehicles are frowned upon on the Beltline, but old-school people-powered bikes, scooters and skateboards are always welcome. Don’t forget your helmets!
After zipping around Midtown, head back down to the ATL Airport District to freshen up at the hotel. Dinner will be at Apron, the fine dining experience located at the Kimpton Overland Hotel adjacent to the Porsche Driving Experience. Then you can climb the stairs to the Rooftop at The Overland for signature cocktails, killer views of the runways at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and delicious snacks (if you’re still up for grub).
The Thing To KnowThe Rooftop is open seasonally from April to October, 5-11pm daily. If you visit during the off season, there are lots of nearby late-night spots to check out instead, like the Uptown Comedy Corner less than a block away.
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Let’s visit one of Atlanta’s most famous communities – Decatur! Located east of Atlanta, Decatur is a charming and historic neighborhood with a thriving downtown. Start the day with a quick hotel breakfast, then travel to the Fernbank Museum. Permanent exhibits for all ages feature Georgia geography, North American pottery, dinosaurs, hands-on science and more. There’s also a huge indoor play area, a 3D IMAX theater, and 75 acres of outdoor exhibits including trails, a canopy walk, and nature-themed playgrounds.
The Thing To KnowGrown-ups can also enjoy monthly Fernbank After Dark events on Friday nights. The museum serves cocktails, craft beer and small plates and provides live music and a 3D movie.
Take Ponce de Leon into downtown Decatur and find a plethora of lunch spots to choose from. Vegan? Tacos? Carb overload? Burgers only? It’s all here. Park the car, choose the perfect meal, then continue your stroll and check out all of the cute, quirky shops. Locals spend hours at a time in Kudzu Antiques, located just a few blocks east of the Decatur Square. They’ve got tons of cool antiques, along with gifts from local makers.
The Thing To KnowY’allywood means you never know who you might run into, and we’ve crossed paths with many a celeb around Decatur’s charming shops. We even spotted Melissa McCarthy in Kudzu once!
Take the scenic route back to Decatur Square by ambling across the campus of Agnes Scott College. Speaking of movies—and Melissa McCarthy, actually—The Boss, Life of the Party, The Blind Side, Scream 2, Driving Miss Daisy, Fried Green Tomatoes, and many more movies have been filmed at this historic women’s liberal arts school, so you may find it feels familiar even if you’ve never heard of it.
For dinner, you’ll love Brickstore Pub, right on the Square. One of Atlanta’s best-loved restaurants, it’s notorious for its extensive craft beer menu. Then check out Twain’s Brewpub and Billiards for shuffleboard, pool, and darts before heading back to the District to rest your weary head.
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It’s your last day, so let’s do it right—but in a take-it-easy kind of way. You’ve had one heck of a week already. Start the morning with a relaxed breakfast in downtown College Park at The Real Milk & Honey.
The Thing To KnowThis all-day brunch spot has long been famous in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, and so we’re excited to have our own brand-new location right here. Key lime waffle and fried shrimp – need we say more?
Then mosey over to Hapeville for a laid-back visit to the Hapeville Depot Museum. A delightful blast from the past, the Depot Museum is piled high with local history and artifacts from days gone by. The friendly and knowledgeable staff is always at the ready if you’d like a deeper look.
Afterward, stroll around downtown Hapeville to admire the public art and peruse the shops on Central Ave. For lunch, choose from all the great local spots right on the main strip. Mami’s La Cubana, Thai Heaven, Hapeville Corner Tavern, Hapeville Pizza Co, Fish Bowl Poké, and even the original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House—you’ll find something here for literally everyone.
The Thing To KnowThere’s a pedestrian bridge over the train tracks that run through downtown Hapeville, so you’re never stuck on one side or the other.
You can spend the afternoon chilling at any of Hapeville’s parks and playgrounds or kick it up a notch with the Porsche Driving Experience. For a price, you can get your thrills as you drive around the track at legendary speeds (reservations required). If you'd like to tour the Porsche Experience Center's Heritage Gallery, dine at Restaurant 356 for lunch or dinner, or simply grab a coffee at their onsite cafe and watch the action on the tracks below while planes take off and land at the airport, you can reserve a day pass online for just $5!
Unwind with dinner at downtown Hapeville’s Volare Wine Bistro. And since we know you won’t want your whirlwind week to come to an end just yet, stick around and catch a show. The Academy Theatre is right next door to Volare, and the nearby Uptown Comedy Corner will leave you in stitches. Check both websites beforehand to see what events are scheduled.
When the night is out, you’ll be glad to see your hotel for one last night. We wish you safe travels on your journey home tomorrow. Come back and see us again soon!
From a local:
If you don’t feel like being cooped up in a car for a week, almost every activity mentioned in this itinerary is accessible via MARTA. And bikes are allowed on the train! Just remember, no riding your bike inside the MARTA stations.