Chris's Perfect Day in Atlanta
The Georgia native shares his musts, especially for anyone that's never visited the city.
You might remember Christopher Johnson from one of our earlier podcast episodes. What you don’t know though is that his is one of our most listened to episodes yet! Pretty cool. I asked him to share some Atlanta faves with us. His list below is a mix that works for both locals and tourists alike but especially for someone who considers the city’s heartbeat to be a part of their makeup (I might’ve thrown a few in there that he introduced me to or showed me for the first time, too).
Start your morning with a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to learn about the life and legacy of the Atlanta-born Civil Rights leader. This is really cool especially if it’s your first time or you’re bringing someone to see it for the first time. The home where he was born in 1929 is located on Auburn Ave. near Lotta Frutta, Staplehouse, Chrome Yellow Trading Co. and Biggerstaff Brewing. Take a ranger-led tour of the home and property or pop into the National Parks Foundation gift shop, which recently re-opened after being closed for a couple years.
Atlanta is famous for its soul food restaurants, so grab breakfast at Mary Mac's Tea Room which opened in 1945.
Visit the High Museum of Art in Midtown for permanent and special exhibits—there are also monthly events here like jazz nights and HIGH Frequency Fridays.
Not far from the High, Piedmont Park is the perfect place to take a midday stroll or setup a picnic. Grab a scooter or bike to explore the walking paths, lake and Midtown views.
A fan of baseball fare? Head to The Varsity, a historic drive-in restaurant that serves burgers, hot dogs, and other classic American foods. The Varsity is nearly 100 years old.
Check out World of Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta to learn about the history of the soda and sample different flavors from around the world. Take a tour of the CNN Center and get a little insider look at how the global news network operates. (My personal opinion is skip these two if you want to squeeze in the other stuff, but I guess they can be fun if you’re visiting or just want to have a touristy day.)
Do dinner at one of the city's many amazing restaurants, like Gunshow in Glenwood Park, JCT Kitchen & Bar in West Midtown, or Atlas at the St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead.
Finish off the night by catching a show at the Fox Theatre, a historic Midtown venue that hosts concerts, plays, and other live performances. You can do post-show drinks or dessert nearby at El Viñedo Local or Lyla Lila. But if it’s Monday, you should absolutely do karaoke at The Local on Ponce (at least go watch!).
A few more of Chris’s favorites: JR Crickets, One Flew South and The James Room, both on the Beltline and Slutty Vegan (which recently opened in Brooklyn).
If you haven’t already, you can listen to our chat with Chris here: