Atlanta has become a wildly popular hub for creatives and professionals looking to kickstart their careers and lay down some roots. You’ll find 30 of the Fortune 1000 companies headquartered here as well as a booming film and tv industry, earning Atlanta the nickname “Hollywood of the South.”
Atlanta is also known as “The City in a Forest” as almost 50% of the city is covered in vegetation and trees! With 3,000 acres of parkland within city limits, there’s no shortage of green space to relax, run, or bike through. Strolling along the tree-lined Atlanta BeltLine or meeting up with friends at Piedmont Park are tried-and-true local pastimes and a great way for newcomers to explore the city.
Pro sports are a big part of the city’s culture. One of Atlanta’s most beloved sports teams, The Atlanta United, draws massive crowds to the stunning Mercedes-Benz Stadium Downtown.
The Braves’ new home, called The Battery, encompasses the baseball stadium and a mix of shops, restaurants, and bars. Even on non-game days there’s plenty to do in the area. Enjoy local grub from Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, explore the immersive virtual reality destination The Void, or experience a concert at the on-site 4,000 person capacity music venue, the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre.
Atlanta is well-situated for travel lovers. With the world’s busiest airport, as well as easy access to some of the South’s best destinations— touring local spots or far-away treasures is easy. Take a road trip to Nashville, Savannah, Greenville, or Birmingham, all less than 4 hours away. We’d also highly recommend a day trip to North Georgia, where you can sample wines from charming vineyards, tube down the Chattahoochee in the summer, or pick apples as fall approaches. Whether you’re a city slicker or nature lover, Atlanta has a little something for everybody.
Vibe
It might sound cliche, but Atlanta has a space for everyone! Foodies will rejoice in the city’s exploding restaurant scene. Hip eateries are popping up on every corner, like 70’s-inspired Muchacho for breakfast tacos, or Wonderkid for elevated ice cream floats and diner fare.
If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, check out the many trails surrounding Atlanta. Drive just an hour to trek great trails in North Georgia, and 2 hours to reach hikes in Tennessee and North Carolina. Lake Lanier is about 45 minutes away, and boasts waterfront parks, camping areas, cabins for rent, and even a Margaritaville-themed waterpark and beach!
Check out Castleberry Hill for historic lofts and art galleries, or head to ultra-swanky Buckhead for five-star hotels and luxury shopping & dining. Atlanta really has it all!
Favorite Spots
Piedmont Park is a favorite spot amongst both tourists and locals alike. We highly recommend stopping by one of Midtown’s many restaurants and grabbing to-go lunch to enjoy in the meadow area of the park with amazing skyline views! Make sure to check out the adjacent Atlanta Botanical Garden for stunning seasonal displays of thousands of trees and flowers. The “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” exhibit is a revered Atlanta tradition each holiday season!
No visit to Atlanta is complete without a walk on the BeltLine! Miles of walking and biking trails connect multiple in-town neighborhoods. The Eastside Trail is definitely the most popular, starting at Piedmont Park and ending with the famous Krog Street Market. It’s the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon, with rotating local art installations and smaller parks to stop by along the way.
Things to Know
Locals love to gripe about traffic, so you’ll often hear recommendations that you should try to live as close as possible to your workplace. If you’re looking to avoid lots of driving, many apartments in Midtown and Buckhead are within walking distance of a MARTA station, so you can easily commute to most parts of the city by train.
Atlanta has pretty typical Southern weather– hot, muggy summers with crisp fall days and cool spring showers. Take advantage of gorgeous weather with a packed festival calendar between March and June, including the Dogwood Festival (one of the largest events in the Southeast!), Shaky Knees Music Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival.