Advice On Atlanta

My wife and I will be visiting Atlanta next week for about a week. Staying at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Atlanta.

Is the area safe?

What is the best way to get to the hotel from the Airport?

Are there great sightseeing locations around the hotel?

Would like recommendations on good Restuarants, everything from Asian to Seafood in the area.

Best Mall shopping places?

Thanks to all in advance.

Advice On Atlanta

Wow, I am not trying to blow you off, but you ask a lot of really broad questions, most of which are already discussed at length in this forum or in the tabs to the left. I%26#39;ll get you started, and then perhaps you can do some ground work and come back to the forum if you have more specific questions:

1. Read the overview pages for Atlanta. Read the sticky at the top of this thread. Also read the reviews for this particular Ritz, which may not be what you expect for a Ritz (although it recently got a glowing rec form a frequent Ritz visitor so perhaps it%26#39;s improved).

2. Is downtown safe? This is a controversial question that has been discussed at length on this forum. I%26#39;m not going to be the one to reopen this can of worms. Run a search on the terms ';downtown'; and ';safety'; in this forum, read what everyone has to say, and decide if it%26#39;s right for you.

3. Hotel from airport? Take MARTA. www.itsmarta.com

4. Sightseeing - Read Things to Do tab to the left. Near your hotel are Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, CNN Center, Centennial Park.

5. Restaurants? Atlanta has way too many restaurants to give recommendations based on such a broad question. My two favorites near your hotel though are BLT Steak and FAB. Run a search on this forum for the term ';restaurant'; or visit atlantacitysearch.com or creativeloafing.com or accessatlanta.com to read professional reviews and see what suits your tastes.

6. Shopping? Run a search on this forum for the term ';shopping.'; Generally, your best bets are in Buckhead but without even knowing what you%26#39;re shopping for there%26#39;s no way to make a decent recommendation.

Advice On Atlanta

JAtlanta thanks for the help. I just found out shortfuse that I am going to go to Atlanta this weekend. I will research further based on your info.

Thanks again

I believe that area is relatively safe. It is on Peachtree St near the Fox.

Easiest way is take MARTA train. Station within 2-4 blocks from you. Not sure of the Station name. Ask where to get off for Fox Theater.

You will probably want a rental car to really see the sights.

Sightseeing around this hotel is minimal, to me. Best to have a car in ATL to see things; otherwise, limited to downtown spots or spots near MARTA train. The buses are not worth the trouble. Some nice sights are Stone Mountain, CNN Center and Park area downtown, Piedmont Park (walkable from Ritz but maybe 1 mile or so, maybe a bit more).

Mary Mac%26#39;s Tearoom has some really good Southern Food and is within less than a mile of your hotel. People rave about the Fried Chicken, but I love their vegetables. Try the collard greens and ask for complimentary ';pot likker'; for first time visitor. Trust me, try it.

Many nice high class type restaraunts scattered over downtown too.

Shopping Malls downtown probably Lenox and Phipps. These are up Peachtree (away from city-north), but too far too walk. Lots of nice places to eat up this way like Bones, Chops, Fago de Chao, and others that are upscale and pricy.

I an sorry for disagreeing with you, Scott, but the information you gave on the hotel location is incorrect. The Ritz is not near the Fox. It%26#39;s a mile away. Ktownfan, you will not want to use the MARTA station that is near the Fox. Use the Peachtree Center MARTA station instead.

We just got back from our first trip to ATL and we loved all the attractions but did not enjoy all the panhandling. Be prepared they are everywhere. (We feel much safer in NYC anyday)

Take the MARTA and do get off at Peachtree Center exiting by Ellis street (not Harris) and you will be steps away from your hotel.

We loved CNN tour, the World of Coke and the Varsity really good hamburgers and french fries - go just to say you did (take the MARTA north to stop North Ave). The aquarium was just too busy for our liking although it was neat to see.

We loved the Braves baseball game. Easy to get to-MARTA to Underground then hop on the shuttle. If it%26#39;s a warm night and you want to be outside you can%26#39;t beat going here.

We loved Legal Sea Food over by the aquarium. We had great service and the food was excellent. Avoid Pitty Pat%26#39;s Porch (tourist trap that we fell for)our hotel (the Ellis) is right across the street from yours and the restaurant there is excellent as well.

We took the MARTA to Lennox Mall and just enjoyed looking at all the designer stores that we couldn%26#39;t afford to even walk in. No joke - they have every designer store you can think of.

See if anyone is playing at the Fox - that is a beautiful theater and you would enjoy that too.

Have a great time-you will enjoy it.

I agree with JA - the Ritz is pretty far down Peachtree from the Fox. The Fox is in Midtown and the Ritz is definitely in Downtown. As I am sure you have gathered from the information already and the debate on the topic, Downtown may or may not be as safe (but I%26#39;ll keep my opinion to myself.)

Sorry about misplacing the Ritz and thanks for setting the record straight. Don%26#39;t know what place I was thinking of.