My Trip Ideas

Downtown Atlanta and its nearby communities are perfect for exploring on foot – not too hilly, good climate almost year-round and plenty of history, architecture, unique culture and natural beauty. Begin Saturday with a hearty southern breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird or Thumbs Up Diner. Then head over to the amazing Fox Theatre in Midtown for a guided tour of this 1920’s movie palace and site of the premiere of Gone With the Wind. In the afternoon, two choices await you: 1) a civil rights history tour of Sweet Auburn, or 2) Fernbank Forest, a 65-acre hardwood forest and gardens with paved trails and educational markers. Later, if you feel like a leisurely evening walk, try the nearby Decatur Ghost Tour, a 1-mile guided tour filled with tales of murder, passion, war and tragedy. Historic downtown Decatur also features over 200 shops, galleries and restaurants. On Sunday, start at Underground Atlanta, the “city beneath the  city”. Then crown your walking weekend with a guided tour of historic Oakland Cemetery, which has been described as an “outdoor art museum”. It is also the final resting place of numerous celebrities, including Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind” and golfer Bobby Jones.