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Everything happens for a reason. While Covid wrecked havoc around the world and put a damper on my plans, it gave me an opportunity to live in Atlanta for a couple of years. I’m grateful for all the people I met and friendships formed in Atlanta. In addition to the people, there are so many reasons why Atlanta is now one of my favorite cities.

Atlanta, Georgia is an incredibly underrated city! It has a little bit of everything from professional sports, to world-class attractions, to beautiful outdoor areas. I encourage you to visit Atlanta for a long weekend and check out all the city has to offer.

10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Atlanta

#1 Dine in a Foodie Paradise

If you are a foodie, you can stop reading here as the food alone is reason enough to visit Atlanta! Okay you should still keep reading, but Atlanta is an excellent city for southern food like BBQ and Chicken & Waffles. Plus there is any other cuisine your little heart could desire. The Asian food is particularly tasty! The breakfast and brunch places are also some of the best you can find in any city.

#2 Hike Off All the Delicious Food

When you think of good places to hike in the USA most people typically think of places out west. While there aren’t giant national parks, there are tons of places to hike near Atlanta to burn off all those calories!

You only need to drive 30 minutes or so to find state parks with beautiful forest trails, the hike to the top of Stone Mountain, hikes alongside the Chattahoochee River and more.

#3 Enjoy More Than a Concrete Jungle

Atlanta is so pretty and unbelievably green. I love a beautiful city skyline (which Atlanta has), but what makes Atlanta so pretty are all the flowers and trees. I can’t forget the dazzling blue skies either. If you aren’t impressed, you clearly have never lived somewhere with hazy skies.

Thanks to a city ordinance, property owners are not allowed to cut down most trees without a permit. Walking around the city streets you will be thankful for all the extra shade in the summer.

In general homeowners do a great job gardening and landscaping their lawns. Flowers are abundant in residential homes and parks during the spring. On muggy summer days with all the dense greenery you’ll think you are in a jungle.

While there are many trails around the city you can find so many great places to walk right in the city that make you feel like you aren’t in a city at all!

#4 Get Your Cultural Fix

Atlanta is full of theaters, arts venues, and museums. The Fox Theatre is great for touring Broadway shows, but there are also numerous smaller theaters and venues that put on plays, musicals, ballets, and operas. Museums range from the large High Museum of Art to niche ones like Wren’s House on the Westside.

#5 Search for StreetArt

Some of the best art in the city isn’t indoors, but found on neighborhood streets. Tiny Doors ATL has over 20 doors hidden around the city. Go on a scavenger hunt and find them all. It took me a couple of years, but I finally found each one!

Murals on the other hand are much easier to find and just as fun to have impromptu photo shoots with! The splashes of color against the greenery and blue skies really adds a lot to the city.

#6 Discover Where History Comes Alive

Atlantans are great about protecting their trees, but also their historical buildings and neighborhoods. The Atlanta Preservation Center leads tours in different neighborhoods and at historical landmarks. Every March during Phoenix Flies, one of the best spring festivals, all the tours and events are free! It’s inspiring hearing the stories about the neighborhoods and landmarks that were saved from a bulldozer thanks to citizens’ efforts.

In addition to all the historical preservation, Atlanta played a big role in the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. Learn more about both at the many historical museums around the city. The Atlanta History Center and the MLK Jr Historical Park are good places to start.

#7 Explore Cool Neighborhoods

After living in Moscow I have a new appreciation for color and diversity in architecture. Each Atlanta neighborhood is different. You won’t find the exact same style of homes and types of businesses in every area.

Don’t make the mistake many tourists do and only stay downtown and visit the big Atlanta attractions. While you should visit them, also make time to explore the best Atlanta neighborhoods. From the charming Victorian homes in Inman Park to the quirky shops in Little Five Points the in-town neighborhoods are walkable and great for exploring.

#8 Savor the Weather

Deciding when you should visit Atlanta? There are pros and cons for different times of the year. Summers in Atlanta are way too hot for me, but the rest of the year is perfect. I love how there are several months of actual spring and fall, none of these two days of no AC or heat that is often common in the Midwest.

Winter can barely be considered winter. When it does “snow” or “get cold” and the locals act like the apocalypse is coming, it is more comical than anything! Prices are lower in the winter and for those of you visiting Atlanta from up north you will love the moderate winters!

#9 Attend a Festival

From big multi-day music festivals to smaller speciality festivals, there is a festival for everyone in Atlanta. The festivals take place year-round, but many of them are in the spring.

I’m all about the neighborhood community festivals that typically include food trucks, artist markets, and performances. Many of them also involve tours of homes!

#10 Fly Into the Busiest Airport in the World

While there really is a lot to see and do in Atlanta, another huge advantage of traveling to Atlanta is that it is home to the busiest airport in the world and Delta’s headquarters. Many destinations are only a non-stop flight away. It makes Atlanta a great long weekend destination.

There is so much to love about Atlanta. Have I convinced you why you need to visit Atlanta yet?