Spending a Saturday in Atlanta

August 1, 2019 in College Lifestyle

Whether you grew up just outside the city’s perimeter or on the other side of the country, there’s nothing like officially calling the city of Atlanta your home. You’ve probably heard this line before, but Georgia State’s campus really is in the middle of it all. If we were spending a Saturday in Atlanta (okay, fine, we spend a lot of Saturdays in Atlanta), here’s how it might go:

10 a.m.

Good morning! Get up and get ready to head out. Your first stop is Ebrik Coffee Room (22 Park Place SE). Grab your coffee or tea and check out the art upstairs while you sip.

Then, if you’re feeling adventurous…

11 a.m.

Head to the Georgia State MARTA station (170 Piedmont Ave SE), get a 1-day pass ($9) and hop on the blue line to the Inman Park station. Your destination is Little Five Points, a hotspot for vintage shopping, record stores and people watching. Check out this guide to make the quick 10-minute walk from the station. Thrift shop lovers should check out Rag-o-Rama, Clothing Warehouse and Junkman’s Daughter. If you’re into the music scene, explore Criminal Records or stop by Variety Playhouse to see what shows are coming up. When you’ve worked up an appetite, the options in Little Five are endless. Grab a bite on the roof of Corner Tavern, have a burger at the Vortex (must be 21 to enter), a slice of pizza at Cameli’s, or enjoy authentic curry at Planet Bombay.

2 p.m.

Head back to the MARTA station and take the blue or green line to King Memorial station. You’re heading to Grant Park (use this guide to navigate from MARTA) to enjoy the zoo or take a stroll around Oakland Cemetery. Entry to Zoo Atlanta is $24 with your GSU ID and you can expect to see lions, elephants, giraffes and maybe even (wait for it)… panthers! This is a conservation-focused zoo and it’s located right inside Grant Park. History buffs may opt to spend time in Oakland Cemetery, a final resting place for lots of famous Atlantans. You can take a private tour for $6 with your student ID or roam on your own for free. If you’re hungry, have a taco at Tin Lizzy’s (they offer discounts to GSU students!) or check out the menu at the Grant Park Market.

6 p.m.

Time to head back downtown for the evening! Get back on MARTA’s blue or green line and get off at the GWCC/CNN station. This lands you in the heart of the city by Centennial Olympic Park, the aquarium and more. Use this guide for help navigating. There’s plenty to eat in this area including a variety of Waffle Houses nearby. There’s also a number of rooftop spots where you can share appetizers and enjoy the view! Speaking of views, top off your night with a ride on the Skyview Ferris wheel for $10 with your student ID (get it from the GSU discount ticket info center in Student Center East before you go!). There’s no better view of the city than this one!

When you’re ready, get back on MARTA blue or green line one last time and head two stops home to the Georgia State station. If you’ve had enough of MARTA for the day, it’s a quick walk back or you could hop on the city streetcar.

Or, if you’d rather stay by campus…

11 a.m.

Make your way out of Ebrik towards Park Place to catch the streetcar. You’ve got a couple of options as the car makes it’s way around the city: brush up on your civil rights history at the King Historic District stop, catch an Atlanta United game at Mercedes-Benz stadium (Centennial Olympic Park stop), or grab lunch at the Sweet Auburn Market stop. Or, if you’d rather eat somewhere else…

1 p.m.

Head to Broad Street. Take your pick: NaanStop, Reuben’s Deli, Mamma Mia Pizza & Wings…the list goes on! Take your food to go and pick a colorful table to eat and people watch in the center of Broad. Or, if you’re down for a quick jaunt, head down Luckie St. for the 15-minute walk to Centennial Olympic Park. Enjoy your lunch while taking in the city views and considering what you may do next, like…

2 p.m.

The aquarium ($30 entry with your GSU discount), CNN Center (tours starting at $12), College Football Hall of Fame ($21 entry) and World of Coke ($17 entry) are there at your fingertips across from Centennial Olympic Park. These are classic tourist things to do, so if you’d rather enjoy them from the outside, you’re a citizen of Atlanta now and have that right! An alternative in the area may be riding the Skyview Ferris wheel. A $10 ticket (with your student ID – get it from the discount ticket info center in Student Center East before you go!) gets you an unbeatable birds-eye view of Atlanta. Can you see the Georgia State football stadium from there?!

6 p.m.

When you’ve had your fill of sight-seeing, head back towards campus. If you’re feeling hungry, you may want to stop somewhere simple like Highland Bakery or Rosa’s Pizza. Then, see what’s going on at the Rialto! The Rialto is Georgia State’s center for the arts and features all kinds of theatre, dance, music and visual art. Or, check out the movie times at Cinefest, our free-for-students movie theater. Either way, your entertainment for the night is booked — and right on campus!

Here’s some good news for after you’ve completed your packed Saturday in Atlanta: there’s still lots to do! There are endless neighborhoods to explore, fun events on campus to enjoy and sporting events to attend. Stay tuned for more and let us know what you’d like to see on our next Atlanta itinerary!

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