My favorite Atlanta loop: walking the BeltLine between Ponce City Market and Krog Street, soul food and civil rights history around Sweet Auburn and Castleberry Hill, then chili dogs, barbecue, and Midtown museums. These are the spots I send every fr...
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I start at Ponce City Market for the food hall, then head up to the rooftop for carnival games and skyline views.
Ponce City Market
I walk or bike the BeltLine Eastside Trail past murals, patios, and people-watching all the way to Krog Street.
Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trl
I grab a frozen drink and a spot by the fire pits at Ladybird, right on the BeltLine.
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
I graze my way through Krog Street Market's food stalls whenever I can't decide what I'm in the mood for.
Krog Street Market
Ticonderoga Club is my favorite cocktail bar in the city, tucked in the back of Krog Street Market with a great dinner menu too.
Ticonderoga Club
I walk through the Krog Street Tunnel to see the newest layer of graffiti, since it changes every time I visit.
Krog Street Tunnel
I wander Oakland Cemetery for the Victorian gardens, old oaks, and skyline views, and it's more peaceful than spooky.
Oakland Cemetery
I order the Comfy Chicken Biscuit at Home grown, a retro diner where breakfast feels like grandma's house.
Home grown GA Restaurant
Fox Bros. is my barbecue pick in Atlanta, and I always get the brisket with a side of tater tots smothered in Brunswick stew.
Fox Bros Bar-B-Q
I lose an hour browsing Junkman's Daughter, the giant oddball emporium that sums up Little Five Points.
The Junkman's Daughter – The Junkman's Daughter
I grab a beer and wings at Manuel's Tavern, the classic neighborhood bar that's been pouring for 70 years.
Manuel's Tavern
I sit at the counter of the Majestic Diner under its famous neon sign for eggs, grits, and a patty melt.
Majestic Diner
I visit the Carter Presidential Library for the replica Oval Office and the peaceful Japanese garden out back.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
I tour Dr. King's birth home and Ebenezer Baptist Church on Auburn Avenue, and it's the most moving stop in the city.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
I grab lunch at the stalls inside Sweet Auburn Curb Market, a historic market that's been feeding downtown for over a century.
The Municipal Market
I get fried chicken, mac and cheese, and a cinnamon roll at Mary Mac's, the classic Southern tea room on Ponce.
Mary Mac's Tea Room
I catch a show at the Fox Theatre just to sit under its twinkling starry ceiling in that over-the-top Moorish auditorium.
Fox Theatre
I order chili dogs, onion rings, and a Frosted Orange at The Varsity, and I always answer the classic What'll ya have.
The Varsity
I spend lazy weekend afternoons in Piedmont Park with a picnic and the best view of the Midtown skyline.
Piedmont Park
I walk the canopy walk through the treetops at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the fall lights show is a favorite.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
I visit the High Museum for great rotating exhibits inside that bright white Richard Meier building.
High Museum of Art
I stroll Centennial Olympic Park past the Fountain of Rings, and it's my jumping-off point for the downtown museums.
Centennial Olympic Park
I stand in front of the giant Ocean Voyager window at the Georgia Aquarium watching the whale sharks glide by.
Georgia Aquarium
I go to World of Coca-Cola mostly for the tasting room, where I try sodas from all over the world.
World of Coca-Cola
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a must, and the lunch counter sit-in exhibit stays with me every time.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
I get the famous fried chicken at Paschal's, the soul food restaurant where civil rights leaders used to meet.
Paschal's Restaurant & Bar
Busy Bee Cafe has my favorite fried chicken in Atlanta, and I don't mind waiting in line for it.
The Busy Bee
I order the San Gennaro at Antico and eat it at the communal tables right next to the wood-fired ovens.
Antico Pizza Napoletana
The Optimist is my seafood splurge on the Westside, with a raw bar and the best hushpuppies in town.
The Optimist
Bacchanalia is where I go for a special-occasion tasting menu built around produce from their own farm.
Bacchanalia
I spend a morning at the Atlanta History Center for the Cyclorama painting and the gardens around the Swan House.
Atlanta History Center
I stock up on international groceries at Buford Highway Farmers Market, then eat my way down Buford Highway.
