4 Eventful Days Atlanta, Georgia

Day 1 – Friday 

We began our mother-daughter weekend on Friday. Since we arrived in Atlanta relatively early and checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Centennial Park, which is conveniently located across from the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Park. This is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to hit all the tourist destinations in Atlanta like we were. 

We started our adventures with lunch at Mary Mac’s Tea Room. We were seated in the Atlanta Room, which was the original room when Mary Mac’s opened in 1945. There are now seven tearooms total, and the building takes up almost the entire block. 

The waitress came over and told us she’d be back to fill us in on the history of Mary Mac’s, but it was “so busy” that she didn’t have time. This was a little confusing as half of the Atlanta Room was empty, but hey – maybe that’s just the New Yorker in me talking. We were given order forms to fill out, decided what we wanted, and handed them to our waitress.

I ordered the chicken fried chicken with white pepper gravy with sides of cheese grits and collard greens. I went as southern as you could get for my first meal, because why not? Mom ordered the roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce with sides of mac & cheese and green beans.

After we finished our delicious meal, the waitress came over to take dessert orders. I asked her a simple question – “would you do the banana or bread pudding?” – and she responded, sounding annoyed, “peach cobbler”. Excuse me, lady, but I didn’t ask about the peach cobbler. We ordered the banana pudding and had zero regrets about it. 

She came back with the check and we still hadn’t heard about the history of the place, so I asked about it. She quickly ran through some facts about the origins. She mentioned when Mary Mac’s opened in 1945 women couldn’t go to restaurants without men. The owner decided to call it a tearoom, which was a clever loophole so women could dine alone. Pretty awesome!  

Our activity for the day was a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. During our visit, the main feature was “SUPERnatural: Glass Art in Bloom” by Jason Gamrath. The artist was a student at Dale Chihuly’s school in Seattle, Washington and it shone through in his works. Many of them resemble Chihuly’s style of art. 

We started off in the Cascades Garden. This display reminded me so much of Te Fiti from Moana. She was truly beautiful and I could have stared at her all day! 

Next up was Storza Woods. This area was under construction, but from the photos placed around showing what it would look like it seemed magical. I definitely want to get back to see this area in its full glory. 

We continued walking around admiring all of the flowers, plants, statues, glassworks, and even the bees. Atlanta Botanical Garden is a place that makes you feel at ease. Being surrounded by all of the plants and brightly colored flowers is just good for the soul. 

On our way out, we got to enjoy some beautiful live music that was set up at the top of the steps of the Fuqua Conservatory. A peaceful grand finale to a peaceful, fun afternoon.

On the way back to the hotel we had an amazing Uber driver, JC, who happened to work at Den Biergarten, which was across the street from our hotel. We had plans to visit him, but just couldn’t fit it into our schedule. If you’re ever in the area, go say hi to JC for us. He is filled with recommendations and local expertise!

We arrived back at the hotel and got ready for our next itinerary item: Fernbank after Dark. We had some time to kill before we left so we took a seat at the hotel bar. Lucky for us, it was happy hour, so all beers and well cocktails were only $5!! Cheers to that. 

We got a ride to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History for “Fernbank after Dark: Potions and Poisons”. This was an adults-only experience hosted at the museum where you could visit the collections, see extra potions and poisons themed exhibits, listen to live music, and indulge in some cocktails and snacks. 

Fernbank Museum is relatively small, but there is plenty to see. Some of the notable collections include: A Walk Through Time in Georgia, Antarctic Dinosaurs, Sky High (birds), and Giants of the Mesozoic! Randomly throughout the museum you’ll find the potions and poisons exhibits. These were some really neat science experiences being displayed throughout the night. Each exhibit had a unique experiment to showcase. Other than the experiments, there were also posters with information specific to potions and poisons hanging all around.  My personal favorite was a list of world-famous poisoners!

In addition to the indoor exhibits, Fernbank after Dark included an outdoor area, WildWoods. This walkway was definitely the spookiest part of the night! The creators made spirits and ghosts out of wire and displayed them all around. This section wasn’t connected with the potions and poisons theme of the night, but definitely perfect for spooky season! Make sure you stay on the path the entire time you are outside as it gets VERY dark in certain spots, and there may be snakes and critters off the path. 

Day 2 – Saturday 

We started our day with breakfast at Thumbs-Up Diner, which was my favorite breakfast spot of the entire weekend. Thumbs-Up Diner is about 15 minutes outside of the city, but totally worth the trip! 

I ordered myself some waffles, grits, and spuds. Mom ordered the French toast with a side of crispy bacon, and all of the food was amazing. The spuds are potatoes grilled with peppers, onions, cheese, and some seasoning. They are an absolute must order when you visit. 

Outside of the diner there is a really cool mural on the wall that is totally Insta-worthy! The mural displayed a colorful, giant stack of pancakes dripping in butter and syrup. Enough to make anyone run inside and order some breakfast! Mom and I couldn’t resist snapping photos there before we left. 

On our way back to the hotel we got the ultimate Lyft driver. His name was Lynn, and he gave us an unforgettable experience. He was energetic from the second we got into the car, and took it upon himself to be our personal tour guide. 

He took a very slight detour and showed us the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King preached. The church is also down the block from MLK’s childhood home, so we drove past there quickly as well. 

Lynn decided that wasn’t enough and continued this little tour with another slight detour. He showed us a great view of the Atlanta skyline and even stopped on the bridge and took pictures for us! 

The bridge where we stopped for pictures was also a filming location for The Walking Dead, so this spot has gained some popularity among zombie lovers.

After our adventure with Lynn, it was time to go to the Georgia Aquarium, which was the main reason we were visiting Georgia. This aquarium honestly feels like a theme park from the moment you arrive. As you queue to enter, you are directed to a giant screen where they snap your picture. 

We immediately booked time slots for the free shows to ensure we had seats. I highly recommend doing this as early as possible to avoid missing out. We booked the dolphin show and the sea lion show. We wanted to book one of the paid animal encounters, but we weren’t so lucky. Due to COVID, a few of the encounters were unavailable and the ones that were available had very limited capacity. 

We booked the Atlanta CityPass for our entry to a few attractions, and CityPass told us to book extras two weeks out from our visit. We shouldn’t have listened. Everything was completely booked by this point, so we didn’t have the chance to do any of the animal encounters. *sigh* Don’t make the same mistakes we did and book as soon as you know when you’re visiting!

The shows we did see were so amazing, they made up for the fact that we couldn’t book any animal encounters. For the dolphin show, make sure you sit up high for two reasons – (1) if you sit in the lower section there is a high chance you will get splashed by our aquatic friends, and (2) if you sit in the first row of the upper section your view will not be the best. We sat in the first row of the upper section and since we were level with the last row of the lower section, it was difficult to see over their heads. 

The performance is 30 minutes long and you get quite the show. The dolphins and their trainers obviously have close bonds and can perform amazing tricks together. The way the dolphins listen and respond to their trainers showcases how smart these creatures truly are.

The sea lion show was the second included show we enjoyed. This theater is much more intimate than the dolphin theater. The show is themed as a radio broadcast, which added a unique element. Most aquariums do have sea lion shows, but this added theme really makes Georgia Aquarium’s stand out. For the finale, the sea lions danced to a song by Queen and had everyone smiling from ear to ear. 

We did partake in one paid extra at the Georgia Aquarium. This was the Behind the Seas Tour, which took you behind the scenes in the aquarium. When booking the experience, the woman who was helping us recommended we take the 2:15 PM tour since this is when they feed the manta rays and/or whale sharks from the large exhibit. I recommend you do the same!

This tour is approximately 45 minutes, and gives you a deep appreciation for all that the aquarium is doing for conservation efforts, animal rehabilitation, and marine-life education. 

After finishing our visit at the Georgia Aquarium, we went back to the hotel to freshen up for our evening activity. We were headed to Stone Mountain Park, which is about 30 minutes from Atlanta, for their Pumpkin Festival. Stone Mountain Park has hiking, a mini theme park area, and hosts many festivals and events throughout the year.

When we arrived, the security guard told us that it cost $5 for rideshares to enter the park. Madness. Thankfully, Mom had some cash on her and we were able to pay so the driver didn’t have to pay out of pocket. We warned our driver on the way back and reimbursed him when he picked us up. We didn’t want to risk being stuck that far away from our hotel.

Stone Mountain Park is really cute. There were a bunch of shops, places to eat, a 4-D theater, train rides, mini golf, and more! It is an amazing place for families and people with kids, although adults can have fun there too. 

We purchased VIP tickets, which were $10 more than the general admission tickets. VIP allowed us to skip the lines for everything, and it was so worth it. Lines were decently long, and we probably would have skipped a few things if we thought we had to wait, so make sure you buy VIP.

The first thing we did was take a train ride around Stone Mountain. On this ride you are taken around the perimeter of the mountain, learn some history and information about the mountain, and even stop for a show. The show is a take on The Three Little Pigs, and I have to be honest, it was super cheesy. My personal favorite part of the ride was seeing all of the hiking trails on the mountain. It made me want to go back to partake in a hike one day.

Afterwards, we grabbed some food from the main cafeteria. They served your standard theme park food, like chicken fingers and french fries. After filling our bellies, we wandered around admiring all of the Halloween decor and pumpkin displays. The theme was storybook characters, so each display represented a classic fairytale made with mostly pumpkins and small props. My personal favorite was the  Charlotte’s Web display!

The show at the 4-D theater was The Wizard of Oz. With our VIP tickets, we cut to the front of the line, grabbed our 3-D glasses, and got front row seats to the show! The 4-D version that they showed was cut down and was approximately 20 minutes long, and it’s perfect to enjoy while not missing too much of the Pumpkin Festival.

We walked around for a few hours and then decided it was time to head back, but first Mom wanted a funnel cake. We found the shop that sold them and waited for over 30 minutes for a damn funnel cake. Thankfully, Mom said it was worth it. I was so full from the million french fries I ate earlier that I didn’t try it, but I trust her taste!

Day 3 – Sunday 

Today started with breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird, which is on the way to Zoo Atlanta. Ria’s had great reviews and the food was delicious, but the main reason we went there is because my mom’s name is Maria, so we couldn’t pass up a restaurant with her name! 

After enjoying some delicious bananas foster pancakes, we went to explore Zoo Atlanta. The Zoo is on the smaller side, but there is still plenty to see.

At any zoo I visit, I always enjoy seeing the gorilla exhibit. At Zoo Atlanta there are three gorilla habitats: one for the bachelor group, one for the geriatrics, and one for the family group. The three different exhibits give visitors a glimpse of how these fascinating creatures may live in the wild. 

Zoo Atlanta does a phenomenal job with vantage points for its visitors. Each exhibit has viewpoints from multiple angles, which is really helpful if, for example, the tiger was asleep in one corner of the exhibit and blocked by trees at one of the viewing windows.

Zoo Atlanta is also home to a giant panda, which is the mother to seven cubs. Her youngest cubs were twin females who live in the habitat next door. The zookeeper at the panda exhibit told us that if pandas have twins in the wild they generally would pick the stronger one and leave the other one to die. As humans, this is heartbreaking, but for the wild pandas it is a matter of survival. Thankfully, the twins were born in captivity, so they were both able to grow up and thrive together.

After a full day of exploring, we had something extra exciting to end our day at the zoo… the Elephant Encounter. This was a paid animal encounter we booked with the zoo. Normally it is for groups of up to ten people, but Mom and I were the only ones who signed up, so we got to enjoy the experience in a more intimate setting. 

For our encounter, we got to go behind the scenes and meet Tara, one of the African elephants who lives at Zoo Atlanta. We were able to watch Tara perform some tricks and then we were both able to feed her some lettuce. 

Tara, and all of the animals at Zoo Atlanta, are trained using positive reinforcement. Behaviors that are wanted are rewarded with things such as treats, physical touch (scratches, rubs, etc.), and time for preferred behaviors. Preferred behaviors are tricks that the animal enjoys doing and will often do unprompted and just for fun. Every time Tara did what her trainer signaled for she was rewarded with a handful of fruits and veggies that she absolutely LOVED. 

Being up close and personal with Tara was a magnificent experience. Even though she was behind the bars of her exhibit and we were behind a fence, we got to see an elephant closer than ever before. If you are ever given the opportunity to (safely) interact with animals at the zoo, I highly recommend taking advantage of it! 

After a long day of wandering around the zoo, Mom and I decided to go to Bailey’s Wine Cellar, which is owned by one of the Housewives of Atlanta, Cynthia Bailey. Unfortunately, the hours on the website were incorrect and they were closed. 

Instead we went to Eventide Brewing, which happened to be right around the corner. Eventide was my type of place. This old warehouse-turned-brewery was spacious, with both indoor and outdoor seating and games scattered all around for guests to enjoy while sipping on their beers. 

I ordered an Oktoberfest beer first, and then realized they offered flights. I am a sucker for a flight! I quickly downed my Oktoberfest and went back up to the bar to order myself a flight.

 

After one full size beer and six mini beers in the flight, I was pretty tired and, let’s be honest, drunk. It was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner (and nap). Mom will be the first one to tell you, I am an old lady at heart. If it wasn’t for her saying we had to go to dinner, I probably would have just stayed in and went to bed at that point.

For dinner we went to Porter Beer Bar in Little Five Points, which is the area that our Uber driver, JC, recommended to us on day one. At Porter you seat yourself and order at the bar. It is very casual.

The food was really good, but I have one complaint. They don’t have ranch or blue cheese. They weren’t just out of it. How could you have buffalo wings and a buffalo sandwich on your menu but no ranch or blue cheese?!?!? 

Either way, the pierogis were delish, Mom loved her fish and chips, and the buffalo sandwich was really good even without the creamy sauces. 

Day 4 – Monday 

For our last day, we went to Atlanta Breakfast Club. This is an Atlanta hotspot and there is usually a long wait. Make sure to get there early or go on Yelp and add yourself to the waitlist.

Even for a Monday morning at 9AM, ABC was pretty crowded. Our waitress came over and let us know that she would take the drink and food order at the same time, so we would have to order all at once. 

We quickly figured out what we wanted and ordered. I ordered the Southern Breakfast and Mom ordered the Peach Cobbler French Toast. Both were out of this world. All of this southern food just won my heart over one bite at a time.

I also ordered chocolate milk with my meal and was kind of disappointed when they brought over a pre-packed carton rather than homemade chocolate milk. AND it was tiny, so I finished it in about 3 seconds. Mom ordered tea and asked for milk, but apparently, they don’t even have milk as an option. What kind of breakfast place doesn’t have milk?

Since the waitress took all of our order at once, I had a hard time flagging her down to order myself another drink. I just wanted water, so I figured it would be easy. After longer than I’d like to admit, I finally got her attention and she brought over a bottle of water. They do not give you a glass of water here, so you’re paying for the water bottle too. 

Thankfully, the food was so good that we could overlook the weird drink situations. 

The final activity on our Atlanta itinerary was a trip to the World of Coca-Cola. I imagined the World of Coca-Cola to be a basic museum, but boy was I wrong. From the second you walk through the doors, you are immersed into an interactive experience that is all things Coke. 

First, you are ushered into a room filled with Coca-Cola artifacts, such as a syrup dispenser musem from 1896. While in this room, an energetic guide wearing a red, sparkly suit gives you a history of the company and the artifacts that surround you. Did you know that when Coca-Cola was first introduced it was sold without ice? If you wanted a cold beverage, you had to pay an extra cent. It doesn’t seem like much, but a Coke only cost 5 cents back then. 

After the host’s introduction, you are directed into a theater to watch “Moments of Memories,” which is essentially a 6-minute Coke commercial.

After the movie is over, you can enter the actual museum. There are two levels, which contain a few different rooms. One room features displays about the company’s history, one about the smells, one about manufacturing, one about the secret recipe, etc. 

Some of the rooms were interactive, which adds a fun aspect to your visit! Scent Discovery, for example, brings you to a table where you are given different colored containers and you have to guess what the ingredient is. The categories included spicy, fruity, and sweet, and then there were some coffee beans to reset your nose!  

After you finish in the rooms, you reach the tasting room where you can test Coca-Cola flavors from all around the world. I recommend you take this part slow. I did NOT take it slow and I felt super full and bloated after about the third station of soda. Totally worth it. There are some delicious and some funky flavors available for you to try!

Time for the grand finale for this trip: milkshakes from The Yard. Instagram lovers and foodies rejoice, this place is for YOU. The milkshakes here are masterpieces and hard to not show off to your friends! 

The milkshakes can be kind of pricey, starting at $16, but you get to keep the cute little jar they are served in and you get what you pay for food wise, so it’s totally worth it.

With full bellies and sugar overload, we headed back to the Atlanta Airport for our journey back to New York, excited to tell all of our friends and family about the incredible city in the south that they MUST visit!

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