A to Z with Zachary E
ATL
I wanted to take Rose somewhere different from Las Vegas for our second adventure together, but also somewhere warm while it is winter at home. We'd had so much fun at the aquarium in Vegas, I thought of Georgia Aquarium and researched a trip from there. The weather forecast was decent, not quite as warm as I had hoped Georgia would be. But when the time to leave on our adventure arrived... a winter storm blew in. Our trip didn't go quite to plan, but it was a fun experience.
ATL Airport
Funnily enough, Atlanta was the first airport I flew into when I began traveling back in 2017, as I had a layover here on the way to Phoenix. It was interesting to come back and get a better look after all the construction was done.
Country Inn & Suites, Downtown Atlanta
I had chosen a different hotel initially, but ended up booking this one instead due to it being a bit more economic. It ended up being a decent stay, the beds were comfortable and the room was clean. Breakfast was decent too.
Edgewood Retail District
Unfortunately, most of my photos here were taken at Five Guys, but we visited a few places including Target and Ross Dress For Less. We might have stuck around a little longer, if I didn't want to get downtown and see a few things from my initial list of things to see and do.
Centennial Olympic Park
The Centennial Olympic Park was built to commemorate the 1996 Olympics being hosted in Atlanta. A beautiful park, even under the snow and ice left by the winter storm that had just blown through.
World of Coca-Cola
One of the key stops I had planned, I had first discovered the World of Coca-Cola in summer of '19 while passing through Atlanta and was eager to finally visit. It did not disappoint! A fascinating variety of artifacts and history.
SKYVIEW Atlanta
Another highly anticipated stop, this giant ferris wheel stands twenty stories high and gets great views of the city. I hope to one day revisit it during the day to have another look.
Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View
An absolute highlight, this dinner cost as much as our hotel stay, but it was certainly worth it. I had the Maple Leaf Duck Breast and Rose had the Filet Mignon. The peach daquiri and carmel apple martini were also amazing!
Ponce City Market
Ponce City Market was one of the stops I had planned from the beginning, and it did not disappoint. A series of shops and restaurants in a huge historic Sears building. it was very impressive. It also had a bookstore!
Atlanta Beltline
I wasn't aware of the Atlanta Beltline going into this adventure, but I discovered it here and I think it is a great idea. The Atlanta Beltline is a work-in-progress walking trail connecting various businesses and historic sites, that when complete will be over 22 miles long. Can't wait to see the rest of it.
MARTA
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority was part of the reason I chose Atlanta as destination, as it was touted to be a fast and efficient means of transportation around the city. Unfortunately, the winter storm rendered it almost completely ineffective during our visit.