Weather

Having a temperate climate, Atlanta offers its residents four distinct seasons. The flowering of the dogwood trees in the spring brings a festive air to the city, one of the greenest metro areas in the eastern part of the nation. Temperatures average in the 60s during the spring season, leading residents to return in force to outdoor activities, with joggers and bicyclists being the most noticeable as the area’s flora begins to bloom in earnest.

Summers, which can have extended hot and humid spells, are tempered somewhat by Atlanta’s elevation on the edge of north Georgia’s Piedmont region. The summer temperatures average in the 70s and 80s, with many days that seem custom-made for tall glasses of iced tea that stretch time into a slow, long, elastic state. Cookouts abound in backyards and parks as people connect with their “inner griller” and cooking barbeque approaches the status of a sacred ritual.

When fall moseys into the Atlanta region, the abundant greenery creates a decidedly more colorful canopy. The temperature starts to cool down and averages in the 50s and 60s. The cooler temperatures provide a welcome contrast to summer’s heat and energy fills the air as the school year hits its stride. Fall is perhaps the most popular season with outdoor enthusiasts as the moderate temperatures keep active sports participants cool and comfortable.

Winters can be cold but daytime temperatures are usually comfortable enough to enjoy being outdoors. The temperature averages in the 40s and 50s during the winter months. It’s not unusual to see couples getting engaged in tennis doubles or foursomes out on the links during the winter season. The great numbers of pine trees in the region give a decidedly softer edge to the colder months by displaying their boughs of green needles. Snow and occasionally an ice storm will appear usually only once during the season. Rarely does the weather prevent normal daily activity.

The average annual temperature in Atlanta is 61 degrees, making it a typically comfortable climate.  It rains an annual average of 116 days out of the year, accumulating to about 50 inches of rain each year.  Severe weather by and large seems to bypass the heart of Atlanta, with areas on the northern and southern edges of the metro region experiencing more of the occasional intense weather.

Click here for your Atlanta weather forecast

Shopping

Shopping venues in and around Atlanta range from luxury to antique, and they all have individual characteristics that attract shoppers. Avid and casual shoppers alike can find classy, vintage, or modern items to suit their tastes. Below is a list of major shopping areas in Atlanta and in the areas surrounding Atlanta.

 

Atlanta
Atlantic Station
www.shopatlanticstation.com
(404) 733-1221

Buckhead Lenox Square
www.buckhead.net/lenoxsquare
(770) 216-1662

Buckhead Phipps Plaza
www.simon.com/mall/?id=210
(404) 261-7910

Little Five Points
www.littlefivepoints.net/category/shopping
(404) 522-2926

Perimeter Mall
www.perimetermall.com
(770) 394-4270

Virginia Highland
www.virginiahighland.com/attr_reta.html

Areas Surrounding Atlanta
Decatur Square
www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=546
(404) 370-4100

Marietta Square
www.mariettasquare.com/shopping.html
(770) 429-1115

North Georgia Premium Outlets
www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=16
(706) 216-3609

Roswell Square
www.visitroswellga.com/shopping.html
(770) 640-3253

Tanger Outlets
www.tangeroutlet.com/locustgrove
(770) 957-5310

Shopping Districts
Miami Circle Shopping District
www.miamicircleshops.com
 

Bennett Street Design District
www.buckhead.net
 

Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC)
www.adacatlanta.com
(404) 231-1720
 

2300 Peachtree
www.buckhead.net
 

Antiques
 
Chamblee’s Antique Row
www.antiquerow.com
(770) 458-6316
 
Great Gatsby’s
www.greatgatsbys.com
(770) 457-1903
 

Historic Roswell
www.visitroswellga.com
(770) 640-3253
 

Lakewood Antiques Markets
www.lakewoodantiques.com
(770) 889-3400
 

Pride of Dixie Antique Market
www.northatlantatradecenter.com
(770) 279-9899
 

Red Baron’s Antiques
www.rbantiques.com
(404) 252-3770
 

Scott Antique Market
www.scottantiquemarket.com
(404) 361-2000
 

Art Galleries
 
Anne Hathaway
www.hathawaydesigns.com
(404) 352-4153
 

Anne Irwin Fine Art
www.anneirwinfineart.com
(404) 467-1200
 
Ann Jackson Gallery
www.annjacksongallery.com
(770) 993-4783
 

Antonio Raimo Galleries
www.antonioraimogalleries.com
(404) 841-9880
 

Artists Atelier of Atlanta
www.artistsatelier.com
(404) 231-5999
 
Barbara Archer Gallery
www.barbaraarcher.com
(404) 523-1845
 

Bennett Street Gallery
www.bennettstgallery.com
(404) 352-8775
 

Deljou Art Group
www.deljouartgroup.com
(404) 350-7190
 

Fay Gold Gallery
www.faygoldgallery.com
(404) 233-3843
 

Frabel Studio & Gallery
www.frabel.com
(404) 351-9794
 

Frameworks Gallery
www.frameworksgallery.com
(770) 973-6701
 

Heaven Blue Rose Gallery
www.heavenbluerose.com
(770) 587-1400
 

Jackson Fine Art
www.jacksonfineart.com
(404) 233-3739
 

Kiang Gallery
www.kiang-gallery.com
(404) 892-5477
 

Lagerquist Gallery
www.lagerquistgallery.net
(404) 261-8273
 

The Lowe Gallery
www.lowegallery.com
(404) 352-8114
 

Marcia Wood Gallery
www.marciawoodgallery.com
(404) 827-0030
 

Matre Gallery
www.matregallery.com
(404) 812-9520
 

Modern Primitive Gallery
www.modernprimitive.com
(404) 879-1500
 

Reinike Gallery
www.reinikegallery.com
(404) 364-0490
 

Solomon Projects
www.solomonprojects.com
(404) 875-7100
 

Swan Coach House Gallery
www.swancoachhouse.com
(404) 261-0636
 

Thomas Deans & Company
www.britishwatercolors.com
(404) 814-1811
 

Taylor Kinzel Gallery
www.taylorkinzelgallery.com
(770) 993-3555
 

Trinity Gallery
www.trinitygallery.com
(404) 237-0370

Healthcare

State-of-the-art healthcare is provided in Atlanta through many leading hospitals and healthcare systems. Below is a list, description, and contact information for the major hospitals and healthcare systems in and around Atlanta.

Atlanta Medical Center
www.atlantamedcenter.com
(404) 265-4000

ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER is a designated Level I Trauma Center and is nationally recognized in cardiology, advanced surgery, neurology, and many other areas.  The center began its service to the Atlanta community in 1901 and is now a 460-bed facility sprawled across two city blocks. Services provided at Atlanta Medical Center include: a 30-bed neonatal intensive care unit; the Atlanta Cancer Center; the Atlanta Rehabilitation Center; three medical office buildings; the Wellness Center; the Graduate Medical Education Program, and areas of medical excellence that provide care in advanced surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurology, women’s health, orthopedics and trauma.

Atlanta VA Medical Center
www.atlanta.va.gov
(404) 321-6111

ATLANTA VA MEDICAL CENTER (VAMC) is a state-of-the-art teaching hospital that provides a full scope of patient care services for United States veterans. Located on 26 acres in Decatur, the Atlanta VAMC is one of eight medical centers in the VA Southeast Network. It  operates eight community-based outpatient clinics in the following Atlanta communities:

Atlanta VAMC is primarily affiliated with the Emory University School of Medicine and teamed with Morehouse School of Medicine in establishing the East Point Clinic, which provides comprehensive primary and outpatient mental health care services.
Atlanta VAMC functions as a primary Receiving Center in the VA/DoD Contingency Planning Process and a Federal Coordinating Hospital in the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS).  Additionally, Atlanta VAMC serves as a training site for RNs and corpsman for the Naval Reserves Readiness Center, and trains RNs, 91Cs, and medics for the 3297th U.S. Army Hospital for Training Support Services.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
www.choa.org

CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations, Children’s is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country and is the pediatric physician teaching site for both Emory University School of Medicine as well as Morehouse School of Medicine. Children’s offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals by Parents magazine and U.S. News & World Report.

Whether treating an injured toddler in an emergency or supporting a teen through chemotherapy treatments, Children’s offers family-centered care while providing specialized age-appropriate medical procedures, supplies and support for children. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world.

Children’s at Egleston
(404) 785-6000

Children’s at Hughes Spalding
(404) 785-9500

Children’s at Scottish Rite
(404) 785-5252

Dekalb Medical
www.dekalbmedical.org
(404) 501-1000

DeKalb Medical is a not-for-profit health system that consists of three hospital campuses throughout the greater Atlanta area. With more than 800 doctors skilled in 55 medical specialties, DeKalb Medical combines cutting-edge technology with compassion to effectively diagnose and treat its patients. A leader in cancer, heart attack treatment and orthopedics, DeKalb Medical System and DeKalb Medical Physicians Group has been growing with metropolitan Atlanta’s medical needs since 1961.

More than just a provider of hospital services, DeKalb Medical has led the Atlanta health community in the new era of electronic medical records, which puts information at doctors’ fingertips to help improve patient safety and outcomes. The 627-bed system includes DeKalb Medical at North Decatur (451 beds), DeKalb Medical Long Term Acute Care at Downtown Decatur (76 beds) and DeKalb Medical at Hillandale (100 beds). Committed to excelling in patient satisfaction and service, DeKalb Medical’s quality is reflected in many clinical excellence awards throughout its three-hospital system including being ranked in the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Orthopedic Services by HealthGrades® (2011).

Emory University Hospital
1364 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 712-2000
www.emoryhealthcare.org

Emory Healthcare has been at the forefront of medicine, putting cutting-edge interventional research and technology into lifesaving action. As the largest, most comprehensive health care system in Georgia, Emory Healthcare has 1,830 licensed patient beds, 9,000 employees and more than 20 health centers located throughout metro Atlanta. It is one of the nation’s leaders in cardiology and cardiac surgery, oncology, transplantation, ophthalmology, orthopedics and the neurosciences. Emory University Hospital, Emory Healthcare’s flagship facility, is staffed exclusively by physicians who are faculty of the Emory University School of Medicine.

Emory Healthcare is the clinical arm of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University, which focuses on patient care, education of health professionals, research addressing health and illness, and health policies for prevention and treatment of disease. The backbone of this system is the Emory University School of Medicine, which has been at the forefront of medical knowledge and research, pioneering many advances and procedures that have changed the face of medical history.

The Emory Healthcare system encompasses The Emory Clinic; Emory University Hospital; Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory’s Midtown Atlanta Hospital; Emory University Orthopedics and Spine Hospital in Tucker, Georgia; Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna; Emory-Children’s Center; Wesley Woods Center; Saint Joseph’s Hospital; and Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Emory benefits from a close working relationship with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Grady Memorial Hospital. It is also a key partner in the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute (ACTSI), where Emory doctors and researchers collaborate with counterparts from the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Georgia Institute of Technology to rapidly and efficiently translate scientific discoveries to improve healthcare for all populations of the Atlanta community.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital
6325 Hospital Parkway
Johns Creek, GA 30097
678-474-7000
www.emoryjohnscreek.com

Emory Johns Creek Hospital (EJCH) is located in Johns Creek, formerly known as Duluth. Since opening in 2007, EJCH has garnered a reputation for its state-of-the-art medical technologies in a luxurious, hotel-like setting.  Jointly owned by Emory Healthcare and HCA, EJCH is 110-bed, all private room community hospital that participates in most insurance plans. The hospital offers a full range of services including 24/7 emergency care, digital imaging including a 64 slice CT, MRI, The Birth Place with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 24-hour anesthesiologists, intensive care, advanced cardiac care, vascular medicine and surgery, rehabilitation services and women’s services. EJCH is home to the Atlanta Bariatric Center, which is designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons.

Grady Memorial Hospital
80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 616-1000
www.gradyhealth.org

Opened in 1892, Grady Health System is renowned for its trauma and emergency services. As the premier Level I Trauma Center within 100 miles of metropolitan Atlanta, Grady is capable of handling severe medical conditions such as asthma, severe burns, sickle cell and stroke. In addition to both care and intensive care units (ICU), Grady has a neonatal ICU and Grady houses Georgia’s Poison Center and 24-hour rape crisis and advice nurse lines. And, its Ponce de Leon Center was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Grady is an internationally recognized teaching hospital staffed exclusively by doctors from the Emory University and Morehouse Schools of Medicine. In fact, twenty five percent of all doctors practicing medicine in Georgia received some or all of their training at Grady.

Grady also provides primary care services at its main Primary Care Center and in its six Primary Care Centers located around Fulton and DeKalb counties. Grady’s other service centers include a Diabetes Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence and Avon Foundation Breast Health Center. Grady is also a regional perinatal center and offers a 60 Plus service line for older adults, Teen Health Services and 100 other subspecialty services.

Gwinnett Medical Center
www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org
Lawrenceville
(678) 312-1000

Duluth
(678) 312-6800

Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) is a not-for-profit healthcare network with acute-care hospitals in Lawrenceville and Duluth that provide award-winning healthcare services. GMC’s 4,200 associates and 800 affiliated physicians serve more than 400,000 patients annually. Gwinnett Medical Center is a 553-bed healthcare network that services Lawrenceville, Duluth, Johns Creek and the Atlanta area.

Gwinnett Medical Center–Lawrenceville is recognized as a national leader in single incision laparoscopic surgery and home to a Level II Trauma Center, while Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth offers an array of specialty services, including surgical weight management, da Vinci® robotic surgery and sports medicine.

Henry Medical Center
www.henrymedical.com
(678) 604-1000

Piedmont Henry Hospital is a 215-bed not-for-profit community hospital located in Stockbridge, Georgia just south of Atlanta. It serves Henry, Coweta, Fayette and Pickens counties with its Centers of Excellence in cardiovascular, orthopedics, surgery, diagnostics, women’s health and a radiation oncology center.

Newton Medical Center
www.newtonmedical.com
(770) 788-9970

Newton Medical Center (NMC) provides Covington and other surrounding areas with state-of-the-art medical facilities. NMC has been recognized by national healthcare rating organizations as being one of the top medical facilities in the area. The medical center offers services such as minimally-invasive surgery, wound care, rapid emergency care and the Women’s Diagnostic Center.

North Fulton Hospital
www.nfultonhospital.com
(770) 751-2500

North Fulton Hospital (NFH) is a 202-bed acute-care hospital and is a state-designated Level II Trauma Center. Located between Roswell and Alpharetta in North Fulton County, Georgia, NFH was established on 47-acre tract in 1983 and has been meeting the medical and healthcare needs of residents of North Fulton, Forsyth, East Cobb, East Cherokee and West Gwinnett counties for more than a quarter of a century. The hospital has a medical staff of more than 400 affiliated physicians, employs an additional 900 healthcare professionals and has an active volunteer staff of more than two hundred.

NFH provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs including neurosciences, women’s health services, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, gastroenterology and oncology.  The hospital is fully accredited and is also recognized by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer as an Accredited Cancer Program, as well as being certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

Northside Hospital
www.northside.com

Atlanta
(404) 851-8000

Forsyth
(770) 844-3200

Cherokee
(770) 720-5100

Northside Hospital is a network of three not-for-profit, acute-care hospitals in Atlanta, Forsyth and Cherokee with a total of 822 licensed beds, 2200 physicians and 8200 employees. Northside also operates 15 hospital-affiliated outpatient centers and medical office buildings throughout north metropolitan Atlanta.

Voted “Atlanta’s Most Preferred Hospital for All Health Care Needs” for 15 consecutive years, Northside offers a full range of services and has become an ambassador of women’s health issues.  More babies are delivered, more surgeries are performed, and more cases of breast and gynecological cancer are diagnosed at Northside than at any other community hospital in Georgia.

Piedmont Hospital
1958 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30309
www.piedmonthospital.org
(404) 605-5000

PIEDMONT HOSPITAL has been serving the people of Atlanta for more than 100 years and they offer a broad spectrum of surgical, medical, and diagnostic services. Piedmont Hospital is a private, not-for-profit, acute-care, tertiary facility offering most major medical, surgical and diagnostic services. The facility has 529 beds, all-private rooms, 4,000 employees and a medical staff of more than 1,000 board-certified physicians. Its main campus is conveniently located on 26 acres in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, with facilities across the metro area.

Piedmont Hospital is part of Piedmont Healthcare (PHC), a not-for-profit organization that also includes Piedmont Fayette Hospital, a 157-bed, acute-care community hospital in Fayetteville and one of the 100 Top Hospitals® in the nation; Piedmont Newnan Hospital, a 143-bed, acute-care community hospital in Newnan; and Piedmont Henry Hospital, a 215-bed acute-care community hospital in Stockbridge. Piedmont Healthcare also is the parent company of the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI), comprised of nearly 100 affiliated cardiovascular specialists in Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians with over 25 locations across north Georgia and North Carolina; the Piedmont Physicians Group, with more than 150 primary care physicians in 50 offices throughout metro Atlanta; and the Piedmont Clinic, a 800-member physician network; and Piedmont Philanthropy, the philanthropic entity for private fundraising initiatives.

Rockdale Medical Center
www.rockdalemedicalcenter.org
(770) 918-3000

Rockdale Medical Center is an acute-care hospital that includes an Emergency Department, a Women’s Resource Center, Sleep Diagnostics, as well as other centers and services.

Shepherd Center
www.shepherd.org
(404) 352-2020

Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and other neurological conditions. Founded in 1975, Shepherd Center, which is a 152-bed rehabilitation facility, including a 10-bed intensive care unit, is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation. Last year, Shepherd had 965 admissions to its inpatient programs and 571 to its day patient programs. In addition, Shepherd sees more than 6,600 people annually on an outpatient basis.

South Fulton Medical Center
www.southfultonmedicalcenter.com
(404) 466-1170

*On Jan. 1, 2013, South Fulton Medical Center is consolidating with Atlanta Medical Center and will be renamed, Atlanta Medical Center – South Campus.

South Fulton Medical Center is a 338-bed, acute care community medical center located just off I-85 South in East Point, Georgia. It provides emergency services, rehabilitation, outpatient surgery, and more.

Established in 1963, South Fulton Medical Center has been among those at the forefront in meeting the medical and healthcare needs of residents of South Fulton, Coweta, Fayette, Clayton, and Douglas counties for more than a decade. SFMC has an affiliated medical staff of more than 300 and an additional 1,000 healthcare professionals are employed by the hospital. The hospital also has an active auxiliary staff of more than 100 persons.

Southern Regional Medical Center
www.southernregional.org
(770) 991-8000

Southern Regional Medical Center (SRMC) is a full-service, 331-bed hospital in Riverdale. SRMC, a not-for-profit organization, was the first to offer angioplasty and round-the-clock catheterization on the south side of Atlanta and is recognized as an accredited Chest Pain Center. In addition, SRMC boasts an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, the Georgia Orthopedic Institute, minimally-invasive, robotic surgeries with the da Vinci Surgical System® and a variety of rehabilitation services.

Southern Regional also is home to the Women’s Life Center for expectant mothers, which claims the area’s top neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and offers a full ranges of services from high-risk deliveries to routine mammograms. A second campus at Spivey Station in Jonesboro, Ga. specializes in OB/GYN, breast care, primary care and internal medicine, oncology and more.

St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta
www.stjosephsatlanta.org
(678) 843-7001

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, Saint Joseph’s facility is Atlanta’s oldest hospital. Today, the 410-bed, acute-care facility is recognized as one of the top specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast.

Saint Joseph’s Hospital is a leader among Georgia health-care providers, respected for its expertise, innovation in health-care delivery and quality of care. As a leader in cardiac, neurologic, vascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, orthopaedic and cancer care, among others, Saint Joseph’s offers its patients the latest procedures and treatments by providing its medical staff, comprised of more than 750 physicians, with research services and the most advanced technology available.

In addition to serving the metro-Atlanta area, patients come from all over Georgia and nearby states because of Saint Joseph’s specialized services, excellent reputation and unique patient experience. In fact, Sain’t Joseph’s is Georgia’s only hospital to have received the Top 50 Hospitals USA designation.

Saint Joseph’s has received numerous awards including the distinguished Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center; a designation of best in Georgia and top five percent in the nation for cardiac and vascular programs; and Solucient’s list of 100 Top Hospitals in the country for cardiac and orthopedic care. Saint Joseph’s is the only Atlanta hospital named to J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program for Service Excellence.

Village Medical
www.VillageMedical.com

At Village Medical, patients receive time and attention from their primary care provider. The team is committed to bringing our value-based care model to your neighborhood. Village Medical is in hundreds of locations in 19 markets with more than 15 clinics in Georgia alone. Believing healthcare should be personal, accessible, and coordinated, and your Village Medical primary care physician can build a trusting relationship. From wellness checks and diagnostic testing to injuries, illnesses and chronic care management, Village Medical’s board-certified doctors and staff partner with you to understand your needs, and focus not just on treatment, but also on education and prevention. The experienced providers combine their knowledge and compassion with the tools and technology needed to help create healthier, happier lives for their patients. The practices are open 7:30am-5pm Monday-Friday. Appointments can be booked online at VillageMedical.com.

WellStar Health System
www.wellstar.org
(770) 792-7600

WellStar Health System delivers world-class healthcare for over 600,000 people in and around Atlanta. WellStar, a not-for-profit system, includes Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding, and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Medical Group; Urgent Care Centers; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation.

Decor Galore

One of the perks of buying a new home is having the opportunity to decorate the home in a unique and exciting way. Many shopping districts in Atlanta offer nearly everything needed for decorating a new house, which makes the shopping process more convenient and less time consuming. For those who want to go to stores or galleries outside of the design districts, Atlanta offers many art galleries, furniture stores, and places to find antiques. Below is a list of some of the decorating and design districts in Atlanta, as well as some places to find art, furniture, and antiques.

Decorating and Design Districts

Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC)
www.buckhead.net/adac

Bennett Street
www.buckhead.net/bennettstreet

The Miami Circle
www.buckhead.net/miamicircle

West Midtown
www.westsidedesigndistrict.com

Art Galleries
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
www.thecontemporary.org

(404) 688-1970

Barbara Archer Gallery
www.barbaraarcher.com

(404) 523-1845

Bill Lowe Gallery
www.lowegallery.com

(404) 352-8114

Jackson Fine Art
www.jacksonfineart.com

(404) 233-3739

Marcia Wood Gallery
www.marciawoodgallery.com

(404) 827-0030

Sandler Hudson Gallery
www.sandlerhudson.com

(404) 817-3300

Thomas Kinkade
www.thomaskinkadegallery.com

(770) 698-0777

Furniture Stores
Cantoni Contemporary and Modern Furniture
www.cantoni.com

(404) 881-8111

IKEA
www.ikea.com

(404) 745-4532

Rooms to Go
www.roomstogo.com

(404) 816-3556

Traders
www.tradersatlanta.com

(404) 522-3006

Z Gallerie
www.zgallerie.com

(404) 870-8531

Places to find Antiques
14th Street Antiques Market
www.14thstreetantiques.com

(404) 325-4600

Atlanta Antique Gallery
www.atlantaantiquegallery.com

(770) 457-7444

Antiques and Beyond
www.antiquesandbeyond.com

(404) 872-4342

Highland Row Antiques
www.highlandrowantiques.com

(404) 815-8830

Kudzu Antiques
www.kudzuantiques.com

(404) 373-6498

Paris on Ponce
www.parisonponce.com

(404) 249-9965

Provence Antiques
www.provenanceonline.com

(404) 351-1217

Family Entertainment in Atlanta

Entertaining shows and activities for families of varying interests are provided in Atlanta for all to enjoy. Families can have educational experiences on a tour of one of Atlanta’s studios or factories, cultural explorations at a festival or theatre, and outdoor adventures at a park or zoo. Below are some of the major family attractions in Atlanta and websites to find out more information.

 

Amicalola Falls State Park

www.gastateparks.org

(706) 265-4703

Atlanta Botanical Garden

www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

(404) 876-5859

Atlanta History Center

www.atlantahistorycenter.com

(404) 814-4000

Atlantic Station

www.atlanticstation.com

(404) 733-1221

Cagle’s Dairy Farm

www.caglesdairy.com

(770) 345-5591

Callaway Gardens

www.callawayonline.com

(800) 225-5292

Centennial Olympic Park

www.centennialpark.com

(404) 223-4412

Center for Puppetry Arts

www.puppet.org

(404) 873-3391

Chattahoochee Nature Center

www.chattnaturecenter.com

(770) 992-2055

CNN Studio Tour

www.cnn.com

(404) 827-2300

Fernbank Museum of Natural History and IMAX Theatre

www.fernbankmuseum.org

(404) 929-6300

The Foam Factory

www.whitewaterpark.com

(770) 424-9283

Georgia Aquarium

www.georgiaaquarium.org

(404) 581-400

Georgia Renaissance Festival

www.garenfest.com

(770) 964-8575

Georgia World Congress Center

www.gwcc.com

(404) 223-4000

High Museum of Art

www.high.org

(404) 733-4444

Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta

www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org

(404)659-KIDS [5437]

Jimmy Carter Library and Museum

www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov

(404) 865-7100

Kangaroo Conservation Center

www.kangaroocenter.com

(706) 265-6100

Lake Lanier Islands

www.lakelanierislands.com

(770) 945-8787

Marietta Theatre in the Square

www.theatreinthesquare.com

(770) 422-8369

Margaret Mitchell House

www.margaretmitchellhouse.com

(404) 249-7015

Medieval Times

www.medievaltimes.com

1-866-543-9637

Off Broadway Dance Children’s Theatre

www.offbroadwaydance.com

(770) 664-2410

Piedmont Park

www.piedmontpark.org

Red Door Playhouse

reddoorplayhouse.com

(770) 649-9994

Roswell Ghost Tour

www.roswellghosttour.com

(770) 649-9922

Six Flags Over Georgia

www.sixflags.com

(770) 948-9290

Stone Mountain Park

www.stonemountainpark.com

(770) 498-5690

Tanglewood Farm

www.tanglewoodfarmminiatures.com

(770) 667-6464

Underground Atlanta

www.underground-atlanta.com

(404) 523-2311

WhirleyBall Atlanta

www.whirlyballatlanta.com

(770) 998-6161

Whole World Improv Theater

www.wholeworldtheatre.com

(404) 817-7529

World of Coca-Cola Tour

www.worldofcoca-cola.com

(404) 676-5151

Yellow River Game Ranch

www.yellowrivergameranch.com

(770) 972-6642

Zoo Atlanta

www.zooatlanta.org

(404) 624-9453

A great place to do business

Atlanta is ranked among the top cities in the world for business climate and is ranked fourth in the United States for the number of Fortune 500 companies that are headquartered within city limits, only behind New York City, Houston, and Dallas. The metro area headquarters many major national and international companies, including ten Fortune 500 companies: Home Depot, Coca-Cola, United Parcel Service, Delta Air Lines, Southern, Genuine Parts, First Data, SunTrust Banks, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Newell Rubbermaid.

Many other major companies have their headquarters in metro Atlanta including Chick-fil-a, Earthlink, Oxford Industries, RaceTrac Petroleum, and Waffle House. Over 75 percent of Fortune 1000 companies have a presence in metro Atlanta. Atlanta is ranked in the top ten largest CyberCities (high-tech centers) in the United States, with over 100,000 high-tech jobs.

There is a growing biotechnology district in Atlanta. Biotechnology has gained recognition through events such as the 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission II is also headquartered in Atlanta.

Atlanta has a large financial region. SunTrust Bank, one of the largest bank chains in the U.S.,  is headquartered in downtown Atlanta. Atlanta also has a district for the headquarters of the Federal Reserve System, known as the Federal Bank Reserve of Atlanta.

Atlanta is a hub for major cable television programming. Turner Broadcasting System was started in Atlanta by Ted Turner. Turner founded the headquarters of the Cable News Network at the CNN Center. The company expanded to include Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Turner South, TNT, CNN International, and Turner Classic Movies. The ever-popular Weather Channel was started in Cobb County in the early ‘80s.

There are many modes of transportation for the business community. A majority of people commute from the outskirts of the city. Multiple Interstate Highways run through Atlanta such as I-75, I-85, and I-20. For those who wish to bypass the city, I-285 provides an accessible bypass route. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides affordable transportation for those who want public transit.

Quality of life

The Atlanta metropolitan area has consistently ranked high in overall quality of life when compared to other cities in the county. Location has always been key in Atlanta’s history and today it is no different. Served by one of the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International, one can reach eighty percent of the U.S. population within two hours.

The cost of living in Atlanta is favorable when compared to other major cities in the country. The value of buying a home in Atlanta is high, this is especially apparent compared with other major cities such as New York City, Miami, and Chicago. The average annual salary earned is higher than the national average—another important factor to include when comparing the cost of living.

Educators and administrators continually strive to provide the best education possible for the students. In May of 2010, former Governor Sonny Perdue signed Senate Bill 84 into law, which gives Georgia the most comprehensive reform legislation in the country. Atlanta has numerous elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as charter, alternative, and community schools. Atlanta also has a multitude of renowned private schools including The Westminster Schools, which have the largest endowment out of all the non-boarding schools in the United States. Atlanta has many world renowned universities including the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, and Georgia State University.

Atlanta has many landmarks that fulfill cultural and inquisitive interests. Attractions for lovers of the arts include The High Museum of Art, The Atlanta Ballet, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Alliance Theater. Atlanta also has the Georgia Shakespeare Festival that draws in literature buffs The Fox Theatre and the Civic Center provide = entertainment for all types of audiences. There are also many live music venues, art galleries, and comedy clubs.

Entertainment and historical attractions such as the Fernbank Natural History Museum, the Carter Presidential Center, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the Coca-Cola Factory, the Atlanta Aquarium, and Zoo Atlanta offer entertainment and education for individuals, couples, and families of all types.

For the adventurous type day trips and outdoor activities are plentiful. Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River is only two hours away, hiking at Stone Mountain or Kennesaw Mountain is merely thirty minutes away, and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean is just four hours away. The city of Atlanta offers outdoor activities such as walking through Centennial Olympic Park in the summer, ice skating in the park in the winter, jogging through the 189-acres of Piedmont Park, and golfing at one of the many courses.

The vast array of options for dining in Atlanta allow for palates of every kind to be satisfied. There are thousands of restaurants in the metro Atlanta area that range from simple and affordable to gourmet and classy. Atlanta not only offers cuisine from every major U.S. region, but also from regions in every continent. Atlanta residents have options ranging from colorful Moroccan cuisine to flavorful Cuban cuisine to good home Southern cooking.

The nightlife in Atlanta is continually flourishing with activity. There are many lively bars including the Buckhead Saloon, the Peachtree Tavern, and Flip Flops. Atlanta has many night clubs including Opera, Club Europe, and the Masquerade. These bars and clubs often provide live music or a mixture of contemporary and classic popular music.

Professional sports events are played year-round. Atlanta is home to football’s Atlanta Falcons, baseball’s Atlanta Braves, hockey’s Atlanta Thrashers, and basketball’s Atlanta Hawks. The cutting-edge facilities that host these events are the Philips Arena, the Georgia Dome, and Turner Field. These facilities have also hosted the World Series, Super Bowls, NCAA Regional and Final Four basketball tournaments, the Peach Bowl, Major League Baseball’s All Star Game, and the SEC Championship Game.

Overall, Atlanta offers a quality of life that is competitive, if not superior, to many cities in the U.S. There are many attractions and activities for people of all ages and varying interests. Atlanta has a solid foundation and the people of Atlanta continually strive to make it an even better place to live.

A little history

Founded in 1837 as the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line, Atlanta was first named  Marthasville in honor of early railroad proponent Governor Lumpkin’s daughter. It changed again in 1847 to Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic — as in the railroad.  Other railroad companies constructed branch lines connecting Atlanta to Georgia’s coast and other points north and south. Atlanta quickly became the transportation hub of the southeast. By 1906, Atlanta was Georgia’s largest city and the undisputed center of the South.

In 1941, Delta Airlines moved its headquarters form Monroe, Louisiana to Atlanta. As Delta grew into a global airline, through innovation and acquisitions, it connected Atlanta not just to the region or the country, but also to the world. Today the fast-growing city remains a transportation hub, not just for the country but also for the world. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of the nation’s busiest in daily passenger flights.

In 1996, Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympics placing it firmly on the world stage and securing its status as an international city. As a result, people from all over the United States and from around the globe have chosen Atlanta, drawn by opportunity, prosperity and quality of life.

Since the Olympics, Atlanta has undertaken three major projects contributing to the quality of life here. In 2005, the  Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world, opened its doors in downtown Atlanta near Centennial Olympic Park.  The Aquarium exceeded all expectations of becoming a major tourist attraction when it welcomed its millionth visitor just 98 days after it opened. Atlantic Station, on the former Atlantic Steel site, has transformed into one of the city’s most magnificent live-work-play communities. Featuring condos, lofts and townhomes, a park and bike/pedestrian paths, office space, and a selection of shops and restaurants, Atlantic Station is a desirable destination for those who appreciate the finer aspect of in-town living.

The Beltline project, the outgrowth of a Georgia Tech graduate student’s thesis, will create affordable live-work-play communities, increase green space, improve transit, and connect communities along a 22-mile loop of downtown and midtown Atlanta. To help build public support for the project, in 2005, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin announced the creation of the Beltline Partnership, a collaboration of government, civic, community, neighborhood, and business leaders working closely together to bring the project to fruition. The project began in July 2006 and is estimated to take 25 years to complete. The final results expect 5,600 affordable housing units and 30,000 new full-time jobs.

As the South’s transportation, financial and progressively minded center, Atlanta has truly become a global city, both in its vision of economic prosperity and its embrace of those who have chosen to call the city home.

Atlanta

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Since Atlanta’s beginnings as an end-of-the-line railroad town named Terminus, the city has been the South’s transportation hub. Today as home to one of the world’s busiest airports, Atlanta is a global hub connecting international centers of culture and commerce. The diversity of the city’s economy and population creates a dynamic environment that supports both thriving businesses and the establishment of new homes. Numerous in-town neighborhoods provide a full spectrum of choices. The city has many entertainment options such as the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Zoo Atlanta, and much more. College and professional sports teams are abundant in Atlanta, and they attract loyal fans from all over the state. Numerous nationally-renowned higher education institutions are in the area. Overall, Atlanta has something to offer nearly every type of person.