Everything You Should Know About Atlanta: A Local Expert's Guide to Renting in the ATL

Hi there from the ATL! I’m Brandie, proud to serve as your ApartmentHomeLiving.com local expert for the Atlanta, Georgia area. I am here to “spill all the tea” (sweet tea, of course) and show you a behind-the-scenes view of this eclectic, thriving city, one you won’t find anywhere else, thanks to its insider point of view, namely my personal experiences.

Considered a sprawling urban development with a rich cultural history, Atlanta, known by the locals as simply the ATL, A-Town, or the A, is an amazing city that I quickly fell in love with, and I think you will too! If you appreciate a city that is practically pulsing with energy and never lacks in entertainment, you will find a bit of everything to love in this southern gem. Read on for a completed insider guide from a local’s perspective on Atlanta, Georgia:

Best Neighborhoods in Atlanta

The absolute best parts of this city that I love are not the outwardly obvious selling points, like being the capital of hip-hop, being the capital city of the state of Georgia, or being home to several professional sports teams (five). It is instead, the neighborhoods that are tucked within the innermost part of the city and surrounding areas that have their own unique style and character. It is the neighborhoods, after all, that give the city its heart, feel and overall vibe. There are several really great ones to choose from, but the following are a few I think you should know about, in my opinion, anyway:

Inman Park

Although when it was originally developed, Inman Park was the big city’s first suburb. Due to the expansion of the city overall, the neighborhood now sits squarely in the city proper. It boasts walkability, lots of bike-friendly pathways, an electric trolley, historic houses, and delicious food and drink options (this is the south after all). One such offering is Beetlecat, where famed chef Ford Fry works. The restaurant is fabulous, but trust me on this, go around back. There, you will find a much more relaxed environment along with happy hour oysters, cocktails, beer and what is considered Atlanta's best lobster roll.

Old Fourth Ward

This deeply historic neighborhood in the city is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and is home of all the King Center sites. The Old Fourth Ward still has a ton of its original character and serves as a sort of blending between the old and new in terms of the city itself. Edgewood Avenue is a focal point as far as entertainment goes. Be sure to visit Killer Mike’s SWAG Barber Shop if you want to take in some lively conversation or want to meet some interesting people. Yes, it’s okay to just stop in!

Little Five Points, East Atlanta Village

Known locally as either the EAV or Little Five, the Little Five Points, East Atlanta Village neighborhood is the place to go to find some rebellious, out-of-the-box, artistic people. In other words, those who have no problem going against traditional southern norms. This neighborhood is known for being the home of Atlanta’s alt scene. It boasts walkable streets and fun spots to visit and is home to the state’s first black-owned brewery as well, Hippin’ Hops.

Midtown

As the most cosmopolitan and walkable part of the city in my estimation, Midtown is another desirable neighborhood to explore. It offers fine dining options and good local comedy at either Kat’s Cafe or The Laughing Skull Lounge. Also, enjoy the revamped Colony Square or the always desirable and historic Fox Theatre that is also housed in Midtown.

This list of my favorite neighborhoods in Atlanta is far from comprehensive. I won’t even pretend to say it’s complete. It's just a small smattering of the areas I like to explore!

History of Atlanta: A Brief Synopsis

I won’t bore you by going too in depth into the history of the city. However, I would be remiss to leave out the historic foundation of the city from any local guide, as it is simply too impactful to the current city that stands today. Its historically based moniker, “The City Too Busy to Hate”, is based on a mid-20th century slogan that was promoted in the city that praised Atlanta’s ability to focus on business and overcome racial conflict. It was created as a way to help Atlanta stand apart from other segregationist cities of the time. The city was once described by W.E.B Du Bois as “South of the North, yet North of the South,” which is a good way to interpret its characteristics. It has been and remains a unique southern city in terms of the way it has overcome racial stigmas.

Interestingly enough, the origins of Atlanta are closely tied to transportation, beginning with the railroad in 1837. Today, the city houses the nation’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson, which I mentioned briefly above. It remains much as it began, a transportation hub for the southeast and the nation overall. In addition, Atlanta has continued to grow and reinvent itself throughout the civil rights movement and beyond to attract forward-thinkers, business leaders and innovators. The Civil Rights movement is a key aspect of the city’s history as it was a central hub for this movement throughout the 1950s and 1960s. It still serves as a beacon of hope and a melting pot of cultures for the surrounding state, which is just one more thing to love about the ATL. It’s neat to consider that all roads, both literally and figuratively, that go through Atlanta in terms of transportation and also forward-thinking innovation!

What’s Atlanta Known For Today?

While the city has a rich history, which I did touch on, and lots of culturally diverse, cosmopolitan offerings, it is also known today for being the “Hollywood of the South.” Atlanta is a premiere filming spot for many major production companies and impressive movie franchises like the Marvel movies. It’s also home to Tyler Perry Studies.

I mentioned it earlier, but it’s worth another mention here too. Music is immensely important in Atlanta as the city itself almost seems to have its own backbeat. Atlanta has been a dominant force in the hip-hop industry, leading some to call it the capital of hip-hop. It has fostered artists like Usher, Ludacris, and Outkast, just to name a few, and is also a key foundation of the subgenre Trap Music that originated in the city in the early 2000s.

In addition to these worthwhile offerings, Atlanta is also home to five, count them five, major professional sports teams. This includes the following:

• Braves (MLB): Play at Truist Park
• Falcons (NFL): Play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Hawks (NBA): Play at State Farm Arena
• United FC (MLS): Play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Dream (WNBA): Play at Gateway Center

All this in one city is more than impressive! Of course, Atlanta is also known for more than this, amazingly, as if to consider there could still be more! Less interesting perhaps, but still important, this city is also known as the “Silicon Peach,” named for its growing tech scene and business acumen and the fact that it is the headquarters of business giants like Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola and UPS. As a quick aside, the ATL is also the birthplace of Coca-Cola, which was founded in 1886.

Getting Around Atlanta: Good Luck!

As mentioned above in the historic breakdown, Atlanta is known as a major transportation hub as it is home to the Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Of course, getting around on a day-to-day basis within the city itself requires some insider knowledge. Atlanta is bisected by three different interstates, (I-75, I-85 and I-20) and is surrounded by the 285, which is a bypass loop called the Perimeter. As a word of warning, there are over 70 streets within the city that are named Peachtree. So, it can get a bit confusing, until you get the hang of it, at least. Read on for more info on getting around the city:

• MARTA: Although it is not nearly as complete as the European transit services, MARTA, which stands for Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, is a serviceable network of buses and trains. Be sure to check if the train can get you all the way to where you are going as the network can be a little limited. Go with Marta, it’s Smarta!

• The Beltline: If you are up for walking or biking, getting around the city begins and ends at The Beltline. This is basically a trail system that interconnects the neighborhoods of Atlanta, following along abandoned train tracks. It is a widely popular hub and has been a tremendous driver of economic growth. To give him his earned flowers, it was first proposed by GA Tech Grad Ryan Gravel.

• The Skylines: Although not necessarily transportation related, it’s helpful to understand the way the city is divided up when you first arrive and want to see and experience it all. There are three main divisions or skylines, Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead. Downtown ends around North Avenue, becoming Midtown. Buckhead picks up along one of the aforementioned Peachtree streets.

Things to Do, You Don’t Want to Miss

In addition to attending various games of one of the five professional teams, the city of Atlanta is also bursting at the seams with entertaining things to do. The following is just a short list of some of the countless things you can experience when in the ATL and surrounding area:

• Piedmont Park: This park boasts acres of green space designed by the Olmstead brothers. If this sounds familiar, it’s because this is who also designed Central Park in New York City. At Piedmont Park, you can enjoy skyline views of Midtown, miles of trails and Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

• Zoo Atlanta: Located just minutes from downtown in historic Grant Park and on the MARTA route is Zoo Atlanta. This zoo boasts one of the largest zoological populations of great apes.

• Georgia Aquarium: This impressive aquarium is the largest in the entire nation and home to hundreds of species and thousands of animals, highlighted throughout seven galleries. Although there is much to love, my favorite part of visiting the Georgia Aquarium has got to be the whale sharks!

• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park: As one of the city’s most important landmarks, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park includes several sites key to the civil rights movement, including MLK’s church and final resting place.

Short List of Atlanta Essentials: What You Need to Know

Whether you are visiting my lovely city or are considering putting down roots, you should learn some Atlanta essentials that will make acclimating a bit easier. Here is a quick list to get you headed in the right direction:

• Don’t call the city “Hot Lanta.” If you want to label yourself as an outsider, then call the city by this tired nickname. Don’t do it! No one says this!!

• We drink sweet tea with ice. We don’t ask for tea and assume we will get warm or unsweetened liquid. If you don’t clarify, and just say tea, you are getting sweet tea. This is coming from someone who doesn’t love syrupy sweet tea (don’t tell anyone), but it is the reality. So, be prepared. Also, while I am on the subject of drinks, we also don’t call anything soda or pop. Everything is a Coke, from Diet Coke to Dr. Pepper to sprite. What else would you expect from the birthplace of Coca-cola? On that note, Pepsi is a no-go here!

• Traffic is a way of life in Atlanta. It is almost its own entity. As a local, you know ways to circumvent the worst of it and learn when to avoid areas completely. Generally, avoid areas near the stadiums on game days, for instance. Also, understand that traffic and the time it takes simply to get from one place to another is part of your commute here.

Atlanta is Truly a Gem of the South

Now that you have read through my local guide of my favorite city, I hope that you have learned a bit about the ATL. Atlanta is a unique city with a rich historical foundation and fun, thriving cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is equally welcoming to families as it is to young singles or upwardly mobile professionals. Everyone belongs in the ATL. I hope my glimpse behind the proverbial curtains has enlightened you a bit about this fabulous city and all that it continues to stand for and offer today.