4 days in Atlanta

The heart of the civil rights story. The neighbourhood where Martin Luther King Jr. was born, the state capitol, a museum of the movement and human rights around the world, then a park built for an Olympic Games.

1. Breakfast

   Biscuits and gravy

   A soft, flaky biscuit under a peppery sausage gravy, a Southern morning classic. A hearty start before a walking day.

   Local tip Ask for a side of grits if you want to eat like a local.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

   The neighbourhood of Sweet Auburn, where King was born, grew up and preached. The park takes in his birth home, the church where he and his father served and the tomb beside a reflecting pool. A quiet, moving place to begin.

   Go when Morning, when the street is quiet and the sites are fresh.

   Local tip Several of the sites are separate buildings, so give yourself time to walk between them. Check ahead on which are open and whether any need a timed ticket.

   

   About 20 min walk1.0 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   Georgia State Capitol

   The gold-domed seat of the state government, finished in 1889. Inside there is a small museum, and the grounds have statues and plaques that tell the state's story, including the parts it would rather not.

   Go when Midday, between the neighbourhood and the museum.

   Local tip The grounds are free to wander, and the dome is gilded. Read the plaques and statues with a critical eye. Check ahead on the museum inside.

   

4. Lunch

   A meat-and-three

   A plate with one meat and three vegetable sides, the Southern lunch of choice. Fried chicken, mac and cheese and collard greens are all common.

   Local tip The sides change daily, so ask what is on.

   

   About 21 min walk1.1 mi
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   National Center for Civil and Human Rights

   A museum on the civil rights movement in America, linked to the wider fight for human rights in the world. Plan a good stretch of time and a pause afterwards, because some of the rooms are hard going.

   Go when Afternoon, after a morning walk, when you can give it your full attention.

   Local tip Some exhibits are very upsetting. Plan a quiet hour afterwards, and check ahead on tickets and on what is open.

   

   About 5 min walk0.2 mi
6. 4
   EveningAn easy evening

   Centennial Olympic Park

   A downtown park laid out for the 1996 Olympic Games, with a fountain of the five rings that children run through and wide lawns. A pleasant, lively place to end a heavy day.

   Go when Early evening, when the fountain is lit (about 8:08 PM).

   Local tip Bring a change of clothes if children want to splash in the fountain. The park is lively on warm evenings, with events that vary by season.

   

7. Dinner

   Barbecue near the park

   Slow-smoked pork or brisket with a tangy sauce, with slaw and beans on the side. A casual dinner after a heavy day.

   Local tip Ask about the sauce, because every place has its own.

An easy day outdoors in midtown. A garden, the city's big park, a vast old warehouse turned into a market, and the old railway line that is now a trail linking the neighbourhoods.

1. Travel from Centennial Olympic ParkAbout 12 min by car or transit2.4 mi

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Coffee and a pastry by the garden

   A coffee and something sweet from a neighbourhood cafe, eaten on a bench in the park.

   Local tip Cafes near the park fill on weekend mornings, so go early.
3. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Atlanta Botanical Garden

   A garden beside the big park, with a walk through the treetops, a conservatory and beds that change with the seasons. Go early for cool air and good light.

   Go when Morning, before the heat and the crowds.

   Local tip Check ahead on what is in bloom and on any timed entry. A hat and water help in summer.

   

   About 7 min walk0.4 mi
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Piedmont Park

   The city's central park, with lawns, a lake, shady paths and a view of the skyline. Locals run, picnic and play ball here, so it is a good place to watch Atlanta at ease.

   Go when Midday or late afternoon, with a picnic.

   Local tip Walk to the lake or the hill for a view of the skyline. The park is busiest at weekends and on festival days.

   

5. Lunch

   A picnic by the lake

   Sandwiches, fruit and iced tea eaten on the lawn, with the skyline behind you.

   Local tip Bring a blanket, because the lawns are busy.

   About 20 min walk1.0 mi
6. 3
   AfternoonWander and eat

   Ponce City Market

   A huge brick building that once held a department store, now holding shops, food stalls and a roof with views. Wander the long hall, then step out onto the trail.

   Go when Afternoon, when the long hall is lively.

   Local tip Take the stairs or lift to the roof for a view of the city. Check ahead on what is open, because tenants come and go.

   

   About 16 min walk0.8 mi
7. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail

   A paved path along an old railway line, lined with murals, small parks and sculpture, linking Piedmont Park to the neighbourhoods to the south. Stroll a stretch as the light fades.

   Go when Early evening, when the light is gold and the trail is full of walkers (about 8:08 PM).

   Local tip The trail is paved and flat. Walk a stretch rather than all of it, and look for the murals. It is busy at weekends.

   

8. Dinner

   A relaxed dinner on the trail

   A casual dinner at a spot along the trail, where the patios fill with walkers. Small plates are easy to share.

   Local tip Trail-side tables fill on warm evenings, so book ahead.

A day of old and new. A cemetery where much of the city's story is buried, a major art museum, a history centre in the north of town, then a movie palace from the 1920s.

1. Breakfast

   Chicken and waffles

   A crisp piece of fried chicken on a waffle with syrup, a sweet-and-savoury Atlanta classic.

   Local tip It is a big plate, so share it if you plan a long day.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Oakland Cemetery

   A Victorian cemetery near downtown, shaded by old trees. It holds the graves of Atlanta's mayors, soldiers and writers, and an area for those who were enslaved. It is also a quiet garden, so walk slowly.

   Go when Morning, in cool light.

   Local tip Wear flat shoes and give it a slow hour. The paths are uneven in places. The walks and guides vary by season, so check ahead.

   

   About 14 min by car or transit3.0 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   High Museum of Art

   The leading art museum in the Southeast, in a cluster of buildings in the arts district of midtown. Its collection runs from American and European art to photography and folk art.

   Go when Midday, when the heat peaks and the galleries are cool.

   Local tip It is a good wet-day or hot-day stop. Choose one or two galleries rather than trying to see them all.

   

4. Lunch

   A peach in season

   In summer, ripe Georgia peaches, eaten out of hand or in a cobbler. Out of season, a simple salad and a sandwich near the museum.

   Local tip Ask whether the peaches are local, because summer is the season.

   About 16 min by car or transit3.6 mi
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Atlanta History Center

   A large museum and garden in the north of the city, with a historic house, a farm and exhibits on the city's story, from the Civil War to the civil rights years. Allow a good part of the afternoon.

   Go when Afternoon, with a few hours to spare.

   Local tip The house and gardens are lovely in spring. Check ahead on which exhibits and tours are open. It is a car or ride from midtown.

   

6. Dinner

   A pre-theatre supper

   A light dinner before a show, with time to walk to the Fox. Small plates or a Southern supper both work.

   Local tip Allow extra time, because streets around the theatre are busy on show nights.

   About 19 min by car or transit4.8 mi
7. 4
   EveningWorth a look

   Fox Theatre

   A grand 1920s movie palace in midtown, built in a lavish Moorish and Egyptian style, with a ceiling painted like a night sky. Take in a show or just look at the outside and the lobby.

   Go when Evening, when a show is on.

   Local tip Look up at the painted ceiling. Check ahead on what is on and on whether tours run that day.

   

A car day to the east. A huge dome of bare granite with a view over the city, a quieter granite hill with its own plants and a path, then a leafy small city back toward town.

1. Travel from Fox TheatreAbout 36 min by car or transit14.0 mi

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Eggs and grits

   A plate of eggs and creamy grits, the standard Southern breakfast. Fuel for a granite climb.

   Local tip Fill your water bottle before you head out.
3. 1
   MorningA morning of its own

   Stone Mountain Park

   A park around a huge dome of bare granite that rises out of the plain. Walk up the path to the summit for the view, then see the carving on the north face, which shows Confederate leaders and is a contested monument. Go early, because it gets hot.

   Go when Early morning, before the heat and the crowds.

   Local tip The summit path is steep and has no shade. Bring water, go slowly and turn back if it is too hot. The carving is a contested monument, and the park's own history is worth reading.

   

4. Lunch

   A trail picnic

   A sandwich, fruit and a snack, eaten in the shade after the climb.

   Local tip There is little shade on the rock, so eat under the trees at the base.

   About 31 min by car or transit9.9 mi
5. 2
   AfternoonA quiet hour

   Arabia Mountain

   A low, bare granite hill with rare small plants and shallow pools in the rock, reached by a short trail. A quieter, more natural place than its bigger neighbour, with a wide view from the top.

   Go when Afternoon, or early morning in summer.

   Local tip The bare rock is hot at midday and slippery after rain. Stay on the marked trail, because the small plants in the pools are fragile.

   

6. Dinner

   Supper on Decatur Square

   A Southern or neighbourhood supper at a table near the square, with the evening crowd.

   Local tip Decatur is lively on weekends, so book ahead.

   About 34 min by car or transit12.2 mi
7. 3
   EveningAn easy evening

   Decatur

   A leafy small city just east of downtown, around a historic square with a courthouse. Walk the streets near the square, and look in on its bookshops and cafes as the day ends.

   Go when Early evening, as the square fills.

   Local tip The square has benches and a lawn, and the streets around it are good for a slow walk. Many shops close early.