What are the popular non-touristy things to do in Atlanta? (Decatur: 2015, theater)

[JMatl]

Check the schedules for the various Festivals around the Metro on access Atlanta & Creative Loafing. We have some great ones, and it's a good way to get acquainted with different areas.

[bu2]

Too late now, but this morning was the Peachtree Road Race with 60,000 people running/walking it.

[crease123]

Originally Posted by bu2

Too late now, but this morning was the Peachtree Road Race with 60,000 people running/walking it.

I live around Midtown and was actually observing parts of the race from my apartment. What an event - the rain did not dampen the Atlanta spirits one bit!

[Atlwarrior]

Piedmont park on Sunday. Is good for people watching and just to relax lots of local.

[Rocco Barbosa]

Originally Posted by afdinatl

Clermont Lounge - After 10pm
Krog Street Market and walking the Beltline (Eastside trail)
Brookhaven Bbq Fest
Walk up Stone Mountain or Kennesaw Mountain
Bike the Silver Comet Trail
Etc

what kind of crowd at the Clermont Lounge?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

Piedmont park on Sunday. Is good for people watching and just to relax lots of local.

Its going to be real muddy tomorrow with the rain and all those runners tromping through.

[Thulsa]

Originally Posted by crease123

After months of anticipation, my wife and I finally made our way down to Atlanta. But now that we are here, we have no idea what to do. We know about the popular destinations like Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola and so on, but what are some of the nice non-touristy things to do? We are partial to anything.

I go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens a couple of times a month. It's a mixture of outdoors displays and indoors things such as an orchid house and some other environments from desert to rain forest.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
If you're around in the evening, check out the lights in the garden
I also have had a couple of tasty meals there at the cafe at Linton's
The Café at Linton's in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Someone mentioned Fernbank museum. I also go there every month or so.
There are two Fernbank museums. You want the one on Clifton road. Fernbank Museum of Natural History - Atlanta, GA
It is worth seeing just for their display of an Argentinosaurus and Giganotosaurus skeletons, that is, if you've ever been interested in dinosaurs. You can get a glimpse without paying by walking directly up to the ticket-takers, then decide. Some of their displays are kind of tired-looking, probably due to the thousands of school children that pass through.

We also have a pluton in the area, a rather large one.
Stone Mountain Park - Atlanta's Walk-Up Mountain Hiking Trail
My favorite part is the walk-up trail, but if you're not used to the heat here, do the walk first thing in the morning. However, if you are coming from a mountainous area, you might not be impressed.


Our art museum is no NYC Met, but it has many good items.
European Art Collection
and
American Art Collection

Plus there's always a couple of temporary exhibitions varying (in the past) from items from The Louvre to Salvidor Dali, to classic automobiles.

A little known gem in Atlanta is the Michael C Carlos museum at Emory University.
Emory | Michael C. Carlos Museum
They were in the news a few years ago for having found the mummy of Ramesses I and returning it to Egypt.
My favorite display there, though, is the pre-columbian American artifacts section.
You have only until July 26 to catch this one:
Two of Each: The Nippur Deluge Tablet and Noah's Flood | Emory | Michael C. Carlos Museum


When you get a chance, drive up to Cartersville and see the Booth museum of Western Art.
Booth Western Art MuseumHome - Booth Western Art Museum
I eat at the Ross's diner nearby for a 1950/60's diner flashback.
Sometimes they're cash-only, sometimes they're crowded. They're like 100 yds from the Booth.

Ross's Diner, Cartersville - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - TripAdvisor

Or, if you like rocks, also near Cartersville is this:
What to See - Tellus Museum in Cartersville, GeorgiaTellus Museum in Cartersville, Georgia

[afdinatl]

Originally Posted by Rocco Barbosa

what kind of crowd at the Clermont Lounge?

Old young tourists locals hipsters professionals college students etc

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Rocco Barbosa

what kind of crowd at the Clermont Lounge?

Hipsters.

[AnsleyPark]

Dear God. Avoid the Clermont Lounge unless you are weirdly perverse and are up to date on your innoculations. Sicko place.