Exploring ATL in May - advice/suggestions? (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: hotels, living)

[aegsh]

Hey everyone,

It's my first time posting here - My name is Esia (pronounced Asia), nice to meet ya'll!

My family and I will be exploring Atlanta in early May to scope out the city for a potential move at the end of summer; We currently live in MD. I have a few questions I'm hoping some locals could answer:

1. Where in Atlanta would you recommend us staying if we're trying to get the best feel of what it would be like to live there? We are ideally looking to move into a safe suburb near the city, but plan to explore the city itself as well while we are there.
2. Any famous local restaurants you would recommend?
3. Besides the regular tourist attractions, are there any other things we should scope out during out visit that usually isn't mentioned in travel guides?
4. What is the best way to get around town (car vs metro)?

Thank you for your time!

[fieldm]

1. Look at the hotels around Dunwoody. Its in the suburbs but you are still close to the city and its next to the train stop

2. Fox Brothers, Antico Pizza

3. Take a sightseeing tour. Atlanta Tours and Sightseeing Atlanta Sightseeing Bus Tours

4. Generally Speaking a car but it depends on where you are staying. If you are staying new a subway station it would be helpful getting to the airport or into the downtown area

[autolycus25]

Originally Posted by aegsh

Hey everyone,

It's my first time posting here - My name is Esia (pronounced Asia), nice to meet ya'll!

My family and I will be exploring Atlanta in early May to scope out the city for a potential move at the end of summer; We currently live in MD. I have a few questions I'm hoping some locals could answer:

1. Where in Atlanta would you recommend us staying if we're trying to get the best feel of what it would be like to live there? We are ideally looking to move into a safe suburb near the city, but plan to explore the city itself as well while we are there.
2. Any famous local restaurants you would recommend?
3. Besides the regular tourist attractions, are there any other things we should scope out during out visit that usually isn't mentioned in travel guides?
4. What is the best way to get around town (car vs metro)?

Thank you for your time!

Do you know if the potential job(s) are in town (you'll see "ITP" for "inside the perimeter"), or in a particular direction from town? That will influence what areas you might want to check out. If it's a job with Delta, for example, living south of town probably makes more sense. But if you work in Alpharetta, you would probably want to live there, Johns Creek, Roswell, Milton, or Forsyth County.

The recommendation of staying in Dunwoody during your visit is a good one. That area is close to Atlanta itself and the northern suburbs. It wouldn't be too bad getting from there to any of Atlanta itself, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Norcross, and some other northern suburbs, and even Decatur (assuming you're here on a weekend, the drive around 285 shouldn't be too bad).

[ATLTJL]

Sandy Springs/Dunwoody is the perfect location. It's got plenty of mid-range hotels, is totally safe, and has MARTA access to the city.

Just look for anything within a mile or two of Perimeter Mall and you'll be golden (just because a hotel says it is in Dunwoody or Sandy Springs doesn't necessarily mean it's close to this area, map it out and get one that's nearby).