29 Places to Go in 2009 - Atlanta is #1 in U.S. (Dallas: best city, high school)

[south-to-west]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Bingo! Sadly, this attribute was not just lacking in the other Georgia cities, it was also lacking/nonexistant in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Memphis and Charlotte. Atlanta is way more than an accident of geography and infrastructure. There is a reason we have risen to the level we have, and south-to-west knows it.

Great post, south-to-west!

Cheers, johnatl!

[blondandfun]

Getting back to the OP

I'm hoping the article is right about our arts scene exploding.

Atlanta has potential of focusing more on film and being the regional center of filmmaking. We're doing OK with theater and live performance but there isn't a lot going on here as far as movies and jobs for actors and producers.

There also aren't as many production companies here as I would hope for filmmaking.

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Wrong. Birmingham was embroiled in waging war against it's own citizens back then. The Airport decision was sealed back in the 20's when Atlanta was granted the airmail routes by the Feds.

I recently learned of this from a book on Atlanta history. In fact by the 40's the Atlanta airport was already one of the busiest in the country.

[Bulldawgfan]

To go back to the original post, it was a travel guide suggesting 29 places to visit. A "must see" is the way I took it. I have lived in Atlanta for several years... along with Tampa, Miami, Chicago, Mobile and several other smaller places scattered here and there (this side of the Mississippi River only). Work has taken me from northern Michigan to the very tip of the Florida Keys. From the Outer Banks to Little Rock. That being said, I stand by my original response. Atlanta and Washington D.C. do not belong on a 'best place to visit' itinerary in my opinion. I was not slamming Atlanta as some seem to think. There are some really awesome places to see and things to do in the area I defined... but, in my opinion (again), these two places do not belong on that list.
How this thread went from a travel suggestion to "what if" I haven't a clue.

By the way, jjordan... I live in central Georgia because I lived in Atlanta. You figure it out.

Oh, and LovinDecatur, if you want to put Atlanta on your list of 29 must see places please feel free. I will simply disagree with you along with the link provided. It is my opinion... I was not slamming your precious city for the sake of doing so. On this side of the Mississippi River, Atlanta would probably not crack my top 100.

You know, if that Americo Vespucci fella had turned right instead of left we might just be talking about Greenland....

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by BringBackCobain

I think he means economically. Without Atlanta, Georgia would be mississippi. Savannah = Biloxi, Augusta = Jackson, Columbus = Tupelo, Macon = Natchez, Athens = Oxford.

Outside of Atlanta, Georgia is a pretty poor state.

You are so right. We'd be below Alabama.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Bulldawgfan

Oh, and LovinDecatur, if you want to put Atlanta on your list of 29 must see places please feel free. I will simply disagree with you along with the link provided. It is my opinion... I was not slamming your precious city for the sake of doing so. On this side of the Mississippi River, Atlanta would probably not crack my top 10...

Oh, and Bulldawgfan, feel free to paint my 'precious city' with the broadest negative brush possible...I will respond, like it or not. Lived here most of my life; never got mugged here, knock wood. I guess Atlanta is like a sibling that I know isn't perfect, but is pretty darn good...if some bully comes in and starts talking unfair s**t about 'em, I will step in and take a swing at the bully.

[atlantaATL]

Originally Posted by BringBackCobain

True, but what made Atlanta what it is today is the airport. Both Birmingham and Atlanta were competing for the airport, and at the time they were very similar cities. Atlanta won the airport, but if Birmingham had won, the two cities would be reversed today.

That airport had nothing to do with the growth of atlanta

[jxn3000]

I love Atlanta and Georgia; however, being a Mississippian, I find it a bit offensive that someone would say, "without Atlanta, Georgia would just be another Mississippi." Why do you have to tear others down to make yourself feel better?

Also, as great as Atlanta may be...I don't think the article listed it as the #1 place in the U.S. to visit. Read it again....the cities are listed alphabetically.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by ATLCOL1

Georgia is years ahead of Mississippi and Alabama.

I beg to differ.
North Georgia is years ahead.
The rest of the state is about even.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by Southlander

I beg to differ.
North Georgia is years ahead.
The rest of the state is about even.

Look I use to live in Alabama, lived there for four years in Gadsden. Georgia brings in more money as a state than Mississippi and Alabama Combined. Georgia is also years ahead of them and everything is so much more advanced. Alabama and Mississippi is ranked in the top 10 for being a poor state. When I visit Alabama, it makes me like Georgia that much more, there's a reason that 170,000 people are moving here every year on average since 2000, versus 150,000 total for Alabama and the number on Mississippi is much worse.