where to go what to see? (Atlanta, Roswell: hotels, houses, buy)

[dnc19694339]

So we are thinking about taking a 4 or 5 day exploration (in a few weeks)trip down to the atlanta area to just check things out for a possible move in the next few years. Its gonna be me, my wife and 11 year old daughter. Wife and I are both 40. We are white and we are coming from way upstate New York.

I would consider us middle class, as we have 2 newer cars and a nice 2800 sq ft house on a river up here in NY, so we are looking for the same or similar down there.

We just want to get a feel of what it is like to live there and maybe see a couple attractions while there. So what areas would you recommend we look in to and what should we do, just go there and drive around?

[TakeAhike]

Here's a recent thread with suggestions of tourist attractions>>>
//www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...t-atlanta.html

You might try to find a motel/hotel in the Perimeter/Dunwoody area. You could use MARTA to commute to downtown to visit the aquarium and other tourist destinations in that area. If your intent is to explore housing options for a potential move then the Perimeter Mall area is good for touring areas such as Roswell, Alpharetta and East Cobb County/Marietta--which might be options for relocation. The Chattahoochee River is nearby and there are many options for recreation.

As for just 'driving around'--the traffic can be intimidating and I would identify what I wanted to see and obtain good directions before getting on the road. If you are staying at Perimeter it would be relatively easy to drive downtown. Ashford-Dunwoody Rd to Peachtree Rd--south about 8 miles to the heart of the city. You wouldn't have to contend with the interstate traffic.

There are a number of hotels/motels in this area and options for dining. The Mall has a food court.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...imeter-center/

[cwkimbro]

Well... you are in luck. We have lots of large homes and tons of creeks and rivers that wind through the hilly Piedmont landscape we have. Most of our larger rivers have development buffers on them for environmental reasons, so you might want to consider looking at houses developed in the 70s-80s if you want to be right on a large river, like the Chattahoochee. There are places with houses on the Chattahoochee in Cobb County, North Fulton, and Gwinnett County. (I would Google map w/ aerial image)

I would recommend researching the areas/school districts you like the best, so you can check them out. I would also drive in the area where you work and do a test commute!

Atlanta is sprawled out so much and while we aren't LA our traffic is horrendous in spots, so you can't expect to live just anywhere and be able to commute anywhere.

Also, Atlanta's growth has traditionally been the northside of town. There is more money there and it has led to more money spent in retail and residential development.

If you moved down in a couple years... do you know where in particular you would probably work or try to find work?

[dnc19694339]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

If you moved down in a couple years... do you know where in particular you would probably work or try to find work?

Im not sure what I will do for work yet. I have owned several small business and would probably buy an existing one or start from scratch. Wife is a hairdresser. Schools are important so I will have to check those out.

[roxyrn]

If you like the outdoors, go across the river to Roswell and the Chattahootchee River area with parks and the nature center. You can continue up 400 into Alpharetta to the North Point Mall (not sure if she is too old for American Girl store and restaurant but it is there). Or go into the historic Roswell center and tour the 3 historic mansions and eat lunch at the Fickle Pickle.

In Atlanta, the CNN Center, Aquarium and World of Coke are fairly close together and would be a full day.

You may be interested in the Kennesaw area- you get a lot of house for your money, the schools are good and it seems like an "upstate NY" area to me. Our son is in Albany, NY.

Have a great trip.