Do these pictures give you the impression that Atlanta is a big city? (Stone Mountain: 2013, living)

[2Easy]

Speaking as a visitor what struck me on my last visit to Atlanta were both the amount of trees and the wide freeways. The trees made Atlanta seem less urban than it probably is, but that was just my impression from the freeway. I'm sure that it would be different had I explored a little more. Plus living in an urban area and having it balanced with lots of trees can be considered a good thing anyway. I thought that the downtown skyline was impressive from a distance, but being in downtown much less so. The airport left no impression on me other than I thought that having a subway station in the airport was very cool.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by 2Easy

Speaking as a visitor what struck me on my last visit to Atlanta were both the amount of trees and the wide freeways. The trees made Atlanta seem less urban than it probably is, but that was just my impression from the freeway. I'm sure that it would be different had I explored a little more. Plus living in an urban area and having it balanced with lots of trees can be considered a good thing anyway. I thought that the downtown skyline was impressive from a distance, but being in downtown much less so. The airport left no impression on me other than I thought that having a subway station in the airport was very cool.

Right...so you came with no preconceived notion about Atlanta and trees?

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Maybe not in your circles, Mathman. That doesn't mean a lot of other people aren't up on the subject.

National Geographic likes to talk up any place. "City of Trees" is not on the lips of Americans everywhere when talking about Atlanta. And why does it say "surprisingly lush with trees"? Weren't they supposed to already know this?

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I love how some people seem to think that their ignorance about Atlanta means that other people suffer from the same ignorance. Okay...you didn't know much about Atlanta and couldn't recognize the skyline - big deal. That doesn't necessarily mean that the general public shares your lack of knowledge. I mean, it's fine if you weren't very aware of Atlanta, but there is no need to project that onto others.

Well-traveled people are usually much more aware of major U.S. cities as are people who are generally interested in cities and urban issues.

I bet you $5 that most people outside of the south didn't know much of anything about Atlanta before the Olympics and that Atlanta has no skyline or landmarks that are widely know before the Olympics.

I am sure there are millions of people in this world who have never been to NYC but will notice its skyline, the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty. They could just look at a picture of those things and know it's NYC. I never heard anyone talk about Atlanta with the exception of a few blacks who came here to go to HBCU's. Show the average person a picture of Atlanta's skyline outside of here and I bet you most people won't know what city it is.

You call me ignorant yet, you chose to ignore that I came to Atlanta two years before I moved here. I think it bothers you that I mention that no one I was ever around talked about Atlanta before the Olympics, and that when I did come here for three days back in 1995, there was nothing that stood out and I saw absolutely nothing recognizable. I have many relatives and friends who have come here to visit me from various parts of the country and the world. None of them were impressed or requested to see anything specific here except one friend who wanted to go to the Coca Cola museum. They either had no opinion of the city before coming, had thoughts of racism and lynching (which I cleared up that Atlanta isn't like that), or they came to see what all the hype was about, left unimpressed and never came back.

Again I'm not bashing Atlanta but it simply doesn't have a skyline that is known or stands out to people outside of here.


I did travel here yet you still called me ignorant. Brilliant.

[testa50]

Originally Posted by All4Augusta

I wonder why there aren't any plans to build new high rises downtown. All we need is maybe 7 more high rises to improve the look. Just my opinion after all I'm from Augusta.

There are a couple, but nothing major. Georgia State is building a new law school building which will be roughly 9 floors tall and adjacent to Woodruff Park. There is also a private developer proposing an 18-floor tall student housing facility for GSU students. Neither of these will make a dent in the skyline (they are both kind of tucked away around big buildings), but they should add to the density and vibrance of downtown on street level significantly (which might spur further development).

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

National Geographic likes to talk up any place. "City of Trees" is not on the lips of Americans everywhere when talking about Atlanta. And why does it say "surprisingly lush with trees"? Weren't they supposed to already know this?

I guess all these folks are hallucinating.

Fast Facts & Info

Geography and landscape: Atlanta is nicknamed "Hotlanta," in part due to its warm climate. Temperatures regularly climb into the 90s throughout the summer. The warm climate does have advantages. Visitors may be surprised to find a city that's lush and green, with small parks dotting the neighborhoods. Atlanta's answer to Central Park -- the 180-acre Piedmont Park in Midtown -- draws runners and those who want to enjoy the outdoors. It's little wonder Atlanta is called a "city among the trees."

TLC Family "How Atlanta Works: Atlanta City Guide"

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I bet you $5 that most people outside of the south didn't know much of anything about Atlanta before the Olympics and that Atlanta has no skyline or landmarks that are widely know before the Olympics.

One thing you tend to learn with age is not to confuse the limits of your own knowledge with what other people know.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by arjay57

One thing you tend to learn with age is not to confuse the limits of your own knowledge with what other people know.

Perhaps. But what buildings or landmarks were most famous before the Olympics that you could show to anyone in America or the world that they would recognize as uniquely Atlanta just by looking at a picture of it?

I think maybe people would recognize MLK's burial site.

In the OP's pictures it could look like a large city but it doesn't have any famous buildings or stand out to people who have never been here. And on the ground level they look more like spread out clusters of buildings.

Though I do think the best view of downtown's skyline is traveling on I-20 east. It looks more dense coming from that direction...to me anyway.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I bet you $5 that most people outside of the south didn't know much of anything about Atlanta before the Olympics and that Atlanta has no skyline or landmarks that are widely know before the Olympics.

I am sure there are millions of people in this world who have never been to NYC but will notice its skyline, the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty. They could just look at a picture of those things and know it's NYC. I never heard anyone talk about Atlanta with the exception of a few blacks who came here to go to HBCU's. Show the average person a picture of Atlanta's skyline outside of here and I bet you most people won't know what city it is.

You call me ignorant yet, you chose to ignore that I came to Atlanta two years before I moved here. I think it bothers you that I mention that no one I was ever around talked about Atlanta before the Olympics, and that when I did come here for three days back in 1995, there was nothing that stood out and I saw absolutely nothing recognizable. I have many relatives and friends who have come here to visit me from various parts of the country and the world. None of them were impressed or requested to see anything specific here except one friend who wanted to go to the Coca Cola museum. They either had no opinion of the city before coming, had thoughts of racism and lynching (which I cleared up that Atlanta isn't like that), or they came to see what all the hype was about, left unimpressed and never came back.

Again I'm not bashing Atlanta but it simply doesn't have a skyline that is known or stands out to people outside of here.


I did travel here yet you still called me ignorant. Brilliant.

You truly seem to delight in your own ignorance, as well a that of your friends and family. Any well-read, educated, informed person would at least be aware of the things you are dismissing.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Alanta has regional and MAYBE national importance, but it does not have worldly importance other then hosting the 1996 Olympics.

And here we go again. The fact is, that Atlanta DOES .... And you are simply wrong.