Exploring the New South - Atlanta BeltLine & More
- Chelsea Zhang
- Mar 3
- 5 min read
On the day that I came back from Atlanta, the former governor of Georgia and the late president Jimmy Carter passed away peacefully in his home of Plains, Georgia, a short car ride away from Atlanta.
I took a trip to Atlanta to cap off 2024 during Christmastime, preparing for the new year ahead in 2025. 2024 was a year of change for me adjusting back to life in Canada after two years of grad school in Washington, D.C. I choose Atlanta to be my first trip back to the USA -It was one of my first trips back to the United States since coming back and will always symbolize a new beginning for me. When you think of Atlanta, you may never see at as the New South, however, Atlanta has reinvented itself over the years. Originally founded as the terminus of the state-sponsored railroad, it later became a strategic point for the Southern Confederacy until it was captured in 1864. After World War 2, it became a major technological and manufacturing hub, and title it still holds today. As a host of 1996 Summer Olympics, Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta remains a testament to that history.Termed the New South, Atlanta has been reinventing itself from its association with colonialism, with the expansion of the newly created Beltline and other areas.
As one of the busiest airports in the world, downtown Atlanta is only 15 minutes from Atlanta's Hartfield Jackson Airport. Hartfield Jackson airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 100 million passengers in 2023, and one of the easiest airports to fly into given the wide availability of flights on any given day.
All throughout Atlanta, you will see how the history that has influenced the world, and two are those are the Martin Luther King Historical Park and the Gone With the Wind Museum.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
During the 1950s and 1960s, Atlanta became the birthplace of the Civil Rights movement.This is the birthplace of the famous civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr, born in 1929 in Atlanta, born to a father who was a minister. Surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Park, you will find several facilities to view including the historic Ebenezer Baptist church, historic exhibits and the reflecting pool. Don't forget to check out the gift shop, where you can see the lastest books surrounding civil rights. It's sometimes hard to reflect that the Civil Rights Movement was only a while back and that Martin Luther Jr. preached at this Church, where he became one of the most notable figures of the 20th century, believing in the potential of all humans against the backdrop of inhumanity.
Gone with the Wind Museum
As a fan of Gone with the Wind Museum, you don't want to miss the house where Margaret Mitchell wrote this famous book. Born in 1900 in Atlanta, Georgia, Margaret Mitchell was born during the expansion era of Atlanta's golden age. You can still see the house that Margaret wrote the famous book in Midtown Atlanta. Millions of people from around the world have fallen in love with the story of Scarlett O'Hara, and this museum is a testament to the enduring culture legacy that Gone with the Wind has. Released during the 1930s, many people gravitated to the book as helping them endure the difficult times of the Great Depression, and today it is still a testament to the power of endurance of the human spirit. I remember reading this book during times when I was lonely or depressed, and being transported back into a different time, being transported to the struggles of others and letting go of my own stress.
World of Coca-Cola
In Downtown Atlanta, don't forget to check out the World of Coco-Cola, where you not only learn about the history of Coco-cola, but also get to sample new flavours of Coco-cola. Since its origins in 1886, the World of Coco-Cola has captivated millions of people worldwide with its unique taste and captivating marketing that has united people from all around the world. Travel through time and space as you experience how the story of Coco-cola has been able to resonate with millions of people around the world and that undeniable taste that we all come back for.
Ponce City Market
Located in the former Sears building, check out this relatively new renovated market, adjacent to the Atlanta beltline. If you are in Atlanta and want to sample new foods and international flavours, don't forget to check out Ponce City Market, and open-air market full of food and people watching. While the first contains open-air shopping and a food court, the second story contains more shops, with some boutique shops.
Helen, Georgia
If you have more time, don't hesitate to visit Helen, a small Bavarian town known for its German vibe and atmosphere. Around a one and a half hour drive from Atlanta, you will be transported to a German town with cobblestone lined villages. A great day trip to take with the family away from the city, this city comes alive during Oktoberfest and Christmastime.
Notable Mentions
Southern Comfort Food Highlight: Mary Mac Tea Room
In Midtown, don't forget to visit the 1945 era Mary Mac tea room, famous for their sweet tea and Southern Fried Chicken. Come in and drink their famous southern sweet tea, perfect on a sunny warm day, and savour the fried chicken, along with delicious sides such as grits, and other delights.Mary Mac tea is notable because various presidents have visited as well, and feel free to explore all the history captured on the walls.
Atlanta History Museum & Buckhead
If you have the time, don't forget to check out Atlanta History Museum, located near Buckhead, where you can take a look at the Swan House, where the Hunger Games where filmed and look at a modern museum showcasing a not so modern past. At the all-encompassing 33 acre destination, you will be emerged in not only history of the Civil War, but also exploring distinct aspects of Atlanta and its connection to the US. Later on, head over to nearby Buckhead, where you can browse designer labels and window shop in a relatively affluent neighbourhood .
Stone Mountain
Definitely head over to Stone Mountain, the famous mountain where one of the still standing Confederate monuments still stands.The sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate leaders of the Civil War: President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert Lee and Thomas Jackson.
Atlantic Station
Formerly on the site of Atlantic Steel Mill, today Atlantic Station is full of retail space, restaurants and museums. Atlantic Station, along with Millennium Gate Museum, is an up and coming nice weekend getaway with the family/friends with modern restaurants and shopping, in an open air style type of space.
Atlanta Reviews:4/5
Atlanta is a city that has been through alot over the years, and still strived to maintain and strong identity and presence on both the national and international stage. Although some areas may be quite sketchy after dark, be sure to stay together when travelling and you should be okay.
We all want to travel to places that have a strong identity to showcase, both from the past and for the future.Come to Atlanta, ideally in the spring/fall to taste good quality southern food, explore historic museums and relax in this history city with an ambitious outlook on the power of rebirth and starting over again. Walking down Peachtree Street, I imagined myself at Fox Theatre at the Gone With Wind Premiere back in 1939, and transported back to a different time when Atlanta was truly the Empire.
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