Recently, my fiancee, mother,
father, brother, and I spent the better part of a week taking in Atlanta. I
hadn’t seen my family in months and thus we had much (an engagement, a
promotion, milestone birthdays, etc.) to catch up on and celebrate. Doing so
gave us the opportunity to take in some of the best – and worst – that Atlanta
had to offer.
Day One
The Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Atlanta (275
Baker Street) served as our base for the first half of the trip. In terms of
location, you would be hard-pressed to find a better spot. Situated just across
from Centennial Olympic Park, the Hilton is within walking distance of several
major attractions as well as a MARTA station. Beyond that, the rooms are
comfortably sized and nicely appointed, and the front desk staff is helpful and
accommodating.
That said,
we did experience a few drawbacks. The entrance to the hotel is not
well-marked, and it is easy enough to walk right past it. Our stay coincided
with several family reunions, which made waiting for – and squeezing into – an
elevator a bit taxing. Lastly, while the rates are reasonable given the
location, charges for parking and breakfast make the Hilton pricier than first
glance suggests.
7.75/10
We were
hungry after checking in, and thankfully we didn’t have to travel far for a great
lunch. Located across the street, Twin
Smokers BBQ (300 Marietta Street NW) provided some of the best barbeque
I’ve had anywhere.
Though the
establishment’s name refers to its pair of wood-fired smokers, it could just as
easily allude to the two styles – Texas and Southern – served here. The
environment is appropriately rustic, and the lengths of hickory and mesquite
stacked along the walls add a nice touch of authenticity. If you aren’t already
hungry walking in the door, one whiff of the aroma here will change that
promptly.
Our group
opted for a Pride and Joy, a $75 combo platter that feeds four to six. The
quantities were generous, and the food did not disappoint. The ribs were smoky,
the pulled pork moist, the sausage nicely spiced, the mac n cheese creamy, and
the collards well-seasoned. The free homemade pork rinds will make converts out
of skeptics, and the assortment of half a dozen sauces (from sweet to spicy to
vinegary) means you will find at least one to your liking.
Twin
Smokers may not have the cachet of a legendary BBQ joint, but give it time. The
food is all-around excellent.
Our sight-seeing commenced after lunch and began with a trip to the Georgia Aquarium (225 Baker Street). The largest aquarium in the western hemisphere, this is also the only place in this part of the world to find whale sharks. Between them, belugas, giant manta rays, an albino alligator, and countless fish, the collection here offers astounding depth and breadth. The Ocean Voyager exhibit in particular is impressive: a conveyor belt moves you through an underwater tunnel while sea life swims all around you.
Despite
this majesty, visiting the Georgia Aquarium is not an altogether pleasant
experience. Entry lines can be exceedingly long (pro tip: get a CityPass), and
once you are inside, expect significant crowding at some of the exhibits. Since
much of the aquarium is family-oriented, expect a fair share of screaming
children as well. At $39 for adults, general admission is quite steep as well
though the aquarium does run several discounts.
Overall,
there is lots of sea to see here, but squeezing past waves of fellow patrons
may put a damper on your experience.
7.75/10
Following
the aquarium, we took in World of Coca
Cola (121 Baker Street) next door. A museum dedicated to all things Coke,
this is proved to be a disappointment. After clearing a security checkpoint,
visitors are herded into a series of waiting areas. When the doors finally open
for your group, you are subjected to an introductory spiel and a promotional
video. Presumably, this was done to prevent a mad rush to the more popular
exhibits, but it still felt like corporate indoctrination and a waste of time.
The
exhibits themselves include a soda bottling production line, a collection of
Coke-themed pop art (including the requisite Andy Warhol composition), and, of
course, the tasting room. The latter grants you unlimited samples of Coke
products from around the world. While it’s easy to see the appeal in that, it
isn’t all that it could be. Even with multiple sample stations (one for each
continent), there tends to be heavy crowding. And for every decent flavor you
stumble across, there is another that will inspire regret (Beverly, an aperitif
marketed in Italy, is notoriously bitter and unappealing).
World of
Coca Cola offers a few bright spots, but even loyal Cocaphiles will likely
leave underwhelmed.
6/10
Day One
ended by taking in a lighter meal at Max’s
Coal Oven Pizzeria (300 Marietta Street NW). Since none of us was up for
pizza, we couldn’t attest to the signature offerings, but a glance at the
rather limited menu suggests a good assortment of meats (sausage, pepperoni,
capicola, salami) and cheeses (mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, feta, goat) at
slightly high ($15- to $19 for a 12-inch pie) prices. Instead, we all opted for
the $10 salad and half sandwich combo. The Italian sandwich was satisfying
albeit a bit heavy on the hot peppers while the Caesar salad, though basic,
tasted fresh and hit the spot. The ambiance was lively and comfortable, and
service proved adequate.
Though it is not
a standout eatery, you could do far worse than Max’s.
7.5/10
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