By Rachel Mahan | Member
New York’s got it. London’s got it. And, yes, Atlanta has it, too: A public transportation system to take you all over the city. What better way to get to know a city than on its rail and bus system? You may even decide that you don’t need to rent a car when you come to Atlanta for the Summit. MARTA, or Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, can take you from the airport to the hotel and then to many great restaurants and attractions for a reasonable fare, and their website makes trip planning easy.
After flying into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, you can hop on a red- or gold-line train to the Peachtree Center station, less than two blocks from the Hyatt Regency where the Summit takes place. The hotel is also conveniently located just one stop away from the Five Points station, where you can transfer to any rail line—red, gold, green, or blue.
Four stops north of Peachtree Center and the Summit is the Arts Center station, located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta on the red and gold lines. Midtown has much to offer the out-of-towner and the local alike: Places like Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are just a few of the popular attractions.
- Located a few blocks from the station is Piedmont Park, one of Atlanta’s many urban parks. The park offers bocce courts, a green market, tennis, and walking and jogging paths.
- Just north of Piedmont Park is the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where you can visit the Edible Garden and Outdoor Kitchen for chefs’ demonstrations and seasonal recipes. Don’t miss the Canopy Walk where you can stroll 40 feet high through the trees.
- If you arrive by Sunday for the Summit, you can hear Beethoven’s 4th Concerto at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, just around the block from the Arts Center station.
Interested in shopping while you visit Atlanta? You can take MARTA a few more stops on the gold line to the Lenox station. Near that station are the almost 250 stores of Lenox Square Mall. In addition to the shops, there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and relax.
You might have read about the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and Oakland Cemetery in previous Intercom articles, but you might not have realized how accessible they are by public transportation. Simply take the blue or green lines to the King Memorial station, just a few stops southeast of the Peachtree Center station and the Summit location.
- Oakland Cemetery, established in 1850 when Atlanta had only about 2,500 residents, is the final resting place for Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind, and close to 3,000 unknown Confederates.
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site includes Dr. King’s tomb, his birth home, and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
MARTA’s website makes it easy to plan trips to and from these and other area attractions. In addition to interactive maps, the website includes MyCommute, a tool that allows you to select an origin, a destination, and a date and time. MyCommute then gives you several options and directions for getting to and from where you want to go. Not sure which restaurant to choose? Can’t remember the address of the hotel? The “Popular Locations” drop-down menu lets you choose from lists of hotels, cultural landmarks, restaurants, shopping centers, and more.
A one-way fare is $2.50, and MARTA offers one- to four-day passes for unlimited rides at little cost. Visit www.itsmarta.com for the most up-to-date fare information, train schedules, and safety information. Also take a look at MARTA’s list of the top tourist attractions and how to get there at www.itsmarta.com/visiting-atlanta.aspx. As always, when in an unfamiliar city, take safety precautions, such as traveling in groups, and be sure to check out the safety of the neighborhoods you are visiting.
Welcome to Atlanta for the Summit. Enjoy your stay, and explore the city on public transit.
