(Written For Noirbnb.com)
If you are coming to spend some time in Atlanta and want to spend your days doing regular tourist things, there are sites that can give a long list of those. You may encounter many mentions of places like the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, taking in a show at the Fox Theatre or going to one of the many restaurants that can give you a taste of southern culinary flavor. But we want you to experience another side of Atlanta that the tourists don’t usually get to. So here are the top 5 “off the beaten path” attractions you should put on your itinerary for your next Atlanta trip.
1. Atlanta Botanical Garden
Right in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, adjacent to Piedmont Park, is the 30 acre Atlanta Botanical Garden. Composed of numerous themed garden sections, you will be able to see plants from around the world including fragrant orchids, tropical plants, woodland and rainforest species, Japanese plant species and roses. Amid all the botanical wonders that you’ll be able to take in here, one of the main highlights of the Garden is the Kendeda Canopy Walk. This 600 foot long skywalk allows you to walk among the trees surrounding the Garden while suspended 40 feet in the air. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is sure to give you a breath of fresh air in the middle of bustling Atlanta.
2. Criminal Records
As the music industry flows inexorably toward streaming and the easy process of buying music off iTunes shows no signs of going away, getting a physical copy of your favorite album still holds a place in the hearts of some. Why not scratch that nostalgic itch and check out Criminal Records? With the owner being a co-creator of Annual Record Store Day, you know this is a music lover’s mecca. Regardless of your genre of choice, with the massive inventory of vinyl and CDs they have in store, it shouldn’t be hard to find something you’ll like here.
3. A3C Music Festival & Conference
If music festivals like Coachella and SXSW have gotten a little too much for you, make sure you come down to Atlanta to check out the A3C Music Festival & Conference. With artist lineups that perfectly blend the mainstream and the underground as well as informative panel discussions and workshops that drop industry knowledge, you won’t get a more well-rounded hip-hop experience anywhere else. Make sure you get here October 5th-9th and don’t miss out on one of the few music festivals that won’t break your pockets!
4. Wish Atlanta Boutique
While there is plenty of opportunity to go to your run of the mill clothing stores at the famed Lenox Mall (or Phipps, Perimeter or Cumberland), you may want to buy some pieces that you won’t be able to find everyone wearing when you get home. For that, you need to check out Wish. Built in a repurposed public library, Wish will definitely drop some fashion knowledge on you with its collections of luxe streetwear and rare footwear. Being one of the premier streetwear destinations in the city, you will surely find some heat whenever you stop in.
5. Sublime Doughnuts
Make sure that you do not leave Atlanta without stopping by Sublime Doughnuts. Open 24 hours with gourmet doughnuts always on deck, this is not your neighborhood Dunkin’ Donuts. With offerings that range from fresh strawberries n’ cream doughnuts to s’mores doughnuts to red velvet cake doughnuts and even an exclusive A-Town doughnut, everything on Sublime’s menu will amaze you. You might even make a trip back to Atlanta just for the doughnuts once you see what they have to offer!