With the country’s largest aquarium and one of the largest blocks of exposed granite in the world at Stone Montain, Atlanta (ATL) will surely be a trip that exceeds every expectation. Experience the ATL and all it has to offer by hopping on a nonstop flight from South Bend International Airport on Delta. Get your peaches, shrimp, biking, shopping and entertainment fix all in one city. (You can start planning your next trip to The City in a Forest on the flight back.)
Food
If you know anything about Atlanta or Georgia in general, you know that they are incredibly well-known for the peaches they grow. At The Varsity in Midtown, Atlanta, you can get some of their famous Fried Peach Pies for less than $2 or get peaches in ice cream form at Inman Park’s Queen of Cream. (Hey, we all need dessert before dinner sometimes!) You’ll want to save room for Georgia wild shrimp on your dinner plate. No one can argue with the recipe of The Farmer & The Larder. The shrimp cooked for you is sustainably fished and the restaurant is only two blocks from the water, giving new meaning to dinner and a view.
Entertainment
Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the U.S. and has enough activities and animals to see for you to be entertained for an entire day. Be sure to check out the whale sharks which can grow to over 30 feet in length! If brushing up on history is a must, then you must visit the Atlanta History Center. The 33-acre area features the 1928 Swan House, Tullie Smith Farm, Centennial Olympic Games Museum, Kenan Research Center, lots of historic garden space and more! Spend an entire day here (or two) and see what new trivia you can learn.
Sports
Want to see a prime example of home team pride? Book your flight to ATL. Atlanta is the home of the Braves of the MLB, the Hawks of the NBA and the Falcons of the NFL. Aside from the major leagues, Georgia is also home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Although it is a bit of a drive from Atlanta to Athens, the trip is well worth it for visitors and alumni alike.
Explore Outdoors
The Atlanta BeltLine project created a network of 1,300 acres of public parks, 33 miles of multi-use trails and 22 miles of transit along a downtown corridor. Here you’re able to explore parks and trails, go on official tours, bike with friends, attend fitness classes and much more. You can even download the “Get on the Atlanta BeltLine” app to learn more and maneuver your way through all of the amenities. Second to none is Stone Mountain Park, with enough activities to do and sights to see to keep everyone entertained for hours. Just 15 miles east of the city, you can take a skyride to the top of the mountain, go on a train ride or even see the world’s largest laser light show. There are even two hotels and a campground here, just be sure to check the weather ahead of your trip.
Shopping
Check out the Ponce City Market to see what the local buzz is all about. With shopping, dining, venues and more all in one spot, it’s no wonder this is one of the first stops for every shopaholic. For high end brands, visit The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The streets are lined with names like Hermes, Dior, Christian Louboutin and more. This is an ideal spot in the winter, when holiday string lights go up in the trees and make for dreamy Instagram pictures.
