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In August 2000, we stayed at the Embassy Suites Atlanta Galleria. In May 2001, we stayed at DoubleTree Guest Suites. Both are great hotels and situated in northwest Atlanta, about 15 minutes from the city center. The Cumberland Mall and Galleria Mall are only a few minutes away from each. I must say, the most conspicuous thing about Atlanta is the word Peachtree.At least 32 streets are called "Peachtree." There are Peachtree stations, restaurants and hotels but Atlanta has more to do with transportation, manufacturing and commerce than with peach orchards. On our first visit, I drove our car to the Atlanta Zoo, located in historic Grant Park. Getting there, on the narrow-lane interstate roads was awful. Too many lanes, too much traffic, and too narrow for me! However, finding the Zoo was easy and driving around on our second trip here wasn't as scary. Viewing the panda's, on loan from China, is very much worth the drive to get there. Cyclorama is also adjacent to Zoo Atlanta and beautiful Grant Park. On our second visit to Atlanta, I toured the Atlanta History Center and Gardens, in the Atlanta Buckhead neighborhood. It houses the History Museum, including the folklife gallery with its interesting Face Jug Pottery and a gallery with displays from the American Civil War. Also the Tullie Smith Farm, a yeoman farm typical to Georgia's Piedmont region during the Civil War. The Swan House, named for the swan motifs found throughout the house, completed in 1928 for heirs to a cotton merchandising fortune. The Swan Woods Trail is a 1/2 mile forest walk while the Garden of Peace is an international network of gardens featuring the Peace Tree bronze statue. Atlanta Botanical Gardens, in the northwest corner of Piedmont Park, is in the heart of midtown Atlanta. Here I enjoyed the shady woodlands with many ferns, a Japanese garden and a rose garden. Most notable are the highlights for the children. The children's Garden is a place where both adults and children can touch and learn about all types of plants. The conservatory has rare and endangered tropical and desert plants. |
