Author Archives: MARTA Guide
MARTA to the Atlanta Marriott Downtown
The Atlanta Marriott Downtown is located at 160 Spring Street NW, closest to the Peachtree Center MARTA Station in downtown Atlanta. Rates start from $99 and go over $200 depending on the date of stay. The hotel features paid Internet access, valet and off-site parking for a fee, fitness center and outdoor pool.
From MARTA, take a red or gold line train to the Peachtree Center Station. If coming from the airport or Greyhound, board a northbound train. From the Megabus, board a southbound train at the Civic Center Station. Once exiting the train, follow the signs to the Harris Street exit, go through the fare gates, then follow signs again to Peachtree Street West. At street level, turn right along Peachtree Street (passing Ray’s in the City and Fire of Brazil restaurants). The first stoplight is Andrew Young International Blvd. (Hard Rock Cafe on the corner). Turn right on Andrew Young International and walk about one block to reach the hotel, which is near a small park.
Nearby attractions include the Peachtree Center offices and mall, Centennial Olympic Park, Imagine It! Children’s Museum, Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke.
For more information, see:
Navigating the Peachtree Center Station
Peachtree Center Station Restaurants
Top 5 Most Walkable Stations
Top 5 Hotels Closest to MARTA
MARTA to A Taste of the Highlands
Virginia Highland is a popular Atlanta neighborhood that hosts “A Taste of the Highlands” each year in May. Live music, beer and samples from the area restaurants are available in John Howell Park. Tickets are $40/adults or $25/students.
MARTA bus 36 travels to the park, which departs from the Midtown and Avondale MARTA Stations. Bus 16 that departs from Five Points also travels near the event. Exit the bus at the intersection of N. Highland and Virginia Avenue and walk west (toward the skyscrapers/Murphy’s Restaurant) for about two blocks to reach the park. The closest MARTA station is Midtown, and is a 30 minute walk from the station if you don’t plan to take a bus. Turn right on 10th Street from the Midtown Station and walk until the road dead ends at Monroe Drive. Turn right on Monroe then a quick left onto Virginia Avenue, which goes up a steep hill.
For more information, see:
Best of MARTA: Food/Drink
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Using Google Maps for MARTA directions
5 Skymiles Restaurants Near MARTA
Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurants Near MARTA
MARTA to the Atlanta International Hostel
The Atlanta International Hostel is located at 223 Ponce de Leon Avenue, closest to the North Avenue Station on the red/gold rail line.
If you are coming from the airport, Greyhound or the Megabus, take any northbound train to North Avenue. If coming from Amtrak or a station in the north, board a southbound train. Once at the North Avenue Station, follow the signs to the North Avenue/West Peachtree Street exit. After walking through the fare gates, go up the stairs/escalator to street level and turn left on North Avenue. At the stoplight (Peachtree Street), turn left again then right on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The hostel is about three blocks down on the right.
If you don’t walk or have luggage, board bus 2 at the North Avenue Station. A one-way trip is $2.50, or if you are visiting the city and plan to ride several days, consider purchasing day passes or multiple trips at one time. Riders can pay cash on buses, but don’t receive a free transfer to the rail line.
For more information, see:
North Avenue Station Restaurants
How to Ride MARTA BusesHow to Ride MARTA Trains
Top 5 Hotels Closest to MARTA
Tips for Riding MARTA to/from the Airport
MARTA to the Spring Festival on Ponce
The new Spring Festival on Ponce features local artists and acoustic music in a series of parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue. The 2012 dates are April 14-15.
For easiest access, riders can board bus 2 at the North Avenue, Candler Park or Decatur Stations, which travels along Ponce de Leon Avenue and the festival. Another option is to take bus 6 from the Inman Park or Lindbergh Station and exit at Moreland and Ponce de Leon and walking about 10 minutes away from downtown on Ponce.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the BeltLine Tour
You can get a free driving tour of the BeltLine at the Inman Park Station on Friday and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and see some of the 22-mile railroad corridor that is under redevelopment for trails and transit. Take a blue or green line train to the Inman Park Station and after going through the fare gate, veer right to follow the signs pointing to Inman Park. The shuttle picks up near the station exit. Registration is advance is typically required.
For more information, see:
Navigating the Inman Park Station
Inman Park Attractions
Inman Park Station Weekend Train Schedule
Atlanta BeltLine
MARTA to the Winter Beer Carnival
Atlantic Station hosts the Atlanta Winter Beer Carnival on Feb. 11, 2012. It is an annual event that includes beer sampling, DJs, carnival games and food from local restaurants. The closest MARTA is Arts Center on the red/gold rail line. It is about a 15 minute walk (take the West Peachtree Street exit out of the station and turn right, then turn left on 17th Street), or you can take the free Atlantic Station shuttle than runs every 5-10 minutes. Follow the signs to the buses/15th Street exit to pick up the shuttle in the bus bay (signage marks the drop off/pick up location). Bus 37 departs the station and also goes to the event. Exit at the main shopping/retail district.
If you wish to park and ride, the Lindbergh Center Station offers the closest parking. Park for free, then pay $5 roundtrip for the transit commute. Get on the first southbound train that arrives at Lindbergh and take it to the Arts Center.
For more information, see:
Lindbergh Center Station Parking
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to L.A. Fitness
There are several MARTA-accessible L.A. Fitness locations around Atlanta. See below for the list of gyms, with the easiest destinations listed first.
L.A. Fitness Perimeter Point
Take the red rail line (North Springs) to the Sandy Springs Station. The gym is next to the station in a shopping center at 1155 Mount Vernon Highway.
L.A. Fitness Midtown
Take any red or gold line train to the North Avenue Station or Midtown Station. Turn right on West Peachtree Street from North Avenue and walk to 5th Street and turn left and walk a block to the gym (75 5th Street). Or from Midtown, take the Peachtree Place exit out of the station and turn right. At West Peachtree Street, turn left and walk to 5th Street and turn right.
L.A. Fitness Atlantic Station
Take any red or gold line train to the Arts Center Station and follow the signs to the buses/15th Street exit. In the bus area is a free shuttle to Atlantic Station. Exit at the main retail center. The gym is next to the movie theater. Bus 37 also departs from the station and travels there.
L.A. Fitness Buckhead
Located at 3232 Peachtree Road NE, it is about a 15 minute walk from the Buckhead Station to the gym. Take a red line train to the station and after going through the fare gate, take the first set of stairs out of the station or use the elevator just beyond the stairwell. Turn right at street level and walk about three blocks. The gym is located below the Marshall’s department store. From the station exit you can also board bus 110 if you prefer not to walk.
L.A. Fitness Ansley Mall
From the Lindbergh Center or Midtown Station, board bus 27 to get to Ansley Mall. The trip is shorter from the Midtown Station. The bus runs in front of the shopping center where the gym is located. Exit near the stoplight where Publix and Starbucks are located.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Services
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to the BeltLine Eastside Trail
The BeltLine is Atlanta’s hopeful light-rail project that operate in a loop around intown Atlanta neighborhoods using existing rail beds. It will also include trails, the first of which will be the Eastside Trail, scheduled to open in 2012 and run from near the King Memorial MARTA Station to Piedmont Park.
MARTA currently crosses this trail in several places. Choose from:
- King Memorial Station – at street level turn right and walk about a block along Dekalb Avenue for the south end of the trail.
- Five Points and Candler Park Stations – board bus 3 on weekdays to reach the Eastside Trail in the Inman Park neighborhood. If getting on the bus at Five Points, make sure the destination of the bus is to the Candler Park Station. Exit the bus around Krog Street and Serpas. The bus will literally go over the trail.
- North Avenue, Candler Park and Decatur Stations – board bus 2 to connect with the Eastside Trail at Ponce de Leon Avenue and Ponce City Market. The bus travels underneath the rail bed and a new pedestrian ramp will be created there. Exit by the huge brick building at the stoplight (across the street is Whole Foods/Home Depot).
- Midtown Station – Bus 36 and 99 have stops next to the Eastside Trail, which runs along Park Tavern and Piedmont Park. Exit around 10th Street and Monroe Drive by the Grady High School stadium.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Fun/Recreation
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to Center Stage/The Loft/Vinyl
Center Stage, The Loft and Vinyl are live music venues in Midtown, located in the same building at 1374 West Peachtree Street. They are a short walk away from the Arts Center Station on the red/gold rail line. Take the West Peachtree Street exit out of the station and turn right on West Peachtree and walk about a block to 17th Street. The building is on the corner. Bus 37 departs from the station and also has a stop there.
For more information, see:
MARTA Maps
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Music Venues Near MARTA Stations
MARTA to the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place at Atlantic Station on March 3, 2012 from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets cover unlimited sampling of bourbon and beer. Food is available at an additional cost.
The closest MARTA station to the festival is Arts Center on the red/gold rail line. There are several options to get to Atlantic Station from there:
- Walk. Take the West Peachtree exit out of the station and turn right on West Peachtree then left on 17th Street and walk over the bridge (see walking map). Walking time is about 15 minutes.
- Free Shuttle. Follow the signs to the 15th Street exit/To Buses and ride the free Atlantic Station shuttle. It runs every 5-10 minutes.
- MARTA bus 37 also departs from the Arts Center and travels to the event.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Blue Grassroots Music and Arts Festival
The Stone Mountain Village Blue Grassroots Music and Art Festival will take place on March 31, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Stone Mountain Village, just outside the Stone Mountain Park. The village will have street music jams and contra dancing in addition to Bluegrass musicians on stage, an arts and crafts show and a children’s area. Admission is free. The event hosted by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and Main Street Stone Mountain.
To get there on MARTA, take bus 121 from the Kensington MARTA Station on the blue rail line. If you are coming from the red/gold rail line, such as from downtown or midtown, you’ll have to transfer at the Five Points Station to the Eastbound train platform and get on a train marked “Indian Creek”.
The bus ride is about 35 minutes — the Stone Mountain Village is at the end of the route. On Saturdays, bus 121 runs every 20 minutes and departs the Kensington Station at 15, 35 and 55 minutes past the hour. View the full Saturday schedule for bus 121 here.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Food/Drink
Music Venues Near MARTA
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Dekalb Technical College
The Dekalb Technical College is located at 495 N Indian Creek Dr. in Clarkston, GA. The closest MARTA station is Indian Creek, but to get to the college on MARTA you have to take a bus from either the Avondale or Kensington Station on the blue rail line.
Bus 125 departs from the Avondale Station and stops in front of the college. Or choose from bus 121 at the Kensington Station. For that route, exit at Memorial Drive and Rockbridge Road/Clark Drive and walk 10 minutes north Clark Drive to reach the school (see walking map).
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Mall at West End
The Mall at West End is located at 850 Oak Street SW, a 5-10 minute walk from the West End MARTA Station on the red/gold rail line. It is a small urban mall with Jimmy Jazz and Maxway the two largest stores. Other stores include Foot Locker, Radio Shack and Rainbow Apparel. All northbound and southbound trains stop at the West End Station, but if you are coming from the blue/green rail line, you must transfer to a southbound train at the Five Points Station.
Take the main exit out of the station and turn right on Whitehall Street. Turn left on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. then right on Lee Street. Bus 68 also travels to the mall and departs from the West End and Ashby MARTA stations.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Retail
Top 5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to Best Western Plus Inn at the Peachtrees
The Best Western Inn at the Peachtrees is a boutique hotel downtown located at 330 West Peachtree Street. The hotel features a daily hot breakfast buffet and business center.
The closest MARTA station is the Civic Center Station on the red/gold rail line. All north and southbound trains stop at this station as well as the Megabus and Atlanta regional bus routes. From the station, walk south (toward the skyline) on West Peachtree Street. The hotel is a block down on the right. Walking time is about 5 minutes.
Nearby restaurants include BLT Steak, Mellow Mushroom, Jimmy Johns, Room at Twelve and Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill & Brewery. Nearby attractions include the Georgia Aquarium, Civic Center and downtown Atlanta business district.
For more information, see:
Civic Center Station Guide
Megabus and MARTA
Civic Center Attractions
Tips for Riding MARTA to/from the Airport
