Category Archives: Sports and Outdoors
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 the Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Bowl takes place in the Georgia Dome, which is right next to the Dome/Philips Arena Station on the blue/green rail line. If you are traveling from the airport get on any northbound train, or from north of the city, ride any southbound train to the Five Points Station. Exit the train and follow the signs to the Westbound train platform. Get on the first train that arrives and ride one stop to the Dome Station. After exiting the train, look for signs pointing to the Georgia Dome for direct access to the building without having to go outside.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. The last trains will depart the Five Points Station at 2 a.m., so plan to be back at the Dome Station at least 20 minutes early. There will also be heavy crowds downtown for the Peach Drop and riders should expect crowded trains and lines at the Breeze Card machines. It is advised that you purchase your fare in advance and make sure you have enough for a roundtrip ($5 for adults) to avoid waiting.
For those parking and riding, the closest free daily parking lot to the Dome is at the Ashby Station at 65 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Otherwise, parking at any other station on the blue/green rail line makes for an easy commute: H.E. Holmes, Westlake, Inman Park, Candler Park, East Lake, Avondale, Kensington or Indian Creek. See this map and station links to click on the station name to get addresses and schedules.
For more information, see:
New Year’s Eve Weekend MARTA Schedules
Dome Station Restaurants
Top 5 MARTA Stations to Park and Ride
MARTA to the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade
The 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade takes place Dec. 31 from 12:30 – 2 p.m. just outside the Peachtree Center MARTA station on the red/gold rail line. All north/soundbound trains stop at this station, and all station exits will take you to street level where you can view the start of the parade. Or if coming from the blue or green rail line, exit at the Five Points Station and follow the signs to the Northbound train platform and get on the first train that arrives and go one stop to Peachtree Center.
The other option is to exit at the Dome Station on the blue/green rail line and follow the signs to the Philips Arena exit. Go up the escalators and keep walking straight ahead along Centennial Olympic Park Drive (Philips Arena will be on your left). A few blocks up the parade route travels on Andrew Young International Blvd. through the park (see walking map). If you are coming from the north or south rail line, be sure to exit at Five Points and follow the signs to the Westbound platform for the correct train.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl Fanfest will take place next to the Dome Station at the Georgia World Congress Center after the parade and the football game will take place in the Georgia Dome next door.
For more information, see:
MARTA to the Chick-fil-A Bowl
New Year’s Eve Weekend MARTA Schedules
Navigating the Peachtree Center Station
Dome Station Restaurants
Peachtree Center Station Restaurants
Top 5 MARTA Stations to Park and Ride
MARTA to the Atlanta Half-marathon
The Atlanta Half-marathon is one of the largest races in the U.S. and takes place every Thanksgiving Day. There is also a 5K run. All races start and end near Turner Field, which is closest to the Georgia State Station on the blue/green rail line. It is a 25 minute walk to Turner Field, making it a good warm-up for the race. There are two bus routes, 32 and 55, which go by Turner Field, but it is likely there will be road closures the day of the race and these buses will have adjusted routes. You can connect to both buses at the Five Points Station, and check itsmarta.com for route changes.
If you plan to walk from MARTA, take the Piedmont Avenue exit out of the station and turn left on Piedmont Avenue. Turner Field is straight ahead and you’ll pass the capitol building and walk over I-20 on the way. Be advised that MARTA runs on a Sunday schedule on holidays, so trains should be running approximately every 20 minutes and slightly more frequent on the red/gold rail line where both the Doraville and North Springs trains run. Also, the closest MARTA parking to the start of the race is at the King Memorial Station. Daily parking is free.
For more information, see:
Top 5 MARTA Stations to Park and Ride
How to Ride MARTA Buses
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to the Candler Park Fall Fest
The Candler Park Fall Fest takes place every fall in the park, usually in October, and features a 5k run, music/entertainment, artist market and more.
The closest station is the Candler Park station on the blue/green rail line that runs east and west through the city. If you are coming from the north or south, be sure to transfer at Five Points to the Eastbound platform and get on a train labeled “Candler Park” or “Indian Creek”.
After exiting the fare gate, follow the exit marked Candler Park. Head east (away from downtown) on Dekalb Avenue then turn left on Mell Avenue. This street dead ends at the park. Total walking distance is about one mile (see walking map).
For more information, see how to use Google Maps for MARTA directions and the weekend train schedules for the Candler Park station.
MARTA to the Georgia Marathon
The Georgia Marathon takes place every year in early spring. This year the race takes place on Sunday, March 20, 2011. The marathon and the half-marathon start and end at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta (see area map) and go through intown neighborhoods, including Inman Park, Virginia Highland, Decatur, Midtown and Druid Hills.
From the North or South (red/gold rail lines)
Take a red or gold line train to the Peachtree Center station. Take the Harris Street exit off the train platform then follow the signs pointing to Peachtree Street West after going through the fare gate. At street level, turn right on Peachtree Street then right at the first light on to Andrew Young International. This street will go right to the park.
From the East or West (blue/green rail lines)
Take a blue or green train to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena station, which is one stop away from Five Points. Follow the signs pointing to Philips Arena after exiting the station. After going up an escalator and flight of stairs, walk straight ahead past Philips Arena (the arena will be on your left). The park is about two blocks down.
For more information, see see Using Google Maps for MARTA directions for specific time schedules and the top 5 MARTA stations to park and ride.
MARTA to the Atlanta Fair
The Atlanta Fair is located at Turner Field, which is a 25 minute walk from the Georgia State MARTA station. If you plan to walk, exit at Georgia State (transfer to an eastbound train at Five Points if coming from the north or south) and take the Piedmont Road exit out of the station and turn left.
The fair website recommends taking bus 49 from the Five Points station. Bus 32 and bus 55 also go to Turner Field and also depart from Five Points. Plan ahead and look at the bus schedules online to know departure times, or use Google Maps on your smartphone for trip information and next arriving bus when going to or leaving the game.
For more information, see Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions and view 10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA.
MARTA to Grant Park
Grant Park sits in a historic district of turn-of-the-century homes and contains a large public pool, wooded paths, playgrounds, tennis courts, Zoo Atlanta and more. The park is also home to the Summer Shade Festival that takes place every August.
The closest station to Grant Park is E2 King Memorial. Plan for a 15 minute walk to the edge of the park and another 20 to walk the length of the park itself (see walking directions and map). Otherwise, you can take bus 32 from the Five Points or Civic Center station. This route also connects to the Georgia Aquarium if you want to combine attractions.
For more information, see other Atlanta tourist attractions and how to get there on MARTA.
MARTA to Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is a popular tourist attraction with a literal stone mountain that can be climbed, rock carvings, lake, hiking trails and more. Special events are also held here throughout the year.
It is not near a MARTA train station, but you can get on bus 121 at the E8 Kensington station on the east-west rail line. If you are coming from the airport, downtown, midtown or otherwise in the north, 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. Exit at Mountain Street and Main Street.
For more information, see 10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA and how to use Google Maps for MARTA directions to get specific bus times and route information.
MARTA to Candler Park (the park)
Candler Park is both a neighborhood and a park off the Candler Park MARTA station on the east/west, blue/green rail line. The park is about one mile from the station and has a large green space, swimming pool, basketball courts and more.
If you are coming from the north or south, be sure to transfer at Five Points to the Eastbound platform. Board a train labeled “Candler Park” or “Indian Creek” to get to the Candler Park station.
After exiting the fare gate, follow the exit marked Candler Park. Head east (away from downtown) on Dekalb Avenue then turn left on Mell Avenue. This street dead ends at the park (see walking map).
For more information, see the Top 5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations and 10 popular Atlanta tourist attractions you can get to on MARTA.
MARTA to Six Flags
Six Flags Over Georgia is an amusement park just outside of the city. The closest MARTA station is H.E. Holmes on the blue rail line. From there, board bus 201 to get to the park. If you are coming from the north or south, you must exit at Five Points and follow the signs to the Westbound platform and get on a train marked “H.E. Holmes”.
Once at the station, make sure to tap your Breeze card when exiting the station to get a free transfer.
The bus begins running one hour before the park opens and one hour after it closes. For more specific departure times, you must call MARTA customer service at (404) 848-5000.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to Screen on the Green
Screen on the Green is a summer outdoor movie series in Piedmont Park . For easiest access, ride a red or gold line train to the Midtown Station and take the 10th Street exit out of the station. Turn right, east, on 10th Street and walk about four blocks. If you accidentally exit via the Federal Reserve building, just be sure to turn left onto 10th Street (see area map).
If you rather not walk, you can take bus 36 (Midtown Station and Avondale Station) or bus 99 (Midtown Station and Georgia State Station) to the park. If you tap your breeze card when exiting the train station you can ride the bus for free. Look up the bus schedule ahead of time to plan or use Google Maps for MARTA schedules.
2011 Movie Schedule
June 2 – Back to the Future, 1985
June 9 – Imitation of Life, 1959
June 16 – Sixteen Candles, 1984
June 23 – Viewers Choice — The Birds, 1963 vs. Frankenstein, 1931
June 30 – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 1971
For more information, see:
MARTA Maps
Midtown Station Restaurants
MARTA Train Schedules and Frequencies
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is located at 1 Georgia Dome Drive NW, in between the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station and the Vine City Station on the blue/green rail line that runs east and west through Atlanta.
The Vine City stop will have less traffic and put you more easily on street level near the Dome, while the Dome Station has a direct entrance into the building on a lower level.
If you are coming from the red or gold rail line, you will have to transfer at the Five Points Station. Exit at Five Points and follow the signs to the WESTBOUND platform. It is easy to go up a stairway or escalator that is to the eastbound platform, and often there is no way to get to the train you need that way. Generally, it is usually better to exit to the outside (not center) platform. When in doubt, just follow the signs as there are plenty that can direct you to the westbound train.
Once on the train, the Dome Station, is the first stop. Exit and follow the signs pointing to the Georgia Dome (which has its own exit separate from Philips Arena). Or if you get off at Vine City, merely walk down Rhodes Street when you exit the station (see map).
Other Things to Know
Trains run every 20 minutes after 7 p.m. and on the weekends on the blue/green rail line. Train service across the whole system ends at 1 a.m. Additionally, if you are looking for a close place to park and ride, park at the Inman Park Station and board the first westbound train that arrives. In generally, parking at any station on the blue/green rail line that offers daily parking allows direct commuting without any transfers.
For more information, see:
Georgia Dome/Philips Arena Station Restaurants
Navigating the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station
Top 10 Easiest Destinations to get to on MARTA
Top 5 MARTA Stations to Park and Ride
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
Train Schedules and Frequency
MARTA to Bobby Dodd Stadium
Image via Wikipedia
For Tech fans, getting to the Bobby Dodd Stadium on MARTA is fairly convenient. You’ll want to exit at the N3 North Avenue Station, following the signs to North Avenue/West Peachtree Street and avoiding the exits pointing to the Fox Theatre. At street level walk straight ahead and slightly to the right to walk along North Avenue. Walk about five minutes, crossing over the connector, and the stadium will be on your right (see map).
For more information, see Using Google Maps for MARTA directions and view a list of the restaurants around the North Avenue station.
MARTA to Philips Arena
Philips Arena is one of the easiest destinations to get to on MARTA. It essentially has its own train station, the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN station on the blue/green rail line, just one stop west of Five Points.
If you are coming from the north or south lines, you will have to transfer at Five Points. Make sure you follow signs to the WESTBOUND platform. It is usually better to exit to the outside (not center) platform. When in doubt, just follow the signs as there are plenty that can direct you to the westbound train.
Once you get to the station, merely follow the signs again to Philips Arena. Stay to the right at the top of the escalators or if you need a ramp, go to the left to get up to street level. Plan for a good number of stairs after getting off the escalator, but at the top is an entrance to the venue. It is about a two minute walk to Philips Arena once you exit the fare gate.
You can also walk to Philips Arena from the Five Points Station. The walk is a little longer and not recommended late at night, but if you are coming from the north or south, you can avoid transfering trains by exiting at Five Points and walking the rest of the way.
For more information, see:
Georgia Dome/Philips Arena Station Restaurants
Navigating the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station
Walking to Philip’s Arena From Five Points
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
