Category Archives: Tourist Attraction
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 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 Krog Tunnel
The Krog Tunnel is one of Atlanta’s more off-the-beaten-track attractions. It is known for its graffiti that is equally artwork and advertisement space for local area events. The tunnel is located where Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park and Cabbagetown meet. There is no bus route that travels into the tunnel (not enough height), but you can get within a two block walk.
Take bus 3 from either the Five Points or Candler Park Station and exit at Krog Street and Irwin Street. Look for the lofty brick buildings and railroad tracks. Walk south on Krog Street toward Stove Works and the tunnel will soon be visible (see area map). Nearby destinations include the BeltLine, Studioplex, Serpas tapas, Kevin Rathbun’s Krog Bar and 97 Estoria pub. **Note, bus 3 only travels to the area on weekdays only. Another option is bus 21, but that does require a much longer walk. Exit at Pearl Street and Memorial Drive.
For more information, see:
MARTA Maps
How to Ride MARTA Buses
10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA
MARTA to Ponce City Market
Ponce City Market (formerly City Hall East) is an upcoming redevelopment project that will contain office space, lofts, retail and dining. Set to open in 2014, the historic building started as a Sears Roebuck and Co. factory and will be added to the National Register of Historic Places once renovations are complete.
A kick-off construction party (Party on Ponce) will take place on Oct. 1, 2011, and feature Shawn Mullins, Indigo Girls and Francine Reed. Tickets sales support the Beltline and Georgia Organics and the party will also include food from top restaurants around the city and a guided tour.
On MARTA, take bus 2 from the North Avenue Station on the red/gold rail line or from the Decatur Station on the blue line and exit at Ponce de Leon Avenue and Glen Iris (see map). Nearby destinations include Gekko Sushi, 4th and Swift, Whole Foods, Home Depot, CVS, Kroger, Cactus Car Wash and the Masquerade.
For more information, see:
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
How to Ride MARTA Buses
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to the Wren’s Nest
The Wren’s Nest is the preserved home of Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote the Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remis stories. Daily tours are offered along with storytelling on Saturdays.
The closest MARTA station is West End on the red/gold south rail line. The house is about a 10 minute walk away, but you can also get on bus 71 at the station, which is a little safer and better for children.
If you plan to walk, exit the station on Lee Street and turn right. At the first stoplight, turn left on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. and walk about two blocks (see walking map).
For more information, see:
MARTA Maps
How to Ride MARTA Buses
10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA
MARTA to the Michael C. Carlos Museum
The Michael C. Carlos Museum is located on the Emory University campus and is full of artifacts from the ancient world.
There are two buses that travel near the museum, bus 6 and bus 36. Bus 6 departs from the Inman Park and Lindbergh stations, while bus 36 from Midtown and Avondale. Regardless of which bus you ride, plan to exit the bus at N. Decatur Road and Dowman Drive/Oxford Road, which is one of the main entrances to the campus (see area map).
Keep left after entering the campus and turn right at the second street to reach the museum.
For more information, see how to use Google Maps for MARTA directions and 10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA.
MARTA to the Hard Rock Cafe
Atlanta’s Hard Rock Cafe is located downtown at 215 Peachtree Street NE, near the Peachtree Center MARTA station (see area map).
To get there on MARTA, take a gold or red line train to the Peachtree Center station and look for the “To Harris Street” exit off the train platform. After going through the fare gate, follow the signs pointing to Peachtree Street East. Once you get to street level, turn left and walk to the first intersection. Hard Rock is on the corner.
Bus 110 also runs up and down Peachtree Street from Five Points to the Lenox station. Exit at the intersection of Peachtree and Andrew Young International Blvd.
For more information, see 10 popular Atlanta tourist attractions and how to get there on MARTA and the top 5 most walkable MARTA stations.
MARTA to the Federal Reserve Museum
The Federal Reserve Monetary Museum is open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm for groups smaller than 10 people. Otherwise groups must schedule a tour. Conveniently, the Federal Reserve is right next to the Midtown station, and even has its own station exit.
Take any red or gold line train to the Midtown station and take the tunnel exit at the far north end of the station. Once you get to street level you’ll be right next to the Federal Reserve. Walk east on 10th Street toward the white marble building and turn left on Peachtree Street for the main entrance.
For more information, see 10 popular Atlanta tourist attractions and how to get there on MARTA and Midtown MARTA station restaurants for enjoying a meal in the area before or after you see the museum.
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 the Carter Center
The Carter Center is just outside downtown in a residential area and features a permanent Jimmy Carter exhibit as well as rotating exhibits. There is a bus stop right next to the Carter Center, making it fairly easy to get to.
Bus 16 is the route that goes to the Carter Center, which you can board at the Five Points station on Alabama Street as well as any stop on Peachtree Street from the Five Points station north to Auburn Avenue along Woodruff Park. You can also catch the bus about a block away from the N1 Peachtree Center station (see area map).
The recommended route would be to take a north/south line train to the Peachtree Center station and follow the signs to the Harris Street exit. After exiting the fare gate, tap your Breeze Card and follow the signs to Peachtree Street east. At street level, turn right to walk along Peachtree Street then make the first right onto Harris Street and walk one block to Peachtree Center Avenue. Look for any bus stop sign on Peachtree Center Avenue and wait there for the bus. It is best to check schedules ahead of time as routes can be upwards of 20-30 minutes apart.
Once on the bus, you can let your driver know your destination. You will know you are getting close to the Carter Center when it looks like the bus is getting on an interstate ramp. Once the bus goes around a large curve and enters the residential area, the stop for the Carter Center is next. To return, you’ll have to wait for bus 16 on the opposite side of the Carter Center (see bus stop map).
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 the Margaret Mitchell House
Famous home to the author of Gone With the Wind, the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum is conveniently located almost directly next to the N4 Midtown station. Take a red or yellow line train to the Midtown station (all trains from airport and downtown will stop at Midtown) and take the main exit to street level (avoid the Federal Reserve stairwell exit). Exit the station onto 10th Street and turn right. The house is on the next corner.
For more information see 10 Popular Atlanta Tourist Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA as well as the Top 5 Most Walkable MARTA stations.
MARTA to the Georgia World Congress Center
The Georgia World Congress Center is one of the easiest destinations to get to on MARTA. It essentially has its own train station, the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station, which is one stop west of Five Points (see area map).
If you are coming from the north or south lines, such as from the airport, 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, take the Philips Arena exit out of the station. After exiting the fare gate and going up the escalators, veer to the left to enter the courtyard that is in front of the Georgia Dome and the Georgia World Congress Center.
For more information, see:
Top 5 Hotels Closest to MARTA
Georgia Dome/Philips Arena Station Restaurants
How to use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
Top 10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
Navigating the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station
MARTA to the Georgia Capitol
The Georgia State Capitol building is only one block away from the Georgia State MARTA Station on the blue/green rail line. The building is open to the public Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on weekends and holidays. Visit website for tour information.
If you are coming from the red or gold rail line, exit at the Five Points Station and follow the signs to the Eastbound platform. Get on the first eastbound train and ride one stop to the Georgia State Station. Take the Piedmont Avenue exit out of the station and turn left on Piedmont Avenue. Walking time is less than 10 minutes. Nearby destinations include Underground Atlanta and Georgia State University.
For more information, see:
Navigating the Georgia State Station
10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA
MARTA to the Dogwood Festival
The Dogwood Festival takes place in Piedmont Park , which is located in midtown Atlanta near the Midtown and Arts Center stations on the red/gold rail lines (see area map).
- If you exit at the Arts Center station, follow the signs to the West Peachtree Street exit and turn left to walk along West Peachtree. At 14th Street turn left and walk about three blocks to reach the park. The 14th Street entrance will get you closer to the sports fields and the lake, where most of the artist market and the Kids Village sets up. Plan for about a 15 minute walk.
- Or, you can exit at the Midtown station and walk east on 10th Street (toward Peachtree Street). This is a more direct route. After getting off the train, go up the central escalators/stairs to street level and take the 10th Street exit out of the station and turn right. This route is better for getting to the meadow off of 10th Street, which usually hosts the Disk Dog Exhibition and movies in prior years. It is also a slightly shorter walk at about 10 minutes.
Three buses will also put you next to the park if you don’t want to walk, all depart from the Midtown station. If you tap your breeze ticket when you exit the train station, you get a free bus transfer.
- Bus 36 goes down 10th Street and onto the Highlands and Emory
- Bus 99 also goes down 10th Street and then south on Monroe Drive
- Bus 27 has a stop just outside the 14th Street park entrance and then travels on to the Botanical Garden. See bus 27 festival schedule for specific departure times and parking options.
More Information
MARTA to the Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is located at 1404 Spring Street NE, near the Arts Center Station. To get there on MARTA, take a red or gold line train to the Arts Center Station and follow the signs to “West Peachtree Street” after walking through the fare gates.
Turn right onto West Peachtree Street and at the first stop light, turn left on 17th Street, walk one block, then turn right onto Spring Street. The center is about one block down on the left (see walking map). Be advised that there is no entrance facing the street. You must walk behind the building through the parking lot to reach the main entrance.
For more information, see:
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Top 5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA
