10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Atlanta

The Atlanta BeltLine is an urban revitalisation project that links metro Atlanta neighbourhoods via pedestrian walkways, hiking trails, and green spaces. The project continuously expands to unlock undiscovered sections of Atlanta. It's estimated to complete in 2030. 

Art lovers will enjoy public installations that add a kaleidoscope of colours to the walkways. Don’t miss Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, the largest outdoor public art exhibition in the American South. Fitness enthusiasts can find unexplored paths, Run Club meetups, and stress-relieving yoga classes. The ambitious goal of 33 miles of multi-use trails will help you find more hidden places in Atlanta.

The Krog Street Tunnel connects the Inman Park and Cabbagetown neighbourhoods in Atlanta, with astonishing street art on display. While graffiti is common in major cities, this landmark encourages unknown artists to unleash their creativity. It’s rare to find a blank canvas on the tunnel’s concrete walls, and the artwork regularly changes. Take a picture if you find a heartfelt image, as it's likely you won't see it again.

In addition to elaborate murals and street tags, you’ll find political messages, event advertisements, or even marriage proposals. The Krog Street Tunnel is also one of Atlanta’s hottest backdrops for photoshoots and music videos.

Chamblee’s Antique Row District has the finest selection of collectables, jewellery, furnishings, and rare trinkets in Atlanta. Just off I-285 in the Chamblee suburb, the tight-knit shops greet you with warm Southern hospitality as you browse for rare antiques.

Start your shopping spree at Chamblee Antiques and Interiors to find designer furniture, artwork, and vintage objects. The Treasure Mart has frequent sales on home decoratives, while the Antique Factory offers a treasure trove of furniture and antiques. For a quality price on your gems and fine metals, visit the friendly and knowledgeable staff of Global Gems & Jewelry.

The CDC Museum delves into the world of scientists racing to find the cure for deadly diseases. Through multimedia displays and rotating exhibits, you’ll examine the history of the public health institution. Learn how the CDC fought past outbreaks from illnesses like smallpox and malaria and how they battle today’s epidemics. Other exhibits discuss the challenges of Ebola, the Zika virus, obesity, and more. 

You can step into the shoes of public health defenders by walking in biohazard suits. You’ll also find replicas of medical marvels such as the iron lung and smallpox vaccine kits. Although the CDC Museum feels like a sci-fi movie set, it gives you a new perspective of public health.

Doll’s Head Trail, a hiking spot around 8 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, may either entertain you or give you the creeps. The path cuts through Constitution Lakes Park, which sits on the site of an abandoned 19th-century brick factory. Local carpenter Joel Slaton came up with a brilliant art project to make use of the discarded doll parts and remnants of the factory. 

The result is a nature preserve filled with doll heads and quirky art installations made from garbage. You can include a piece of artwork yourself, but it must come from something found within Constitution Lakes Park.

The Millennium Gate Museum reflects on Atlanta’s often forgotten historic nickname, “The Gate City.” When passing the Roman-style triumphal arch in Midtown’s Atlantic Station district, it resembles a grandiose European capital. Inside, the 12,000-sq-ft museum presents a time capsule of Georgia's history.

The galleries present artefacts from Native American cultures and European settlers who shaped Georgia’s development. Millennium Gate routinely hosts touring exhibits, with past displays including rare Winston Churchill paintings and Ancient Greek artefacts. The underrated museum also contains fascinating relics such as Native American pottery, 18th-century muskets, and Masonic swords.

Eddie’s Attic in Decatur welcomes the most talented musicians of Atlanta. For nearly 30 years, the acoustic space has hosted local musicians that would later achieve international stardom. Artists who have performed on the stage of Eddie’s Attic includes John Mayer, Justin Bieber, and Sugarland. Indie music lovers will appreciate the venue’s stellar acoustics and silent phone policy.

On Mondays, Eddie’s Attic hosts an open mic night that features aspiring artists from across the country. The winners of the evening will compete at the Bi-Annual Songwriter's Open-Mic Shootout to leapfrog into the music industry. When there’s no artist on stage, grab some food and drinks to chill on the spacious outdoor patio.

Tiny Doors ATL takes you on a whimsical scavenger hunt to find 7-inch doors around the city. Artist Karen Anderson Singer combined her love for miniatures and street art to create a new perspective of Atlanta’s unique neighbourhoods and attractions. Some doors appear at busy pedestrian areas, on historic landmarks, or built into natural landscapes. Here’s a helpful hint: you’ll find tiny doors at Fox Theatre, State Farm Arena, and the Georgia Aquarium.

A map outlining all the miniature doors is on the Tiny Doors ATL website. Every door represents the unique personality of its community and engages the creative spirits of its residents.  

The Westview Cemetery, less than 5 miles from Downtown Atlanta, impresses with its enormous size. At roughly 582 acres, the cemetery is the largest civilian cemetery in the entire American Southeast. Since its opening in 1884, the facility has buried over 108,000 people on its burial plots. But to put its massive size to scale, around half of the property remains undeveloped.

Over the years, Westview has laid to rest many notable residents of Atlanta. The list of famous individuals buried at Westview includes Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler and former Governor of Georgia Hugh Dorsey. Westview also receives praise for its exceptional architecture, such as the stained-glass windows and elaborate tombs of the Westview Abbey Mausoleum.