dylanh

Interstate 285 circles the entirety of Atlanta. It can be very trafficky. Worse yet, it is entirely unpredictable. You can hit stop and go traffic heading any direction at almost any time. That said, it is often the quickest way to get from place to place in Atlanta if you are travelling more than 2 or three miles. One of the highlights is the proximity to Interstate 285 of the Dekalb Farmer's Market on Ponce De Leon Avenue. My wife and I shop at the Dekalb Farmer's Market at least once a month (its an incredible store) and unless you live in Decatur, the quickest way to get there is often on Interstate 285.

Peachtree Road runs the entirety of the city from south to north, through the heart of downtown, midtown and Buckhead. It is an amazing street with an amazing history. Many areas have also been beautifully renovated. The stretch through Buckhead now features the Terminus Building with several great eateries as well as Craft, which might be the best restaurant in Atlanta now. Also, this stretch (unlike most of Atlanta) is very pedestrian friendly. If you come to visit Atlanta or are merely looking for a good place to eat, Peachtree is quite likely the place for you!

Cheshire Bridge is a long and winding road. It features little traffic and has some nice residential areas that are simply beautiful. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your mindset, much of the street is dedicated to adult entertainment (and this has become the street's reputation). Unless you want to answer some awkward questions from your kids, it may be better to stay away from Cheshire Bridge. If you want an endless variety of adult entertainment from lingerie modeling to all nude revues, Cheshire Bridge is certainly the place for you.

The Georgia Capitol truly is an underappreciated wonder that you and your kids should see. The Capitol contains a history museum that captures the history of Georgia in a very small package. Capitol Square is a very peaceful and pretty street, even in the heart of the City. The Capitol gounds are park like and very shady. This area is also very safe. You may notice a panhandler or two, but I would not be concerned. Take your kids to learn a little something about your history, and enjoy the trees and the grass.

Cherokee Avenue is next to the Atlanta Zoo and Grant Park. It is one of those areas that has been the next up and coming area, but it never seems to up and go anywhere. That said, I have family who lives in the neighborhood and it really does seem like a great place now to raise a family. I would observe basic safety precautions, but you see more and more families in Grant Park pushing their kids in strollers. Also, the zoo is very reasonable if you get a season pass membership.

Hank Aaron Drive is the street that parallels Turner Field (the Atlanta Braves' beautiful newish stadium). The street itself is fairly plain, but functional. The stadium is beautiful and is a great place to spend a summer evening watching a ball game. Do not forget to view the Olympic Torch which is located right on this street, however. It is an interesting bit of history. One word of caution: on game nights the traffic is bad and the police often shift around which streets are accessible. I recommend either taking MARTA or getting there early!

West Peachtree Street is a great street for several reasons. First, it is actually very picturesque and shady for a midtown and downtown Atlanta street. Second, there are a number of nice restaurants in and around the area. In fact, I've taken a carriage ride through Atlanta that included a stretch of West Peachtree and it was a fun and romantic ride. One of the nicest things about West Peachtree is that it is a relaxing and quick way to head north through that part of the City while avoiding the hassle and traffic of Peachtree.

Interstate 85 has always been a serviceable highway in the Atlanta area. If you live north of the City and commute, traffic can be a nightmare. Otherwise, it is very easy to use Interstate 85 to access the northeastern and southern suburbs of Atlanta (or to zoom through the city itself). In fact, you can take Interstate 85 all the way to Richmond, Virginia and all the way south to the ocean. One new concern: increased police presence. In January, a new super speeder law went into effect that dramatically increases the cost of speeding tickets. I believe that the police are going to be enforcing speeding much more since the financial benefit has increased. Be very careful!

Pryor Street is a perfectly serviceable downtown street that features government buildings including the Fulton County Justice Center. Traffic is rarely bad and while the one-way nature of the street can prove confusing to a visitor, it is very functional. One thing to worry about: be very careful about parking on Pryor Street. Not because of crime as the police presence is high. The concern is that the meter maids are very diligent about giving out parking tickets and the tickets are expensive. If you are visiting a government building, I highly recommend parking in the nearby Underground Atlanta parking deck. You will save money in the long run.

Piedmont is sort of the ugly sibling to Peachtree, the main thoroughfare in Atlanta. You can take it all the way from buckhead down through midtown, but the ride is not always a pleasant one. Piedmont is ugly and it often is blocked by terrible traffic. Atlanta has spent millions of dollars to beautify Peachtree, but Piedmont remains as ugly as ever. One bright side is the number of great restaurants on Piedmont: Bones features the best steaks in Atlanta. Fogo de Chao is always an adventure. The Buckhead Diner is a great night spot! If you cannot enjoy the ride, it helps to avoid the destination.