Wall of waterfall is a massive waterfall and fountain area located on the backside of Atlanta…read moreBraves baseball stadium where there is a large set of concrete steps next to the Omni. The steps lead you up to the "battery" area of the Braves stadium in Atalanta. As you walk up the stairs you get a better view of the free falling decorative waterfall. Very pretty and nice fountain area. Not sure if it is owned or created by the Omni or the Braves but it is a pretty cool and nice photo op.

This is a cool looking waterfall that is on the outside of a building near the Atlanta Braves…read morebaseball stadium. It is a pool of water with a stream of water falling down over another wall and makes a really cool looking design. It is located right before you walk up to the battery area next to the Braves stadium

Love, love, LOVE the ATL Beltline. I visit my son several times a year and we always make a plan…read moreto walk as much of the beltline as possible as often as possible. He has lived near Piedmont Park, Highlands, Decatur, and Ponce de Lyon and I adore and exalt ATL for their beautiful park system and linking things together in such a user friendly fashion. I abhor ATL traffic, but I praise their pedestrian-friendly options. We walk and talk, and then make a stop for a coffee, food, or to admire public artwork or plant specimens, and then we walk and talk some more. Several hours can pass in the blink of an eye. Being outdoors, walking/exercising, and sharing time with special people is fantastic for my mind, body, and spirit. I wish every city could replicate what ATL has initiated with their beltline trail project.

Actively obsessed with the beltline now that I finally ventured out there for my first walk. I've…read moreheard it's best to avoid it on the weekends because it's super crazy busy, which I can see that! I went for a walk on a cold Monday morning and there were still quite a lot of people. Park on the third floor of the Ponce City Market garage and take the trestle over to the beltline. We took a left and went towards Piedmont Park and did about a 4 mile walk. There were so many cool businesses, fitness Studios, lots of street art and they even had Beltline ambassadors riding bikes, and checking on people. Next time I come to Atlanta, I'm going to be looking for a hotel or an Airbnb within walking distance of the beltline. The traffic in Atlanta is horrendous and this is a good way to ensure that you have access to a lot of things to do without finding yourself sitting in traffic all day.

We are so excited for this year's Candlelight Tour of Homes in Grant Park. Sat Dec 9 & Sunday Dec…read more10. 6-10pm.

If I had any doubt about how much I love my neighborhood, my experience tonight on the Candlelight…read moreTour of Homes solidified that I absolutely adore Grant Park. 2009 marked the 29th anniversary of the tour of homes, which is always held the second weekend in December. For $12 you get admission to eight beautiful homes from a variety of eras and styles that typify the diverse architecture of the area. My personal favorites were a beautifully restored 1910 Transitional Craftsmen bungalow (complete with a chicken coops in the backyard!) and a 1905 Queen Anne Victorian with an original hardwood staircase. But all the homes were completely stunning, expertly decorated, and softly lit with candles. A few owners even provided baked goods and hot cider, which proved a welcome handwarmer while strolling through the evening's misty rain. All the volunteers manning the houses were incredibly friendly, the owners of all the properties were incredibly gracious (and one couple even dressed in period clothing!), and a general feeling of goodwill and Christmas cheer seemed to accompany all the visitors. The Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes is truly a holiday attraction that is not to be missed. I already can't wait till next year!

What an amazing property, the owner was so kind and helpful. Her staff was amazing. The house was…read moreexactly like the pictures. I would recommend for any event.

Yes, it's exactly what it says. This is the Atlanta White House, a three-quarters scale-model of…read morethe President's residence in Washington DC. At last, that's the exterior. I have no idea if there's a secret bunker or a Situation Room or if CJ Cregg is running the briefing room in the Atlanta White House. Fred Milano emigrated to the United States in 1979 and built a successful real estate business, riding the real estate boom of the 1990s and 2000s. So he built this tribute to democracy and the United States. The White House is private property and there is no parking in front but you might be able to stop your vehicle on the side street and pop out for a few quick pictures of this marvel. [Review 13617 overall, 936 of 2020, number 310 in Georgia.]

I prefer Joan's Creek to John's Crack, but John will have to do…read more John's Creek is an absolutely beautiful suburb of leafy Atlanta Georgia which is way way north of the town - in fact so far north that you can drive for quite a long time especially in traffic and still not get here. There are some cool ethnic places - sort of a spillover from Chinatown - and some cool local places as well. I like the suburb and it seems like a very friendly if slightly expensive place to live. I'm sure that within another 20 years there will be 7 or 8 suburbs even further out than these. There's a large Asian population here, and nearly 100,000 people if you include all the illegals in the spare rooms. That's a joke by the way. And I used to live in a spare room meant for illegals so settle down.

Kinda upset that Yelp is calling is John's Creek instead of Johns Creek (yes - people in JC do get…read moreoffended), but it's all good. I lived in JC from 2006 ~ 2015; a whopping nine years of my life and pretty much all of my teenage years. It was a brand new city when I moved here, and I honestly want to give this place 5 stars, but I simply can't for a few reasons. If you're living here as a teenager with parents and going to school, it's a great pace to live -- it's a safe and pretty high-class area, with great schools and little to no crime. Once you're in your twenties, you'll start to notice the downfalls here -- pretty much no night life, horrendous traffic and it's really the farthest place you can be from any highway. You have to drive either to Duluth, Alpharetta or Cumming to get to the nearest exit which is pretty sad, but that's why it has its own charms. Johns Creek is one of the safest cities and honestly one of the best cities you can live in Georgia. It has great school districts, plenty of diversity, great eateries and the people living here are really great! Lots of cultures in one melted pot, and any family will want to move here because of the terrific school districts. In terms of recreation, there really isn't much to do - there is a Lifetime Fitness, LA Fitness but no bowling allies -- there are a few parks (Shakerag Park), but nothing is like really great. In terms of schools, I went to Wilson Creek Elementary, River Trail Middle & Northview High. There are also Shakerag Elementary, Medlock Bridge Elementary, Findley Oaks Elementary, Johns Creek High School, but it's really just a district for higher middle-class families to live. Homes are expensive here for a reason -- there is a high percentage of Asians living here for education. With that being said, there is a Hmart and some Korean & Chinese restaurants in the area as well - the Korean community has been growing more than ever. I will say the only thing disappointing is you can't see anything much opening past 10pm. Again -- there is no night life here - you will have to drive to Duluth or Alpharetta to experience that. But my nine years in JC have been absolutely phenomenal, and again I was really tempted to give it that 5, but I can't because imagining myself living here as a 25 year old -- I'm not sure how I would feel about that.

The Marietta Garden Center, located just outside of Marietta Square, is based around a historic,…read moretwo-story Victorian house situated on 3.5 beautiful acres. The home was constructed around 1850 and had a handful of owners before being donated to the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs in 1966, who today operates the property as an event facility. I recently attended a wedding at the Garden Center and had a wonderful time. Surrounded by trees on all sides, the home is in a residential neighborhood filled with old elegant houses. The bride and the groom discovered the site over the Internet and when they visited in person, knew immediately it would be the spot for their wedding. Coincidentally, one of the guests at the wedding attended his sister's wedding at the same Garden Center over 20 years ago. There were about 150 guests. The wedding ceremony took place outside in front of the gazebo. A tent with a stage, dance floor, and tables and chairs was setup in the green space next to the gazebo. Inside, the first floor of the house was open to everyone. This space included sitting rooms, the living room, kitchen, and a large open area with additional table seating. The outside-catered food was also located inside. The Garden Center does not provide catering services, so catering must come from a third party. The house was quaint and exquisite and reminded me of a traditional, old-fashioned Southern home. There were large patios on each level which gave the place an open, airy, and outdoorsy feel. A closed-off, steel spiral staircase went from the first floor porch to the second floor balcony. Plenty of parking was available next to the Garden Center and across the street.

This annual event is on my permanent calendar. It's the 2nd largest Highland Games in the USA, and…read moreusually happens in the 3rd weekend of October, when the weather is clear and crisp and very non-Scottish. Featured events are the Athletics (big dudes in kilts tossing telephone pole-sized cabers, heaving 50# stones, and throwing bales of hay over a 30' bar with a pitchfork), the Pipe Bands (200 bagpipes at once... a glorious assault on the ears...), and the Dance competition (young girls dancing over swords, 'nuff said...). There are usually a hundred or so exhibitors: English and Scottish foods (try the haggis!), pottery, and kilts in every tartan. If you are of Scottish descent, stroll through the Clan booths to find your distant relatives - there's a genealogy booth to help you do that. And when you find yours, stop in and learn more about where you came from. I'll be at the Gunn Clan booth, sharing a drop of the "water of life" with my brethren...

If you go one time - you'll be back every year. Even my friends of non Scottish heritage love it!…read moreThe Stone Mountain Highlands Games is a great way to experience the rich culture Scotland has to offer without the expensive plane ticket. It has row after row of stalls selling jewelry, weaponry, food, clothing, kilts... the list goes on. The meadow is set up for the Highland Games which are interesting to stop in and watch. And throughout the woods are little stands for all the different clans to display their tartans and info about their history. Throughout the day you can also stop in and watch the sheepdog and falconry demonstrations, highland dancing, and different music and dance stages. The best part about this festival is just the energy in the air. Seeing everyone walking around in their tartans and sense of pride they all have. Sunday is great because they have the Parade of Tartans.

The Chinese Culture Center of Atlanta is located behind Atlanta's, technically Chamblee's,…read moreChinatown mall. I'm not sure what the official name of the building is, but it's owned by the Taipei Economic and Culture Office (TECO) of Atlanta and the organization's name is what's sprawled atop the building's entrance. Therefore, this center and its activities are geared more towards Taiwanese-Chinese people as opposed to mainland Chinese people. Making this evident is the flag of Taiwan, which is prominently displayed inside the center. However, the flag of China is nowhere to be seen. So perhaps this place should be called the Taiwanese Culture Center instead. My personal experience with the Chinese Culture Center is somewhat limited, but having several friends of Chinese/Taiwanese descent who grew up in Atlanta, I've heard a lot about it. For example, one of my friend's moms has been the traditional Chinese dance instructor at the center for many years. Some other friends of mine grew up taking Mandarin lessons at the school here, at the behest of their parents. I believe Chinese calligraphy lessons are also taught here. The inside of the building looks like a school gymnasium/auditorium. It's a big open space that can be utilized for a variety of purposes. The building has been around for decades and looks a bit dated now. Still completely functional. The building has multiple stories with restrooms located on the second floor. There's also a stage. I have been to a couple different events here. They include the Chinese New Year celebration and the "Tasting the Flavors of Taiwan" festival. The center is probably best known for its Chinese New Year festivities, which comes complete with food tastings, arts and crafts, traditional stage performances (dance, singing), and New Year lion dance and dragon dance. The Chinese New Year celebration takes place each year over two days. Thousands of people flock to the center over New Years weekend. Parking used to be a nightmare, but beginning in 2014, people can park for free in the nearby Interactive College of Technology parking lot. The parking lot is close enough to the event so you can walk over. There is also a free shuttle service which runs between the parking lot and the Culture Center. This was a great improvement. In 2014, the price to attend the Chinese New Year celebration was $5 per adult. I believe children under 3 feet tall got in free. A large portion of the center's parking lot is reserved for a makeshift tent which is used for extra space for vendors and other exhibitors. The vendors are mostly independent artists selling arts and crafts such as paper lanterns, intricate origami, traditional Chinese/Taiwanese paintings, apparel, and accessories (e.g. bags). Another part of the parking lot is roped off for the popular lion and dragon dances. In years past, the lion and dragon dances began at noon. To get a good "seat," it's best to start surrounding the dance area around 11:30am. Another good spot to view the dance, though further away, is from a ramp on the backside of a building which faces the parking lot. You'll know what I'm talking about when you're in the parking lot. The lion dance and dragon dance are fun to watch. In the lion dance, it's two lions who are dancing/playing with each other. In the dragon dance, it is a long dragon which chases the sun. At the end of each dance, cash donations in traditional Chinese red envelopes are handed to the performers. I've recorded a few short clips of these dances and you can view them at the following links: Lion dance (Instagram): http://instagram.com/p/j4Z6riQBgJ/ Lion eating money donations (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnipLKWY7Dw Dragon dance (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dbu8j5U0VU Warning: The center gets absolutely packed during New Years. I suggest going in the mornings (~10am) to avoid the rush. You will be packed in like sardines and inching by hundreds of people at times. The spread of foods is fantastic (see my photos) and well worth it. Bring cash! I went to the "Tasting the Flavors of Taiwan" event in 2013. Admission was $5 per person and free for students with valid ID. This event was like Chinese New Years "light." Like Chinese New Year, live musical and dance performances took place throughout the duration of the event. Most foods were only $3 each and included authentic Taiwanese cuisine such as ba-wan (literal translation: "meat sphere") meat dumplings. Various hearty rice and noodle dishes were offered and beverages such as bubble tea (from Boba Mocha) were for sale. Two guest chefs from Taiwan attended and performing a cooking demonstration. They also made an impressive fruit and taro carving (see my photos). All in all, it was a fun and well-attended event for the Taiwanese community of Atlanta.

Their annual Chinese New Year celebration was good. Lots of food, lion dance and other performing…read morearts, etc. Parking was extremely difficult. Probably one has to park in the Marta parking lot which is about 2-3 minutes walking distance.