48 Hours in ATL - Things to Do
For my best friend's 30th birthday, she wanted to get out of the city. And me being the ride-or-die bestie that I am decided to go along for the ride. It was a well-planned trip considering that on the weekend that we went it snowed in our town, leaving ATL snow-free and fun-filled.
Our Stay
We weren't too concerned about lodging because one of our best friends lived in Atlanta. I have to say that it's one of the perks of having best friends move is that you always have somewhere to stay! From our friend's house, we're about 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta and 10 mins from the airport (for future reference!).
Our Weekend
Our first stop in Georgia was at Marietta Diner. And if you watched any of my Georgia vlogs on my channel, you know that I go to Marietta every trip that I take there. My best friends and I went before, and it was a good place to have lunch while giving our friend time to rest after work. Now, I love Marietta, but the food disappointed me this time. It could have also been my choice in food; I chose the chicken Rivera when my heart told me to pick the chicken pot pie. The chicken Rivera had scampi sauce which was too lemony for my liking at the time (this changed the last day when I ate it for breakfast).
After lunch, we headed to our friend’s to settle in and talk. We caught up on the past few months; we hadn’t seen each other since December before Christmas. After catching up, we had dinner at La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant. The wait was long, but it was worth it. We received free margaritas by the end of our meals.
The next day, we had breakfast in the house and went to the Sugar Factory in midtown. If you’re unaware, the Sugar Factory is best known for its large bubbly drinks, $39 without tax. I was not enticed by the large drinks, but it’s a great atmosphere for bright lights and ambiance. Pro tip: get a reservation to avoid a long wait time!
After the Sugar Factory, we toured the Georgia Aquarium. I love animals and visiting aquariums is my favorite thing to do when I travel. For as many times as I visited Atlanta, I’ve never been to the aquarium. I spent a lot of Sundays watching the aquarium on the Animal Planet channel, so I was thrilled to see all the animals that I watched on the show in real life. Pro tip: purchase your tickets online for a cheaper price.
By the end of the evening, my friend wanted to check out The Yard, a milkshake bar near the aquarium. I couldn’t fathom eating the overexaggerated ice cream mugs they offered, so I settled for a loaded coffee with salted caramel and whipped cream. There are plenty of options on their menu, including edible cookie dough. I give it a 10/10.
For our last night, we went to the Josephine Lounge where bottles were popped and shots were taken. We had a great time, but I caution against the $20 cover charge, $15 drinks, and sneaky parking charges. Pro tip: don’t park in front of the lounge to avoid parking fees. The lounge is located in a parking lot, with plenty of space to park elsewhere.
All-in-all, I’d say that my best friend had a pretty good 30th birthday in a city that it’s full of vibrancy. Watch our full trip on my channel.
