Things To Do In Metro Atlanta & Weather Info

Competition Championship Event
1

Weather & Traffic

For those of you that have not been to Atlanta be advised that the temperature and conditions can change very quickly here. I suggest that you bring a light jacket and perhaps a compact umbrella with you. Yesterday we had storms spawning some tornadoes moving through the Metro Atlanta area. The forecast for the Championship Thu-Sat ranges from a high of 70 to a low of 46F.

Some here have already mentioned this but for those with allergies be aware that we are nearing the end of the heaviest pollen season. Right now everything outside is coated in green & yellow pollen. The count yesterday was 1655.

For those of you that will be traveling on the Atlanta interstates a fantastic website to inquire about Atlanta traffic is Georgia Navigator. Free traffic info with a live person, can be found via your cell phone in the Atlanta area. Verizon and Sprint PCS customers can dial toll free *DOT (*368) and AT&T customers can dial #DOT (#368) or call 1-888-635-8287. You can also call 511 from any phone for prerecorded road information.

Food

Everybody that has been here before knows that inside the CNN Center is a wide variety of sit down and fast food restaurants. Avoid the high prices and limited menu at the GA Dome and eat here. Be aware that you usually can not take any food or drink into the GA Dome, at least if the security guard sees it. :wink:

Here are some other downtown restaurants.

Places To Go Near The GA Dome

Most folks know about the GA Aquarium (the worlds largest) which is within walking distance of First events. Be advised that this year they have a Titanic Aquatic adventure with authentic artifacts and hands-on interactive experiences. There is an extra charge for this exhibit. Be sure to obtain your First discounted aquarium pass for $13 on Friday night 6-10PM that others have mentioned here and is only available online. This is a great experience and admission is about half price.

Some have also mentioned here that a lot of people also enjoy the World of Coca-Cola which is also very close by First events.

A very short ride away and making it’s North American debut is the Tutankhamun exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center. The exhibition features 50 objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun. The exhibit is heading to Indianapolis on June 29th. You can also ride the MARTA rail to the Civic Center station.

For the sports fans…

The Atlanta Hawks (basketball) have a playoff game at Philips arena (right next to the dome) on Sat or Sun (as yet undetermined).

The Atlanta Braves (baseball) are only in town Tue-Thu however, for those that might be staying off of I-85 in Gwinnett county, our new AAA baseball team, the Gwinnett Braves (formerly Richmond) are in town Fri-Sun.

Also in that same area of Gwinnett is our minor league hockey team the Gwinnett Gladiators who will have some playoff games against Florida Thu-Sun.

Amusement Park

About a 30 minute ride away is Six Flags Over Georgia for those that want to ride some roller coasters. They are open on Saturday & Sunday.

I hope this is helpful to some of you coming to Atlanta and Atlanta is looking forward to hosting the First Championship event for the 6th year in a row and we hope everyone has a great and safe time while they are here.

Dave

2

Great information man, thanks.

3

If you want to keep updated on the weather in Atlanta (10 Day forecast),

Intellicast: http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Weather.aspx?location=USGA0028
Weather Channel: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USGA0028?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared

4

I saw the news on the Weather Channel last night about the tornadoes. It sounded pretty bad. Made me think about last year. Everything turned out ok?

5

I know that The Sean Hannity Show will be taking place at the capital building, which is close to the Georgis Dome. It will be on Wednesday night from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

6

I want to give a personal thanks to Dave and the Circuit Runners for giving us this helpful travel sheet yet AGAIN this year.

It always comes in handy, and makes me re-pack my bags. XD

7

I would also recommend the High Museum of Art, easily accessible by MARTA at the Arts Center Station. They are currently exhibiting China’s Terracotta Army, which leaves April 19! They will have special events going on that evening, so it would be a great way to celebrate the end of competitions if you’re in town for another few days.

And this will sound like a plug, but for those of you starting to look at colleges, especially for engineering and science degrees, you might want to stop by Georgia Tech. During the weekdays they run tours in the early afternoon, free of charge.

I also hear that the Atlanta Botanical Gardens are beautiful this year. While not quite as accessible as other areas, they are located only a few miles north of the Georgia Dome.

A little further outside of town is the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which currently has a really neat dinosaur exhibit, if you have the transportation means to get there it’s a lot of fun.

However, I would strongly advise you to listen to Dave’s warning about the weather. It is totally unpredictable in Atlanta, so be ready for a wide range of conditions.

Hope you all will enjoy Atlanta.

8

so much to do once i get down there…what to do first. thanks for the heads up on the weather…i might have to rethink what i’m gonna be bringing.

9

The recent storm from the central US that passed through here yesterday evening is long gone with minimal damages. A few trees down and a little hail in spots. And it changed the speed of the greens at the Master’s.

All is well. Except for a rainstorm this coming Monday it is clear sailing into the Championship in Atlanta.

If the forecast holds it will be excellent weather in Atlanta.

10

The basketball game is also on Tuesday vs the Miami Heat.
We got tickets for 10 dollars plus 4 fee for ticketmaster.
It wont interfere with championship weekend.

11

that sounds like fun… packs running shoes
(if you catch my drift)

12

A few more last minute ideas with most events being downtown or a short ride on MARTA.

Just added to the GA Aquarium
Preserved 30-foot squid is latest exhibit at aquarium
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is lending the squid, which scientists think weighed 450 pounds and was nearly 30 feet long when it was alive, to the aquarium for about two years. It was discovered dead on a beach at the Massachusetts’ Plum Island National Wildlife Refuge in 1980.

Bodies The Exhibition
This Exhibition–which features actual human specimens–allows people of all ages access to sights and knowledge normally reserved only for medical professionals.
Atlantic Station
265 18th Street
Second Floor
Atlanta GA 30363
Phone Number: 866-866-8265

The Fox Theatre is a magnificent place to see anything!
Jennifer Hudson with Robin Thicke
Thursday
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Ticketmaster at (404) 817-8700

For the over 40 crowd - 3 concerts…
Jimmy Buffett Concert
Thursday
Lakewood Amphitheatre
2002 Lakewood Way
Atlanta, GA 30315
www.hob.com/venues/concerts/hifibuys

Daryl Hall & John Oates
Friday
Chastain Park Amphitheatre
4469 Stella Drive
at Powers Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30327

Denis Leary - The Rescue Me Comedy Tour
Saturday
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Ticketmaster at (404) 817-8700

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum
441 Freedom Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30307

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
450 Auburn Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30312

Thanks also Scott for your recomendations. Thanks BandChick for your kind remarks.

Dave

13

Now that’s something I’d go to :wink:

And for you adreneline junkies… NHRA is also in ATL this weekend - but you’d probably have to be able to stick around an extra day (without getting in trouble) to stay and get my Nitro in your lungs and blood :stuck_out_tongue: Too bad the NASCAR race was a few weeks ago - be nifty if they could get those weekends to match up. After all, there’s a lot of engineering in NASCAR :wink:

14

Well there is the Ferrari F430 Challenge at Road Atlanta this weekend. Road Atlanta is a world class road course about 40 miles from downtown, N on I-85 in Braselton, Georgia 1-800-849-RACE.

Dave