Moving to Atlanta. Help Appreciated

[TexasBammer]

I'm moving to Atlanta, Georgia soon.

Any tidbits of info on where to live, good places to go, where to avoid, Bama friendly places would be appreciated.

I've got 3 kids under 5 if that helps any.

Thanks.

 

[rkwilkerson]

The Varsity... (great french fries)

Are you wanting to move into Metro Atlanta or a Suburb...??

 

[Bama Reb]

The Varsity... (great french fries)

Too bad everything else there SUCKS! Really though, if you want burgers and dogs that taste like crap, then the Varsity is the place to eat......

As for the best places to live, anywhere north of the I-85/I-20 interchange should do nicely.

 

[Queasy1]

Where will you be working? My main suggestion for 'happiness in Atlanta' is to live as close to work as possible. Traffic on 400, 85, 75 is a PITA and you'll be a much happier person if you avoid them.

I moved closer to my job last year and go against traffic on secondary roads both ways. My drive is soooooo much more enjoyable it is enough to bring me to tears thinking about it.

For schools, the northern burbs of Atlanta (Gwinnett County especially) generally have the better public schools in the state. I'm still avoiding them though and sending my kids to private school. Hopefully, I'll be able to afford it for 20 years or so!

 

[rkwilkerson]

I'm still avoiding them though and sending my kids to private school.

Good for you... (I went to a private school)


In this day and age -- sending your children to a private school will result in better grades and a solid, good moral foundation for those kids!

Where ever you go in Atlanta, make sure there are private schools!


You can't trust public schooling anymore, -- Especially in a big city like Atlanta --

(Gangs, violence, major drug abuse, down-grading women)

Times have changed - some parts of Atlanta are EXTREMELY dangerous

 

[Jack Bourbon]

Va Highlands is a nice place to live. Easy to get to most anywhere from here, as well.

 

[SavannahDare]

First off, I'm so sorry. Atlanta can be a very difficult city to live in due to some of the issues mentioned above. Two most important things for you will be schools and the commute. Obviously, you want to stick to to the northern suburbs if you can because they tend to be nicer and less crime riddled. I don't think you have to stay away from the public school system if you choose your district well. I would do a LOT of internet research on this way ahead of time. Many public schools offer a perfectly fine education so long as parents stay involved and don't expect the school system to do your job for you. Of course, if you end up buying a home in a less than stellar school district, then private may be the option for you.

As for the commute, it will destroy your quality of life if you have to drive too far. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to spend 2-3 hours of my day (or more) sitting in my car. If you can score a deal where you commute against traffic, that's ideal.

As for things to do, The Varsity is an institution and should be given a try. Not everyone likes it, but you will see from the cross section of people you see eating there in the middle of the day that it has mass appeal. It's greasy. They don't make any bones about trying to be healthy in any way. I love it!

I haven't been to Underground Atlanta in years, but it used to be a fun place to go. Someone else would have to comment on whether or not it's still up to par for good restaurants and clubs.

With younger children, on weekends you may want to get out of the city and head north. The North Georgia mountains have some beautiful parks, lakes, hiking trails, etc. A neat little place about 2- 2 1/2 hours northeast is Helen, GA. It's a little Alpine village tucked away in the mountains. Very touristy, and I'd avoid it during Octoberfest just because of the crowds, but it has some wonderful little shops and restaurants...very family friendly.

Enjoy your move!

 

[BamaSC]

All I can offer are my sympathies and condolences...

But yeah, live as close to work as possible (unless said work-place is in an undesirable location).

 

[LCN]

I'm moving to Atlanta, Georgia soon.

Any tidbits of info on where to live, good places to go, where to avoid, Bama friendly places would be appreciated.

I've got 3 kids under 5 if that helps any.

Thanks.

Atlanta .

 

[Queasy1]

As for things to do, The Varsity is an institution and should be given a try. Not everyone likes it, but you will see from the cross section of people you see eating there in the middle of the day that it has mass appeal. It's greasy. They don't make any bones about trying to be healthy in any way. I love it!

I haven't been to Underground Atlanta in years, but it used to be a fun place to go. Someone else would have to comment on whether or not it's still up to par for good restaurants and clubs.

With younger children, on weekends you may want to get out of the city and head north. The North Georgia mountains have some beautiful parks, lakes, hiking trails, etc. A neat little place about 2- 2 1/2 hours northeast is Helen, GA. It's a little Alpine village tucked away in the mountains. Very touristy, and I'd avoid it during Octoberfest just because of the crowds, but it has some wonderful little shops and restaurants...very family friendly.

Enjoy your move!

I'd also suggest the Georgia Aquarium, the Fernbank Museum, Yellow River Game Ranch, Lake Lanier, Sandy Creek Nature park over near Athens, and plenty more. I live in Norcross and the one great thing about this area is that we are within 5 minutes of three different parks, a YMCA, and a water park that is going to open soon.

Plus, there are Braves games and plenty of other events coming through regularly.

 

[Bama Reb]

For a relaxing weekend outing, I heartily recommend visiting Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain), Roosevelt State Park and the Little White House (Warm Springs). If you like golf, you'll love the course at Callaway Gardens. If you have kids, be sure to take them along. Warm Springs is a part of American history they'll not soon forget.
Just get on I-85 and go south to LaGrange, get on I-185, and go south to US Hwy 27, then go south to Pine Mountain. It's only about an hour from Atlanta, but you can spend an entire weekend enjoying the sights.

 

[92tide]

don't have kids myself, but if you can find an affordable house, i hear that the schools in the east lake/grant park area are decent and also in decatur. i live in east point (near the airport and 20 minutes to work on MARTA), which is really nice, but you would probably need to send kids to private school living there.

like everyone says, think about the commute.

and about the crime, i have lived in Atlanta since 93 and my car was broken into once in 1995 (stupidly, i left a bunch of valuables in plain sight) and that's the only trouble i have had. the majority of my time here was spent living in-town. i have also ridden MARTA to work every day for over two years and have never had an incident.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

saying just Atlanta is way too vague. give me an idea as to where work is and i may can help.

like has been said before your commute is the key. i lived in marietta for 7 years before moving closer to work. before i moved my commute was 45 minutes on a good day and over 2 hours on a bad one (it was bad 99.999999% of the time). now i am 7 miles away and it takes me 10-15 minutes. i recommend vinings or sminings. :smile:

 

[Jon]

Atlanta is a great place to live

I have lived here off and on since 1985 (with a few years in Tuscaloosa, 1 year overseas and a big mistake in Daphne for a year and a Half)

there is a ton of stuff to do here for kids. GA Aquarium, Fernbank, Atlanta Zoo, Botanical gardens. There are also, great parks, restaurants and nightlife in the city and out.

I live in the Roswell/Alpharetta area and am actually trying to talk my wife into selling and moving in town. I love where I live but would rather be inside the perimeter. I like to be able to walk to things and don't have that option in too many places outside the perimeter. For me, I work from home so I can be anywhere. My kids are home schooled so no issues on school systems either.

I would agree whole heartedly with Queasy, if you have to drive to work live as close as you can to it. If I had to work from my corporate office (in Duluth) I would probably look for a new job as I have no desire to live in Gwinnet County, especially way out in Duluth. What part of town will you be working in?


Jon

 

[92tide]

I live in the Roswell/Alpharetta area and am actually trying to talk my wife into selling and moving in town. I love where I live but would rather be inside the perimeter. I like to be able to walk to things and don't have that option in too many places outside the perimeter. For me, I work from home so I can be anywhere. My kids are home schooled so no issues on school systems either.

with schools not being an issue you should check out east point. still lots of good houses in nice neighborhoods at good prices. we are starting to get some good places to eat/drink in downtown college park/downtown east point and downtown hapeville and with the fort macpherson, ford plant and lakewood amphitheater all slated for major redevelopments, it will get even better.

 

[Jon]

with schools not being an issue you should check out east point. still lots of good houses in nice neighborhoods at good prices. we are starting to get some good places to eat/drink in downtown college park/downtown east point and downtown hapeville and with the fort macpherson, ford plant and lakewood amphitheater all slated for major redevelopments, it will get even better.

it is amazing to even think that it is possible to live in East Point or College Park. Those neighborhoods used to be the hub of what the Grady Emergency room doc's call the "Atlanta Knife and Gun Club". Love to see the city cleaning up inside. I still think the Lakewood area is a bit sketchy however

Jon

 

[92tide]

it is amazing to even think that it is possible to live in East Point or College Park. Those neighborhoods used to be the hub of what the Grady Emergency room doc's call the "Atlanta Knife and Gun Club". Love to see the city cleaning up inside. I still think the Lakewood area is a bit sketchy however

Jon

there are still some very sketchy areas around CP and EP (the area around lakewood is full on ghetto) but many of the older neighborhoods in East Point (Jefferson Park, Connely Hills, Dodson Drive to name a few) never really went downhill. And the EP police department is very good and responsive, at least in my neighborhood.

 

[Mamacalled]

Good for you... (I went to a private school)


In this day and age -- sending your children to a private school will result in better grades and a solid, good moral foundation for those kids!

Where ever you go in Atlanta, make sure there are private schools!


You can't trust public schooling anymore, -- Especially in a big city like Atlanta --

(Gangs, violence, major drug abuse, down-grading women)

Times have changed - some parts of Atlanta are EXTREMELY dangerous

Cobb County has the best school system in the state of Georgia. It has four schools in the nations top 200 public high schools with Walton High being rated aas the third best public high school in the country.
Cobb also has the lowest sales tax and property tax when you add in their homestead exemption.

 

[Jon]

yes but they keep trying to make it illegal to teach Science

 

[TexasBammer]

Thanks for all the help so far. My work is basically at the 285/400 intersection.

This is really helpful, so keep it coming.

Anybody know of any affordable private schools around this area as well.