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By: Layla Soler
Read the title again, because I’m not joking. To be fair, I’ve never lived anywhere else, but I have visited quite a few cities, and I can comfortably say Atlanta is the best of them all. Don’t believe me? That’s okay. I have compiled a list of indisputable facts about the great city of Atlanta that will surely change your mind.
Atlanta somehow feels like five different cities mashed into one. Little Five Points feels artsy and alternative. Buckhead feels expensive, or maybe, for the non-broke people, luxurious is a better word. Midtown feels corporate, but not the stuffy kind—the cool kind where people wear jeans and sneakers and carry backpacks to work instead of briefcases. Decatur feels local and cozy, like a little walkable pocket-sized city straight out of a Hallmark movie.
Maybe that doesn’t convince you because maybe your city also has a bunch of cutesy little subsections. But what I can guarantee your city doesn’t have is a tree canopy that covers almost 50% of the city. What do I mean by that? Drive through Atlanta and look out your window, and BOOM—tree. BOOM—another tree. Atlanta is called the “City in a Forest” because almost half the city is covered by trees. Somehow, you can be surrounded by skyscrapers and still feel like you’re driving through nature. With so many trails, parks, ponds, and forests, Atlanta has a little slice of nature no matter where you go.
Oh, that didn’t convince you? Are you not into nature? Okay, fine. How about the fact that Atlanta is one of the best cities for young professionals? The opportunities here are endless because of all the media, tech, business, healthcare, and film companies that call Atlanta home. Major companies like Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and The Home Depot are headquartered here. So next time you’re flying the best airline (Delta) while sipping the best soda (Coke), just know those “bests” picked Atlanta because maybe it, too, is the best.
And because I work in radio, I’d be remiss if I did not mention Atlanta’s booming entertainment presence. Atlanta is basically the Hollywood of the South. Marvel movies, Netflix shows, and huge productions film here constantly, so accidentally ending up near a film set is not uncommon. But Atlanta isn’t just the stage for awesome fight scenes in Avengers movies; it’s also a hub of creativity and constantly shapes modern hip-hop and R&B. Artists like Outkast, Usher, Future, and Ludacris helped make the city one of the most influential music capitals in the country. And while we’re talking about celebrities, do yourself a favor and look up all the celebrities who live in Atlanta—and I’m not just talking about Steve Harvey. If Elton John, a world-touring musician who’s literally been everywhere, thinks Atlanta is the perfect place to call home, why would I ever pretend like I’m too good for it?
Not into nature, celebrities, business, or city adventuring? Then you must be into food. Pretend all you want, but everybody’s gotta eat, and the food scene here is actually insane. We have all the classic chains, of course, but Atlanta also has some of the best local restaurants and food spots in the country. You can find tapas, burgers, pizza, sushi, barbecue, soul food, Korean barbecue, late-night wings, and just about anything else on every corner of town. Buford Highway alone could probably feed you for the rest of your life without you ever eating the same thing twice. Half the best restaurants here are hidden in random shopping centers and somehow end up being the best meal you’ve had all year.
And of course, last but not least, there is always something happening here. Whether it’s concerts, festivals, markets, nightlife, sports, or pop-ups, Atlanta has a random activity for everyone. One weekend, there is a food festival, the next there is a vintage market, and somehow every other Saturday, there is a 5K race shutting down half the city. Even if you don’t have plans, Atlanta usually finds a way to hand you some. Being bored in Atlanta is definitely a personal choice.
If your mind still hasn’t changed, that’s okay. Then read this and let it be an ode to the city I grew up in. We don’t need any more people moving here and causing traffic anyway. But from this Atlanta girl to you, I love Atlanta, and there’s nowhere else I would have rather grown up.
