Discover Metro Atlanta’s Finest Communities
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Articles
| Winter 2020

Atlanta’s Best Neighborhoods

Discover The Metro Area’s Finest Communities

By Anna Bentley

When you’re relocating to a new city, the first choice you have to

make can seem like the hardest: Which neighborhood should you call home? The good news is that Atlanta’s diverse neighborhoods and cities offer something for everyone, including quality education, affordable housing, family-friendly events and tight-knit communities. Whatever you’re looking for, Atlanta has many perfect spots to choose from. Here we present some of Atlanta’s most popular communities, located all around the metro area, to serve as a starting point for your exploration.

Buckhead

The public face of this wealthy historic district is its Peachtree Road corridor, home to its business district and lined with highrise offices and glitzy hotels, dining and shopping. Its private life stretches away from Peachtree in a sprawling area made up of 43 distinct and unique neighborhoods, stretching from I-285 to I-85 and making up a fifth of the city. Notable neighborhoods include Tuxedo Park, with palatial mansions nestling on rolling manicured lawns; Chastain Park, home to the city’s largest park, which includes a golf course, amphitheater, equestrian center, tennis courts and a pool; and Garden Hills, with its winding, tree-lined streets. buckhead.com.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters, Families and Young Professionals.

Decatur

A vibrant city with a tight-knit community, Decatur is located just 15 minutes from Atlanta. The city puts a premium on walkability with its historic downtown, full of charming restaurants, pubs, boutique shops and specialty stores. Events are held downtown throughout the year, including the popular Decatur Craft Beer Festival and the Decatur Book Festival. Decatur is also on the MARTA rail line, allowing for easy access to Atlanta’s top destinations and events. decaturga.com.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters, Families and Young Professionals.

Duluth

Voted one of Georgia’s best affordable suburbs by Businessweek magazine, Duluth sports a small-town feel thanks to its family-friendly Town Green and historic downtown district, filled with charming specialty shops. The Town Green, with its amphitheater and fountain, hosts community events throughout the year, such as the annual Duluth Fall Festival each September. Duluth is also home to the Atlanta Gladiators (a minor league ice hockey team) and the Infinite Energy Center, which hosts major festivals, concerts and events. The Hudgens Center for the Arts presents exhibits by well-known masters and local artists, with classes in pottery, drawing, painting and more for both adults and children. duluthga.net.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters and Families.

Hapeville

This charming city boasts a small-town feel and is the home of the Dwarf House, the first Chick-fil-A restaurant. A designated Main Street city, Hapeville takes pride in its downtown that features historic sites like the Depot Museum, the Christ Church and Carriage House, a conference center and numerous businesses. There’s also a picturesque downtown park and a unique public art program that has created a number of murals to beautify the city. Hapeville has experienced significant revitalization. Porsche Cars North America opened its headquarters and the Porsche Experience Center here in 2015. hapeville.org.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters and Families.

Johns Creek

Just a neighborhood 13 years ago, Johns Creek officially became its own municipality in 2006—and it hasn’t stopped growing since. The young, affluent city boasts some of metro Atlanta’s top schools and the award-winning Technology Park mixed-use development, which hosts several Fortune 500 companies. And with the Chattahoochee River forming a large part of the city’s southern and eastern boundaries, Johns Creek offers plenty of options for outdoor recreation—including miles of recreational trails, including the Johns Creek Greenway, a 4-mile (and growing!) trail system; and the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, which sits on 46 acres of woodlands. johnscreekga.gov.

PERFECT FOR: Families and Young Professionals.

Midtown

The heart of Atlanta is Midtown, the city’s second largest business district and a booming live-work-play community. Its network of walkable tree-lined streets puts the area’s shopping, dining and employment just steps away, and access to the MARTA rail line, Interstates 75 and 85, and Amtrak put the rest of the city--and the world—within easy reach. It’s also home to the city’s art district, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, the Alliance Theatre, the Fox Theatre and more. And at its center are the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park: “Atlanta’s back yard” and the scene of numerous events and festivals throughout the year. midtownatl.com.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters, Families and Young Professionals.

Peachtree City

This master-planned community has the feel of a vacation resort. Golf carts are a primary means of transportation here, zipping along 100 miles of multi-use paths that are also great for strolling and bicycling. The area’s lake, golf courses, playgrounds, nature areas and sports fields offer numerous recreational opportunities, and the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater hosts a number of outdoor concerts. The city is also a magnet for film and television productions and boasts a Southern Hollywood film tour that visits popular filming locations. peachtree-city.org.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters and Families.

Sandy Springs

Directly north of Atlanta, Sandy Springs is one of Atlanta’s biggest employment and high-end shopping destinations. Recently, Sandy Springs developed a new city center called City Springs to serve as the heart of the community. Officially completed in 2018, City Springs offers office space, greenspace, residential and retail space and a performing arts center. The city hosts the Sandy Springs Artsapalooza fine arts festival each spring, and the popular Sandy Springs Festival, with its beloved pet parade, in the fall. sandyspringsga.gov.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters, Families and Young Professionals.

Smyrna

Attractive neighborhoods, a thriving downtown and plentiful greenspace are highlights of this Cobb County city, which in the 1980s was one of the area’s first to complete a master plan for revitalization. Its Williamsburg-style Village Green is now the scene of many annual concerts and festivals, and a vibrant town center hosting the city hall, library and community center; along with shopping, office space and residential options. Residents also have access to more than 33 additional acres of parks and greenspace, all located within one mile of downtown. With immediate access to I-75 and I-285, Smyrna is minutes away from virtually everywhere in Atlanta. smyrnaga.gov.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters and Families.

Vinings

This unincorporated village is unique in bordering the city of Atlanta, but located in Cobb County. Situated northwest of Buckhead, Vinings offers walkable charm, quality schools, great shopping and dining and plentiful housing of every type. With recreational opportunities on the Chattahoochee River, Vinings provides easy access to the entire metro area. Generous property tax exemptions make it attractive to empty nesters and retirees. vinings.com.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters and Families.

Virginia-Highland

Just east of Midtown is the vibrant neighborhood of Virginia-Highland (or “The Highlands”), named for the intersection of Virginia and Highland avenues at its heart. This fun, funky neighborhood is filled with eclectic shopping and diverse dining and nightlife options, including some of Atlanta’s oldest bars and pubs. Its network of short blocks and residential streets lined with historic bungalows makes it one of Atlanta’s most walkable communities. It’s also right off the Atlanta BeltLine, a 22-mile biking and walking trail, and a short walk from Piedmont Park, making it ideal for active young professionals. Its Summerfest arts and music festival is one of the largest in the Southeast. vahi.org.

PERFECT FOR: Families and Young Professionals.

Woodstock

Woodstock calls itself “a city unexpected,” and this community of almost 32,000 offers amenities you might not imagine in a city of its size. More than 2,500 businesses are located here, and residents have a wide choice of housing options: many accessible from downtown on foot or via the free downtown trolley service and bike-share program. The city boasts hiking and biking trails, concerts, festivals and other special events. It’s easy to see why Woodstock has been steadily racking up accolades from national media outlets and was the only Georgia city to make Money magazine’s 2015 list of Top 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. visitwoodstockga.com.

PERFECT FOR: Empty Nesters, Families and Young Professionals.

 

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