Instagram Travel Thursday: Atlanta

I’ve spent the last two months in a holding pattern between leaving our home in Colorado and starting our expat adventure in The Netherlands. While I’ve emotionally floated somewhere between excited and over whelmed, I filled our time with lots of “hometown adventures.”

We have been playing tourist in Atlanta! I lived here till I went off to college in South Bend. I returned briefly on several occasions, including a 3 year stint for law school. In recent years it has mostly just been a week or two with the kids, where I try to pack in the highlight tour.

With two months to explore we have been able to take in a few new things, a few small things, a few large-scale attractions and just generally enjoy the city. #igTravel Thursday seemed to be the perfect excuse to revisit our time in Atlanta using just the Instagram photos from our trip.

#Atlanta #ATL #summerfun #seetheworld #ATL

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 27, 2015 at 10:47am PDT

Atlanta’s Tourist Center. Centennial Olympic Park continues to be the cities crown jewel. Atlanta has moved many of its large-scale tourist attractions to surround the park. Here you will find the World of Coke, The Georgia Aquarium, The College Football Hall of Fame, The Center for Civil & Human Rights and the CNN Center. The park also features two great playgrounds. Skyview Atlanta, the enclosed ferris wheel, does a surprising job of showcasing this park and its hallmark Olympic Rings Fountain from 20 stories high.  

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 27, 2015 at 10:44am PDT

Local Eats. The new Atlanta Streetcar connects Centennial Olympic Park to the MLK National Historic Cite. It also provides access to the Municipal Market. An indoor market full of fruit, meats, seafood and half-a-dozen great lunch options, all better than the chain restaurants that surround the park.

#ATL #Atlanta #outofedwards #summerfun #georgia #ponce

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 17, 2015 at 10:11am PDT

Old is New. The Ponce City Market hasn’t quite opened but the city is buzzing with excitement over this new mixed use facility right off the Beltline. This building, formerly Sears and then City Hall East, has always been one of my favorites even in its many dilapidated years. It is now alive with a new purpose.  

Started my morning with @liebs_m and a latte. #momsoninstagram #summerfun #poncecitymarket A photo posted by @ejdn on Jun 13, 2015 at 11:47am PDT

Trends. Ponce Market has already become home to the trendy new coffee place, Dancing Goats, where you can sit on giant chairs in a gravel pit or large swings on their porch. It is walking distance from the Old Fourth Ward Park, which has a splash pad, playground and lake.

Spinning tops at the High. #summerfun #woodruffartscenter #theHigh #ATL #toddlerlife #momsoninstagram

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 5, 2015 at 12:50pm PDT

Art in the City. Los Trompos have taken over the city. These spinning tops are are that are meant to be enjoyed. The largest collection is at the High Museum of Art, but we found a few scattered around the city.  

Enjoyed our morning exploring @highmuseumofart #toddlerlife #ATL #summerfun #totschool #mowillems A photo posted by @ejdn on Jun 11, 2015 at 7:48pm PDT

Learning. While at The High we stopped in to look over the collection. The kiddos loved the Mo Williams exhibit, which was hung at exactly the right height for toddler exploration.

CREATE #familyfun #toddlerlife #ATL #summerfun #woodruffartscenter

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 5, 2015 at 12:49pm PDT

Family Fun. The High also hosted weekly summer CREATE festivals featuring acting classes, concerts for kids and some silly relay races.

Another great park find. At the Decatur toy park people leave old plastic toys for everyone to enjoy. It was a big hit with our kids. #summerfun #georgia #ATL #momsoninstagram #playground #toddlerlife you can read about more fun things to do in #Atlanta: http://outofedwards.blogspot.com/2015/06/summer-in-atlanta-what-to-do-with.html?m=1 #outofedwards A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 17, 2015 at 10:05am PDT

Play. We had time to discover some playgrounds we had only ever heard about, such as the Toy Park, where old plastic toys go to retire. The kids loved trying out every plastic toy ever invented.

My happy place. #ATL #summerfun #atlantahistorycenter #swanhouse #fountains

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jun 29, 2015 at 8:26pm PDT

History. The Atlanta History Center‘s outdoor area’s were a toddlers dream. We played on the expansive lawn of the Swan House, served pretend tea in a victorian playhouse, hiked through the forest to a log cabin and met animals on the Tully Smith Farm.

Our official cheerleader this morning at the #peachtreeroadrace. Cheer went something like “Run runners. It’s raining runners. Run in the rain” #ATL #summerfun #happyfourth #ptrr #cheer #toddlerlife A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 4, 2015 at 7:14pm PDT

Tradition. Despite torrential rain, we cheered on runners for the 4th of July Peachtree Road Race, the largest road race in the world.

Date Night! A walk in the neighborhood and @kingofpops by the pool. #happyfourth #summerfun #ATL #momsoninstagram #tastetheworld #hp_rwb

A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 4, 2015 at 6:57pm PDT

Sweet Treats. We indulged in some of Atlanta’s best known sweet treats – King of Pops! We also indulged in Honeysuckle Gelatto and as much sweet tea as we could stomach.

Keeping in touch the old fashioned way. @mryder29 @maryehbell @michaela.forsyth these are headed your way. #totschool #expatlife #summerfun #seetheworld #postcard A photo posted by @ejdn on Jul 2, 2015 at 4:46pm PDT

Southern Goodbyes. A handwritten note is always best.  We found these sparkly postcards to mail back to our littles Colorado friends.

We have many “homes” but when I think of HOME, I will always think of Atlanta!

If your headed to Atlanta and are looking for things to do, check out my full list of things to do in Atlanta with Toddlers on Out of Edwards.