Stroll in the Park : insiders tips to Piedmont Park

Atlanta has a reputation as being the "city in a forest,"according to Wikipedia (so it has to be true).  One of the most popular green spaces is the Midtown's Piedmont Park. Year-round, the park plays host to a variety of festivals, concerts and sporting activities among the daily traffic of walkers, picnic goers and sunbathers. I spent a year living on 10th Street immediately across from the main entrance to the park. I took full advantage of the neighborhood's lively calendar and in this post you’ll get a rundown on how to get there and some of the best things to do once you’re there!

HOW TO GET THERE

MARTA
Maneuvering your way through Midtown and finding legal parking can be intimidating, so my first recommendation is to be adventurous and consider MARTA. Both Red and Gold lines bring you to the Midtown stop, where you pop out on Peachtree Ave. and 10th Street. It is only a half-mile walk down hill to the park, and along the way you’ll experience the city vibe as you pass Peachtree’s business buildings and enter the ‘gayborhood’ where rainbow crosswalks recently commemorated Atlanta’s LGBT community during the annual pride parade that marches down 10th Street and ends in the park.

DRIVING
I understand MARTA isn’t convenient for everyone, and think driving can be done an acceptable option if you are willing to be patient and pay for parking. On busy summer Saturdays and Festival weekends, Monroe Ave., 10th Street and surrounding streets will take a while to drive down, so be patient. For quick, ensured parking, try paying at Sage Parking deck near the Botanical Gardens that can be entered from Monroe or Piedmont Ave. Free parking is available on a first-come basis on 10th Street, but be careful on all other Midtown side roads as it is Residential Parking on nights and weekends and a ticket is almost guaranteed. 

THINGS TO DO AT THE PARK

10 YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES 

1.  Join one of Atlanta’s sports and social clubs! There are regular sporting seasons at Piedmont Park’s Active Oval – baseball fields, sand volleyball courts and soccer fields, tennis courts, swimming facility, track and bocce courts. Most games end with a pitcher of beer at a local pub, so it’s always a win-win situation!

2.  Become a member of the best-kept secret: the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Every season brings new highlights to the calendar and keeps me coming back to explore the gardens again! Their holiday light display is the best known – and does not disappoint, but summer cocktail nights and the concert series will make you consider becoming a member! 

3.  Follow @ParkTavern on Twitter for some of the park’s hottest happenings. Park Tavern has great parties for every holiday, hosts a killer Sunday night summer concert series, pours $1 beers when it rains, has one of the city’s best ice skating rinks in the winter and opens its patio year-round for one of the best sunset views of Atlanta. 

4.  Grill out! Summer picnics are more fun at the park, but if you want to stake out a good spot using the public charcoal grills, come early as they fill up fast. The park seems to have a lenient alcohol policy, so if you are respectful and don’t bring glass, sipping from a solo cup has never been an issue for me. The Trader Joes off Monroe has all the yummy ingredients for the perfect park side picnic, so swing by on your way.

5.  Rent roller blades. The park’s twisting paths can easily span more than 4 miles and exploring on skates gets you around quicker and is just more fun! Don’t forget to bring cash so you can grab a King of Pops popsicle during the hot summer days!

6.  Complete a Clue Town scavenger hunt. Clue Town Books are adult scavenger hunts throughout Atlanta, costing $15 per book. It is the perfect date night or sightseeing activity that everyone can enjoy while learning more about the park’s history and scenery.

7.  Go for a (bird) walk. The Piedmont Park Conservancy hosts several outdoor programs, including monthly bird walks! A full overview of the park’s daily activities can be found on their website, including 5k races, fitness classes, weekend festivals, and sessions at the outdoor garden and classroom.

8.  Watch the ducks as you stroll around the pond. Whether I’m enjoying the Spring weather on one of the bench swings or sipping Irish coffee from a thermos in the Winter, my favorite area to walk around is the pond-side sidewalk.

9.  Bring the pups!! Two large dog parks gave #LizaDoodle and I endless hours of making friends, and we try to go every chance we get. There is also a loving group of dogs that meet near the 14th Street entrance at 7am and 7pm each day if you are looking for a more personal playgroup.

10.  Bring the kids (or play like a kid yourself). One of the more relaxing things I like to do at the park is swing on the swing set! There are 2 playgrounds in the park – one traditional play structure and one art-inspired playscape designed by world-renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi. I love Noguchi’s playground because while it was complete in 1976 it has such a modern feel, you would guess it was designed recently with future-istic play in mind!

BONUS!

SOME CAN’T-MISS FESTIVALS IN THE PARK

• Atlanta Dogwood Festival  - April 8-10, 2016 
• Atlanta Jazz Fest - May 2015* 
• Piedmont Park Arts Festival - August 13-14, 2016 
• Atlanta Seafood & Craft Beer Festival - August 2016* 
• Music Midtown - September 2016* 
• Atlanta Pride Festival - October 2016* 
• Atlanta Arts Festival - October 2016* 
• Parklife - October 2016* 

*Based on 2015 events and calendar

WHAT DO I HAVE TO TRY?

You've heard of my favorite must-do activities at Piedmont Park, but what are some of your favorites that I have to try next? Answer in the comment section below!

ATL Bucket List

MY ATL BUCKET LIST
for locals and visitors alike:

Whether you're bored with your weekend routine or visiting Atlanta for the weekend, there are 101 unique and fun things to do. Below I've listed a few of my favorites. Most involve a cold beverage and are recommended with friends, so split the Uber or use code mdo9r for your first ride free!
Happy exploring!

• Georgia Aquarium's Sips Under the Sea : One of my favorite ways to enjoy the fishies... with a cocktail and friends! 

• Fernbank Museum's Martinis and IMAX : One of the most noteworthy ways to enjoy happy hour, I love dressing up to sip a martinis and enjoy local music, all while exploring the museum's dinosaur exhibit and IMAX theater! Bonus that is it held every Friday. 

• Stone Mountain's Hiking Trail : If you haven't seen it before, enjoy it like a true, redneck tourist! The giant Confederate carving and Laser Show are two of the funniest activities I've experienced while on a hiking trip, so if you enjoy a steep climb and bit of outdoor entertainment, don't miss out! 

• Visit the breweries : ALL OF THEM! While Sweetwater is the most popular (and still awesome), Decatur has 3 or 4 within walking distance from each other (and you can MARTA to them). West Midtown has a couple solid ones, too, so go on and venture out, my friends! Drink local, ya'll.

• Lips' Ultimate In Drag Dining : Amazing talent unlike anything else you'lll find in Atlanta, get ready to sing, dance and laugh with the ladies of Lips for an adult-only celebration destination. 

• The Painted Pin's Frozen Moscow Mules (and Bowling) : As a Moscow Mule connoisseur, my very favorite just might be the slushy at Painted Pin. It doesn't hurt that their chic bowling alley offers lots of group games like bocce, darts and skee ball to pass the time while you wait for a lane. 

• Glenn Hotel's Skylounge : Hands down my favorite view of Atlanta. The rooftop bar gives you total access to the best cityscape sites. 

• Atlanta Streetcar Adventures : The first time I did this bar crawl was through an organized event, however, if you're looking to set out on your own exploration of some "off the beaten path" spots, the streetcar is a great option to jump off and on for free. I recommend taking an uber to Centennial Olympic Park and ending up on Edgewood; great drinks and eats along the way. 

• Botanical Gardens' Christmas Lights, Summer Concerts, Cocktails in the Garden : Need I say more?! Grab a friend and a drink and check it out today. 

• Fox Theatre's shows, movies, musicals, concerts and more : As a season ticket holder to the Atlanta Broadway series, I love my Tuesday night's at the Fox! Girl's night or date night, you can't go wrong. 

• College Football Hall of Fame's Fan Experience : We all know Atlanta is Destination Shopping for the ladies, but the CFHF gives patient men and football lover alike an place to geek out on the sport they can't spend a Saturday without!

The App "Scout Mob" is a great resource for unique, pop-up events and discounts to local happenings and restaurants! I use it to pick new, fun places to eat at that I haven't tried before.