By Kathy Mitchell
While Atlanta is known for such tourist attractions as The World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium, the area has many more—often little known—places of interest, according to Travis Swann Taylor, author of 111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss. “Those major attractions are great, but there’s much more here. We’re an interesting, rich community,” he said.
Taylor was the featured speaker at the DeKalb History Center’s Nov. 24 virtual Lunch and Learn, during which he talked about this new book, which is part of an international series that includes more than 250 editions featuring cities across the globe. The books are created to help residents and non-residents see the treasures that a city has to offer, he explained.
Although “Atlanta” is in the title, the location is broadly defined as the guidebook includes many places outside the city, including even the Booth Museum, which is in Cartersville. During his DeKalb History Center talk, Taylor focused on the DeKalb entries.
The Waffle House Museum in Avondale Estates, he noted, is a monument to one of the South’s iconic businesses that was born in the DeKalb city. “The museum is so much fun, especially if you know what a powerhouse Waffle House is in this area. People even gage the weather by it. If the weather is so bad that Waffle House closes, no one needs to be out.”
Taylor said he lived in Atlanta for 15 years before moving to Washington, D.C., where he remained for nine years; he has been back in Atlanta for 10 years. “When I first moved back, I started writing a blog, Wanderlust ATLANTA, just to re-familiarize myself with the city, and it was so much fun that I’m still doing it,” Taylor said. He noted that some of the places included in the book were taken from his blog, but he also added others based on recommendations or his own exploration. Taylor said every one of the 111 places is a site he has visited.
“I tried to choose places that I personally found interesting and places that people might not have heard about or might not think about going to,” Taylor explained. Another DeKalb choice was Fernbank Science Center on Heaton Park Drive. “This is not to be confused with Fernbank Museum of Natural History,” he noted, adding that while the natural history museum, a nonprofit entity in the same area, is interesting, people are less likely to be familiar with the science center.
Taylor said Fernbank Science Center’s space exploration exhibits are especially noteworthy. “There’s an actual replica of a NASA space suit, for example. Since general admission to the center is free to the public, it’s a great place for a cheap date,” he joked. Fernbank Science Center is part of the DeKalb County School District and closes when the public schools are closed as they are now because of the coronavirus.
Taylor said he made a point of choosing places that can be accessed free or at a relatively low cost. “That’s especially important right now with many people’s income reduced because of the virus. It’s possible to get a Groupon or other discount for the places that have a fee; you just have to look. Travel is difficult now even if you have the money. It’s a good time to discover the gems in your own backyard.”
A less traditional entry among the “places” is Atlanta’s tree canopy. “You won’t find many cities with such an impressive tree canopy; approximately 47 percent of the city is covered by trees. The best way to appreciate this is from a low-flying airplane,” according to Taylor, who noted DeKalb Peachtree Airport as a good place from which to take a charter flight over the city.
Adjacent to DeKalb Peachtree Airport is another place featured in Taylor’s book—the 57th Fighter Group Restaurant on Clairmont Road. The almost 40-year-old eatery has a World War II theme and displays vintage aircraft and other memorabilia from the 1940s war.
Taylor called Atlanta “a very complex, international city with lots of amazing stories” and said his book is a good starting point for those wanting to learn more about the area.
Read the original story on TheChampionNewspaper.com.
