Atlanta, Georgia 72-Hour Vacation

A home in Buckhead

DAY 3

For the last day of your Atlanta visit, move up to Buckhead, lodging at any of its fine hotels. The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, where breakfast is an opulent affair at The Café within the hotel, would make a fine choice. Another luxurious lodging option is the InterContinental Buckhead, which is exquisitely designed and boasts wonderful accommodations. For down-home dining, check out The White House, a great casual breakfast and lunch spot serving Southern food with a slight Greek touch, thanks to the Greek ownership.

The High Museum of Art

On a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, visit the Georgia Governor's Mansion, built in 1968 in the city's most prominent neighborhood. Tours run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and are free. Then head over to the Atlanta History Center complex, incorporating the Atlanta History Museum, the Swan House, Tullie Smith House and—for the botanical buffs—the exquisite grounds with their walking trails. Beginning at the museum, you'll view myriad exhibitions detailing Atlanta's history. The Tullie Smith House, relocated to the center in 1969, was built in the 1840s and is typical of the "plantation plain" dwellings occupied by thriving yeoman farmers of the Upland South.

At the elegant end of domestic architecture is the renovated 1928 Swan House, with its opulent furnishings and decorative arts. For lunch, join Atlanta's society matrons at the Swan Coach House. Here, you can savor a properly made iced tea, mint julep, chicken salad with frozen fruit salad and cheese straws, and lemon chess pie for dessert.

Swan House

After lunch, head into Buckhead for some great shopping. Buckhead is home to many fine art galleries you may want to investigate, such as Trinity Gallery and Tew Galleries, both dealing in fine contemporary art. Jackson Fine Art specializes in fine art photography. For more shopping, you have three major shopping centers—Phipps Plaza, Lenox Square and, for bargain hunting, Lenox Marketplace. Don't overlook Buckhead Commons, where Topaz, a gallery devoted to fine, handmade jewelry, showcases work by numerous local, national and international artists. Vespermann-Cooper Gallery has relocated from its longtime position on Buckhead's Gallery Row to Miami Circle, a street off Piedmont Road that's lined with antique shops, galleries and even boasts an artists consortium, called The Artists' Atelier. 

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse

Lenox Square is home to Macy's, Bloomingdale's and the expanded Neiman-Marcus department stores, plus loads of intriguing small shops. For lunch or dinner, choose Prime, specializing in both steaks and sushi, or take a brief stroll down Peachtree Road to dine at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, where you'll find a lengthy menu of quality beef entrées prepared with an Italian flair. Or at Phipps Plaza, home to Sax Fifth Avenue, Parisian and Nordstrom, join the young set for tapas and drinks at Twist.

With this visit, you have a clear picture of Atlanta's passion for its history, perhaps the most important aspect of its character. And you've had some fun. Y'all come back, now, hear?

For more information, visit the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.atlanta.net.