Fun Things to Do in Midtown Atlanta
Are you looking for the best things to do in Midtown Atlanta? Are you looking for Midtown Atlanta attractions and museums to check out? Read on for all my favorite spots!
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The Atlanta Botanical Garden is full of beautiful gardens, winding pathways, and art.
For a Southerner, the only thing more frightening than a broken air conditioner in August is navigating Atlanta traffic. If you haven’t experienced it, it’s a cross between Final Destination and Fast & Furious 85 (or whatever sequel they’re on).
Didn’t have any gray hair driving into Atlanta? You surely will by the time you leave.
Anyway, when I drive to Atlanta, I promptly stash my car in a garage and spend the rest of the trip on foot, which is a great way to get your steps in and do a deep dive on a specific neighborhood.
Every year, I spend a long weekend in the charming neighborhood of Midtown Atlanta for work, and it’s an absolute blast. So, let’s share the love! Here are some must-hit spots and fun things to do in Midtown Atlanta.
You can easily spend the day in the High Museum of Art in Midtown Atlanta.
Midtown Atlanta: Things to Do
Lose yourself in The High Museum of Art.
If you’re looking for things to do in Midtown Atlanta, The High Museum of Art needs to be at the top of your list. Tickets are reasonably priced at $18.50, which includes re-entry, and you can easily spend the entire day wandering this beautifully designed and expansive museum. (The museum also stays open late on select Friday nights, so check their calendar.)
The largest museum for visual art in the Southeast, the High Museum of Art features more than 18,000 works of art in its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits. What are you into? Furniture design? Early American landscapes? Abstract painting? Fine china? You’ll find it at The High Museum of Art.
And, if the idea of 312,000 square feet of world-class works of art is a little intimidating, try the museum’s Heartmatch to jumpstart your planning - it’s like Tinder, but for art!
The beautifully laid-out Atlanta Botanical Garden showcases striking art and water features around every turn.
Wander the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Hands down, visiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of the best things to do in Midtown Atlanta in the fall. While I’m sure the gardens are gorgeous year-round, strolling through a sea of brightly-colored fall foliage canopy catwalk is nothing short of magical.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden encompasses 30 acres of outdoor gardens and features gorgeous large-scale sculptures by renowned artist Dan Chihuly. Plan to spend at least an hour wandering the paths, exploring the orchid greenhouse, and grabbing a bite to eat. There’s also an award-winning children’s garden, making the Atlanta Botanical Garden perfect for families as well as date nights, girls’ weekends, and solo adventuring.
If you’re visiting Midtown Atlanta during the holidays, book tickets to the Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. They were in the process of setting up when I was there, and I can’t imagine how amazing the finished experience is!
And, if you’re not familiar with botanical gardens or want to make the most of your visit, the Atlanta Botanical Garden offers a quick quiz to help set you on the right path.
Check out SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film.
Don't sleep on the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film! While smaller than some of the other museums in Midtown Atlanta, SCAD FASH offers beautifully curated and thought-provoking exhibits, and it's well worth the $10 ticket price (discounts are currently available for families, seniors, military, students, and SCAD alumni).
My friend and I caught The Blonds and Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise, and it was the coolest, most inspiring visual arts experience either of us have had in a hot minute. Even if you're not much of a fashionista (yes, I went in joggers and a turtleneck... cringe), you'll love the striking, innovative designs and eye-catching displays.
And, as an added convenience, the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film offers free on-site parking.
The Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta first opened its doors in 1929.
Catch a show at the Fox Theatre.
Performances are just more fun in a historic theatre, and The Fox is an iconic piece of Atlanta History. Architectural gems like the Alhambra in Spain and Egypt's Temple of Kharnak influenced the Shriner's construction of the building, and movie theater mogul William Fox took over the wildly expensive completion of the project in the late 1920s.
The Fox opened on Christmas Day in 1929, selling out the premiere of Steamboat Willie. The stunning, opulent theater went on to fall on hard times, however, eventually falling into a state of disrepair. The citizens of Atlanta came to The Fox's rescue in the mid-1970's, raising 3 million dollars to save their beloved theater from demolition and restore it to its former glory.
Today, the award-winning theater hosts more than 250 shows annually and has been consistently ranked as one of the best theaters in America! So, put catching a show at The Fox at the top of your list of things to do in Midtown Atlanta. Check out their upcoming shows here.
Visit the Center for Puppetry Arts.
Puppets are so much more than, well, muppets, as you'll learn at the Center for Puppetry Arts.
A visit to this niche museum sits near the top of my list of favorite things to do in Midtown Atlanta, and The Center for Puppetry Arts is designed to be a fun and informative experience for the young and young at heart.
Spend a morning wandering the exhibits, and you'll learn all about this historic art form, its cultural contexts, various techniques, and lasting legacy. The museum houses puppets from around the globe, and it also offers fascinating live puppet performances, so check their calendar as you plan your stay in Midtown Atlanta.
Stretch your legs in Piedmont Park.
The best things in life are free, right?! And a lap around Midtown Atlanta's Piedmont Park is a delightful way to unwind and get some exercise.
Originally a forest, the land that is now Piedmont Park was purchased in 1834 by Samuel and Sarah Walker for $450. It went on to become farmland and then a common site for expositions and fairs before eventually transitioning to the public-private park it is today.
You can read all about the many changes and phases of Piedmont Park on the Piedmont Park Conservancy website. Today, the park offers the "Active Oval" for outdoor workouts, courts for tennis and pickleball, a pool and splash pad, educational programs, event venues, walking trails, playgrounds, dog parks, a fishing bridge, basketball and bocce courts, and picnic shelters.
Visit the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA).
Conveniently located across Peachtree Street from the High Museum of Art sits the Museum of Design Atlanta, lovingly called MODA. This small but mighty museum is "the only museum in the Southeast devoted exclusively to the study and celebration of all things design." Here, you'll find exhibits on everything from the influence of hip-hop music on architecture to the progression of narratives in video games. Their wonderfully curated gift shop is also one of my favorite retail spaces to explore in Midtown! I always come home with an interesting book, thought-provoking kids' toy, or boxed wine-scented candle for my mother-in-law.
Grab a bite to eat.
Whatever foodie vibe you're into, you'll undoubtedly find lots of options in the Midtown Atlanta restaurant scene. Are you on the hunt for an Instagrammable interior? You'll find that in spades. Are you a sucker for a luxurious seafood joint? You've got options! Are you in the mood for multicultural cuisine? Global eats abound.
I personally loved the peaceful, welcoming atmosphere and delicious eats at El Vinado Local for breakfast: start your day off right with a coffee and chocolate pairing and Arepa de Vegetales. And, if you happen to find yourself wandering Midtown Atlanta on a rainy autumn afternoon, there's no better way to warm up than a steaming bowl of Lobster Ramen at E Ramen.
Have you been to Midtown Atlanta? Where are your favorite spots to spend the day, grab a bite to eat, or raise a glass? Drop them in the comments below!
