One Day in Atlanta Itinerary- Top Things to do

Planning to touch down Atlanta soon but you’re looking for a relaxed and laid back day?

This is the perfect guide for you if you are not looking to run around like a headless chicken.

Perhaps you’ve already been to Atlanta and you’ve already done the major attractions. This time around you only have one day or a weekend and you’re looking to have fun without feeling rushed or dealing with any crazy tourists lines.

I’ve put up together a nice laidback one day itinerary to let you explore Atlanta and its suburbs. This guide comes in handy after you’ve done the major sightseeing and just looking to enjoy your time and dive into the local culture a bit.

Wander Around Downtown Atlanta

Welcome to the A town!

I’ve been to Atlanta countless times. Since I have family there, I’ve been going there regularly since I was a little kid. And nowadays, as an adult, no matter how many times I’ve visited, I always make sure to visit downtown ATL.

Even if you’re short on time and can only drive through the downtown area, it’s still nice to soak up the local vibe.

You can also refer to my list of best things to do for first timers if you’d like to add the usual top tourists sightseeing in your itinerary.

A beautiful mix of concrete jungle and real trees welcome you to the city.

Looking for some quick  museum time?

You can stop by the center for civil and human rights and try to get a better understanding of the heavy historical and cultural challenges of Atlanta.

The amount of time you spend in downtown would obviously depend on how much overall time you got and the type of activities you choose to prioritize.

After wondering around and getting a feel or a refresher, it’s now time to hit the road.

Hit Up a Shooting Range

Next destination is a shooting range. First time I’ve been to a shooting range was in Virginia and back then I thought it was weird to be shooting indoors. Well not much has changed, I still find it quite peculiar.

It’s just that I’ve just always pictured these type of ranges to be outdoor in a wide open space.

Not going to lie but it still feels weird to be right in downtown and be able to have a nice fancy breakfast and then cross the street to go shoot. I think this is something that is very American.

Politics aside, as this is a travel blog, I do believe that it is a great idea for travelers to try their best to dive into the local culture of the place they’re visiting. I find that this truly can help give an insight into different mentalities and collective mindset.

There are countless options for those looking to buy some guns or add to their collection. Riffles, hand guns, you have your pick. While I was in the range, there was a guy right next to us that even brought his own Ak47.

I just couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. The whole thing felt so surreal.

I swear this is something so many tourists overlook but it is quite an experience and insight into American culture, especially in the deep south. If you can, I really do recommend trying it out, at least once.

Even if you don’t enjoy the actual shooting part( Which is really fun, I promise), you will still learn so much from observing the surrounding and community.

All set up and ready to go. If it’s your first time at a shooting range, no worries, an employee will accompany you and help set you up after giving you an extensive safety briefing.

Once you get settled and learn the basics and safety, it is actually a very fun thing to do. Beware though that it is an expensive hobby 🙂

Time to Eat ” Try a New Restaurant”

After hitting the shooting range, I’m pretty sure you’ll be hungry. Try to go with a new restaurant you’ve never done before. Pick a nice place, dress up and enjoy a nice meal.

This meal was at Tomo Japanese restaurant. It is located in a posh area called Buckhead. It is known for being one of the most affluent neighborhood of Atlanta. It is a really nice place with so a few upscale restaurants to choose from.

I recommend taking a nice stroll around the area before having lunch or dinner at Tomo.

The appetizers were so good that we went for seconds. Then came along the sushi and everything was so delicious. Whatever you choose, I don’t think you can go wrong.

Even the dessert was delicious. I went along with a Matcha dessert. At first the taste took me by surprise as I’m just not used to it. But towards the end of the dessert, it was quickly started to grow on me. hehe

Ice Cream Time

Yes, I know! But we already had dessert at the restaurant.

But you know what they say right?

There is always space for Ice cream. Perhaps, you might need to go on a quick walk in order to create said space. But whatever you do, please don’t skip ice cream 🙂

Not going to lie, there are quite a few artisanal ice cream companies around the city. But Berens is a really popular one. It is famous for its custard ice cream and soft ones. But there is a wide variety you can choose from.

The beautiful interior of the ice cream shop. Pastel colors everywhere which makes the place look very dreamy.

Although nowadays, they have a few location spread around the city, Berens started as a small little family venture.

The staff is eager to help you and as usual, they let you taste different flavors. All is good at Berens. The only problem might be the line up of people and eager children waiting behind you 🙂 .

I got to taste so many different flavors that it’s hard for me to remember it all now. Sorry 🙂 But like I said, you can’t really go wrong. It’s a great place to add some creativity and adventure in your life!

You can go for custard, ice cream in cones or have the cone on top. Mine was the one with the waffle cone. And the only thing I can tell you is that ladies and gentlemen, it was glorious! 🙂

I will definitely be back to Berens next time I find myself in Atlanta.

Bonus! Slurpee time!

Hit up the gas station for local snacks and Slurpee 🙂

Yes, I know ! This one needs explaining as some might find it a bit weird. Growing up in Canada, I’ve always found the American gas stations so fascinating. And I noticed that the more South you get, the better they get.

American gas stations are like little supermarket filled with ( might not be the most healthy) but definitely, the most yummy things. The interesting part is that the price is so cheap too.

In Canada, people generally avoid shopping in the gas stations as the price tend to be considerably higher. As if to remind you that you are in fact paying for the convenience factor.

Yet in the States, prices are amazing. And because we absolutely love road trips, we get to stop by gas stations a lot. In the state of Georgia, our favorite gas station is Race Track. One of our traditions is to always stop by, get some Slurpee and unique snacks we can only find there.

Try the cheesy combo pretzel next time you’re there 🙂

Also anyone else’s favorite Slurpee flavor the cherry one?

Sometimes, they would run out and we would hunt down different Race track until we find our prized Slurpee. And now that I think about it, we can be a bit crazy. But these also make for the best memories 🙂

Yes, I know! That was quite an unorthodox guide to Atlanta. But the point I am trying to make is that sometimes one of the best trips is not the one where we try to hit every single landmark. Sometimes, it’s nice to relax and just go with the flow and just get a feel for the place. 🙂

Cheers and enjoy your laidback day in Atlanta.