Zoo Atlanta

Let’s be honest, most of us have been to a zoo before, but have you been to the Atlanta Zoo?!? Probably not, because if you have, it would have been an experience you’d never forget. Pandas, elephants, gorillas, oh my! A trip to the Atlanta Zoo is full of adventure and excitement. Having lived in Georgia for over 10 years now, I have had the joy of going to the zoo on a variety of occasions. The most recent trip I took to the zoo, however, was back in middle school, but I still remember having an awesome time! The zoo is filled with many exotic animals, including pandas, lions, and even Komodo dragons! The zoo is a fun place for people of all ages, so don’t hesitate to invite your younger siblings to experience this adventure with you.

The Atlanta Zoo is only about a ten minute drive from campus, only a little bit further away than the other activities I have included in my blog. One of the best things about the Zoo is the fact that a ticket only costs $17.99 for college students, and $16.99 for children ages 3-11. What a great deal! Another great thing about the Zoo is its hours of operation, which are very convenient. The Atlanta Zoo is open daily from 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M, however the last admission for the day is at 4:30, so don’t be late or else you won’t see many of the amazing animals that are found at the Zoo. This week, the GT football team is in North Carolina so take advantage of this free weekend and come on out to the Atlanta Zoo for an experience you’ll never forget!

Resources:

Sherman, Ron. “Bears – Pandas at the Atlanta Zoo, Georgia“. Digital Image. Flickr. 14 Sept. 2010., n.p. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/9teen87/4990573768/&gt;.

“Zoo Hours.” Zoo Atlanta. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/hours_and_rates#ehugM&gt;.

The Varsity

So up to this point, my blog has been mostly about sports, art, and wildlife. I’d like to shift gears a bit this week and focus on one of the most famous places to grab a bite to eat here in the ATL: The Varsity. This historical drive-in restaurant has been around in Atlanta for over 85 years! If you are your friends or family like hot dogs, chili dogs, French fries, and onion rings, then this is the place to go. Over the many years that I have lived here, I have had the joy of experiencing the Varsity in downtown Atlanta firsthand. I’ve been there a number of times, mostly as a part of school field trips during high school. The atmosphere at this restaurant is so unique; the building is always jam-packed, but service is second-to-none, and it is definitely something everyone in the Atlanta area should experience at least once.

The Varsity is literally 5 minutes away, just like practically everything else I have talked about in my blog. The hours of operation are also extremely convenient as it is open Sunday-Thursday from 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 P.M and Friday-Saturday from 10:00 A.M. – 12:30 A.M. And the best part is, of course, the monetary aspect of taking a trip to the Varsity. Like any fast food restaurant, the food is very cheap, and a meal can easily be purchased for less than $50. But the Varsity in downtown Atlanta is no McDonald’s or Wendy’s; it is easily one of the best and most interesting places I have ever been to. So take a break from Woody’s and North Ave dining halls and come out to the Varsity this weekend for a couple chili dogs and an experience you won’t soon forget!

Resources:

Varsity. Digital Image. Beings 2015. N.d., n.p. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.beings2015.org/location.html&gt;.

“The Varsity Downtown.” The Varsity. N.p, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.thevarsity.com/locations.php?action=view&store_id=9&gt;.

Concert at the Tabernacle

You may not know this, but Atlanta is one of the best places to go to see a musical performance, especially a country performance. Over the years I have had the opportunity to attend five concerts here in the Atlanta area. My first concert was at Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta, where I saw Coldplay, one of my favorite bands of all time. I saw two other concerts at Lakewood: Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, and Toby Keith. Now, at the time, I was not a big country fan, but my friends talked me into going and I had a great time. Even if you are not a big music fan or if you are not familiar with the bands here in the United States, I encourage you to try it out because you will not regret it. The other two concerts I have seen here in Atlanta were U2 (at Philips Arena) and Ellie Goulding (at the Tabernacle). Now, out of the three places that I have been to see a concert here, I must say that the Tabernacle was the best. It is somewhat small, but it is just an amazing place to go see a band perform at.

The Tabernacle is literally 5 minutes away, just like basically everything else I have talked about in this blog. Capital Cities will be performing at the Tabernacle coming up next Friday, October 24th at 8:00 P.M. The Tabernacle usually has bands that are not the most popular, but that are still really good bands that have quality music. Ellie Goulding is not the most popular singer in the world, but I still had a great time because she is a great singer and a great performer. The atmosphere at the Tabernacle is just so unique, even though it is small, you don’t feel cramped and you can still have an awesome time. Tickets for the concert next Friday start at $31 which is a great deal for a great band like Capital Cities! So celebrate being more than halfway done with the semester and reward yourself with a great experience at the Capital Cities concert next Friday at the Tabernacle.

Resources:

“The Tabernacle.” N.d. Photograph. The Emory Wheel Online. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.emorywheel.com/best-concert-venue-the-tabernacle/&gt;.

“Capital Cities.” Big Stub. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <http://www.bigstub.com/capital-cities-tickets.aspx?event_id=2379071&gt;.

Atlanta Hawks – Philips Arena

Over the past few weeks, I have talked about cheap things to do in Atlanta that have to do with sports, wildlife, and art. Now, in this week’s edition, I plan on going back to sports by talking about the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA basketball team whose home court is right here in downtown Atlanta. The Atlanta Hawks have consistently been one of the better teams in the NBA, having made it to the playoffs in the past 7 years. However, I would not say that they are the best team in the NBA because they have only advanced to the second round of the playoffs 3 out of the 7 times. Nonetheless, going to a Hawks game is still exciting, and it can be done for under $50 easily.

The Atlanta Hawks play all of their home games at Philips Arena which is only a 5 minute drive from Georgia Tech’s campus. I have lived here for a very long time, however I have only attended ONE Hawks game, and I had a blast! So one of my goals this year is to make it to another game whenever I have time during the semester. One of the best parts about Atlanta Hawks games is that people can attend them for under $50 easily. Tickets for the next home game against the Detroit Pistons start at $15 a piece! What a great deal! Although I have never been a big fan of basketball, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Philips Arena when I attended a Hawks game a few years ago. I recommend this activity for anyone who is genuinely interested in sports and having a good time while saving money. So take a break from your studies on the weekend of October 18th, and come out and support your Atlanta Hawks as they take on the Detroit Pistons!

Resources:

Philips Arena. Digital image. N.d. Ballparks.com. Web. 9 Oct. 2014. <http://www.mnn.com/money/sustainable-business-practices/blogs/atlanta-hawks-purchase-green-energy-for-arena&gt;.

Georgia Aquarium

Do you like Whale Sharks? Penguins? Dolphins? All of the above? Then the Georgia Aquarium is the place for you! Located just 5 minutes from Georgia Tech, the Georgia Aquarium is a great place to go to escape from the pressures of college and explore the wonders of marine life. I have lived in Georgia for over 10 years now, and have had the pleasure of visiting the Georgia Aquarium on a variety of occasions. Ever since I was a young boy, I have been fascinated with wildlife, especially aquatic wildlife, so I have always enjoyed visiting aquariums. Now, I’m sure most of you have been to an aquarium in your lifetime, but this is no ordinary aquarium. This is one of the most interesting, most interactive aquariums you will ever visit! There are multiple exhibits, each featuring a different group of wildlife, and there is also a 3D theater which is always a fun experience. The five main exhibits are the Ocean Voyager, the Georgia Explorer, the Tropical Diver, the River Scout, and the Cold Water Quest.

The picture above shows a view of one of the largest, if not the largest rooms in the entire aquarium. As you can see, the variety of wildlife that the aquarium is home to is absolutely amazing. The hours of operation for the Georgia Aquarium are extremely convenient, as it is literally open every day of the year. It’s open from 10 A.M. until 5 P.M. Sundays through Fridays, and from 9 A.M. until 6 P.M. on Saturdays. And, as I promised, you can experience this wonderful place for under $50. Ticket prices vary depending on when you buy the ticket, but an adult ticket will only cost you $30 or $35, which is a great deal for the amazing time you will have here. So take advantage of the fact that it is a bye week for the Georgia Tech football team, and come out to the Georgia Aquarium this weekend and explore all that nature has to offer!

Resources:

“Visitor Information.” Georgia Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/plan-your-visit/&gt;.

“Georgia Aquarium.” N.d. Photograph. The Culture Mom. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.theculturemom.com/georgia-aquarium/&gt;.

 

High Museum of Art – Atlanta

The High Museum of Art is one of the most popular art museums in the southeast. Whether you are an art fanatic or not, you will definitely enjoy a visit to the High Museum. I have personally never been that big of a fan of art, but when a friend talked me into going with them, I was amazed. There is artwork there from many different time eras and regions across the globe. The museum is fairly large, so out of everything there, even if you do not necessarily enjoy art, you will eventually discover something that you think is fascinating. For all you patriotic people, there is a collection at the High Museum dedicated to American Art. There are also collections dedicated to modern art if that is what interests you. The amount of diversification in the artwork that is located at the High Museum is quite impressive.

The High Museum of Art is literally a 5 minute drive from Georgia Tech. And not only is it extremely close to campus, but it also has very convenient hours of operation. It is open from 10 A.M. until 5 P.M. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; from 10 A.M. until 9 P.M. on Fridays; and from 12 P.M. until 5 P.M. on Sundays. Although it is closed on Mondays, the hours available on the weekends make it relatively easy to visit in your free time. Tickets for college students start at $16.50, but you need to bring your id (Buzzcard), otherwise an adult ticket will cost you about $20 which is still not a bad deal! The High Museum is a great place to visit and just relax and escape from the stress that Georgia Tech causes many of its students to develop. So come out this weekend to the High Museum of Art and discover just how amazing artwork can truly be!!

Resources:

 “Museum Admission.” High Museum of Art Atlanta. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <https://tickets.high.org/commerce/ExhibitTickets/Museum-Admission.aspx&gt;.

Hillyer, Jonathan. “High Museum.” N.d. Photograph. Tufts Magazine. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.tufts.edu/alumni/magazine/winter2008/features/artarchitecture.html&gt;.

“High Museum of Art – Interior View.” N.d. Photograph. bestourism.com. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.bestourism.com/items/di/7255?title=High-Museum-of-Art&b=285&gt;.

Atlanta Braves Game – Turner Field

Whether you are a baseball fan or not, attending an Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field is always a fun experience. The Atlanta Braves are consistently one of the best teams in the MLB, having made it to the playoffs three times in the past four years! And the best part is, you can easily attend one of these exciting games for under $50! The next home game for the Atlanta Braves is on September 15th, against division rival: the Washington Nationals. Currently, the Nationals are leading the National League East division by 8.0 games, so the Braves need to win that series to try to gain some ground in the division.

Here is a picture of Turner Field; looks pretty amazing right? And it’s only a 10-15 minute drive from Georgia Tech! Tickets for the game on Saturday, September 20th against the Mets are not only available for under $50… but also for under $15! Now, over the years I have had the opportunity to attend a multitude of Braves games at Turner Field. I have had a variety of seats at these games; I have had a seat right behind home plate a few times, and I have also had a seat in the nosebleed section a few times.  Where you sit at a Braves game does not matter. Wherever you are sitting in the ballpark, you will have a great view of the game. The seats in the nosebleed section (upper deck) will be around $15-$25 which is an unbelievably great deal! Yes, you are very high up, but you can still have a great time! I attended a Braves game a few weeks ago and I sat in the upper section, but I had an absolutely amazing time! It’s not about where you sit at the game, it’s about what you make out of the time that you are at Turner Field. In between innings, there is always something entertaining for the fans to enjoy on the “big screen”. A few examples are the kiss cam, the tool race, and the cap shuffle. The kiss cam shows various couples on the “big screen” who are then supposed to kiss because they are on camera. The tool race is sponsored by Home Depot and it is when people dressed up as various tools race each other across the field. And the cap shuffle is when a card is placed under a hat on the screen and the fans are supposed to watch the hat that has the card under it and call out the number of the hat at the end.

Attending a Braves game at Turner Field is a great activity to experience with your friends or family. Even if you are not familiar with the game of baseball, it is still exciting to watch, especially since the Braves are one of the best teams in the MLB. There are also many things to do at the ballpark itself to keep you entertained before the game and in between innings. And like I said before, the best part is you can experience all of this for under $50 easily. So come out next weekend and support the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field as they take on the New York Mets!

Resources:

Hintz, A. “Turner Field”. N.d. Photograph. TicketKing. Web. 9 Sept. 2014. <http://bravesmlbtickets.com/news/september-braves-tickets/&gt;.

 

Welcome to My Blog!

Hey guys! I’m Ryan Young, a freshman chemical engineering major here at Georgia Tech. This blog will be your center for information on fun and exhilarating things to do here in the great city of Atlanta, Georgia. And the best part is… Every thing I post on here, you can do for under or around $50! Not a bad deal right? This blog will appeal to sports fans, art and music lovers, and also animal lovers! Many new students here at Georgia Tech are from out-of-state or even from another country. But I have been living in Georgia for over 10 years now so I have experienced many of the amazing things there are to do here already. My goal is to provide you with information on these various activities that you may have an interest in while also providing you with my own personal experiences with these activities. However, I, like you, have not had the opportunity to experience EVERY thing that there is to do in Atlanta, so I hope to also try some new activities for under or around $50. With the many professional sports teams here in the city, it seems that there is a sporting event going on every weekend. Even if you know nothing about football or baseball, you can still enjoy an Atlanta Falcons football game or an Atlanta Braves baseball game for under or around $50.  Even if you have not enjoyed trips to the local aquarium or zoo in the past, you will enjoy a trip to the Georgia Aquarium or Zoo Atlanta. Even if you are not a big music fan, you can still enjoy an evening at a concert at Lakewood Amphitheatre or the Tabernacle. There is an abundance of exciting things to experience in the city of Atlanta and they are all at your fingertips. Don’t waste any more time, start to explore the city of Atlanta today!