Suggestion...Stop at the GA Welcome Center when you enter GA and check if they have any coupons or special rate deals for Atlanta Motels. I know that in the past, they have had those for Hampton Inn.

Which flea market are you planning to visit? Do you mean that you are going to the aquarium Friday morning?

Hi, we are going to the aquarium Friday morning, will stay over Friday night, walk around downtown most likely, and go to a flea market Saturday morning then head home. We will probably stop at the mall of Georgia and Commerce heading back.

I don't know which flea market to go to though. I want a huge outdoor/indoor combo with a mixture of everything; junk, plants, food, some antiques, cleaning supplies...
not an upscale antique flea market. Dh wants to look for old tools and cheapo misc. I like plants, of course. We have a big flea market near us in Pickens that has all this kind of stuff so I was thinking of something like that.

This is dh's event; I can't drag him to any botanical gardens or nurseries.

Hampton inn, unfortunately, is too pricey for us right now. Motel 6 near the airport is probably where we will end up. Just a place to get in late, sleep, and leave early Sat. morning. I don't need a pool, internet or jacuzzi.
or roaches!

The biggest flea market I know of is the Pendegrass Flea Market in Jefferson (just south of Commerce, exit 138). Some booths feature typical used goods, but most of it cheap, new import stuff. Shumakes Daylilies is just across the interstate. You can check craigslist for garage sales this weekend. There are a lot of whole neighborhood type sales this time of year.

Since you'll be heading north after your visit to the aquarium, you might as well stay somewhere north of Atlanta rather than near the airport (which is south). There are Motel 6's off I-85 at Gwinnett Place, Norcross and Suwanee. Even cheaper is the one in Gainesville on I-985.

Thanks esh. However, we want to go to the Dekalb farmers market friday afternoon after the aquarium and later walk around downtown. We're not late nighters so we will be back at the motel by 9:00 or so.

Here is the loose itinerary:

Friday:

8:00 am leave home drive to Atlanta
11:00 am Aquarium
3:00 pm lunch
Farmers Market
Dinner
Walk Around or Imax somewhere
Bedtime

Saturday

Flea Market
Headhome and hit various places: Mall,Commerce,daylily farm

So, based on this, what area should we stay?
I know, we're rubes...

I'd suggest that you try the Motel 6 in Tucker near Northlake Mall. That would be about a 15 - 20 minute drive from downtown, not too far from the Dekalb Farmers Market and you'd be close to I-85.

If you're going to stay in the Tucker area and go to the farmer's market, I'd recommend Martini & a Movie at Fernbank - check to make sure they're still doing this on Friday nights. Fernbank is the natural history museum - it's near everything else you will be visiting - and it has the best IMAX theater. For years on Friday nights they offer the chance to buy nice food and really nice martinis - very civilized way to watch the movie. Well rats! I just checked their web site to get you their phone #, and they are closed this weekend. Sorry - keep it in mind for future trips I guess. They have a lovely rose garden, and a forest for nature walks, and a planetarium too. You'll just have to come back to Atlanta and visit us again.

That would have been fun! I can't believe that we haven't been to Atlanta for anything but the airport, however, the traffic is enough to make me stay away.
I'm booking the motel 6 in Tucker then.
Dh told me this morning he doesn't want a flea market with antiques...more junk, garage sale stuff.
From what I can find, the one in Acworth? We'll stop at Jefferson on the way home perhaps.

I've read that the flea market at the Starlight Six Drive-In is supposed to be pretty good. I haven't been myself, so can't vouch for it. But I get the impression it's got lots of "garage sale" type stuff. The drive-in is on Moreland Ave., about half-way between GA 20 and I-285. For that matter, you could catch a movie or two there on Friday night in lieu of Imax (shame about it being closed this week--so nice to listen to jazz music under the dinosaurs!). In that case, you could go out for dinner and walk around Little Five Points (L5P) instead of downtown. It's definitely not a "rube" place...could be an eye opener? But in my humble opinion, it's got more character than downtown (which you'll see when you go to the aquarium, anyway. Be sure to take a stroll through Centennial Olympic park across the street). On a nice evening, Front Page News and Sabroso in L5P both have wonderful patios and gurgling fountains. And the Vortex has hamurgers to die for. Just a thought...

Have fun!

Oh wait, let me retract my Drive-In suggestion. I just realized that Pirates of The Carribean is opening on Friday, which will probably make it a nightmare. We accidentally went on the opening night of Pirates last year, arrived an hour early, and still didn't get in! Skip it.

But I still maintain that there are better areas for dinner and a stroll than downtown--namely, Virginia Highlands, Decatur square, Little Five Points, or even Midtown.

I'll second L5P and I'll second the Vortex - not only are their hamburgers good, their veggie burgers are wonderful. Does anyone know if Star Bar is still open in L5P? If so, you have to check out their shrine to Elvis in the bank vault (place used to be a bank). It's been so many years since I was there I feel old.

Little five points looks hippyish and seedy from what I'm pulling up. Yes? No? Decatur square seems more, hmmm, I hate the word upscale (middle aged?), fewer tattoo parlors? Nicer area to stroll?

For dinner, I know hubby will want interesting fish/vegetarian type of meal but in a casual way. Not upscale dining. He always wants fresh fish and vegetables.

It's the Bubbapalooza at the Star Bar this weekend. Tix are pricey, so if you want to hit the Elvis Vault, go at 4:00 in the afternoon, before you eat if you head over to the Vortex. Vortex is probably going to be INSANE on a Saturday. So is the pizza joint nearby. Which is delectably good.

You want fish, you wanna head on down Memorial Drive towards Downtown across from the Oakland Cemetary and eat at Six Feet Under 415 Memorial Dr SE. Salads OK, but my buddy eats their fish and says it can't be beat. If you are going to Dekalb Farmers market on Friday, eat there. Food is great. Loads of veggie options. Always fish, fresh salads.

If you are looking for cheapo-crap-o I can't think of a good flea market around here other than the two in Acworth which we haven't been to in a good long while, but both were great at one time. http://www.keysfleamarket.com/fleamarket/state/georgia.htm

Little 5 Points isn't very boutiqu-y. Downtown Decatur is nice, Virginia Highlands is pretty and has some cute stores. If you want funky without the hippies, a short stop to my hood, East Atlanta Village will render a quick stop to a great gallery, some nice local eating. The Graveyard Tavern is very nice - good food, friendly. Antique mall, coffee shop, Traders which is a nice gifty store with modern things and lovely soaps, candles...little books store. Friendly. Always loads of yard sales often with great funky stuff.
http://eaca.net/

ENJOY!
GGG

Thank You! Ha, ha, aren't I spontaneous? This is why we have to do the package tour thing or a cruise.

If you wanna try staying closer to downtown and don't need anything fancy, the Highland Inn on North Highland is a European style hotel but you do get bathrooms in the room. Don't know if they have vacancy but it is not far from Virginia Highlands. Prices are not so bad.

GGG

Thanks! I did look at the Highland inn online while looking for places, can't remember if it was booked or not. It did look interesting. Lots of cheap places downtown and close in only had smoking rooms left. I booked the Motel 6 in Tucker yesterday...

well I have to say you have to stop at the flying biscuit Cafe.
They have three locations. I posted the link below. Have fun.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flying biscuit

Tucker Motel 6 is good, that's with the mini-pool isn't it. We sent folks there when we had a music festival in town a few years ago.

Your DH needs a "side of love" at the Biscuit if he likes vegetarian. YUM!!

GGG