Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is growing to be one of the most hip places to live and visit. In my ten years in Georgia I have had the opportunity to explore almost every nook and cranny. Well, at least half of them. Here are some of the highlights.

Georgia Aquarium

It is the largest aquarium in the world. Enough said, yes? It houses an estimated 120,000 creatures including belugas and whale sharks. I was mostly impressed by the gigantic Ocean Voyager which is where they house the whale sharks. This jellyfish might not be the star of this gargantuan aquarium, but it is a very nice photo.



Nightlife

There are many places to groove around Midtown and Buckhead. Based on my nightly outings, Club Compound had a great combination of atmosphere, music, and drinks. They have a minimalist courtyard, a reflective pool, and two different rooms playing its own brand of music. On Fridays, I always went back and forth between the hip hop room and the techno room. All in all, it had a festive, yet cozy atmosphere at the same time.
It is located on 1008 Brady Ave, Atlanta, GA 30318.
Sometimes the club offers a free entry if you sign up on their website.
http://www.compoundatl.com/

I would also recommend Halo Lounge for drinks and relaxing with friends. It is a hip lounge with sleek furnishings of chrome and glass.
817 W Peachtree St E 100, Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, 404-962-7333

Or you can choose to randomly hop around the various bars and clubs in Buckhead.

Cuisine

One of my favorites include One Midtown Kitchen. One Midtown kitchen offers a cool blend of contemporary American cuisine and a chic ambiance. It is definitely worth a try. It is located in 559 Dutch Valley Rd, Atlanta.

In addition, the area known as Virginia Highland has many options for dining, nightlife, and even shopping. The Surin of Thailand had my taste buds going and made me go back time and time again (810 N. Highland Ave).
http://www.virginiahighland.com/

Shopping

If you are looking for variety, I would recommend Atlantic Station and Lenox Square Mall (3393 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta). You can find everything from Wet Seal to David Yurman at Lenox Square. If you are looking for something slightly more upscale, go to Phipps Plaza (3500 Peachtree Rd Ne Atlanta).

Lugano & Bellinzona

I found Lugano to be one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Switzerland. Located near the Italian border, the atmosphere has a mediterranean feel to it. I went during the summer via train from Zurich. I enjoyed the obviously miditerranean architecture, splashes of color at the garden, and the huge glacial lake with the backdrop of the mountains.

The city of Bellinzona was on the way to Lugano so I dropped by this quaint town with at least three beautifully restored castles: Montebello, Castlegrande, and Sasso Corbaro.

This was taken while I was standing on Castlegrande.


You could see Castle Montebello in the distance.

Historically Bellinzona was an important trading center, but recently lost a lot of attention due to its more famous neighboring city, Lugano.