Book by Welles, L. K.
INTRODUCTION Welcome to Atlanta, proud host of the 1996 summer Olympic Games and home of the Braves, the winners of the 1995 World Series. Aside from its athletic prowess, Atlanta boasts a flourishing arts scene, with a world renowned symphony orchestra, an eclectic local music industry, scores of museums, and a diverse array of theatrical productions. In business circles, it was recently rated the number one city for expected new jobs and the best city to live in if you want to own a business. Atlanta also ranks at the top of the list of U.S. cities for investment by global companies. Among its other attributes are its climate--temperate winters and sultry summers--and its beauty. The suburban neighborhoods are covered in rolling hills and so many trees that from overhead the city seems to be cloaked in a dense forest.
For all these reasons and more, Atlanta is a city charged with exhilaration about its prospects...that's probably why you moved here. And, if you're like most newcomers to the city, you will soon be charmed by the easygoing lifestyle--a southern amiability mixed with a thriving international sensibility. So don't be afraid to dive in and explore. You'll find big city culture here and small town congeniality.
The Atlanta metropolitan area encompasses over six thousand square miles, and even if you live right in the center of things, you will almost certainly need a car to get you where you want to go. The city streets are not especially friendly to bicycle or pedestrian traffic. Though you can navigate the city using public transportation and begging friends for rides, you will find yourself longing for a car sooner or later.
After a car, your first investment should be a good map, preferably a detailed street atlas. If there is any logic to the arrangement of the city's roads, it has escaped even the most brilliant of minds.
This book is designed to guide you through your first exciting, perhaps disquieting weeks as a newcomer to Atlanta. It offers you a survey of neighborhoods, tips on how to settle in, suggestions for rest and relaxation as well as cultural outings, and other helpful hints to help you acclimate yourself to your new surroundings. The book covers not only Atlanta proper, but also some nearby communities frequently populated by newcomers.
Because of the city's rapid development and its commercial appeal, Atlanta attracts a multitude of newcomers. You will find that, for the most part, it is a city friendly to fresh inhabitants. Take advantage of all that Atlanta has to offer, because you'll soon discover that it's a wonderful place to live.
One last note: until recently, most of the Atlanta metropolitan area was served by one standard area code, 404. However, the growing number of inhabitants eventually necessitated the institution of a new area code, 770. All numbers in this book use the 404 area code unless otherwise indicated.
