Philadelphia - Atlanta Roadtrip
May 31, 2017 9:07 AM Subscribe
60-something Chinese-Americans road-tripping from Philadelphia to Atlanta. Recommendations for stuff to do and see and eat in Atlanta, and along the way?
My parents present as being middle class/lower middle class, are fluent in English, and have lived in the US for 30+ years. No significant mobility issues.
In Atlanta, they're planning to see the Coke Museum because my dad loves drinking Coke, and book a CNN studio tour, but do not have anyplace to stop along the way, or anything else to do. In particular, I'd love your recs for:
* My parents have a general understanding of American history, but have a lot of the anti-blackness found in first-gen Chinese-Americans. My father used to say things like, "What has Martin Luther King ever done for America, except say 'I have a dream?'" He stopped saying that particular bit of bullshit after watching a half-movie, half-documentary on Jim Crow, and also recently said one (1) backhandedly complimentary thing about Obama, so I guess he's not completely hopeless?
My parents present as being middle class/lower middle class, are fluent in English, and have lived in the US for 30+ years. No significant mobility issues.
In Atlanta, they're planning to see the Coke Museum because my dad loves drinking Coke, and book a CNN studio tour, but do not have anyplace to stop along the way, or anything else to do. In particular, I'd love your recs for:
I have seen this and this and this.Tasty barbecue in different styles that they can eat in Atlanta, or along the way. The gold standard is very tasty and very cheap, but my parents are willing to pay if it is very tasty.
Places to buy local food specialities or crafts -- my childhood memories of visiting Virginia Beach are full of going to store after store after store with my mom, who was trying to buy the proper slow-cured Virginia ham that she never found.
Particularly enormous flea markets. My parents love flea markets, the older and more junk-filled with $1 rummage bins, the better.
A tour that emphasizes the horrors of the American plantation system, both as counter-programming to any OH LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS BOUGHT WITH HUMAN SUFFERING nonsense they may end up seeing, and also to improve my parents' understanding of American history.* I know about the Civil Rights History Museum/King Historical District in Atlanta, but I'm not sure that'll work for my prickly, reactionary father who has a strong negative reaction towards the standard narrative about the civil rights movement/organized religion of any kind.
* My parents have a general understanding of American history, but have a lot of the anti-blackness found in first-gen Chinese-Americans. My father used to say things like, "What has Martin Luther King ever done for America, except say 'I have a dream?'" He stopped saying that particular bit of bullshit after watching a half-movie, half-documentary on Jim Crow, and also recently said one (1) backhandedly complimentary thing about Obama, so I guess he's not completely hopeless?
One of my favorite BBQ places in the ATL is Smoke Ring, which is downtown not terribly far from things they are already going to do. Another local favorite is Fox Brothers (Little Five Points/Inman Park/Candler Park area).
For History Things, the Atlanta History Center might fit the bill. I can't think of anywhere that *in particular* covers the horrors of slavery -- there are the three historic homes in Roswell, Ga - Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, and Smith Plantation -- in my long experience with them, they don't talk about slavery so much as they do the families that lived in the houses. But the houses are very, very cool - Barrington in particular is great.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2017
For History Things, the Atlanta History Center might fit the bill. I can't think of anywhere that *in particular* covers the horrors of slavery -- there are the three historic homes in Roswell, Ga - Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, and Smith Plantation -- in my long experience with them, they don't talk about slavery so much as they do the families that lived in the houses. But the houses are very, very cool - Barrington in particular is great.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2017
If they're travelling through North Carolina, tell them to hit up the BBQ there. It's my fav. type and I'm not just biased because I come from there.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2017
There is a large indoor, air conditioned flea market right on I-95 at exit 110 in Virginia, IIRC. It's near exit 110 if not right at it. Might only be open on weekends though. If it's open when you drive by it's a viable stop for somebody that likes flea markets. It would be about 5ish hours from Philly, depending on traffic.
posted by COD at 9:53 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by COD at 9:53 AM on May 31, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks, Ms. Moonlight! Any particular places that you'd recommend? It's fine if they're not within a 45 minute drive from the interstate and on a back road.
posted by joyceanmachine at 9:53 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by joyceanmachine at 9:53 AM on May 31, 2017
Along with Ms. Moonlight, I too recommend NC bbq, but there are three styles: eastern NC (vinegar-based sauce), Lexington NC style, and western NC (tomato-based sauce). Here's a link from Roadfood dot com to choose NC bar-b-q. Enjoy!
posted by MovableBookLady at 12:34 PM on May 31, 2017
posted by MovableBookLady at 12:34 PM on May 31, 2017
Seconding Mary Mac's in Atlanta. Parking can be difficult if they go at peak times.
For barbecue, I like Fat Matt's or Daddy D'z.
For crazy flea markets very near Atlanta, some of the places in Chamblee should fit the bill, although I can never remember the names of these places.
posted by madcaptenor at 12:56 PM on May 31, 2017
For barbecue, I like Fat Matt's or Daddy D'z.
For crazy flea markets very near Atlanta, some of the places in Chamblee should fit the bill, although I can never remember the names of these places.
posted by madcaptenor at 12:56 PM on May 31, 2017
Downtown, immediately adjacent to CNN and the Coke museum, you have Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium, which are nice. There's also the College Football Hall of Fame and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, neither of which I've been to.
You should probably also go to the Varsity when in Atlanta, and to a Waffle House somewhere along the way.
There's a BMW factory between Spartanburg and Greenville in South Carolina, if they're interested in that at all.
Note: from my recollections there are no on-ramps for I-75/85 in the city of Atlanta. It's possible that they exist, but the signs may be hidden behind trees or something. Possibly a good maps smartphone app may actually allow you to get back on the highway; I always had trouble doing this.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:25 PM on May 31, 2017
You should probably also go to the Varsity when in Atlanta, and to a Waffle House somewhere along the way.
There's a BMW factory between Spartanburg and Greenville in South Carolina, if they're interested in that at all.
Note: from my recollections there are no on-ramps for I-75/85 in the city of Atlanta. It's possible that they exist, but the signs may be hidden behind trees or something. Possibly a good maps smartphone app may actually allow you to get back on the highway; I always had trouble doing this.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:25 PM on May 31, 2017
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is a phenomenal museum and it made me, a jerk, cry. I also learned a LOT about the civil rights era that gave me much greater appreciation for the struggle. For example, they have an "interactive lunch counter" where you can sit with headphones and be immersed in racial slurs and hatred faced by the people who participated in sit-ins. It's deeply affecting. I'd go so far as to call it the best (living) history museum to which I have ever been.
BBQ in the city of Atlanta at the places mentioned is going to be overpriced. I only eat Q when I'm on the road because I refuse to pay $16 for a $3 pulled pork sandwich.
It's not a flea market and it's only one weekend per month, but Scott Antiques Market, specifically the south building's outdoor area, is a delight. Absolutely huge- and deals can be scored.
The Georgia Aquarium is pretty great. If either of your parents ever dreamt of swimming with belugas or whale sharks, that can be arranged. I did the whale shark tank for work and it was pure magic.
If they like nice strolls, the eastside trail of the Beltline is a delight. They can hit up 3 gourmet food markets/halls along the way: Krog Street Market, Irwin Street Market, and Ponce City Market, with Ponce being the big fancy one.
Also nice: the High Museum, Atlanta Botanical Garden, & Margaret Mitchell House.
posted by TheGoldenOne at 10:53 PM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
BBQ in the city of Atlanta at the places mentioned is going to be overpriced. I only eat Q when I'm on the road because I refuse to pay $16 for a $3 pulled pork sandwich.
It's not a flea market and it's only one weekend per month, but Scott Antiques Market, specifically the south building's outdoor area, is a delight. Absolutely huge- and deals can be scored.
The Georgia Aquarium is pretty great. If either of your parents ever dreamt of swimming with belugas or whale sharks, that can be arranged. I did the whale shark tank for work and it was pure magic.
If they like nice strolls, the eastside trail of the Beltline is a delight. They can hit up 3 gourmet food markets/halls along the way: Krog Street Market, Irwin Street Market, and Ponce City Market, with Ponce being the big fancy one.
Also nice: the High Museum, Atlanta Botanical Garden, & Margaret Mitchell House.
posted by TheGoldenOne at 10:53 PM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
If they're not familiar with Atlanta, please bring a GPS. They will almost certainly still get lost even with one. It's a notoriously hard city to get around and nothing about the street or freeway system makes any sense.
posted by bongo_x at 11:21 PM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bongo_x at 11:21 PM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Assuming they follow the route that Google maps suggest, it won't be too far for them to go out of the way to Prissy Polly's (http://www.prissypollys.com/), which I think is the best BBQ in the area.
A couple of caveats:
1) They will likely be the only POC in the restaurant. When we go in, my wife is usually the only POC in the room and we are always the only mixed race table. It's the diverse area, but Prissy Polly's just isn't. But we've never gotten anything but a smile and welcome, and they catered our same-sex interracial wedding without blinking. But I wanted to put that out there.
2) There is a lot of Jesus in the room; lots of little signs and stickers and stuff like this. I only mention this because you mentioned that your dad reacts to organized religion. Most of it is on the funny side and not really proselytizing; I'm not churched and I'm happy to eat there. But YMMV.
That being said, the food is amazing, and cheap, and they are the only joint in the area (to my knowledge) that serve both western and eastern style BBQ, meaning that your folks would get the most cultural experience for their buck. They want both their pork and their slaw half and half (which gets them half western and half eastern style BBQ and half sweet slaw and half spicy) [or each of them could just get one style and share, but each plate being half and half is less messy]). The sweet tea is perfect - not too sweet but definitely sweet - and I'm told that the hush puppies are amazing, though I react to gluten and cannot eat them, which makes me very sad.
posted by joycehealy at 10:30 AM on June 1, 2017
A couple of caveats:
1) They will likely be the only POC in the restaurant. When we go in, my wife is usually the only POC in the room and we are always the only mixed race table. It's the diverse area, but Prissy Polly's just isn't. But we've never gotten anything but a smile and welcome, and they catered our same-sex interracial wedding without blinking. But I wanted to put that out there.
2) There is a lot of Jesus in the room; lots of little signs and stickers and stuff like this. I only mention this because you mentioned that your dad reacts to organized religion. Most of it is on the funny side and not really proselytizing; I'm not churched and I'm happy to eat there. But YMMV.
That being said, the food is amazing, and cheap, and they are the only joint in the area (to my knowledge) that serve both western and eastern style BBQ, meaning that your folks would get the most cultural experience for their buck. They want both their pork and their slaw half and half (which gets them half western and half eastern style BBQ and half sweet slaw and half spicy) [or each of them could just get one style and share, but each plate being half and half is less messy]). The sweet tea is perfect - not too sweet but definitely sweet - and I'm told that the hush puppies are amazing, though I react to gluten and cannot eat them, which makes me very sad.
posted by joycehealy at 10:30 AM on June 1, 2017
I would repeat just about everything joycehealy says (except the part about western-style barbecue availability) about Barbecue Center in Lexington, NC. I'm a native of that area and have tried lots of places and that's my favorite, though I suppose I'll have to try Prissy Polly's next time I'm in the area!
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:45 AM on June 1, 2017
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:45 AM on June 1, 2017
Lived in Atlanta the last 6 years.
Seconding Fat Matt's for BBQ.
Atlanta's a cosmopolitan area that has recently started a growth spurt and the most interesting places--at least for a resident--are not necc. those that speak to history (the antebellum South). Though... there's the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library if you're into that. There are often speakers, and you might run into still-going-strong Jimmy.
The Georgia Aquarium is well-known though expensive. (Ok, someone else mentioned too.)
Seconding the Beltline Trail. Also we have nice parks: Piedmont Park, the Old 4th Ward Park (near the Ponce City Market off the Beltline). I've taken out of town visitors to Krog Bar at the end of the Beltline for tapas. Atlantic Station is a little too typical of an outdoor American mall for some. A little further afield one can climb Stone Mountain.
The Buford Highway offers some fantastic ethnic eats. The Buford International Farmer's Market is worth checking out. Further up north in Duluth is a relaxing Korean sauna-spa called Jeju.
posted by Schmucko at 8:17 PM on June 1, 2017
Seconding Fat Matt's for BBQ.
Atlanta's a cosmopolitan area that has recently started a growth spurt and the most interesting places--at least for a resident--are not necc. those that speak to history (the antebellum South). Though... there's the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library if you're into that. There are often speakers, and you might run into still-going-strong Jimmy.
The Georgia Aquarium is well-known though expensive. (Ok, someone else mentioned too.)
Seconding the Beltline Trail. Also we have nice parks: Piedmont Park, the Old 4th Ward Park (near the Ponce City Market off the Beltline). I've taken out of town visitors to Krog Bar at the end of the Beltline for tapas. Atlantic Station is a little too typical of an outdoor American mall for some. A little further afield one can climb Stone Mountain.
The Buford Highway offers some fantastic ethnic eats. The Buford International Farmer's Market is worth checking out. Further up north in Duluth is a relaxing Korean sauna-spa called Jeju.
posted by Schmucko at 8:17 PM on June 1, 2017
The Buford International Farmer's Market is worth checking out
It's called the Buford Highway Farmer's Market. I only mention it to reduce confusion.
Also, to the OP: in Atlanta we don't know what a farmer's market is. This is a large grocery store at which you will see no farmers. But you will see a very wide array of produce and foods from around the world. I chose my house based on the fact that it's the closest large place to buy food.
posted by madcaptenor at 1:52 PM on June 2, 2017
It's called the Buford Highway Farmer's Market. I only mention it to reduce confusion.
Also, to the OP: in Atlanta we don't know what a farmer's market is. This is a large grocery store at which you will see no farmers. But you will see a very wide array of produce and foods from around the world. I chose my house based on the fact that it's the closest large place to buy food.
posted by madcaptenor at 1:52 PM on June 2, 2017
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posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:18 AM on May 31, 2017