Newcomer's Handbook for Atlanta

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable resource
Review: Metro Atlanta is a gigantic area, and gets bigger every day. I have lived in Atlanta my entire life, but recently, while entertaining out-of-town guests, I realized I didn't really know much about what there is to do in my hometown aside from my own familiar routine.

I thought maybe a guidebook would help me out, so I got the "Newcomer's Handbook for Atlanta." I found all kinds of things for my guests to do -- it became the running joke of their trip to say that someone should "consult the handbook."

Now that my guests are gone, I have discovered that I can't live without it. When my daughter gets bored, I look up the chapters on Cultural Life, Sports and Recreation or Quick Getaways.

I've been considering moving to another part of town lately, and have found the descriptions of each neighborhood very helpful. It gives me information on the school system, neighborhood associations, bus routes and zip codes and the individual neighborhood information is easily cross-referenced with more comprehensive chapters dealing with the schooling options and systems, churches, libraries, shopping areas and more.

As helpful as it is for me, a native Atlantan, I would recommend this handbook to anyone moving here. You may find that you know more about our city than your new Atlanta neighbors.

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable resource
Review: Metro Atlanta is a gigantic area, and gets bigger every day. I have lived in Atlanta my entire life, but recently, while entertaining out-of-town guests, I realized I didn't really know much about what there is to do in my hometown aside from my own familiar routine.

I thought maybe a guidebook would help me out, so I got the "Newcomer's Handbook for Atlanta." I found all kinds of things for my guests to do -- it became the running joke of their trip to say that someone should "consult the handbook."

Now that my guests are gone, I have discovered that I can't live without it. When my daughter gets bored, I look up the chapters on Cultural Life, Sports and Recreation or Quick Getaways.

I've been considering moving to another part of town lately, and have found the descriptions of each neighborhood very helpful. It gives me information on the school system, neighborhood associations, bus routes and zip codes and the individual neighborhood information is easily cross-referenced with more comprehensive chapters dealing with the schooling options and systems, churches, libraries, shopping areas and more.

As helpful as it is for me, a native Atlantan, I would recommend this handbook to anyone moving here. You may find that you know more about our city than your new Atlanta neighbors.

Rating:
Summary: Practical, user-friendly and complete (except for maps)
Review: Our family is contemplating a move to suburban Atlanta, and we know next to nothing about the area. Having just read this Newcomer's Handbook, I feel much more comfortable and knowledgable about the major neighborhoods, getting around town, the nuts and bolts of settling in (utilities, taxes, etc), and many of the cultural amenities the area has to offer. The only thing I would add is a map with enough detail to visualize what the author is talking about in her "Atlanta Address Locator" tips section. The one map in this handbook is woefully inadequate.