A new 1.2 million square foot international terminal, the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International terminal will open at Hartsfield Jackson airport in March 2012. The terminal adds 12 gates to the airport and will increase the number of restaurants and shopping boutiques at the airport. Healthier foods as well as gourmet dishes will also be offered in the new terminal. One of the biggest benefits to the new terminal is that international travelers who are arriving into Atlanta as their final destination do not have to recheck their baggage once they arrive. Once they go through immigration and customs, they can grab their baggage and leave the airport.

Appearance

The terminal’s use of glass metal accents make the terminal both aesthetically pleasing and memorable. The insulated glass in the terminal makes it naturally light and brighter, which can have a positive impact on visitors’ moods. Think about going from a darkened airplane into a brilliantly lit terminal during the daytime hours.

Environmentally Friendly

According to Hartsfield Jackson, the construction incorporates sustainability. For example, recycled materials and materials from the region are used. Special paints and carpets with reduced toxins and emissions are used in the terminal. The terminal filters the rain, too. Rainwater is collected on the roof and is filtered before becoming ground water, therefore it’s cleaner when it hits the ground. Among the list of sustainability efforts, the terminal will also have a reduced impact in the environment through reduced gas emission.

Parking

People who drive electric vehicles will find that they will be rewarded with closer parking spaces in the hourly parking spaces. Similar spaces are available for vans and carpoolers. The rates for the lots have not been released. In all, 3,500 parking spaces will be added in the two new decks, that will be built to handle the anticipated international traffic. Parking spaces for the new terminal include hourly, Gold Reserve, and Park and Ride spots. Travelers will have to register for the Gold Reserve parking spots. For most other passengers with long-term parking needs, the park and ride spots, a three-minute shuttle ride away from the airport, it their best bet. The free shuttles that take passengers to and from the airport and the parking lot are slated to be available 24 hours a day.

Remember that the new international terminal, terminal F serves only international flights. If you end up in the international terminal and you are taking a domestic flight, you can take a shuttle that will transport you to the domestic travel terminals.

Watch a video of Atlanta Airport’s New International Terminal.

Photo by This is Bossi

The Red Top mountain state park is short drive outside of Atlanta. You can get to the mountains in about an hour, and thankfully the drive is an easy one, if you take Interstate 75. Even if you are not an experienced hiker, Red Top Mountain might be an option for trying out your hiking shoes. The mountain has a paved trail, which is perfect for people who like to walk but are afraid of stumbling on the more natural trails. You might also choose to walk along the 4-mile trail that offers views of Lake Allatoona.

Turn your trip into a cozy get-away for two or a weekend adventure. Georgia Parks oversees 18 cottages on the mountain. Activities include miniature golf, tennis, and a cool Geocaching Adventure treasure hunt game that you can play with your GPS device. Take your bike, and ride along the Iron Hill Trail, a 4-mile ride in Red Top Mountain’s state park.  On mild-weather days, you can hang out at the beach, known to people who live in Acworth and other nearby towns. Venturing further north from the park, you can head out to Cartersville and see the Booth Western Art Museum. The Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic site is also located in Cartersville.

Two Urban licks is yet another restaurant that offers inspiring views of the city.  Eat on the patio for stunning views of the city. The restaurant is located in a remodeled warehouse. It is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. Once you find it, Two Urban Licks will become your go-to place to impress people who are in your life or those who you would like to become a part of your life in the near feature. Two Urban Licks has blue performances five nights a week, Tuesdays through Saturdays.

High above the city, and located in the Hilton Nikolai’s roof is a Four Diamond restaurant that also has an impressive view of the city. Enjoy a candle-lit dinner and bask in the city’s lights from the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows. The restaurant is designed in a mix of opulent French and Russian décor with elegant reds and blue hues.

Photo by Mattlem Mon

Whether you like it or not, the New Year is approaching. Why not begin to make your resolutions (and plans to keep them) now? Do you feel that you traveled enough in 2011, or do you regret spending so many beautiful, sunny days indoors.  Let’s not repeat the past. Make your travel resolutions now.

Perhaps there is a new attraction that you’d like to see. Make your plans now. If traveling isn’t in your budget, you need to make a plan to save the money that you need to get where you’d like to go. Maybe you need to increase your finances, because your budget is stretched too thin. A side job might be your answer.

Are you trying to travel to some of the great destinations outside of Atlanta? Are you thinking about getting together with your friends for a special weekend? Plan your road trip now. You can probably save money if you book hotel rooms far in advance.

An effective list of travel resolutions will go beyond listing your dreams. Put some power and thought into your list, by including details on how you will achieve your goals. These details can consist of getting that side job to pay for a trip, calling up your friends for a get-away, and making some reservations.

Photo by Lamenta3

Get there early and park in the parking garages for Underground Atlanta. The evening performances begin at 6 p.m. on the main stage, but some family activities will begin earlier, from 11 a.m. After the peach drops, you and your friends can visit the clubs and bars in Kenny’s Alley at the Underground. The venues will stay open until 4 a.m.

NYE in the ATL or New Year’s Eve in the ATL  hosted by a number of radio personalities, including Ramona Debreaux of V-103, Art Terrell of Kiss 103, Wanda Smith of V-103, Hank Stewart, a fabulous ATL spoken word artist, and Traci Steele of Hot 107.9. The event takes place at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, 2450 Galleria Parkway. After you “get your party on” settle in at the Renaissance for some rest.  There are packages available that include a Saturday night stay. If you are planning to stay longer, you can do that, too. The Diamond Hotel Package includes three nights (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights). Make your reservations right now if you plan to party in Atlanta for the New Year’s celebration. Even if you are not planning to attend any of the listed venues, make hotel reservations so that you can party.

Photo by Lee Coursey

From fine art museums to children’s museums, Atlanta celebrates the past, present and gives us a look into the future. Today’s museums are highly interactive. Although you might be warned to look at not touch some of the exhibits, you might find yourself participating in a play, smelling the flowers in gardens, or exploring a family farmhouse at these venues.

High Museum

The High Museum regularly features fine art exhibits from well-known artists including Warhol and Picasso. The museum also has films, lectures, and programs for teens. On Friday nights, the adults can gather and listen to the live jazz performances.  You can browse the permanent collections that range from 19^th Century through contemporary art.  Learn about African, folk, American, and European artwork at the High Museum.

Fernbank Museum

If you enjoy like dinosaurs, you’ll love the Fernbank Museum . This natural history museum exhibits some of the largest dinosaurs in the world. Learn about prehistoric Georgia, including the types of dinosaurs that roamed the state. You’ll learn about modern Georgia, too. Have you ever been curious about the happenings inside the Okefenokee Swamp? You can learn all about the swamp at the Fernbank.

Imagine It! Children’s Museum

At the Imagine It! Children’s Museum, children can explore fairy tales and learn about stories from around the world. They can learn how foods make it from the farm to the dinner table, and younger children can learn about colors, and crawl over bridges and explore a musical instrument and toys in an interactive area.  Some of the exhibits are seasonal, so check the museum’s website before you go if you want to know exactly what’s available. Because most children love productions, you should bring your children to see the Imaginators, a troupe of actors with performances that encourage audience participation.

Atlanta History Center

Simply put, the Atlanta History Center has so many exhibits, that you should plan to spend at least a few hours there. Fans of historical homes, can tour the Swan House and the Smith Family Farm. The 33-acre estate is home to the Centennial Olympic Games museum, a library, research center, and the Margaret Mitchell House, which is not located on the main grounds.  Both locals and tourists visit the Atlanta History Center year round for festivals and lectures.

Apex Museum

The Apex celebrates the lives of African Americans. The exhibits include inventions from black inventors, artifacts from slavery, and a replica of a 1923 drug store, which was a fixture in the black community in Atlanta. This museum plays homage to some of the amazing contributions that people of color have made to society.

Photo by Leo Charles

Public transportation in Atlanta is called the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).  MARTA uses a transit card to pay admission for buses and trains. You can purchase a Breeze card for $1. The cards can be purchased from vending machines at MARTA stations. Once you buy a card, you can load money onto it, and use the card to pay for your fare. You can pay $9 for a day pass which will entitle you to travel on Atlanta’s public transportation for a day. A two-day pass is available for $14, or you can purchase a monthly pass for $95. Children who are under 46” can ride for free.

Before embarking on your trip, visit the MARTA website and plot your route. From the website you can determine which buses or trains you must take to reach your destination. You’ll also learn times to take the transit system, which will help you get to your destination on time. Get to the stops early, so you won’t have to hurry to try to make it to an approaching train or bus. Using the Breeze card is easier than carrying cash or carrying paper tickets, because all of the passengers’ money is in one place.

MARTA buses run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. (5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays)  and the trains run from 5 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Many of the trains and buses run either every 15 minutes or every 20 minutes.

Photo of Westin Plaza by Brett Weinstein

Atlanta is teeming with romantic locations, and you have hundreds of options when deciding on the best place to propose. Some areas are romantic, and some places are simply fun. Be fairly certain that if you decide to propose publically, your significant other is likely to say yes.

Sundial Restaurant

You can propose with a gorgeous backdrop of the city surrounding you if you pop the question at the Sundial Restaurant. The revolving restaurant is on the upper level of the Westin Peachtree Plaza, and it is one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. Propose on an evening when a live jazz band is performing.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens 

Propose at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. During the winter months, the gardens are lit with holiday decorations. Proposing in the evening when the lights are out would be romantic. You can expect to see the lights from the end of November through the first week of January. In the spring or summer months, the gardens are full of fragrant flowers. Imagine proposing to the person that you love in gorgeous rose gardens.

Chateau Elan

Chateau Elan isn’t exactly in Atlanta, but it is worth the trip if you plan to ask your honey to spend the rest of his or her life with you. You can propose in the gazebo or anywhere else on the grounds.

Carriage Ride

Consider taking a horse and carriage ride in Atlanta, and pop the question during a ride through downtown Atlanta. Nottingham Shire & Carriage for Hire, LLC offers rides for 15 minutes to two hours.

Photo by Andrew Kalat

Don’t let the name Hotlanta fool you. Temperatures dip during the winter months in Atlanta. Visitors who plan to spend time in Atlanta during the winter months should be sure to come prepared for the cooler weather. It usually does not snow in Atlanta, but there have been ice storms in recent years. Here are some items that you should pack for your winter vacation in Atlanta.

Lightweight Sweaters

The temperature might be warmer during the day and cooler at night. Bring lightweight sweaters so you can layer them when it gets cooler. You can remove the sweaters if you get too warm.

Coat

On days when the temperature reaches 30 degrees Fahrenheit or below, you will be glad that you packed a warm winter coat. Visitors from northern states in the U.S. are likely describe the coolness in Atlanta as chilly. Visitors from Florida or Hawaii, for example  should think about packing or buying a coat that is heavier than one they would normally wear in their home states.

Dresses and Skirts for the Ladies

Dresses and skirts are appropriate to wear during the winter months, particularly if you add a pair of tights on the coldest nights. Don’t be afraid to wear a strapless dress to a holiday party or other function, especially if you will be parking in lot close to the function. You can get away with wearing a glamorous dress with a coat and checking the coat once you are inside the venue.

Leave the shorts home during the winter months. It’s rare to see locals wearing shorts from November through January. Pack jeans and slacks. It’s not unheard of to wear thermal underwear on some of the coldest days in Atlanta.

Since it doesn’t normally snow, you do not have to wear snow boots, but you might want to pack shoes with good tread. The pavement might be icy in the mornings, and you’ll want to have some shoes with a good grip. If you plan to go hiking or walking in the park, you should definitely pack your hiking boots. You’ll probably see a lot of ladies wearing fashionable boots and jeans.

Hats and Gloves

Gloves and a hat are optional during Atlanta’s more frigid days. You’ll probably feel more comfortable wearing gloves while driving a rental. Wearing a hat will keep you warmer, but if you don’t have the room to bring one, you probably won’t miss it. Check the weather before you embark on your winter vacation to Atlanta, just in case.

Photo By Mike Schinkel

If you are looking for a more unusual place to stay in Atlanta, consider one of the boutique hotels. Boutique hotels are usually a bit more personalized than some of the larger chains. A boutique hotel might have a particular theme based on its city or based on almost any other theme.

Midtown’s Hotel Indigo is one of my favorite boutique hotels in Atlanta, particularly for traveling with a pet. It’s one of the few boutique hotels that does not charge guests with pets. If you have an attention-seeking pet and you get hungry, you can easily walk to some of the restaurants, and possibly eat your meal on the patio with your pet. The Indigo is a perfect hotel for guests planning to attend performances at the Fox Theater. The theater is just a few steps away from the hotel. The Indigo has comfortable beds and the rooms are bright and cheerful. Ask for room on an upper level with a view of midtown.

The Mansion, located in Buckhead is a luxury boutique hotel with 127 rooms.  Because I am a fan with hotels with spas, I was thrilled to learn that the hotel has 29 Spa with massages, body treatments, and facials. I’m not alone in selecting the Mansion as a top boutique hotel in Atlanta. In 2010 it made the list of the Top 100 U.S. Hotels in Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

The Ellis hotel joins ranks of the five best boutique hotels in Atlanta. Located in a great area near the Georgia Aquarium, the Rialto theater, and the Coca-Cola Museum. The rooms have super-comfortable beds with pillow-top mattresses and the bathrooms  have granite countertops. You won’t want to get out of the shower when you feel the magic performed by the Kohler rain-shower head.

Visit the Glenn Hotel, and you’ll certainly want to return. It’s near Centennial Olympic Park, the CNN Center, and the Georgia Aquarium. The rooms have comfy ergonomic chairs and flat screen TVs. If you want to mingle or catch bit of fresh air, the rooftop bar has fabulous views of the city.

The Artmore Hotel, located in Midtown, is a restored 1924 building has rooms which include 37” televisions, Aveda products, refrigerators, and coffeemakers. Located near the art district, the hotel’s décor is natural and muted with earth tones with splashes of red. The bathrooms have rain showerheads and mini bars with snacks.