Welcome to Atlanta! Bright lights, big city or small town living? There's a decades long debate in Atlanta on whether you're ITP or (gasp!) OTP. I'm an OTP girl myself. ITP (inside the perimeter), refers to the city of Atlanta outlined by Interstate 285, which forms a loop around the city. OTP (outside the perimeter) is everything that falls outside of that loop.

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One of the great things about our city is there is always something happening for everyone. There is always a festival, concert, exhibit, restaurant-something new and exciting happening here! When I began this blog I anticipated writing about all my favorite ITP and OTP spots. But as I went through my pictures I realized that as much as I love the city, OTP is where I spend my time. OTP gets a bad rap sometimes. Folks think it's "country", but I think it's a great place to be. For me, with the city only 30 minutes away, it's the best of both worlds. So if you're visiting our amazing city and feel like taking a little drive, here are a few of my favorite places to be. 

Panola Shoals Trailhead

Hop on this trail from any of it's 18 starting points, and you'll get a different experience each time. Located in the Decatur area, there are 33 miles of trail all together, full of river views, massive rocks, and wildlife. You can run, bike, or walk the trial, children and pet friendly too. 

Marietta Square

Located in Marietta, the Historical Marietta Square has something for all ages. The Square features over 30 restaurants with a variety of cuisines. Feel like a little shopping? The square features boutiques, a magic shop, cigar shop, an art gallery, as well as vintage shops. The Square is also home to the Gone With The Wind Museum. The kids will have a blast playing on the train engine playground in Glover Park or throwing penny wishes into the Square's fountain. Catch the Farmer's Market every Saturday and Sunday, year round. Bonus: there is a ton of free parking in the area.

High Falls State Park

Down Interstate 75 South, you'll find this gem of a place. In the early 19th century this land was a booming industrial town complete with a grist mill, cotton gin, and a blacksmith shop. You can still see some of the old buildings while out exploring. Things to do: kayak and canoe rentals, fishing, camping, mini golf, and hiking trials. Day admission is $5, camping sites start around $25 per night. Close by you'll also find Indian Springs State Park. Offers many of the same activities, but a beautiful park in it’s own right. 

Ye Olde Dunwoody Tavern

Looking for something for some lively night life? Stop by the Dunwoody Tavern located in Dunwoody, just outside the perimeter. I've never not had a good time here. An English pub that serves over 16 English and European beers, and local craft beers. Hungry? Local favorites include: Bangers & Mash, The Dunwoody Doozie, and Fish-n-Chips. Team trivia nights and live music, fun for all 21 and up age demographics. Fun fact: once upon a time I was a bartender for this restaurant group at the Sandy Springs location. 

Photos courtesy of: DunwoodyRestaurantGroup.com

Southern Belle Farm

Okay, this may be a little on the country side, situated in McDonough. But the whole family will enjoy visiting the farm. It was hard for me to even narrow down my picture selection for this part. I visited a few weeks ago and got to pet a baby lamb. Best. Day. Ever. 

Year round activities: Belle's farm, jumping pillow, cow train, hay ride, and pedal go-karts. You can pick fresh strawberries in the spring, and blackberries and blueberries in the summer. Make sure you order a strawberry shortcake with homemade ice cream in the spring. It's amazing. Visit in the fall and there's a corn cannon, flower picking, corn maze, pumpkin patch, and campfires. You can even purchase s'mores and hot dog kits for few bucks. At Christmas time you can pick a fresh cut Fraser Fir tree, visit with Santa, have a cup of hot apple cider, or take home a selection of homemade baked goods.

If you're visiting Atlanta, or maybe already live her, I encourage you to venture out of the ITP and visit some of these spots. You'll be glad you did!

Looking to move OTP? Check out these stellar Atlanta OTP Camden communities. 

Camden Stockbridge, Camden Peachtree City, Camden Shiloh, and Camden Deerfield