Atlanta is a city of layered reputation — Black excellence, intellectual vibrancy, and unapologetic indulgence. Over the course of 72 hours, I — former Atlanta resident, current Detroit-based journalist — explored its cultural roots, storytelling soul, and culinary treasures. If you’re looking to experience Atlanta like a well-connected freelancer with a taste for meaningful moments and a dash of the unexpected, here’s where to go and what to spend onOver the course of three days, I revisited old haunts, rekindled sacred connections, and reminded myself why Atlanta still holds a piece of my becoming. Here’s how it unfolded.

DAY 1: Sisterhood, Wings & a Late-Night Spark

Where I Stayed:I landed softly at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Dunwoody — a peaceful, polished retreat just outside the city. At $150 a night with a real breakfast and real hospitality, it offered a reset I didn’t know I needed.

First Gesture:I made a quiet pilgrimage to Hall’s Atlanta Wholesale for fresh-cut flowers — carnations, lilies, orchids — gifts for the brilliant women I came to see. Flowers say what words sometimes can’t: “You matter. You’re seen.”

Evening at Spelman: Spelman College is more than my alma mater. It’s hallowed ground. I had the honor of speaking to students at a lecture hosted by The Blueprint and Dr. Cocoa Williams. We talked craft, culture, and why storytelling still saves lives. That room was electric — with Black brilliance, sharp questions, and wide-open futures.

Dinner & More: Wings at Hungry AF with my mentee Journey Powell turned into laughter, big questions, and the kind of conversation that anchors you. Later, an old flame from my Spelman days — a Morehouse man turned local celeb — texted. We didn’t pretend it was just “catching up.” Some connections simmer until they’re ready. That night ended in warmth and memory.

DAY 2: Newsrooms & Cultural Riches

The Atlanta Voice: I started my day with a visit to The Atlanta Voice, a newspaper that’s been the soul of Black Atlanta for nearly 60 years. Their legacy is deep — surviving unrest, transitions, and the shift to digital with integrity intact.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Next stop: the AJC, where I had lunch with entertainment editor Chris Daniels. Over Sweetgreens and straight talk, we dove into journalism, cultural responsibility, and the weight of being Black in predominantly white institutions. The newsroom buzzed with energy — and representation. It reminded me why we still show up, still write.

Art Break: The High Museum gave me something else entirely. In curated corners, Black artists stood tall next to European masters — not as side notes, but as centerpieces. I lingered with work by Sam Nhlengethwa and Faith Ringgold. I left full.

Dinner: Parkwoods Restaurant in Dunwoody delivered crispy fried chicken, savory greens, and mac & cheese with cornbread that tasted like love. I shared the meal with my dear friend Nicole Brown, and we swapped stories like soul sisters do.

DAY 3: Soft Mornings & Sacred Reunions

Botanical Reset: By Friday, I needed softness. The Atlanta Botanical Garden was my sanctuary. Orchids bloomed like they had something to prove. I wandered, breathed deep, and let nature do its quiet work.

Wellness Stop: At the FORTH Hotel’s spa, the steam room whispered: rest. I sat in eucalyptus mist and silence, letting clarity rise to the surface. Sometimes, the most radical thing a Black woman can do is slow down.

Final Toasts: Dinner with longtime friends Sonya Jenkins and Paula Stokes closed the loop. We laughed, reminisced, dreamed out loud. In their presence, I was reminded: Atlanta births storytellers — and keeps them grounded.

Departure Thoughts: I came looking for storylines. I left with soul. Atlanta gave me reflection, reconnection, and a little romance. But most of all, it reminded me that Black women deserve spaces where they’re seen, heard, and held — by cities, by sisterhood, and by themselves.