From street art to culinary gems, this neighborhood is worth more than a long layover
Flying High: 10 Essential Stops in the ATL Airport District

The world is an art museum if you know where to look. Head to downtown College Park, where local and nationally known artists have created new works as part of the College Park Main Street Murals. And at The Real Milk & Honey (a worthy stop for a down-home Southern breakfast), you can see a dynamic mural by Drew Borders, a Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) grad known for her anime-inspired style, that shows a Black woman with bold jewelry and star-studded hair. Just steps away, check out the mural by artist Quake Romello, better known simply as Quake. The illustrator and muralist says the work, depicting a trio of children playing with child-sized houses, is dedicated to his childhood in College Park and is meant to “represent the unification of the community for generations to come.” And you can spend time wandering further afield to discover more works, by Ashley Bella, John W. Christian and Yoyo Ferro.

You’ve heard of a worry jar—where you write down your fears and let go of them in a convenient receptacle—but have you ever heard of a worry rock? See one in person, hidden in plain sight outside of the Hapeville Depot Museum. Here’s the history: In 1939, the massive three-foot-by-six-foot granite slab was placed in downtown Hapeville as an innovative promotional stunt (think of it as the Dirty Thirties’ equivalent of trying to go viral). Sure enough, the rock drew a crowd, and hordes of curious road trippers made a pitstop in the south Atlanta town to have their photos taken while sitting on the rock. Now, only in-the-know visitors find it, but why not make a detour to unload your cares?

If you’re into great food with a side of spooky, The Historic Green Manor Restaurant deserves a place on your Atlanta bucket list. Roll up to the stately 19th-century Union City mansion, and you might think you’re in for a history lesson. Instead, the daily buffet has something for just about every taste and preference, with favorites including BBQ ribs, perfectly crisp fried chicken, hushpuppies, candied yams, Southern-style turnip greens, strawberry shortcake and—of course—Georgia peach cobbler. For a hint of the macabre, ask an employee to share stories about the property’s paranormal past. Rumor has it that Florence Westbrook, the spinster sister-in-law of the home’s first owner (Union City’s first mayor, Drewry Carmichael), now haunts the home-turned-eatery. She died tragically on the property sometime before World War One, and now staff recount stories of inexplicably tripped burglar alarms, apparitions of a strange woman, and items moved by no human hand.  It gives a whole new meaning to the concept of “fine food and spirits.”

Soak up some nature on the Phoenix Trail, a nearly 2-mile greenway in the shadow of the world’s most traveled airport. The scenic, multi-use rail-trail was formerly a CSX railway corridor, but it’s been repurposed to provide outdoor space for those looking to stretch their legs in a former industrial area. It stretches from College Park’s downtown hotel hub to W. Point Avenue (passing through a tunnel under the busy I-85 along the way). Bonus: Take a leisurely stroll, and you’re likely to catch a glimpse of planes taking off or landing, making it one of the area’s best spots for aviation enthusiasts.

If you’ve ever wanted to know everything about Delta Air Lines’ 100-year history, the Delta Flight Museum is the place to get the scoop. Opened in 1995, the 68,000-square-foot museum, housed in renovated 1940s hangars on the Delta headquarters campus, invites aviation enthusiasts to discover the history of flight and how Delta has grown from a handful of planes for crop dusting into one of the world’s largest airlines. Inside, visitors can see plenty of vintage aircraft plus relics such as the meal service setups of yesteryear, flight attendants’ uniforms through the decades, and more. Younger visitors will love the Aviation Adventure area, complete with M-2 propeller aircraft model for kids to climb inside (it’s too small for most adults). You can even tour a decommissioned full-size Boeing 747 on the grounds—one of many fun photo ops throughout. Renovated in 2025, the space now features a massive (13 feet tall by 99 feet long) mural by Savannah College of Art and Design student Jennifer Wee with the motto “Keep Climbing.” Want to take the experience to the next level? Book a pilot training session in the full-motion Boeing 737-200 flight simulator.

Have a brush with Atlanta’s storied railway history (the city was originally called “Terminus” because it grew up at the end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad Line) at the Hapeville Depot Museum and Visitor Center. Housed in one of the state’s oldest standing train depots (built in 1890) the museum includes dynamic exhibits about the origins of Hapeville, the area’s ties to the Civil Rights movement, plus railroad and aviation history in the area. The community space isn’t just focused on the past: a robust calendar of programming includes academic lectures, installations by contemporary artists and hands-on workshops. The museum is always free to visit and guided tours are available. Have questions about what to do while you’re in town? The visitor center staff is on hand to share a few insider tips and local recommendations.

Brunch culture thrives in Atlanta at large, but especially in the District. Tuck in for an over-the-top version with a side of hip hop at Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles in College Park. Founded by Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Ne-Yo, celebrity chef Crystal Smith, and Karlie Redd of VHI’s Love n’ Hip Hop, the restaurant may have been inspired by the brunch favorite chicken and waffles, but it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with hours until 1 a.m. on weekends). The walls are adorned with platinum records by homegrown Atlanta stars including Ne-Yo, Usher and Ludacris. Don’t miss a popular twist on the classic with red velvet waffles topped with tender buttermilk-fried chicken, lemon pepper-drenched chicken wings (an Atlanta signature), catfish n’ chips and “royal treatment’ mac n’ cheese with a fried lobster tail. The restaurant also has a full bar and a host of creative cocktails, so it’s a worthy stop for any time of day.

At Airport View Restaurant in Hapeville, the name really says it all. Tuck in for lunch (open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only on weekdays) at this cafeteria-style eatery, and you’ll not only be treated to down-home dishes like blackened fish, melt-in-your-mouth Southern fried chicken, collard greens, green beans and mashed potatoes, but you’ll be able to watch planes take off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Finish the meal with a homemade seasonal fruit cobbler that’s as good as grandma made. If you’re planning an aviation-themed tour of the area, this quaint restaurant is a must-stop spot.

Whether you’re a spectator looking to admire the athleticism of others or a seasoned skateboarder with a bunch of tricks up your sleeve, Hapeville Skate Park is a worthy stop. The 8,000-square-foot skatepark, designed by Seattle-based Gridline Skateparks, features rails, bowls and plenty of smooth concrete ramps, making it ideal for beginners and challenging enough to entice experienced shredders. While you’re there, explore the wider Tom E. Morris Sport Complex, which features baseball and softball fields, picnic tables and a playground. It’s a great place to burn off some energy between meals or settle in to soak up the great outdoors.

Fuel up at this renovated gas station-turned-burger joint in historic College Park. Opened in 2002, the Brake Pad was the town’s first neighborhood pub. Since then, it’s established itself as a go-to spot for craveable hamburgers. You can’t go wrong with a patty melt topped with grilled onions and mushrooms on marble rye, the cheddar bacon burger or the smokestack: your choice of patty (beef, chicken, turkey or black bean) topped with brisket, barbecue sauce, swiss cheese and an onion ring. The walls of exposed brick are adorned with vintage gasoline signs, and a full bar keeps guests fueled for whatever the day of exploration holds.