Sightseeing around the Atlanta Dogwood Festival

If you are planning to take MARTA to the Dogwood Festival or want to do some car-free sightseeing before or after attending festival events, there are a few attractions nearby worth checking out.  Whether you are walking, biking or up for riding a bus, see below for some sightseeing options.

1. Margaret Mitchell House and Museum
   Margaret Mitchell is famous for writing Gone With the Wind.  Her apartment was preserved and is located next to the Midtown station.  If you are walking to the festival from the Midtown station, you will pass it at the intersection of 10th Street and Crescent Avenue.  Admission is free during the festival on April 16 and 17.  If you are coming from the festival, just head toward the city on 10th Street, which is at the southern edge of the park.
2. Atlanta Botanical Garden
   Next to Piedmont Park in the north is the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  You can reach the entrance through the park near the parking garage and tennis courts.  Up the hill is the admissions area, or use the elevator in the parking garage for quick access.  The garden features year-round tropical and orchid gardens.
3. Fox Theatre
   The historic Fox Theatre is next to the North Avenue station, one stop away from Midtown.  Those on foot coming to or from the festival can head south on Peachtree Street (toward Taco Mac) and walk about 10 minutes. Or, get on bus 110 at any bus stop along Peachtree Street's southbound lane. In addition to hosting musicals and other performances, you can take a tour of this former Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque at 10 and 11 a.m. on Saturday during the festival.
4. Woodruff Arts Center
   One station away from Midtown in the other direction is the Arts Center where you'll find the High Museum of Art, Alliance Theatre and Symphony Hall.  Take the train, walk up Peachtree to 15th Street or get on bus 110 on Peachtree along the northbound lane. For those already at the festival, take the 14th Street exit out of the park (near the sports fields and modern playground) for a shorter walk.  Walk up 14th Street to Peachtree Street and turn right.
5. Virginia Highland
   One neighborhood over from the festival is Virginia Highland, a highly walkable area with retail shops, bars, restaurants and music venues.  Bus 36 departs from the Midtown Station and runs alongside the park on 10th Street goes to the center of the Virginia Highland neighborhood.  Exit the bus at Virginia Avenue and N. Highland, near Murphy's restaurant and Yeah Burger.  Those biking or walk should exit the park by Park Tavern and go up Virginia Avenue, which is across from the Grady High School football stadium.

Remember, each one-way trip is $2 and you can only reload Breeze Cards, not Breeze tickets. You can also purchase a one-day pass for $8 and have unlimited bus and train rides.  You can use cash on buses, but you won't receive a transfer to the train.