Page Comparison

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Metro Cafe Diner is a 24 hour diner with a book sized menu serving a little bit of everything.  It's not a fancy place, but prices are reasonable and great for a quick affordable meal within walking distance of the hotel.  Of course, normal downtown safety guidelines apply (walk with a group and be vigilant) if you want to go here (or anywhere) after dark.  Located in the Peachtree Center Mall, but with its own streetside entrance on International Boulevard. 

Agatha's, also located in the Peachtree Center Mall complex,  is a mystery dinner theater that has been around for decades.  Expect good comic entertainment along with a good meal, and all within a block of the convention hotel.  Ticket prices are around $62 to $65, but keep in mind that covers both dinner and the show.  Be sure to make reservations in advance!

Tourist Attractions:

The world's largest aquarium with more than 8.5-million-US-gallon (32,000 m³) of marine and fresh water housing more than 120,000 animals of 500 different species including four young whale sharks, four beluga whales, eleven Bottlenose dolphins, three Great hammerhead sharks, and four manta rays. Is about a half mile walk from the Dome-GWCC-Philips Arena-CNN Marta station.

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There's a free shuttle service from Marta to get to and from the stadium. "The Braves Shuttle will depart from the Underground Atlanta/Steve Polk Plaza beginning 90 minutes before each game and will run every 15 minutes throughout the game until one hour after the final out. The shuttle will return to the Underground Atlanta/Steve Polk Plaza up to the seventh inning.  After the seventh inning, the shuttle will return riders to the Forsyth St. entrance of the Five Points MARTA Station.  The shuttle is free when you transfer from any MARTA Bus or rail station with a valid Breeze Card."

Trips Ideas Before or After the Conference

Hiking:

"Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville is the place for hiking and waterfalls.  Amicalola is a 729 foot falls, the tallest in the southeast.  There's a beautiful lodge at the top of the mountain right next to the falls, with access to many hiking trails of various difficulties, including the approach to the Appalachian Trail.  While the nearest town is about fifteen miles away, that gives you a sense of how back-to-nature you will be, and the Lodge does have an all-you-care-to-eat restaurant that serves three meals a day.
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Nearby destinations for additional exploration include downtown Dawsonville, Dahlonega, and Ellijay, the farthest of which is 20 miles from the lodge.  For the really adventuresome, you can spend a night at the Hike Inn on the Amicalola park property, which you reach via a five mile hike through the woods.  This is a really refreshing back-to-nature experience where you stay in a little rustic camp with a bunkhouse, bathhouse, kitchen, and activity center.  There's power, running water, and indoor composting toilets, but it's still quite different from any hotel or motel.

(Note: make reservations early, particularly if you want to go to the Hike Inn, as spaces can fill up fast in the summer.)

Sight Seeing:

In Savannah, Georgia, History, architecture, food, festivities, nature all come together, offering a little something for everyone.  Spend a day just walking around the historic district and taking in the sites, eventually making your down the the riverfront area and it's array of shops and restaurants.  There are several historic homes that you can tour, horse-and-buggy rides, bus tours, ghost tours, etc.  Lots of local restaurants, including Paula Deen's famous Lady and Sons (no reservations accepted, just day-of table requests taken at the door, so be sure to stop by there and put in your request before you set off to see the rest of the city.)  Off the beaten path are the Oatland Island Wildlife Center, Fort Pulaski, and a whole host of activities on Tybee Island, including a small marine life museum and a lighthouse that you can tour.  Closer inland, check out Puppet People in Thunderbolt, who might be putting on their unique all-ages show about the history of Savannah (check their schedule at www.puppetpeople.com for more information.)

Locals

Stuart "Stu" Freeman, Georgia Tech

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Clay "Clay" Fenlason, Georgia Tech

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