Atlanta Beltline - an AOC first (Eastside Trail)

Join us on an Urban Hike on the only open section of the new Atlanta Beltline. This is the first AOC event on the new Atlanta Beltline and the Beltline is really cool and very scenic. There is lots to see along the way including the Ansley Golf Club, Piedmont Park, Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park. There are works of art displayed all along the Beltline (probably 30 of them). It's truly unlike anything we've seen before. We will slow down as we reach them but won't stop at every single one.

We will hike (walk) the Atlanta Beltline starting near the Lindbergh Center MARTA station down to the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station. We will stop at Irwin Street Market which is about 3/4 of the way through the hike. We'll spend about 45 minutes here relaxing and eating with friends - maybe a few minutes longer if it's busy. There are several different options that are all under one roof. You can have a cup of coffee at Funky Monkey, a burrito at Bell Street Burritos, some ice cream at Jakes or soup and sandwich at Picnic. Afterwards we'll complete our hike to the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station. We will hop on MARTA there and take it back to Lindbergh Center where our cars are parked. Our event ends when we depart on MARTA from the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station. A change of trains is necessary to get back to Lindbergh Center. Stick with me (Lauren) and I'll get you back to Lindbergh Center. Don't follow Joyce.  :)

Total hiking/walking distance is about 7 miles. This is not a beginner's event. Please make sure you are able to keep a steady pace with us for almost 7 miles. If you are not at Five Guys at 10:00am sharp then you will be left. Please allow youself enough time to park at the MARTA station and get over to Five Guys.

Note:  About 20% of the hike will be on sidewalks along the road, 20% will be on interim use hiking trails (large gravel) and the other 60% will be on a hard paved surface.  

From the website: A combination of multi-use trail and linear greenspace, the Eastside Trail is the first finished section of the Atlanta BeltLine trail in the old rail corridor. The Eastside Trail, which was funded by a combination of public and private philanthropic sources, runs from the tip of Piedmont Park to Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward.

Please be aware that we must stick together as a group. If you desire to do your own thing or leave before we reach the Inman Park/Reynoldstown MARTA station as a group, this is not the event for you.

More info on the Atlanta Beltline here:

http://beltline.org/trails/eastside-trail/

Info on Irwin Street Market:

http://www.irwinstreetmarket.com/?cat=10

You will need $3.50 for the return trip on MARTA ($2.50 if you have a Breeze card you can reload) as well as money for Irwin Street Market. Parking at the MARTA station is free if you bring your ticket with you and get it validated inside the MARTA station at Lindbergh - this is your responsibility. You can only validate inside the MARTA station and will do this upon your return to the Lindbergh Station. If you don't get your parking validated then the parking fee is $8 when you leave the parking lot. We will meet about a block from the MARTA station at a Five Guys on Main St. Please familiarize yourself with the location and directions before you head out.

** My time estimate is just that - an estimate. I do not expect to arrive back at Lindbergh any later than 3:30. It should be much earlier than that. **

You should park in one of the three parking decks for the Lindbergh Center MARTA station. Then meet us in front of Five Guys (558 Main Street Northeast Atlanta, GA 30324) which is about a block Southeast of the Lindbergh MARTA station.

Open maps.google.com and paste the bold line below in to the search bar. Then chose Satelite View. It will give you a bird's eye view of where to meet.

Lat/Lon for Five Guys: 33.82258, -84.36881