Guide to Atlanta Neighborhoods

The Atlanta area is spread out over a few counties. Though some of the neighborhoods are relatively close to each other, they can seem dramatically different. Prospective Atlanta residents would be remiss if they didn't do a little sleuthing around the city prior to putting down roots.

1. Southwest Atlanta College Park: Up and coming. If you've been to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, then you have probably traipsed through College Park. The area is a bit of a mixed bag. While much of the community is undergoing something of a cultural face-lift, other parts have been preserved in all their Atlanta glory. A largely African-American community, the area is rich with all sorts of hidden gems: largely overlooked and very underrated.

2. Sandy Springs Buckhead: The trendy hustle. Single Atlanta professionals will agree that Buckhead and its next-door neighbor, Sandy Springs, are the places to call home. Buzzing with celebrities, high rollers, upscale shoppers, college kids and everyone in between, this part of Atlanta is home to an increasingly diverse population. This is where the white collars and suburbanites come to play.

3. Midtown Atlanta: City slickers. Midtown Atlanta is the hub of the city. With Peachtree Street as its main thoroughfare, Midtown is the section where tourists head first. You can truly feel the pulse of the city while standing amidst the towers of concrete and steel. Buzzing with business and everything else, Midtown is fast becoming a haven for sophisticated international jet-setters.

4. Downtown Decatur: The artsy sophisticates. Bursting with venues filled with local celebrities, this east-of-Atlanta district is famous for its allure to the college community, artists and musicians. With a quaint and "beatnik" appeal, downtown Decatur embraces alfresco dining and leisurely window shopping. The eclectic mix of eateries and boutiques makes the residences in the area prime pieces of real estate.

5. West Cobb County: Sprawling mini-mall-opolis. Just northwest of Atlanta is West Cobb County, which includes Marietta, Smyrna and Powder Springs. Often overlooked as a stomping ground of choice, the neighborhoods comprising this area are like mini-cities. Ripe with real estate, burgeoning apartment communities and condominiums, the flavor of Atlanta's metropolis reaches all the way to the 'burbs; yet somehow it still manages to preserve its Southern charm.

By Ayanna G.