Hi friends!
I recently mentioned a little getaway to Atlanta over MLK Day weekend to see the Lion King at the fabulous Fox Theatre. Today, I’ll be sharing a few highlights from the trip!
I grew up in metro-Atlanta where I regularly attended shows at The Fox Theatre (the Nutcracker remains my all-time favorite). Built in the 1920’s as a home for the Atlanta Shriner’s Organization, this exquisite theater was created to mirror the temples of the Far East. Its walls will transport you back in time to an ancient mosque constructed of soaring turrets and domes with ornate gold leaf detail. When the show starts and the lights dim, you can look up at the trompe l’oeil night sky and see the starry lights twinkling above. It’s truly a work of art.
I’ve since moved further south and my parents headed north towards the Blue Ridge Mountains, so it’s not as easy to visit my beloved Atlanta. Two years ago, my mother-in-law gifted us with season tickets for my daughter’s birthday, so we got to make several trips with the kids to see shows like Cinderella, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, etc. This historic landmark had captured my heart as a child and fostered many cherished memories, so being able to share this experience with my children was very special.
After several visits to Atlanta to see different shows, I think we finally nailed how to “do the Fox”. We traveled up to Atlanta on Sunday morning and stayed the night at The Georgian Terrace which is literally right across the street from the theater. We checked in around 2:30 pm, freshened up and then headed to an early dinner at Publik Draft House, which is also conveniently located right across the street. We enjoyed dinner and seamlessly made our way to the show – snapped a picture out front and were in our seats in just a few minutes. After the Lion King, everyone was exhausted so it was a major win to simply walk across the road and not have to fight parking lot traffic for an hour or wait for an Uber or shuttle to take us to the hotel.
The historic Georgian Terrace hotel which was constructed in 1910, was designed to evoke the architecture of Paris. Steeped in Southern history, this hotel boasts a pretty impressive guest list including the likes of Walt Disney, President Calvin Coolidge, Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Margaret Mitchell and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The hotel’s grand ballroom was even the site of the Gone with the Wind Gala and the movie’s pre-premiere party.
The hotel was recently renovated in 2009 and is beautiful. The room offerings range from single bedroom to three-bedroom suites with extended stay options. Our group of seven booked two, two-bedroom suites. Let me tell you… this was a GENIUS move. Each of these suites has two bedrooms, a den, breakfast area, full-sized kitchen, laundry room and one bathroom. Who needs a laundry room, you ask?! Well, apparently we do. My daughter had a water bottle leak inside her luggage so we used it to dry her dress with only minutes before it was time to leave. That would have be lots of fun to do with a hair dryer. Also, if you have ever traveled with kids, you know the agony of being right on top of each other with zero personal space. My sister-in-law stayed with me and the kids in one suite. I am an early riser, so it was great to be able to go into the den and drink my coffee without disturbing anyone. I highly recommend this option for families or groups!
Now, there are some great restaurants in Atlanta but prior to a show, I don’t want to be trekking all over the city and stressing about getting to my seat on time. On show days, we like to eat at The Publik Draft House, which as I mentioned is next door to the Fox. While the gastro pub was ranked one of Zagat’s Top 8 Bourbon Bars in Atlanta, I promise you it is suited for families and kids. I’ve enjoyed the Grilled Salmon as well as the Apple Walnut Salad with steak. There is no kid’s menu but they do have burgers, mac and cheese, cheese toasties and brownies with ice cream for the little ones.
The show itself is a must-see for adults and kids alike. This was my first time seeing The Lion King musical and I was captivated by the music, dancing and costumes. All of the kids loved it -we’ve been to several kid-friendly musicals but there was something very special about this one!
We were not allowed to take photos due to copyright reasons so these photos came from The Lion King Instagram page.
Overall, it was seamless and stress-free trip. I cannot wait to go back and do it again!
I’d love to hear about your favorite places to stay/eat/play while visiting Atlanta.
Cheers,
Christa
mallard & MAGNOLIA 