A few days ago I mentioned that we had just returned home from a trip to Georgia. Like when I wrote about our dream trip to Hawaii, I’m taking a short break from home decor posts to share a travel story. I always enjoy writing down the little details of a trip—if I don’t, I’m likely to forget them.
So fasten your seatbelt. We’re heading to Georgia.
Some vacations are carefully planned months in advance: research, schedules, and mapped-out routes. This trip wasn’t like that. Although we’d been looking forward to the getaway for months, our plans were intentionally loose. The basics were set: we would fly into Atlanta (the busiest airport in the world, at least according to what we’d heard), and my husband would drive two hours for a leadership course. I pictured myself settled in a quiet hotel room—reading, blogging, watching television, maybe doing a little shopping and visiting coffee shops. I’d never spent vacation time alone in a big city before, and after wrestling with anxiety over the past year, I was determined to be brave and enjoy it.
Well, things didn’t unfold exactly as I’d imagined. The hotel we booked online near the airport looked much better in photos than in reality. Loud rap music and noisy neighbors through thin walls quickly erased any notion of a cozy, peaceful retreat. To make matters worse, there were no nearby restaurants or shops within walking distance. I couldn’t even hear myself think, and it was clear I needed a new plan.
I took the complimentary airport shuttle back to the terminal and settled into the comfortable airport lounge with my laptop. While a pianist played in the corner, I researched Atlanta neighborhoods and public transportation options. On a travel bulletin board, I found a thread from another traveler asking where it would be safe to stay near transit in Atlanta. Their recommendation became my solution.
Armed with new information, some helpful phone calls, and guidance from the airport’s information desk, I put together a Plan B. For a small-town country girl, navigating a big city alone felt like a big step. I took a deep breath and reminded myself to be brave. It was time to meet Marta.
“Marta” is Atlanta’s city train, and we quickly became friends. After a single transfer and about 30 minutes on the system, I walked out of the station into the charming town of Decatur, Georgia.
The hotel provided clear walking directions from the station, and in just a couple of blocks I arrived at my new home away from home, the Courtyard Marriott in Decatur. The hotel was exactly what I had hoped for—quiet, safe, and welcoming. My room on the fourth floor looked down into a peaceful courtyard, and it had comfortable furnishings and thoughtful touches that made it easy to relax.
Most importantly, the staff were kind and helpful, and the neighborhood felt very safe. That peaceful, pleasant experience was exactly what I’d hoped for when we first started planning the trip—only better. I settled in, caught up on blogging, and had a long FaceTime with my sister. I read, watched a few lighthearted TV shows, and when I felt like stretching my legs I wandered through Decatur’s delightful town square.
I stopped at a Starbucks for a cup of coffee and discovered some of the most charming little shops I’ve ever seen. Each store was full of beautiful merchandise and clever decorating ideas that made my creative heart happy. As I walked through the doors of those inviting shops, I thought of you and wished you could be there to see them, too.
I asked the shop owners if I could take a few photos to share the atmosphere with readers, and they were warm and welcoming—of course I could. I left the first day feeling refreshed, inspired, and excited to return with my camera to show you the best of Decatur’s shops and small-town charm.
Come back tomorrow for a full shopping tour of Decatur. I’ll share photos and ideas from the stores I visited, along with practical tips for enjoying a solo city stay and making the most of Marta and Decatur’s walkable downtown.
