Chances are, you know about Atlanta in three ways. 1. It is the capital of Georgia. 2. Our airport, Hartsfield-Jackson, is the airport hub. 3. "Welcome to Atlanta where the players play, and we ride on dem thangs like ev-ery day." But there are SO many more things to love about my home city! I may be a bit biased, but next time you have a layover here, consider taking a day or two to explore. You might be surprised!

1. Dawg Nation

Football and/or SEC fan? You've come to the right place. Atlanta pulses with football fever during the fall. Athens, home to the University of Georgia, is just a quick 45-minute jaunt from the city. A face-off game between the Georgia Tech (located in downtown Atlanta) Yellow Jackets and the UGA Dawgs is not to be missed.

2. The Varsity

Just been to a Yellow Jackets or a Braves game? Or maybe you just want some delicious, heart attack inducing late night food for no reason at all (happens to the best of us). The Varsity can satisfy those cravings! Known for their Frosted Oranges (think a dreamsicle in milkshake form – sounds weird I know, but give it a try!), The Varsity is the largest drive-in fast food restaurant in the world. "What'll ya have?"

3. Donuts

I know, I know. Every city has a kickass donut place. But ATL has SO MANY! Head to the Krispy Kreme factory in downtown to see your freshly baked donut go "plop" off the conveyor belt. Don't miss Sublime Doughnuts and their adventurous flavors such as White Chocolate Peach Fritter or Salt & Vinegar. Or, test out my personal fave, Revolution Doughnuts. If you're gluten-free like me, fret not! Revolution's Dough-Nut, made from hazelnut and almond flour, is a lil' baked bit o' heaven.

4. MLK Jr.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Preservation District is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. It consists of several buildings, such as MLK Jr.'s childhood home and the original Ebenezer Baptist Church. Already a city rich with black history, seeing these sites in Atlanta just brings it all to life.

5. The DeKalb Farmers Market

This place is a lot more than your average weekend farmers market. They receive direct global shipments without pricey warehouse and distribution fees and delays –– think Whole Foods, but three times the size and ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE. It's the absolute best.

6. Stone Mountain

All you geologists out there will appreciate this one. Despite its name, Stone Mountain is not an actual mountain. It is a "quartz monzonite dome monadnock," or in English, a big rock sticking out of the ground. Many books have named it "the largest exposed piece of granite in the world." It has a large relief carving on one side, of three Confederate figures (we may be a bustling metropolis, but we're still in the South, y'all), which is the largest "bas-relief" in the world. Whether you love granite and monzonite domes, or you just want to tone your tush for an afternoon, Stone Mountain is a great stop. From the top you can watch the sunrise and sunset, and you get a great view of the ATL skyline while you're at it.

7. Shoot the Hooch

The Chattahoochee River is a National Recreation Area under the U.S. NPS. It flows directly through Atlanta suburbs, and is the perfect place to cool off on a hot Georgia summer day. A popular activity with the locals? Shootin' the 'Hooch! Grab an inner tube, some brewskis, and some pals, and spend the day floating down the meandering river.

8. Clermont Lounge

This is Atlanta's oldest and longest continually operating strip club; it opened in 1965. It is known for its kitchy vibes, and celebrities such as Marilyn Manson, Lady GaGa, and Ashton Kutcher have been known to visit the Clermont Lounge while in ATL. The best part of all? The strippers. Clermont is famous for hiring dancers who do not conform to "normal" physical standards. Be sure to catch a show with the star of the place, Blondie, who is known for being able to crush empty beer cans between her breasts...and also, oddly, for her poetry.

9. The Neighborhoods

Decatur. Edgewood. Inman Park. Cabbagetown. Kirkwood. Old Fourth Ward. Little Five Points. The city of Atlanta is chock full of cool, small neighborhoods. Each has its own vibe –– grungy edginess in Little Five, old Victorian homes in Inman Park, small craftsman bungalows in Kirkwood. Discover troves of street art, local farmers markets, thrift stores, small boutiques, and pockets of green spaces

10. The Beltline

The Beltline is a new addition to Atlanta. Similar to NYC's High Line, The Beltline uses 22 miles of pre-existing rail lines, and features trails, parks, public art installations, graffiti, and more. When completed, it will connect 45 intown neighborhoods, and is already changing the meaning of "transportation" here in traffic-clogged Atlanta. Pop into Ponce City Market or Krog Street Market, both alongside the Beltline, during your stroll/bike ride/skate ride for a one-stop shopping, dining, and drinking experience.

11. Piedmont Park

I hate to keep referencing that little-known, boring place called NYC, but Piedmont Park is ATL's equivalent of Central Park. In the heart of downtown (and along the Beltline!), Piedmont Park offers nearly everything. Play basketball and bocce, let Fido frolic in the 3-acre dog park, go fishing for Bream and Catfish, swim in the pool, or just lay in the grass watching the clouds float by. In September, the wildly popular Music Midtown music festival takes place in the park, turning it into a psychedelic wonderland for a weekend. Whatever your interests, Piedmont Park has something for everyone.

12. Oakland Cemetery

In the hip neighborhood of Grant Park is Atlanta's oldest cemetery, as well as one of the largest green spaces in the city. Oakland Cemetery is historically significant as well, in many aspects. Those interested in architecture and sculpture will love the variety of styles represented in the graveyard, including Victorian, Egyptian, Gothic, and more. Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place of important figures such as Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first black mayor; Frank Quarles, founder of Spelman College; and Margaret Mitchell, author of "Gone with the Wind," amongst many more.

13. Bellwood Quarry

Known simply as "The Quarry" to locals, this former granite quarry is right in the ATL and is gaining popularity as a filming location for movies and TV shows. Visit The Quarry to retrace the steps and staggers of "The Walking Dead" cast, who filmed there extensively. Peer over the edge of the cliff Eleven saved Mike from in "Stranger Things." Haunt the landscapes seen in "The Vampire Diaries." Or, even if you live under a rock and have never heard of these new-fangled cultural events, you can still go on a nice hike around the quarry. Be warned though –– this can be considered trespassing. But hey, what's a visit to Atlanta without a little excitement?

SO, next time you're in Atlanta, take a trip around this beautiful city. And if you ever need a tour guide, hit this player up.