Explore Atlanta
An energetic place to live. An engaging place to study.
An exciting place to be.
Our vibrant hometown is a big city made up of the most welcoming small communities you’ll ever find. We have walkable, tree-lined neighborhoods, local and international farmers markets, seasonal festivals, and very friendly people (we’re kind of known for that around here). About 3,000 churches call Atlanta’s metro area home, and there's a rich variety of spiritual retreat options nearby. We’re a global health hub, with the CDC, The Carter Center, CARE and the UMC's General Board of Global Ministries headquartered here. And Emory University is an active citizen in the community, which naturally develops connections and makes it easy for Candler students to get involved.
There’s something for everyone in Atlanta—sports teams, cultural events, historic sites, and fantastic restaurants, not to mention the great outdoors. We get four distinct seasons with temperate weather most of the school year, give or take a couple of snow days. On average, there are 217 sunny days to study on the plaza right outside our front doors!
Our location also makes it easy to travel. Drive a couple of hours to the Blue Ridge Mountains and hike a few miles of the Appalachian Trail, or take a half-day's road trip to Florida, Georgia or South Carolina beaches. And Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport provides ready global access, no matter where you’re bound.
Welcome to Atlanta!
Where each neighborhood has its own flavor… Here are five that are just a stone’s throw from Candler.
Druid Hills: Candler and Emory are located smack in the middle of this historic intown neighborhood. There’s plenty of green space nearby, like Lullwater Park with its lake and running trails and the Olmsted Linear Park with its backdrop of stately homes. There are lots of spots to kick back for a meal (or pottery painting) in Emory Village, so close it’s basically an extension of campus.
Virginia-Highland: Charming bungalow homes, boutique shopping, art galleries, lively night spots, sidewalk cafés and restaurants, all within a few walkable blocks. And real Italian gelato! Did we mention that?
Decatur: An off-beat, indie area close to Emory, with lots of public art, funky shops, good food, and the historic old Decatur courthouse and city hall. It’s also home every September to the Decatur Book Festival, the world’s largest independent book festival.
Midtown: The heart of Atlanta, with a bustling Saturday morning farmers market at Piedmont Park, music and theatre venues, and the innovative Atlanta BeltLine, which provides an urban space to walk, run, or cycle while you take in some art!
Little Five Points: Dubbed L5P, this eccentric area boasts several live music venues and some of the best thrift-shopping in the ATL.
Atlanta Sightseeing 101
Here are just a few spots you might want to check out:
Candler Firsthand
–Brenna LakesonMDiv '16
“As a native North Carolinian, it took me a while to learn a new city, but once I did, I fell in love with it. I graduated feeling like there was so much of Atlanta I still wanted to experience, so I started my ministry career here. From running on the Beltline, to taking MARTA to work, to finding new restaurants, I'm so glad I decided to call Atlanta home for a little while longer.”
–Source: Trees Atlanta“At 47.9 %, Atlanta has the highest percentage of overall urban tree canopy in the nation when compared to other cities that have conducted Urban Tree Canopy Assessments. At the turn of the 21st century, Atlanta remains a "City in the Forest."”