We had an absolutely perfect day for a helicopter tour of Atlanta. We also had just the right guide, a bon vivant named Ken, who knew how to keep us laughing about the fact that we were getting INTO A HELICOPTER which would hurtle us through the air, above skyscrapers and over areas without soft landings, such as Georgia 400.
Yes, the helicopter ride had seemed like a good idea for a Mother’s Day gift, because the thing you probably don’t know about my mom is, she’s game for anything. I think once you’ve been on a multi-day station wagon odyssey with three small children, there is very little that scares you.
So we clambered into the helicopter, which seems remarkably small as you approach it. We clamped on the headsets so we could talk – or in my case, not talk but instead have an internal dialogue reminding myself that it was probably pretty unlikely that we were going to die. As the ground fell away I wondered if that MARTA station, quickly receding in size, would be my last view of this earth.
This happens to me during the first 30 seconds of any non-airplane ascent – a Ferris wheel, a glass elevator, all give me a short burst of panic. But my mom had settled in to the co-pilot’s seat – I don’t think I could have handled that – and Ken was beginning his barbed patter about the denizens and buildings of our fair city.
He explained why the King and Queen Buildings are named that (their tops resemble the chess pieces) and it was very cool to look down on that. Ditto the Governor’s Mansion, and some of the big money houses near Buckhead (an area I don’t know at all!) We followed Georgia 400 down into Midtown, and I liked seeing these familiar buildings from a different vantage point.
Did you know there’s a geometric design on top of the Georgia Dome? And that you can really see the footprint of the old Fulton County Stadium next to Turner Field? That was my favorite part. And there were my two favorite buildings, the State Capitol and City Hall, each gorgeous in its own way. Our birds-eye view of the MLK complex and the Carter Center cemented them as must-dos on my Atlanta list.
I took some video and some pictures – the video’s not that great but here are some of the photos. My mom’s pictures are better because there was nothing to obstruct her view – so I’ll just enjoy that vicariously through her! Thanks for agreeing to the helicopter ride, Mom!
Georgia Confidential 
Wow. Braver person than I. No way I could ever do that.
Off topic: new library is AWESOME!!!!! Kids section takes up the right side of the building. Wish it was just a little bigger. All the books are brand new.
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