10 Must-Do’s in DeKalb County

Whether you’re a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, a shopping maven, or an arts aficionado, you’ll find the perfect locale for your particular interests in DeKalb County.

From well-known tourist attractions to out-of-the-way spots, there’s so much to explore right around the corner. And you can start with these 10 must-see options.

1. Sample Asian Cuisine

Delve into spectacular Asian cuisine at Atlanta Chinatown Mall in Chamblee, which features authentic Chinese, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Korean delicacies in a spacious food court and two dine-in restaurants. After your meal, walk through the charming courtyard garden and koi pond before browsing an array of specialty stores and the Dinho Supermarket.

2. Hike or Bike Back in Time

Explore 400 million years of history at the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, which beckons outdoor lovers to experience myriad natural wonders. Hike to the peak of Arabia Mountain, see a host of wildlife and rare plant species, traverse the 30-mile paved Arabia Mountain PATH on foot or on wheels, and visit two granite monadnock (a residual hill or mountain) outposts. It’ll be a day for the history books.

3. Get The Story on the CDC

Atlanta’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the epicenter of public health. Learn more about this amazing institution and its ongoing work at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, located at CDC headquarters. Featuring permanent and temporary exhibitions, the venue, which is free and open to the public, provides insight into public health topics and details the history of the renowned organization.

4. Catch a Flick Under the Stars

The past meets the present at the Starlight Drive-In Theatre, located o Moreland Avenue. Four screens and an all-new digital projection system play today’s hottest movies as cars park amidst the theater’s classic art-deco style. The drive-in has been a community landmark since 1949, and you’ll be star struck with nostalgia when you catch a double feature any night of the week.

5. Go Treasure Hunting

Find one-of-a-kind items at The Odd’s End, an Avondale Estates antique store that specializes in “curiosities” from around the world. Owner Merrick Mixson showcases everything from voodoo dolls to embalming machines and every odd artifact in between. Each item is completely authentic and unique, and you never know what you’ll find when you walk through the door.

6. Embrace Local History

Learn about the African American slaves and their descendants who have lived in the Flat Rock community since the early 19th century. Study an impressive collection of preserved records and artifacts at The Flat Rock Archives, which has proudly shared the legacy of rural African American culture since opening in 2006. Visits are by appointment on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

7. Fetch Some Fresh Food

It doesn’t get any fresher than the food at Your DeKalb Farmers Market. Once a 7,500-square-foot produce stand, the venue, which flies 184 flags from around the world, has become a veritable global marketplace. From a bakery and pastry shop to produce, meat, seafood, deli, cheese, wine, and beer departments, you’ll find everything you’re looking for under one roof.

8. Immerse Yourself in the Arts

Learn to paint, study dance, master photography, and more at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, a 12-acre cultural community conservatory located in Druid Hills. The Callanwolde estate, built in 1920 by Coca-Cola heir Charles Howard Candler, is owned by DeKalb County. It is dedicated to offering fine arts outreach to the public, and also is a popular destination for weddings and private events.

9. Fly Tthe Friendly Skies

Want to learn to fly? You can at one of seven flight schools at DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK), the second-busiest airport in Georgia. Welcoming corporate jets, aircraft charters, personal planes, helicopters, and more, PDK is one of the region’s most important general reliever airports. Known as “Atlanta’s Gateway to the South,” it boasts 230,000 takeoffs and landings annually and is a can’t-miss destination for aviation enthusiasts.

10. See the Monkey From Mars

Okay, it’s not a real Martian. It’s a deceased monkey that was at the center of a huge hoax in 1953 when three locals said they found a crashed flying saucer. The “occupant” (aka, the monkey) now resides in a glass jar at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab Museum, and you can make an appointment to see the creature, as well as a host of other interesting artifacts, at the unique venue.