Only in DeKalb: 10 Experiences You Can't Have Anywhere Else
Some places are worth visiting. Others are impossible to replicate.
DeKalb County is home to iconic landmarks, hidden gems, global flavors, and one-of-a-kind adventures that simply don't exist anywhere else. From walking across 400-million-year-old granite outcrops to exploring one of the nation's most diverse food corridors, these are the experiences that make DeKalb unforgettable.
Whether you're planning your first visit or rediscovering your own backyard, here are 10 experiences you can only have in DeKalb.
1. Explore 400 Million Years of History at Arabia Mountain
Few places let you hike across ancient granite landscapes while discovering rare ecosystems, scenic lakes, and miles of trails—all within minutes of Atlanta.
The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is one of only a handful of National Heritage Areas in the Southeast, offering breathtaking sunsets, seasonal wildflowers, and more than 30 miles of PATH trails for hiking and biking. It's an experience unlike anywhere else in Georgia.
2. Eat Your Way Around the World on Buford Highway
Where else can you travel across continents without ever leaving one road?
The Buford Highway International Corridor is home to one of the country's most diverse collections of international restaurants. From authentic Korean barbecue and Vietnamese pho to Mexican street tacos, Ethiopian cuisine, Chinese dim sum, and Venezuelan arepas, every stop introduces you to a new culture—and a new favorite meal.
3. Go Behind the Scenes of Georgia's Film Industry
Hollywood doesn't just film in Georgia, it films in DeKalb.
Assembly Studios has helped position DeKalb as one of the entertainment capitals of the Southeast. While many productions remain under wraps, simply driving through the area reminds visitors they're in the heart of Georgia's booming film industry. It's no wonder countless television shows and blockbuster movies have called DeKalb home.
4. Stand on Top of Georgia's Most Famous Mountain
There's only one Stone Mountain.
Whether you're hiking the iconic Walk-Up Trail, taking in panoramic skyline views from the summit, or spending the day enjoying the park's attractions, Stone Mountain remains one of Georgia's most recognizable destinations—and one of DeKalb's signature experiences.
5. Step Inside Ancient Civilizations at the Michael C. Carlos Museum
Travel thousands of years through history without ever leaving DeKalb.
Located on Emory University's campus, the Michael C. Carlos Museum houses one of the Southeast's premier collections of Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman antiquities, African art, and artifacts from the ancient Near East. It's a museum experience few destinations can match.
6. Discover Where Art Lives Around Every Corner
In DeKalb, creativity isn't confined to museums.
Historic estates, public murals, community theaters, sculpture gardens, galleries, and cultural districts create an arts scene that's as diverse as the county itself. From Callanwolde Fine Arts Center to Plaza Fiesta's vibrant murals and countless public art installations, inspiration is never far away.
7. Experience Wildlife Just Minutes from the City
Looking for a little adventure?
DeKalb's parks, preserves, and nature areas provide opportunities to spot birds, turtles, deer, and native wildlife while hiking peaceful trails or paddling scenic waterways. Whether you're exploring the Yellow River Trail or wandering through Arabia Mountain's unique landscape, nature feels worlds away from the city.
8. Explore a Destination Built on Global Communities
DeKalb isn't just diverse—it's one of Georgia's most internationally connected communities.
Every neighborhood offers its own story through local businesses, festivals, markets, restaurants, and cultural experiences. Visitors can spend an entire weekend discovering flavors, traditions, and communities from around the world—all within one county.
9. Find the Unexpected
Only in DeKalb can your day include antique shopping, aviation history, quirky museums, and hidden roadside discoveries.
Browse Chamblee's Antique Row, watch planes take off from PDK Airport, uncover unusual attractions, or stumble across one of the county's many hidden gems that make every visit a little different than the last.
10. DeKalibrate Your Adventure
What makes DeKalb different isn't just one attraction, it's how everything comes together.
Where else can you spend the morning hiking a granite mountain, enjoy lunch from another continent, tour world-class museums in the afternoon, discover public art at sunset, and end the evening exploring a film-friendly destination that's helping shape the future of entertainment?
Start Planning Your One-of-a-Kind Adventure
Whether you're here for a weekend getaway, family vacation, sporting event, or simply looking for your next adventure, DeKalb offers experiences you won't find anywhere else.
Come see what makes our destination unforgettable, and discover why some experiences are truly Only in DeKalb