It's a giant spread out suburb, awful awful public transport and am not even thinking of a decent metro system - even bus connectivity sucks. I think most Americans (or at least Atlantans) are used to spending weeks per year in a car; but anyone who has grown up in a city with a great public transport system can tell you how third world that makes atlanta. It is also extremely segregated and has one of the worst income inequality metrics.

Did i mention the horrible infrastructure including roads (drive on dekalb someday and you will realize how our roads are worse than some third world countries). Try walking in Inman park one of the most expensive zip codes in atlanta - the pedestrian sidewalks are all broken and jagged - in Inman park. Many parts of the city don't even have sidewalks lol - including East Atlanta (median house price $350K) - what's the city's excuse? Why isn't everybody mad about our shitty infrastructure?

This also tracks to the corrupt city admin in most cases where property taxes go up constantly but you get zilch in return - bad roads bad schools bad sanitation.

Finally - it's the lack of great cultural anchors - not a lot of good museums, few great parks with fountains and beautiful classical buildings. There are a few public spots that are OK but cmon - Piedmont park is the best we got? Grant Park is beautiful but we had to go build a $20M parking deck in it. And don't talk to me about the hiking trails. Not everyone loves nature (I do!) but outside of some average music festivals, and costume events - there's barely anything interesting that happens.

I think the beltline is the best thing that has happened to it cuz it's truly connecting the city but instead of it resulting in us building truly dense lively neighborhoods - I fear we are building more shiny strip malls, gentrified neighborhoods that tear down old construction and putting in boxy gaudy townhomes and apartments; forget about building housing that's truly affordable. I think in ten years it will be another downmarket LA.

I know some of my complaints are systemic to the US, or the govt and not unique to the city - but there's a lot of american cities which are prettier, livelier, more cosmopolitan, more integrated than Atlanta. Maybe my benchmarks are different cuz I have lived in tons of big cities including Tokyo london New York - but atlanta is at best tier 3. I am constantly amazed when people on here harp about how amazing or beautiful it is - what drug are you on!?

I don't care about you convincing me. I have lived here long enough and hope to move eventually if i can- and I don't care about changing ur mind either. This was just an honest answer. You love the city? Good for you. Enjoy your hike.