Atlanta's Buzzing Suburb Is A Friendly City With A Lovely Market, Golf Greens, And Local Eateries

There's always something happening in Atlanta. Be it a Braves or Falcons game, a festival at Piedmont Park, or a Broadway show at the historic Fox Theatre, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to experiencing Georgia's vibrant capital city. Atlantans keep the buzz going even in suburbs like Smyrna, a vibrant community northeast of downtown, where its lovely market, golf greens, and eateries bring locals together. Niche crowned the tree-lined Smyrna as one of the best places to live in Cobb County, giving it an "A-plus," highlighting its recreation, nightlife, great schools, and diverse community.

Nestled between the cities of Vinings and Fair Oaks, Smyrna blends urban amenities like great dining with suburban charms, boasting verdant parks and a tight-knit community. The city's centerpiece is Smyrna Market Village, a walkable, mixed-use, community space with craft beer, cafés, tasty eats, and a fun Sunday market. Visit Smyrna in springtime for the annual Jonquil Festival, a celebration of fragrant yellow flowers which bloom here every year, giving Smyrna its nickname, "Jonquil City."

Smyrna is graced with beautiful, family-friendly green spaces. Village Green Park is an open-air expanse, showcasing seasonal events like the summertime "Concerts on the Green" and the autumn "Smyrna Blanket Concert Series." Locals stroll, run, and bike the picturesque Silver Comet Trail, a 61.5-mile pathway that slices through Smyrna as it follows along old railroad tracks and stretches all the way to the Georgia-Alabama state line. Smyrna also wields a pair of highly ranked golf greens, Fox Creek Golf Club and Legacy Golf Links. Suitable for everyone from pros to beginners, they're some of the best driving ranges in Georgia.

Downtown Smyrna is anchored by Smyrna Market Village, a beautifully landscaped town center featuring retail shops, eateries, and townhome residences. On Sundays in summer and fall, the Market Village hosts the popular Smyrna Handmade Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a showcase of unique finds, handmade crafts, and international foods. While it might not rival the breadth of downtown Atlanta's Artisanal Market, it's certainly worth browsing the over 60 vendors, farmers, and artisans who set up shop in front of City Hall, which presides over the lush Village Green park. You'll find a little bit of everything at the booths here, including fresh flowers, locally sourced produce, stationery, jams, handmade jewelry, and much more. There's also plenty of tasty street food that runs the gamut from kebabs to empanadas. Catch this weekly event and its changing roster of vendors from the beginning of May to mid-October.

After shopping, pop into a Market Village eatery like Atkins Park Tavern to feast on comforting Southern classics like Louisiana po' boys and Nashville "hot" chicken sliders. Rated 4.3 stars on Google, online reviews hail Atlanta's oldest, continuously licensed tavern for its terrific food and excellent service: "The oysters were out of this world. The burger was out of this world. The pretzel was absolutely perfect!" The award-winning Zucca Bar and Pizzeria has been serving up stone oven-baked pies for over 20 years. The menu is stacked with specialty pizzas, calzones, pastas, and salads, with affordable kid's options. Come prepared for the lively atmosphere. "The place was packed and pretty loud but you could still hold a conversation," shares a diner on Google, who also raves about Zucca's garlic knots and clam and bacon pizza.

While Georgia's Richard B. Russel State Park features affordable, top-tier golfing, Smyrna's neighboring, executive golf courses help put this quaint suburb on the map. Sports Illustrated (via Golf Atlanta) hailed the par-61 Fox Creek Golf Club and par-58 Legacy Golf Links among the best practice facilities in the country, while the Golf Range Association of America called them a top public driving range. Professional PGA instructors give lessons and run clinics for golf newbies and veterans alike at the Golf Academy at Fox Creek. Given such accolades and high-quality staff, it's no wonder R&B superstar and Atlanta resident Usher has been known to play here.

Book a tee time at either establishment, and you'll be playing on a sprawling course blanketed in Champion Bermuda grass greens, fringed with majestic pine trees. Both facilities boast 50 hitting stations apiece, but the Legacy course runs slightly smaller than Fox Creek. However, Legacy, designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Larry Nelson, is sprinkled with bunkers and water features. Golfers can book tee times for both courses directly on a shared website.

Online reviews note Fox Creek and Legacy are in terrific condition, and applaud the staff's excellent customer service. "The fairways, bunkers, and greens were all in great shape, and the greens rolled smooth and true throughout the round," shares one golfer on Google, who was impressed at the course conditions even while playing in the rain. To reach this lively area, Smyrna is located roughly 25 minutes from downtown Atlanta and just a 10-minute drive from the charming riverside suburb of Vinings.