A Guide to Marietta

The thing to understand about Marietta is that it has a square, and the square works. That single fact separates it from most of suburban Atlanta, where the center of a place is usually an intersection.

The square

Marietta Square is a genuine civic space: a park at the center, buildings facing inward on four sides, and enough restaurants, theater, and retail around it that people go there without a specific errand.

It is busiest on weekend evenings and during the farmers market, and it is at its best on a weekday afternoon when it is simply a pleasant place to sit.

History that is still visible

Marietta predates the Civil War and retains a considerable amount of nineteenth century fabric. The historic districts are walkable, the cemeteries are significant, and the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park sits just to the northwest with several hundred acres of trails and interpretive sites.

The history here is not preserved behind glass. People live in it, which makes it more interesting.

Eating and drinking

The square and its immediate surroundings carry most of the density, with a mix that runs from long-established institutions to newer independent kitchens. The area has resisted turning entirely over to chains, which residents guard fairly carefully.

Culture

The theater scene is stronger than the size of the city would suggest, and the art museum on the square is worth an hour. Between them they give Marietta an evening identity that most surrounding communities do not have.

Marietta and East Cobb

The two are adjacent and complementary. Marietta supplies a center, history, and a walkable evening. East Cobb supplies neighborhoods, green space, and the residential rhythm that a great many people in the area actually live in.

Most residents move between them without thinking about it, which is the clearest sign that the relationship works.

Nearby

Enclave is a private indoor golf and social club being built in East Cobb, a short drive from Marietta. It is not yet open.