(FORTUNE Small Business) – Southern Comfort

The comic Red Skelton once said that Atlanta's city bird must be the crane, because there was one on every corner. Well, Red's gone, but the construction continues: Atlanta is still an ever-expanding city, where any virgin plot will soon be an office park or mall. Be prepared for growing pains, especially with traffic. But you can count on some traditions: peach-blossom weather, people with a hospitable Southern air, and food that makes calories irresistible. And the nightlife is a lot livelier than in Red's day.

--DAVID LIDSKY

Stay

--Homewood Suites Hotel: Loads of amenities, like high-speed Net access and a heated pool. Rates start at $135 a night, but ask for the $99 special. (404-365-0001)

--Georgian Terrace: Frankly don't give a damn about cost? Sleep where Clark Gable did when he filmed his immortal scenes with Vivian Leigh. $175 to $370 a night. (800-651-2316)

--Residence Inn: Yes, one of those extended-stay Marriotts--with a twist. In the landmark Rhodes-Haverty Building, with office-building details such as old mail slots (which work). A downtown bargain, with rates from $89 to $129. (800-331-3131)

Eat

--Harvest: Yupscale Southern cuisine in a cozy two-story house. Lip-smacking-good honey-pecan chicken ($13.95) and apple cobbler ($5.25). (404-876-8244)

--Flying Biscuit Cafe: Folksy breakfast haven. Biscuits ($1 apiece) to write home about. Dee-lish and huge egg-and-pancake platters ($5.95) more than satisfy. Be there when it opens (8:30 a.m.), or expect to wait. (404-687-8888)

--Fat Matt's Rib Shack: If you don't do barbecue when you head South, why go? Fall-off-the-bone spareribs (half-rack, $8) and chicken (quarter-chicken, just $3.50) in a little midtown joint (16 tables). No credit cards. (404-607-1622)

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