Cooking Light Best Cities: Atlanta, Georgia

Seemingly everything in Atlanta is new, from the glittering buildings that punctuate its skyline to the urban renewal currently underway throughout the metropolitan area. In its wake, Atlanta has become a dynamic, healthful city that graciously invites exploration.

Search for gourmet goods at the world-class DeKalb Farmers Market (404-377-6400), a 140,000-square-foot "United Nations of fresh food." Here, city residents and top chefs alike squeeze, poke, and examine seemingly endless varieties of fresh fare.

Metropolitan Atlanta is young (32.9 is the average age). It appears Atlantans want to stay young, too, judging by the walkers, joggers, and bikers on the streets of its many tree-lined neighborhoods. Approximately 55,000 gather on the Fourth of July every year to test their fitness at the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10k in the world. Join the fun by registering at www.atlantatrackclub.org.

Live-work-play communities, like Atlantic Station, a "smart growth" mix of homes and businesses located within the Midtown area, offer shopping, restaurants, and entertainment options flanked by wide boulevards and inviting sidewalks. Here, you can see the future of urban living.