Discovery is one of life’s most enjoyable feats. To dig deep, explore every nook and cranny, and fully immerse oneself in the moment emboldens the spirit and enhances appreciation for the specific surroundings. Atlanta is known as a city of neighborhoods, and each area surrounding it has its own unique flavor.
Dunwoody maintains a small community vibe alongside its massive metropolitan growth. Discover Dunwoody, led by Ray Ezelle and Mark Galvin, promotes the city and serves as a resource for residents and local business owners. "We are a free service to the city of Dunwoody, to the residents, to the restaurants, to the hotels. You don't have to join us, you don’t have to be a member,” Mark Galvin, chief marketing and operating officer at Discover Dunwoody, explains. “We’re going to give an unabashed description of everything in Dunwoody."
Hospitality is the thread connecting Discover Dunwoody to the community. Mark, in his current role since 2022, has maintained a passion for service for over 30 years. His career began at age 18 at the Atlanta Hilton, where he started as a front office clerk, and then moved to Hyatt Hotels, where he became executive housekeeper, and maintained an upward trajectory in the hotel industry for over three decades before transitioning into destination marketing at Discover Dunwoody. Spending that much time around wide swaths of people taught Mark that “we all come from totally different backgrounds and it's very worthwhile asking questions to find out somebody's history and really getting to know them."
Now he uses those skills, not only to serve the residents and visitors of Dunwoody, but also as a mentor to up-and-coming hospitality talent. Mark’s ability to ask the right questions and then listen deeply is the core of service. Getting to know a person is similar to getting to know a city. History, evolution, and unique characteristics shine a light and open the chance for authentic connection.
To immerse oneself in any city, whether as a tourist or new resident, Mark recommends beginning with your personal interests and building out from there. Focus on finding two to three spots that cater to your tastes (i.e., ambient restaurants, stunning hikes, or local art galleries) and then expand the rest of your itinerary based on those initial experiences. "Every destination has a solution,” he says. “Start off with what you like. Go do that. Build a little bit of experience around that."
When it comes to exploring Dunwoody, Mark shines a light on Campus 244. This development is perfect for culinary experiences, most notably at CT Cantina y Taqueria and Stäge. CT Cantina y Taqueria has a gorgeous restaurant design that complements their authentic dishes. Stäge offers a chef-driven menu with a diverse range of cuisines.
Ashford Lane and High Street are also top choices, replete with dining and shopping options, as well as outdoor events on their green spaces. “Sip and stroll” is allowed and even encouraged, making it easy to bounce between establishments while taking in the communal atmosphere.
Dunwoody directly serves and supports two demographics: long-standing families in established neighborhoods, and young professionals who enjoy its strategic location and lovely apartments. Dunwoody’s central access is what Mark calls the “secret sauce;” the intersection at I-285 and GA-400 opens its residents to the entire Atlanta metro area. The city currently has a charming population of 50,000 residents while boasting scalable growth. "Even though we are in a metropolitan area, Dunwoody is still very much a small community-style city,” Mark says. 50 new local restaurants have opened in the last four years alone.
Discover Dunwoody’s top mission is to drive business travelers to local hotels. They're funded by a portion of the city’s hotel tax, which empowers the organization to also function as a free resource. Representation is available to any local Dunwoody restaurant, retail, entertainment venue, or park without any required membership fees. Driving leisure tourism is another focus, wherein they highlight the city’s weekend offerings, encouraging other local Georgians to explore all that Dunwoody has to offer.
Now that we’re on the precipice of autumn, the city is already looking forward to holiday events. All are welcome to celebrate Diwali on November 7th at the Dunwoody Nature Center. Light Up Dunwoody, a local favorite, takes place on November 15th at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm. This no-cost holiday festival culminates in the lighting of the Christmas Tree and Menorah, and Santa will be present for photos atop his sleigh as well! The entirety of December is dedicated to “Holiday HQ.” Lantern parades, arts and crafts, and community merriment will abound.
You can keep up with all the city’s events and opportunities to connect at discoverdunwoody.com.