Metro Atlanta’s northeast communities feature two of Georgia’s largest counties, Gwinnett and DeKalb. Both counties are home to quality schools, established neighborhoods, professional sports teams and diverse entertainment offerings.

Live
In the northeast you’ll find historic homes, urban condos and traditional single-family housing. One of the area’s most vibrant communities is Decatur, the second oldest municipality in the metro area.

The communities of the northeast are: Avondale Estates, Buford, Braselton, Decatur, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Norcross, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Suwanee and Tucker.

Work
Fortune Small Business magazine has named Buford the third-best city in which to live and start a business. Career opportunities are prevalent throughout the northeast, with more than 150 international and Fortune 500 companies represented in DeKalb and more than 700 manufacturing companies, more than 1,200 high-tech companies and 410-plus international companies in Gwinnett.

Major employers include the American Cancer Society, Emory University, Gwinnett Medical Center, MARTA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Play
The northeast caters to sports fans as the home of the Gwinnett Gladiators, a member of the East Coast Hockey League, and the Gwinnett Braves, a minor league baseball team.

The defining recreation spot of the northeast is Stone Mountain Park, a 3,200-acre park with family friendly attractions. The highlight of the park is the mountain itself—one of the world’s largest masses of exposed granite. The park hosts several annual festivals and is home to a golf course, a resort, a lake and several theme park-style rides. One of the city’s traditions is the Stone Mountain Park Lasershow Spectacular. View the show schedule at
stonemountainpark.com.

Experience
For a taste of the good life, visit Château Élan in Braselton. The chateau is a working winery, equipped with fine dining, tennis, golf, spa services and a comfy inn. The serious shopper in your family should visit the northeast’s premier shopping destinations: the Mall of Georgia and Discover Mills.

Lake Lanier is one of Atlanta’s favorite swimming holes, and for good reason. The lake boasts more than 690 miles of shoreline and welcomes more than 7.5 million visitors a year. The lake offers ample recreation opportunities with campgrounds, swimming beaches, picnic areas and a resort—the Lake Lanier Islands Resort. The resort features first-class accommodations, restaurants, a spa, an equestrian center, golf courses and a beach and waterpark.