Things to Do in Atlanta
Visit the World of Coca-Cola where the famous soft drink’s story is told through fascinating exhibits, a 4-D theater, classic ads and a fully-functioning bottling station. Taste more than 70 Coca-Cola products from around the world and pick your favorite before raiding the gift shop for souvenirs. The Georgia Aquarium is where you can see more than 120,000 animals of 500 different species in more than 8 million gallons of marine and fresh water. The world’s largest aquarium also houses the world’s largest fish: whale sharks and much more. It is always fun to visit Centennial Olympic Park, the world’s gathering place during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Today, the park features the popular Fountain of Rings and a variety of events including Fourth SaturdayFamily Fun Days, a free festival with hands-on activities, April through September.
The Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour is an exciting way to discover how a newsroom operates. Watch behind-the-scenes action of the newsroom, see what it takes to put a news broadcast together and even learn how the weather map works. The Sweet Auburn district is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site includes a visitor center depicting the story of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, the restored King Birth Home, Ebenezer Baptist Church where three generations of the King family preached, and the King burial site. The Jimmy Carter Library & Museum, located next to the Carter Center. The library includes a replica of the Oval Office and Jimmy Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize, as well as traveling exhibitions.
You cannot visit Atlanta without a tour of the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum. This attraction is centered around the Midtown apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote “Gone with the Wind.” Exclusive photographs and exhibits tell the story of Margaret Mitchell beyond the book. The Gone with the Wind Movie Museum illuminates the making of the movie with memorabilia including the actual doorway of Tara from the movie set. Insider Tip: The Center for Southern Literature literary series at the Margaret Mitchell House hosts well-known authors with an evening reception, reading and a book signing.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden features one of the world’s largest permanent displays of tropical orchids, 15 acres of outdoor display gardens and the Fuqua Conservatory, home to rare and endangered tropical and desert plants. The Garden also includes an expansive children’s garden with special enclaves including a maze beginning at a colorful caterpillar’s mouth and ending at the Butterfly Pavilion; fossil digging; and carnivorous plants.
The High Museum of Art hosts European and American paintings, special exhibitions, African, decorative, folk and 20th century art and photography. Past exhibitions have included works by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Picasso, Degas, Dalí and Toulouse-Lautrec, as well as Elton John’s private photography collection and currently has over 11,00 works in its permanent collection.
Home to the world’s largest dinosaurs, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast. Fernbank uses innovative exhibit design and programming to bring natural history to life through galleries and hands-on exhibits to stretch your imagination. The 315-seat IMAX theater provides a powerful adventure experience with films showing in the afternoon and evening. Nature Quest is a cutting-edge, innovative children’s wing featuring interaction with live animal habitats and exploration of ecosystems found throughout the world.
The opulent Fox Theatre was designed in the late 1920s as headquarters for the Shriner’s organization. Now, it presents Broadway musicals, the Atlanta Ballet, a summer movie festival, concerts and more. Check out the schedule for the Fox while in town. The lavish decorations inside include an indoor Arabian courtyard with twinkling stars and drifting clouds; a striped canopy; and ornate period furnishings.
The neighborhood of Virginia-Highland is one of Atlanta’s most popular areas for shopping, dining and nightlife. Noted for its renovations of 1920s homes, the area features tree-lined avenues dotted with unique ethnic and chef-owned restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, spas and salons, boutiques and a selection of bars and pubs.
Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most visited attraction, drawing nearly 4 million visitors each year. With more than 3,300 acres of natural beauty, the park is a unique destination where families and friends can enjoy the outdoors while experiencing an exciting variety of attractions, entertainment and recreation. Travel back in time to the town of Crossroads to see what life may have been like in a 1870s Southern town. Crossroads includes the new Treehouse Challenge (Opening May 28); Georgia’s only 4-D theater; The Great Barn, Atlanta’s largest children’s indoor play experience; and live entertainment. Other attractions include the skylift to the top of Stone Mountain, the new Ride The Ducks Adventure, Scenic Railroad, Antebellum Plantation and more.