Long known as part of the “New South,” Atlanta has broken away from the competition to become the premiere destination of the southern U.S.
With a vibrant financial district, boundless cultural destinations for any age, eclectic neighborhoods, and the flashiest stadium in the NFL, the capital of Georgia is blowing away competition.
Atlanta literally rose from the ashes after the Civil War, becoming a hub for the Civil Rights movement in the ‘60s and the home city of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you want to learn more about this culture-changing era, visit the Center for Civil and Human Rights or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Constantly growing and evolving, here are our top picks for The ATL.
Georgia Aquarium
Including the Georgia Aquarium in a travel guide for Atlanta is akin to telling tourists in Paris to check out the Eiffel Tower, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook the wonders it offers. When opened in 2005, it was the world’s largest aquarium but was surpassed by Singapore in 2012. Still, Georgia Aquarium houses a whopping 10 million gallons of water providing home to thousands of marine life, including whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins and manta rays. Along with the permanent exhibits, there’s an ever-changing calendar of events such as shark encounters with National Geographic photographers, sleepovers under the sea (complete with bedtime snacks, breakfast and cocktails for adults), a virtual reality simulator taking you back to the prehistoric seas, or the chance to swim with whale sharks.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, how could the Atlanta Falcons’ stadium not be luxurious? Having opened in September 2017, it is already the flagship stadium of the NFL and will host Super Bowl LIII next year. Among the many bells and whistles, it holds the record for the world’s largest halo board and is one of few football stadiums with a retractable roof. If you don’t make it see the Falcons and Atlanta FC United play, or to a concert like Beyonce or Taylor Swift, opt for a stadium tour that’ll take you to the locker rooms, the field, Window to the City, Skybridges and 100 Yard Club. Mercedes-Benz Stadium even has its own art collection, from sculptures and photography to mosaics and murals that reflect the true passion of the fans that cheer on their teams each week.
Atlanta Zoo
If you’re an animal lover, then this is the city for you! The Atlanta Zoo prides itself in its preservation programs and building natural habitats for the animals, especially those who are endangered species. Their giant pandas from China are paws down the most popular attractions and are easiest to spot during the cooler months when they venture outside, or you can always spy on them with the Panda Cam. Other popular exhibits are the African elephants, lions and cheeky gorillas who are separated into social groups by moats. There are plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals, ranging from feeding time and safari camps to sleepovers and twilight treks.
Coca-Cola Museum
With soaring temperatures and humidity in the summer, you’ll welcome an ice-cold Coke when visiting Atlanta — and where better to grab one than at the World of Coca-Cola Museum? In fact, the famous soda’s prototype recipe was originally founded in a Columbus, Georgia, drug store (initially as a coca wine). Visitors to the museum can travel back through soda history in the Milestones of Refreshment exhibit, or visit the vault to learn Coca-Cola’s secret recipe. From the past, guests get catapulted to the present with a behind-the-scenes look at the bottling process, before diving into the story of Coke in the fully immersive 4-D theater.
Ponce City Market
The historic Sears, Roebuck & Co. building in the Old Fourth Ward has been taken over and transformed into a cool eat, play, shop location collectively known as Ponce City Market. The Central Food Hall captures authentic flavors from Atlanta — Hop’s Fried Chicken, anyone? Or guests can get a caffeine fix at the adorably named Dancing Goats Coffee Bar. The Collier Candy Co. brings kids’ sweet dreams to life, while Honeysuckle Gelato offers servings of brain freeze. However, the coolest area is Skyline Park on the roof, which is overflowing with fun games and rides like Derby Race, Basketball, Skee Ball, Ring Toss, High Striker, Three-Story Slide and Heege Tower. There’s even an 18-hole mini golf course and a breathtaking view up there, too!
Piedmont Park
A favorite among local families for its connection to Mother Nature, Piedmont Park offers an easy escape from city life without having to venture too far. With 200 acres of green space and hundreds of events each year, there’s a lot to love. Dating back to 1887 and the Piedmont Exposition, the former forest and farmland area is now home to Lake Clara Meer, Noguchi Playscape, Mayor’s Grove Playground, Walker Woods, the Aquatic Center and Six Springs Wetland. Adults can play softball, soccer or bocce ball, and shop at the farmers’ market; kids can get rambunctious in the playgrounds or attend summer camps, and even the furry members of the family can kick back in the dog park. The summer calendar is packed with exciting events from Nature Detectives and Predator Prowl to Water Week.
Centennial Olympic Park
This 21-acre park serves not only as a permanent legacy to the 1996 Summer Olympics but also as an entertainment center for millions of visitors each year. While the Games themselves were marred by the fatal July 27 bomb attack, Centennial Olympic Park is all about the celebration of life. The highlight is the Fountain of Rings where computer-controlled lights and jets of water synchronize with music. Kids and revelers of all ages can leap onto the splash pad to cool off as 251 jets shoot high into the sky. Along with the ongoing attractions, Centennial is downtown’s music hub with the “Music at Noon” series offering free lunchtime concerts and Wednesday WindDown giving Hump Days an extra umph. The park is now boasts SkyView Atlanta, which literally gives you a bird’s eye view of the city from a 200-foot tall Ferris Wheel as the gondolas gently rotate through the sky. Think of the London Eye complete with a colorful light show at night … and far less rain!
Bacchanalia
Bacchanalia is renowned for being Atlanta’s most celebrated restaurant and favorite spot for “special occasion splurges.” Chefs/Owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison get many of the ingredients from their own farm and create lush, seasonal dishes with them, many of which are on their four course, prix fixe menu ($95 per person). Sommelier Andrew Harris also uses the family garden to make mouthwatering cocktails such as Midnight in the Garden — an upgrade of the classic Pimm’s Cup with fresh Meyer lemons, Seedlip Garden 108, cucumber and a shot of Hendricks gin.
Pop-up Diners
A new and far more affordable dining trend in Atlanta are pop-up diners, which take over houses, stores, distilleries and just about anywhere you can serve food. They regularly rotate and often book months in advance — some even require getting on a secret list, so be prepared to plan in advance! Some of the recent favorites are Sun in My Belly, Everybody Loves Ramen, Eat Me Speak Me and Midnight Marauder.
Getting There
Getting to ATL is easy. Multiple nonstop daily flights are available on United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is just over 10 miles from downtown or 17 miles from the Buckhead district. Taxi is the easiest and priciest option, while a Lyft/Uber should cost about $16 (but beware, there isn’t a specific stand for ride share so coordinate with your driver). Share ride shuttles are also about $16 but they make several stops. The cheapest option is the MARTA train service, which costs $2.50 and will get you downtown in 20 minutes. All the major car rental companies are also present at Hartsfield-Jackson but be sure to factor in how much you’ll need your own vehicle, especially as hotel parking ranges from $10-$45 per night.