Things to Do
“Every day is an opening day” in Atlanta, the capital of the New South. Host of the 1996 Olympics, Atlanta embraces the world. Home to Braves baseball, Falcons football, the Fabulous Fox Theatre, and the world’s largest aquarium, Atlanta has a thriving cultural scene with the Carter Presidential Center, King Center, High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Woodruff Arts Center. More than 14 of the world’s largest companies are located in the metropolitan area.
Cultural and Heritage Institutions
Attractions
Parks
Sporting Events
Shopping
Cultural and Heritage Institutions
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Piedmont Park is a beautiful exhibit of nature's glory in the heart of the city. A walk through the garden is a great stress reliever. There are always special events going on, including unique flowers, summer concerts, romantic jazz nights, and children's activities.
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Atlanta Cyclorama
Experience the Battle of Atlanta in the round through the famous Cyclorama painting and Civil War Museum. The Cyclorama, a large 3-D cyclical painting, is the longest running show in America. The Atlanta Cyclorama is the largest oil painting in the world.
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Atlanta History Center
Founded in 1926 as the Atlanta Historical Society, the history center is located on 33 acres in the heart Buckhead and includes: one of the Southeast’s largest history museums; a research library and archives that annually serves more than 10,000 patrons; two historic houses, The Swann House and the Tullie Smith Farm, illustrating over a century of Atlanta’s history; a two-acre Midtown campus; and a series of gardens unique in both design and horticultural presentation in the metropolitan area.
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Founded in 1982 by Nobel Prize winner and former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the Atlanta-based Carter Center has helped to improve the quality of life for people in more than 65 countries. The Center, in partnership with Emory University, is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering.
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Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest organization in North America dedicated to the art of puppetry. The center offers performances from the Family Series for everyone and New Directions for adults. An interactive museum, Puppets: The Power of Wonder, is the largest puppetry museum in the United States.
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Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Atlanta’s home to the dinosaurs, Fernbank Museum of Natural History allows visitors to explore Earth’s history, the physical universe, the environment, and human culture through interactive exhibitions, IMAX movies, artifacts, and more.
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High Museum of Art
With more than 11,000 works of art in its permanent collection, the High Museum of Art has an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American art; significant holdings of European paintings and decorative art; and growing collections of African American art, Photography, modern and contemporary art, and African art. As the leading museum in the Southeastern United States, the High is dedicated to supporting and collecting works by Southern artists and is distinguished as the only major museum in North America to have a curatorial department specifically devoted to the field of folk and self-taught art.
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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield is a 2,888 acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign on Atlanta’s north side. The battle raged from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864. It is the only national park that commemorates the Battle of Atlanta.
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The King Center
The King Center is educational and inspirational for the whole family, especially teenagers and other young people looking for guidance or a path in life. There are many interactive exhibits that illustrate the beloved community that Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned and how that dream can still become a reality.
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Margaret Mitchell House
For literary lovers and Gone With the Wind fans, this attraction can't be missed. The house where author Margaret Mitchell wrote her famous novel now houses memorabilia from the famed author's career and also serves as a literary center for Southern authors. Special author readings and creative writing courses are held at the center.
Attractions
CNN Center
Television news is something we take for granted, but it's interesting to get a "behind the scenes" peek at the frenzied world of television journalism with the CNN Studio tour. Gain insight into the world of broadcast journalism. Reservations are highly recommended for the tour.
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Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium has quickly become one of Atlanta's premier tourist attractions. From the beluga whales to the whale sharks and other creatures of the deep, the Georgia Aquarium is a world-class facility located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta.
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Six Flags Over Georgia
Atlanta’s premier theme park, Six Flags Over Georgia offers adventure for the whole family with theme rides and a water park.
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Turner Field
Turner Field is a state-of-the-art sports facility, and the Atlanta Braves have an interesting history, so the tour of Turner Field is a must for any baseball fan. Get a chance to see the press box, the clubhouse, the dugout, a luxury suite, and the broadcast booth. Don't miss the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame.
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World of Coke
Another kid-friendly attraction in Atlanta, this museum dedicated to the world's favorite beverage is interesting for the whole family. Learn a bit about the history of Coca-Cola, which was developed in Atlanta, then taste various formulas of the soda from all over the world in the tasting room.
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Zoo Atlanta
Located in historic Grant Park, minutes from downtown Atlanta and Turner Field, Zoo Atlanta is one of Georgia's most loved institutions. Founded in 1889, it is one of the 10 oldest zoos in continuous operation in the United States. Zoo Atlanta is home to the famous western lowland gorillas and the giant pandas, including our baby panda Mei-Lan.
Parks
Centennial Olympic Park
Honoring the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, this expansive park offers a quiet oasis in the middle of bustling Downtown Atlanta, though the park can become a beehive of activity, as many special events and concerts are held here. For a fun, free way to entertain the kids, let them play in the fountains.
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Piedmont Park
Atlanta’s “Common Ground” since 1904, Piedmont Park is located approximately 2 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The finish line for the world-famous Peachtree Road Race, the park is also home to myriad festivals and concerts include the Screen on the Green and Dogwood Festival.
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Stone Mountain Park
One of Atlanta's most recognizable tourist attractions, this huge monument to the Confederacy covers 25 million square feet and rises 825 feet above the surrounding area, carved with the likeness of three Confederate heroes. There is plenty to see and do, including the ever-popular laser show, holiday events, hiking, boating, fishing, and souvenir shopping.
Sporting Events
Braves Baseball
Winners of 14 straight division titles and one World Series Championship in 1995, the Braves are perennial contenders for Major League Baseball’s crown. Catch a game a Turner Field and see the Braves in action.
Shopping
Atlantic Station
A national model for smart growth and sustainable development, Atlantic Station combines an attractive mix of affordable, middle-income, and up-scale housing with world-class restaurants, theaters, and retailers.
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Lenox Square
Located in Buckhead, Lenox Square is Atlanta’s premier shopping mall. Anchors include Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. The mall also features nearly 250 specialty stores—shops like Anthropologie, BCBG, Bobby Jones, Burberry, Brooks Brothers, and Cartier.
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The below street level shopping mall and entertainment facility is undergoing a makeover, which the city hopes will turn the Underground into a world-class entertainment district. In the meantime, this is the place to buy your Atlanta souvenirs. Enjoy the spring and summer festivals at Underground.
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