Atlanta

Discover the South’s vibrant metropolitan hub

Take a bite out of the Big Peach and savor the multitude of flavors found in the largest city of the South. The Atlanta metropolitan area, occupying the heart of Georgia but serving as a major hub of all things Southern, is home to 5.5 million people. Despite its near destruction in the Civil War, the city has enjoyed a phoenix-like climb to become one of the most prosperous metro centers in North America. This “world city” plays a crucial role in the global economy but still hums with the down-home vibrations you’d expect from a smaller, funkier Southern town. With an active nightlife, a diverse and tolerant populace, and a wealth of cultural hot spots, restaurants and more, Atlanta always makes room for seekers of fun and escape.

Georgia Department of Economic Development

Sport and Food

Atlanta is big on sports, with the NFL Falcons, NBA Hawks and MLB Braves calling it home. When sports fans tire of watching the slam-dunking Hawks, they set their sights on baseball for the Braves, who’ve hit home runs for the town since 1966 and continue to dazzle fans at Turner Field. When the fall chill hits the air, fans flock to the Georgia Dome to watch the Atlanta Falcons wow crowds of 70,000-plus with professional football action. Soccer fans will have to wait until 2017 before they watch Atlanta United FC kick off their inaugural season at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Sports fans looking to enjoy some beer and ribs with their game can visit one of the city’s many sport clubs, including the Tophat Soccer Club and the Atlanta Sport and Social Club. They might also be able to catch a game at Elbow Room Sports Pub and Pizzeria, where American cuisine, beer and wine are served in front of two dozen flat-screen televisions, as well as pool tables and dart boards.

For food with less of an atmosphere, the laid-back Aviva by Kameel is a favorite with the locals. This is simple Mediterranean food served with a smile, and the whole family can eat for less than the ticket price to a big game. They have options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets, and with lashings of lamb shawarma, chicken and salmon, carnivores are also catered to. For rustic, down-to-earth American food, head for Dekalb Avenue to visit Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, where you can enjoy your food indoors or outdoors. For fine service and finer food, you can’t go wrong with Buckhead-based Aria.

Culture and Entertainment

Once your stomach is full and your appetite is sated, walk off those extra calories at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a green and serene paradise in the middle of a metropolis. The garden is a masterpiece of botanical art and fountains, perfect for a stroll on a sunny day, and there are also occasional light shows and firework displays when night closes in.

If the kids are in tow, enjoy a day out at the Zoo Atlanta, or kick the little ones’ brains into gear with a visit to the Legoland Discovery Center. For parents seeking to get the creative juices flowing, the Mission Escape Atlanta welcomes you. This is a unique experience that tests your ingenuity and brings a popular mobile gaming genre into the real world.

Atlanta has several museums, and if you crave culture, then you’ll be spoilt for choice. Enjoy a hands-on experience at the World of Coca-Cola, reflect on past greats at the College Football Hall of Fame, or pay a visit to the Margaret Mitchell House, where the “Gone with the Wind” author penned her most celebrated work.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is worthy of a visit. Perched on a hilltop high above the downtown core, it offers panoramic views of the city far below.

Georgia Department of Economic Development

For more sweeping vistas, take a ride on the SkyView Ferris Wheel in Centennial Olympic Park, part of the city improvement effort for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The climate-controlled gondolas provide views of Atlanta and beyond.

At the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, visitors can explore the life and incredible accomplishments of Atlanta’s most notable and distinguished citizen. Guests can pay their respects at Dr. King’s gravesite.

Nightcaps in the Big Peach

Atlanta never sleeps, so don’t call it a day just yet. At the Highland Cigar Company, you can enjoy a relaxing and sophisticated nightcap, smoking a hand-rolled cigar and sipping your favorite drink. If music is not your thing, then you might be better off at one of the city’s theaters, with the Fox Theatre being the standout venue for locals and tourists alike. Only the best shows make it inside this venue.

For More Information

Atlanta CVB

800-285-2682

www.atlanta.net

Georgia Department of Economic Development

800-847-4842

www.exploregeorgia.org