Atlanta
Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave NE
404-876-5859
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00am to 6:00pm
Admission charged. Free on Thursdays
The Garden features several distinct exhibit areas. The
Fuqua Conservatory is a giant greenhouse enclosing different
climate-controlled ecosystems. The steamy Tropical Rotunda
features colossal-leaved plant life and towering rubber
trees. Visitors feels like they are in a real rainforest.
Outdoors, there are numerous paths to guide guests through
planned nature walks. The influence of Japanese architecture
is evident throughout, and quiet spots to sit and absorb
the beauty of the landscape are abundant. Children are
special guests at the Botanical Gardens. An interactive
"kid's space" is scheduled to be completed in
1999.
Centennial
Olympic Park
Centennial Park is clean and well-maintained space, featuring
a decorative mosaic of grass-green patches and various
geometric shapes composed in red brick. The Quilt of Remembrance,
a memorial to those killed by the bomb planted here during
the 1996 Olympics, is the most notable of the park's many
artistic adornments. Every day at noon sharp jets of water
suddenly burst from the six rings of an Olympic logo in
a beautiful water display that includes programmed music.
Center
for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street
404-873-3391
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm
Admission charged.
Located in a former elementary school, the 22-year-old
center prides itself on being the largest organization
in the U.S. devoted to puppetry. The center offers puppetry
classes, daily performances by center puppeteers and various
companies, along with a great interactive museum that
includes figures like the Muppets.
CNN
Center
1 CNN Center
404-827-2491
Hours: Daily
The global headquarters of the CNN News Group and Turner
Broadcasting and also an entertainment-shopping-dining-hotel
extravaganza. The crown jewel of the Center is the CNN
Studios tour, a must-see for an impressive behind-the-scenes
look at global news in the making.
Fabulous
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street NE
404-881-2100
Box office open all day on day of show
This beautiful 1920s structure was built as an Yaarab
Temple Shrine Mosque and features Moorish designs inside
and out, including onion domes, minarets, and arches.
An open-air Arabian courtyard serves as the auditorium.
The Fox showcases a colossal theater organ with four keyboards,
3,622 pipes, 376 stops, and 42 ranks. This attraction
is one of Atlanta's most beloved landmarks.
Grant
Park
Corner of Berne Street and Boulevard Atlanta
In 1883, Colonel Lemuel P. Grant bequeathed 85 acres of
his private estate to Atlanta for use as a public park.
The city won 44 more acres of land before opening the
park in 1891. The park has cozy glens, abundant small
hills, gazebos and open pavilions. Grant Park also contains
the Atlanta Zoo.
Kennesaw
Mountain National Park
900 Kennesaw Mountain DR NW
770-427-4686
Hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:00pm
Admission: Free
Kennesaw Mountain National Park commemorates the 1864
Civil War battle for Atlanta. Union forces under General
Sherman assaulted the heavily fortified Confederate positions
on Kennesaw, losing more than 5,000 men. Eventually, Confederate
forces retreated amidst the horror of hand-to-hand combat.
Today, the park encloses 2,882 acres of protected land
and boasts 16 miles of hiking trails. Over 11 miles of
Confederate trenches form visible rings on the mountainside.
Historic markers and memorials provide information about
significant battle sites and events. A small museum displays
Civil War-era artifacts. Guests often picnic here and
enjoy views of Atlanta and even Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Over 1 million people visit this park each year.
Lake
Lanier Islands
6950 Holiday Rd
770-932-7255
Hours: Fri-Sat 10:00am to 7:00pm, Sun-Thu 10:00am to 6:00pm
Admission charged.
Lake Lanier Islands is a resort and waterpark spread across
1,200 acres There are numerous hotels, golf courses, boat
rentals. But the biggest attraction is the Waterpark,
featuring water-slide rides, a king-size wave pool, a
mile and a half of white sandy beach, volleyball, and
live music and DJs.
Martin
Luther King Jr National Historic Site
450 Auburn NE
404-331-6922
Hours: Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm
Admission: Free
A half-mile stretch of Auburn Avenue east of downtown
is marked by its association with Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. These sites include the Queen Anne-style house where
he was born, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached,
and the memorial tomb at the King Center where he is buried.
The Visitor Center offers outstanding exhibits on the
life and times of King.
Piedmont
Park
Piedmont Ave NE at 14th Street
Hours: Daily 6:00am to 11:00pm
Admission: Free
Piedmont Park is now the center of outdoor and recreational
activities in Atlanta, where virtually any game or activity
imaginable can be found here. Piedmont also hosts various
statuary and memorials that bear witness to the city's
history.
SciTrek
Science & Tech Museum
395 Piedmont Ave NE
404-522-5500
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am to 5:00pm, Sun 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Admission charged.
SciTrek, Atlanta's museum of science and technology, prides
itself on its hands-on exhibits. More than 150 permanent
exhibits explain science through doing, touching, and
playing. The many activities and regularly scheduled science
shows are educational and fun for kids of all ages.
Six
Flags Over Georgia
7561 Six Flags Way
770-948-9290
Hours: Seasonal Hours. During the week 10:00am to 9:00pm
Weekends 10am to 10pm A 331-acre, state-of-the-art theme
park, Six Flags has over 100 rides, attractions, and shows.
Water Flumes, roller coasters, stage shows, musicals,
carnival food, restaurants, and more greet millions of
visitors to this regional attraction each year. Check
it out for a wild and fun time!
Stone
Mountain Park
770-498-5690
Hours: Daily 6:00am to 12:00am
Admission per car
Stone Mountain is located 20 minutes outside of Atlanta,
and features a three-acre sculpture of Confederate leaders
etched into the mountainside. Stone Mountain also has
a restored Antebellum Plantation, featuring 18th and 19th
century colonial mansions, slave cabins, coach houses,
and barns. The Park's 3,200 acres contain numerous lakes,
hiking trails, paved recreational paths, and a 1.3 mile
climb to the top of Stone Mountain. From the top one can
see Atlanta's modern skyline and the nearby Appalachians.
There are also a wildlife preserve and petting zoo operates
year round. Finally, there is a nightly laser show that
recreates historical events.
World
Of Coca-Cola
55 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
404-676-5151
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm, Sun 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Admission charged.
This museum is dedicated entirely to the history of the
world's most recognizable brand: Coca-Cola. Thousands
of Coke objects, commercials, radio jingles, and billboards
from Coke's 114 year history can be found within. Visitors
learn how Coke is bottled, and see Coke's international
side. A Coke tasting session caps off the tour, where
visitors can sample Coke from around the world.
Jimmy
Carter Library and Museum
441 Freedom Parkway
The Only presidential library in the southeast United
States honors the early life, political career, and presidency
of Jimmy Carter. Museum open to the public 7 days; designed
for a relaxed, leisurely visit. Enjoy a 30 minute historical
film on the Presidency, visit the Oval Office and enjoy
an exact replica of the beautiful Crown of St. Stephen,
a gift from the people of Hungary. Ongoing temporary exhibits
are offered. September thru April 1999, visitors will
enjoy a realistic recreation of Camp David and participate
in the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Camp David
Accords. Free cultural/educational programs featured throughout
the year. The public is encouraged to picnic at concerts
on the lawn, attend book signings of best-selling authors,
or lunch on the terrace at the Copenhill Café.
Stroll through the lovely gardens, sit by the pond, and
take photos of Atlanta's skyline. More Info