|
Atlanta is a lively,
thriving city, the capital of Georgia, and a burgeoning centre of commerce and
the arts. Many Fortune 500 companies have global, corporate or regional headquarters
in Atlanta, and young professionals from around the nation are moving to the
city in ever increasing numbers. The dramatic, ever changing, downtown skyline,
with its gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers, is testimony to Atlanta's inability
to rest on its laurels, even for a moment.
Consistently ranked
as one of the best cities in the world in which to do business, Atlanta is headquarters
for hundreds of corporations, including Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, UPS, Holiday
Inn, Georgia-Pacific, Home Depot, and BellSouth and Cox Communications. A major
convention city and a crossroads where three interstate highways converge, it's
home to the country's second busiest airport and is the shopping capital of
the Southeast. Although the city limits are only 131 square miles, the metro
area is vast and sprawling. With 3.5 million in population and still counting,
there seems to be no limit to its growth.
Media mogul Ted
Turner inaugurated CNN in Atlanta in 1980, following with Superstation TBS,
Headline News, and TNT. The city’s High Museum of Art opened its doors in 1983.
In 1989, Underground Atlanta, a retail/restaurant/entertainment complex with
a historical theme, came into being.
There are major
art, science, nature, and archaeology museums, a vibrant theatre community,
an outstanding symphony, a world class ballet company, opera, blues, jazz, Broadway
musicals, a presidential library, Confederate and African-American heritage
sites, and dozens of art galleries.
Currently the
spotlight in Atlanta is not on growth and how to encourage it, but on growth
and how to manage it. This has resulted in major improvements in transportation
and in restoration of the historic and downtown areas.
Atlanta's arts
community has deep roots. The Atlanta Ballet is the oldest Ballet Company in
America. Visitors come to Atlanta for a taste of the South and find they have
discovered an international flavour. Atlanta's position as the cultural capital
of the South affords patrons an array of options. The presence of both traditional
and experimental arts organizations means that neither the classics nor avant-garde
works are neglected. A typical year's offerings include traditional Shakespeare,
symphony and grand opera as well as child and adult-oriented puppet theatre,
post-modern psychological drama and alternative productions of well-known works.
There is a wide
selection of offerings in the visual arts too. Besides the architecturally renowned
High Museum of Art, Emory University's Michael C. Carlos Museum and The High
Museum of Art Folk Art and Photography Galleries, the city has many private
and public galleries that sponsor a variety of artists and styles. Traditional,
primitive and modern painting, sculpture, studio crafts, drawing, and photography
are part of the wealth of artistic offerings on view at any given time.
The city also
hosts many less cerebral attractions such as Georgia's Stone Mountain Park,
a regional theme park, a botanical garden, and major league sports teams. The
culinary spectrum ranges from grits and biscuits to caviar and sushi. Fried
chicken and barbecue are available, but Atlanta also serves up Chinese,Thai,
Ethiopian, and Russian cuisine.
Atlanta enjoys
four definite seasons. Warm summers and mild winters allow nearly year round
golfing, fishing and outdoor living. The Stone Mountain nightly laser show and
the park's many recreational opportunities keep millions of visitors coming
back. Nightlife is hopping at Buckhead where young sophisticates gather for
dancing to great music until 4:00AM. Families keep a lively pace visiting the
bounty of fun -filled and educational offerings from the Atlanta zoo to Cyclorama
and SciTrek. There is no limit that can be placed on the possibilities of an
Atlanta vacation!
Check out some
other diversions, attractions and activities in Atlanta and the local area.
Atlanta History
Centre
130 W Paces Ferry Rd
Tel: 404-814-4000
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am to 5:30 pm, Sun 12:00pm to 5:30 pm
Prices: Adults $7, Seniors and Students $5, Children 6-17 $4
A contemporary atmosphere marks this historical centre, which holds the largest,
most comprehensive Civil War exhibits in the South, and touches on aspects of
Southern and Atlanta history, including the civil-rights struggle. Two historic
homes on the 23-acre grounds of the centre are open for touring: an authentic
1840s-working farm (The Tullie Smith House), and a 1928 grand Italianate mansion
(The Swan House)
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave NE
Tel: 404-876-5859
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00am to 6:00pm
Prices: Adults $6, Seniors $5, Students and Kids $3, 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 feel 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.
Centre for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street
Tel: 404-873-3391
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm
Prices: Adults $5, kids $4, or $2 with a performance ticket for the same day
Located in a former elementary school, the 22-year-old centre prides itself
on being the largest organization in the U.S. devoted to puppetry. The centre
offers puppetry classes, daily performances by centre puppeteers and various
companies, along with a great interactive museum that includes figures like
the Muppets.
CNN Centre
1 CNN Centre
Tel: 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
Centre is the CNN Studios tour, a must-see for an impressive behind-the-scenes
look at global news in the making.
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 cosy glens, abundant small hills, gazebos
and open pavilions. Grant Park also contains the Atlanta Zoo.
Kennesaw Mountain National Park
900 Kennesaw Mountain DR NW
Tel: 770-427-4686
Hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:00pm
Prices: 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 artefacts. Guests often picnic
here and enjoy views of Atlanta and even Chattanooga, Tennessee. Over 1million
people enjoy this park each year.
Lake Lanier Islands
6950 Holiday Rd
Tel: 770-932-7255
Hours: Fri-Sat 10:00am to 7:00pm, Sun-Thu 10:00am to 6:00pm
Prices: Adults $20.99, seniors of kids $13.99, kids under 2: free, Parking/entrance
fee: $6
Lake Lanier Islands is a resort and water park 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
Tel: 404-331-6922
Hours: Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm
Prices: 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 Centre where he is buried. The Visitor Centre offers outstanding
exhibits on the life and times of King.
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
Prices: Adults $7.50, students, seniors, kids 3-17 $5
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
Tel: 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
Tel: 770-498-5690
Hours: Daily 6:00am to 12:00am
Prices: $6 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
Tel: 404-676-5151
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm, Sun 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Prices: Adults $6, seniors, students, and kids 12 and up $4, kids 6-11 $3
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 honours 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.
Have you been to Atlanta and know about some more great highlights worth a mention? Add details for other visitors to read about.
Add a Atlanta highlight > >.
|
|
