With over 16.5 million visitors each year, Atlanta is a prime tourist destination. Visit the largest city in Georgia, with a combined statistical area of 5,729,304 people, the tenth largest in the country. Atlanta only has one major airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport which is the world’s busiest airport. The passenger terminal complex is equivalent in size to more than 45 football fields! Atlanta is home to the Bank of America Plaza, the tallest building outside of New York City and Chicago. Atlanta is known for their peaches, from the annual Peach Drop to the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10K race in the world with approximately 45,000 runners annually, to driving on one of the 55 streets with the name “Peachtree” in Georgia, you’re bound to hear or see something about a peach! Atlanta has 130 retail centers, 71 public golf courses, and 54 public parks. Atlanta has more shopping center space per capita than any other city except Chicago! We also dedicated an entire episode of our podcast to visiting Atlanta, which can be seen here.

You can save 42% off regular ticket booth prices by purchasing a combination ticket to 5 Atlanta attractions with the Atlanta CityPASS. Atlanta is a 2 hour drive from Chattanooga (120 miles), 2½ hours from Birmingham (150 miles), 3½ hours from Valdosta (225 miles), 4 hour drive from Nashville (250 miles), 4 hours from Savannah (250 miles), 4 hours from Charlotte (250 miles), 5 hours from Panama City (290 miles), 5 hours to Charleston (320 miles), and 7 hours to Orlando (450 miles).

Top 20 Attractions

1. The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium with 120,000 animals and 500 species. We consider it to be the nation’s best aquarium, as seen on our list of the 25 Best Aquariums In America. They opened in 2005, containing more than 8.1 million gallons of marine and fresh water. See whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions and African black-footed penguins. Deepo’s Underwater 3D Wondershow is a movie show at the Aquarium that is well worth seeing. The Aquarium is divided into five different galleries: Georgia Explorer, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, and River Scout. Georgia Explorer is geared toward children with a huge, fun playground. The Aquarium’s located in downtown Atlanta at Pemberton Place across from the World of Coca-Cola. The aquarium was funded mostly by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus. The aquarium recently opened a $110 million dollar expansion that features Bottlenose Dolphins; consider seeing the AT&T Dolphin Tails show, which includes “live human actors, dramatic costuming and amazing affects,” for an additional cost. Expect crowds when going in peak season, consider buying tickets online or going when the aquarium opens. The aquarium typically takes 2-4 hours to see. Adult admission is $24.95 and child admission is $18.85. The dolphin combo, which includes show tickets, is $37.45 for adults and $25.95 for children.

See the whale sharks at the world’s largest aquarium.

2. Zoo Atlanta features four giant pandas. Lun Lun and Yang Yang have had two cubs, Mei Lan and Xi Lan. Also enjoy gorillas, orangutans, otters, red pandas, giraffes, elephants, and lions. The zoo is divided into three distinct areas, African Rainforest & Plains, Asian Forest, and Kid’s Interactive Discovery Zone. Three rides are located in KIDZone, Northfolk Southern Zoo Express train, Nabisco Endangered Species Carousel and the Rock Climber Wall. This is one of only four zoos in the nation to house giant pandas. We love visiting this zoo and hope you will as well. Admission is $20.99 for adults and $15.99 for children, rides are an additional cost.

3. The World Of Coca-Cola opened on May 24, 2007 at Pemberton Place, which is adjacent to the Georgia Aquarium. Coke fan or not, you will love this modern museum. Attractions include the Lobby, Happiness Factory Theatre, The Hub, Pop Culture Gallery, Coca-Cola Loft, Milestones of Refreshment, Secret Formula 4-D, Coca-Cola Connections and Bottle Works. Start out in the Lobby, then see Inside the Happiness Factory: A Documentary, next you will enter The Hub where kids can get their picture taken with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear. From there you can see the other attractions in what ever order you would like, a layout similar to the Georgia Aquarium. Our favorite attraction is Taste It!, where guests can sample 64 products offered by The Coca-Cola Company worldwide. We rank it as one of the 27 Coolest Museums In America. Admission is $16.00 for adults and $12.00 for children.

Come thirsty to the futuristic World of Coke!

4. Stone Mountain is a huge quartz monzonite, 825 foot tall, dome that is located near downtown Atlanta. Reach the top by walking or taking the skylift. Get to the top to find all rock and few trees, get a scenic view of downtown Atlanta and the surrounding area. The carving was completed on March 3, 1972. This Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate leaders of the Civil War: President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and their favorite horses, Blackjack, Traveler, and Old Sorrel. The entire carved surface measures 3 acres which is about the size of three football fields. The mountain is home to the Laser Show Spectacular, a nightly fireworks and laser light display that was completely overhauled for 2011 and shows during the summer. Confederate Hall is a museum all about the history of Stone Mountain. Sky Hike is the nations largest adventure course. Parking is $10 and a ticket to all major attractions is $27 for adults and $21 for children.

5. High Museum of Art was founded in 1905 and has been expanded many times to become the thriving place it is today. See the permanent collection of art with more than 11,000 pieces including 19th and 20th century American art; European art; decorative arts; African American art; modern and contemporary art; photography and African art. This is our favorite Atlanta art museum, walk-up admission is free for Fulton County residents on the first Saturday of each month. Enjoy half-price admission every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Bank of America cardholders receive free admission on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. General admission is $18 and $11 for children.

6. CNN Studio Tour– Go backstage at the CNN global headquarters at the world’s largest newsgathering organization, on a tour that lasts about 55 minutes. Have a videotape made of yourself reading the day’s top stories from behind a CNN anchor desk. Discover interactive kiosks where you can surf the CNN websites or access clips from the top 100 stories that CNN has covered, see memorabilia from some of those events, and see a journalism ethics display. A theater that re-creates CNN’s main control room allows you to experience the behind-the-scenes elements of a news broadcast. See the magic of a high-tech Blue Chromakey system and learn how on-air graphics are made, and learn the secrets of the TelePrompTer. Get a bird’s-eye view of the main CNN newsroom from a glass-walled observation station. Adult admission is $15 and child admission is $10.

7. Visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden to discover 30-acres of gardens, one of the nations best orchid displays, a children’s garden, rose garden and so much more. A number of recent expansions includes the Canopy Walk, where guests can walk 40 feet above an urban forest. We were very impressed, I’ve even seen this garden featured on HGTV. We consider it to be one of the 12 Best Botanical Gardens In The USA. Adult admission is $18.95 and child admission is $12.95.

8. Six Flags Over Georgia– Just like any other Six Flags, no theming really, mainly just a ton of huge coasters! They do have a few great rides for younger kids, but those looking for something in the middle may be left wishing they went to the water park next door, White Water. Parking is $15 and admission is $59.99 for adults and $39.99 for children. Admission to White Water is $39.99 for adults and $29.99 for children.

The Dare Devil Dive Coaster at Six Flags – thrill seekers unite.

9. Fernbank Museum of Natural History – The largest museum of natural sciences in the Southeast is housed in a soaring three-story, sky-lit Great Hall, with ancient fossil remains from the late Jurassic period down below. Fernbank is the only place in the world to display a complete mounted skeleton of Argentinosaurus, the largest dinosaur ever found. The “Giants of the Mesozoic,” features the 90-foot-long plant eater as it defends its nest of eggs against the 45-foot-long Giganotosaurus, the largest meat-eater ever classified. “A Walk Through Time in Georgia,” allows visitors to travel back 15 billion years to experience the origins of the universe and the formation of solar systems, and into the future to consider the fate of our planet. Eighteen galleries re-create landform regions from the rolling pine-forested foothills of the Piedmont Plateau to the mossy Okefenokee Swamp, with more than 1,500 fabricated plants and mounted specimens of birds and animals. Also be sure to catch a stunning IMAX film on the five stories high and 72 feet wide screen. General admission is $15 adults ($23 includes an IMAX theater ticket), $14 seniors and students ($21 includes an IMAX theater ticket), $13 children 3-12 ($19 includes IMAX theater ticket), free for children 2 and under. IMAX theater admission alone $13 adults, $12 seniors and students, $11 children 3-12, free for children 2 and under.

10. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta – This 30,000-square-foot children’s museum is conveniently located across the street from Centennial Olympic Park and just steps away from The World of Coke and The Georgia Aquarium. This museum features colorful hands-on exhibits and activities that allow children the opportunity to look, listen, touch, and explore in order to discover firsthand how things work. There are four major learning zones: Fundamentally Food, Let Your Creativity Flow, Tools for Solutions, and Leaping into Learning, the specialty zone for toddlers. The Morph Gallery has changing exhibits, such as Bob the Builder, the Amazing Castle, and Curious George’s Let’s Get Curious. The museum is recommended for children 2 to 8, but all are welcome. Admission $13 (plus tax) for adults and children 2 and above, free for children 1 and under. Advance ticket reservations encouraged.

11. Fox Theatre – Originally conceived as a Shriners’ temple in 1916, this lavish, block-long Moorish-Egyptian beauty ended up as a movie theater when the Shriners realized that their grandiose plan had far exceeded their budget. It comes all decked out with motifs of the Middle East, including replicas of art and furnishings from King Tut’s tomb. A brass-trimmed marble kiosk imported from Italy serves as a ticket booth and the 140-foot entrance arcade leads to a lushly carpeted lobby with blue-tiled goldfish pools. The auditorium is an Arabian courtyard under a twinkling starlit sky that, with state-of-the-art technology, could be transformed to a sky at sunrise or sunset. Today it features Broadway shows, headliners, dance companies, and comedy stars. Best of all, the theater has been restored to its former glory, being that its fabulous furnishings and fixtures all refurbished or replaced with replicas. You cannot explore the building on your own, so call to find out when you can take a tour, or come to see a performance in the theater. Behind the scenes tours are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

12. Turner Field – This 50,000-seat ballpark began as an 80,000-seat stadium built to host the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996. The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame features memorabilia commemorating legendary stars and key moments in Braves history. The museum is open to ticket holders on game days 3 hours before game time and 1 hour after the completion of the game. Scouts Alley is designed to teach fans about the fine art of scouting, as fans can test their hitting and throwing skills, call up scouting reports on former and current Braves, play a trivia game, call a play-by-play inning of a game, learn about Hank Aaron’s “hot” spot, and much more. At the Cartoon Network’s Tooner Field, kids can hang out with Cartoon Network characters or play interactive games in the Digital Dugout. At the East Pavilion, fans can have their images inserted into either a baseball card or a photo of a great moment in Braves history. Also consider touring Turner Field to get a behind the scenes look at what goes on here. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for military and children 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under. Tours include the museum, the dugout, the press box and broadcast booth, the clubhouse, Scouts Alley, and more. Museum-only tickets are $5 on nongame days and $2 on game days.

13. Georgia State Capitol – Completed in 1889, the capitol building features a 75-foot dome, covered in gold leaf and topped by a Statue of Freedom. The building is fronted by a massive four-story portico with a pediment supported by six Corinthian columns set on large stone piers. In the rotunda, with its soaring 237-foot ceiling, are busts of famous Georgians, including signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The governor’s office is off the main hall. See the House of Representatives and, and across the hall, the Senate chambers. The legislature meets for 40 days, beginning the second Monday in January and all of its sessions are open to the public. The fourth floor houses legislative galleries and the Georgia Capitol Museum, with exhibits on cotton, peach, and peanut growing. General admission is free of charge.

14. Birth Home of Martin Luther King, Jr – Martin Luther King, Jr., was born in this two-story Queen Anne-style house on January 15, 1929, the oldest son of a Baptist minister and an elementary-school music teacher. He preferred baseball to piano lessons, liked to play board games, and got a kick out of tearing the heads off his older sister’s dolls (nonviolence came later). King lived here through the age of 12, and then moved with his family to a house a few blocks away. King’s younger brother, Alfred Daniel, lived here with his family from 1954 to 1963. In 1971, King’s mother deeded the home to the King Center. It has since been restored to its appearance during the years of King’s boyhood, as the furnishings are all originals or period reproductions, and some personal items belonging to the family are on display. Admission is free of charge.

15. Jimmy Carter Library and Museum – Set on 30 acres of gardens, lakes, and waterfalls, this presidential library houses some 27 million pages of documents, memoranda, and correspondence from Jimmy Carter’s White House years. Also see 1.5 million photographs and hundreds of hours of audio- and videotapes. You’ll even come across an exact replica of the Oval Office during Carter’s presidency. A large display of “gifts of state” includes a carpet from the Shah of Iran. You’ll also see the table setting used when the Carters entertained Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and his wife in the State Dining Room; a video of artists such as the late pianist Vladimir Horowitz performing in the East Room; campaign memorabilia; and a large display devoted to the activities of Rosalynn Carter. Other exhibits focus on Carter’s support of human rights (there’s a letter from Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov and Carter’s reply); his boyhood days (you’ll see his sixth-grade report card and a photo of the Plains High basketball team); and his pre-presidential life as a peanut farmer, governor, and state senator. President Carter himself stops in occasionally. Admission $8 adults, $6 seniors 60 and over, free for children 16 and under.

16. Oakland Cemetery – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this outstanding 88-acre Victorian cemetery was founded in 1850. It survived the Civil War and remained the only cemetery in Atlanta for 34 years. Among the more than 48,000 people buried here are Confederate and Union soldiers (including five Southern generals), prominent families, paupers, governors and mayors, golfing great Bobby Jones, and Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell. There’s a Jewish section (consecrated by a temple), a black section (dating from segregation days), and a potters’ field (a section for unknown or poor people). Real-estate tycoon Jasper Newton Smith had a life-size statue of himself erected on his grave so he could watch the city’s goings-on into eternity. Dr. James Nissen, Oakland’s first burial, feared being buried alive; his will directed that his jugular vein be severed prior to interment. And John Morgan Dye was a baby who died during the siege of Atlanta; his mother walked through the raging battle to the cemetery carrying the small corpse. The smallest grave, however, is that of “Tweet,” a pet mockingbird buried in its family’s lot. Though you can visit whenever the cemetery is open, try to come when you can take a guided tour. Guided walking tours are available Mar-Nov for $10 adults, $5 seniors and students.

17. Margaret Mitchell House & Museum – This is the birthplace of Gone With the Wind. The structure was built as a single-family dwelling in 1899, then moved to the back of the lot in 1913 and converted into a 10-unit apartment building 6 years later. It remained an apartment building until 1979, when it was abandoned and eventually boarded up. When the newlyweds moved in, they called it “the dump.” It was not an affectionate nickname; according to a friend of Mitchell’s, she disliked living here (finances left few alternatives) and would probably be offended by the notion of its restoration. Guided tours, which last 1 to 1 1/2 hours, begin in the visitor center. Before beginning the tour, guests enter the theater to see a 17-minute film titled It May Not Be Tara, featuring an overview of Mitchell’s life, and interviews with some of her friends and family members. Also in the theater is an exhibit of photos taken of Mitchell in her teens and 20s. Admission $13 adults, $10 seniors and students, $8.50 children 4-12, free for children 3 and under.

18. Fernbank Science Center – Owned and funded by the DeKalb County School System, this place is located adjacent to the 65-acre Fernbank Forest. There’s also a 1.5-mile forest trail here, with plants marked for identification, and a rose garden is next-door to the museum. The indoor facility houses exhibits such as a video display on geological phenomena, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain formation, and so on. They have a gem collection, an exhibit tracing the development of life in Georgia, a complete weather station, fossilized trees, the original Apollo 6 space capsule and space suit (on loan from the Smithsonian), computer games, a replica of the Okefenokee Swamp, complete with sound effects; and models of dinosaurs that roamed Atlanta in prehistoric times. At the Observatory, which contains the largest telescope in the world dedicated to public education, an astronomer gives talks and helps visitors to spot celestial objects. Planetarium shows are held daily. Admission and parking are free of charge. Ticket prices for planetarium shows are $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and seniors.

19. Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum – As boring as this place may sound, it’s actually pretty cool, even if you’re not a history buff! The Atlanta Cyclorama was created in the 1880s, and the concept — a huge, 360-degree cylindrical painting viewed from a rotating platform — dates from a century earlier. Cycloramas were the rage of 18th- and 19th-century Europe, Russia, Japan, and, later, the United States, depicting subject matter ranging from the splendors of Pompeii to Napoleonic battles. Enhanced by multimedia effects and faux terrain extending 30 feet from the painting into the foreground, they were the forerunners of newsreels, travelogues, and TV war coverage. See a 42-foot-high cylindrical oil painting that depicts the events of the Battle of Atlanta, on July 22, 1864, in meticulous detail. It took 11 Eastern European artists, working in the United States in the studio of William Wehner, 22 months to complete the project. A 14-minute film about the. Admission $10 adults 13-64, $8 seniors (65 and up), $8 children 4-12, free for children 3 and under

20. The Paper Museum of Georgia Tech – an internationally renowned resource on the history of paper and paper technology.  In addition to more than 2,000 books, the museum features a remarkable collection of over 10,000 watermarks, papers, tools, machines, and manuscripts.  The museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, increase and disseminate knowledge about papermaking – past, present and future. The museum’s exhibits feature Hunter’s historic collection, tools from the early industrialization of papermaking, environmental issues related to papermaking, and changing gallery spaces. Admission is free.

Looking for even more? Check out our 40-minute podcast on The Best of Atlanta!

Restaurants

Medieval Times Dinner Theater – is a family dinner theater featuring staged medieval-style games, sword-fighting, and jousting performed by a cast of 75 actors and 20 horses. It is housed in a replica 11th-century castle.

The Varsity – A true ATL classic, they have multiple locations – including one that is the largest drive-in restaurant in the world. It can accommodate over 400 cars and it was founded in 1974.

Flip Burger Boutique – This is not your average burger joint, as they have become well known for making burgers with unique toppings, some of which are topped with eggs, hash-browns, bleu cheese, brisket, avocado, bacon, cilantro-lime mayo, apple chutney, lamb, tuna, and even yogurt! Their innovative creations have gotten press in The Wall Street Journal, SKY Magazine, and in Food & Wine Magazine.  Burger prices start at $7.5 and go up to $14.

West Egg Cafe -From the soft drink’s hometown of Atlanta comes a unique dessert called “Coca-Cola cake“—a layer cake that gets its extra-light texture (and caramel color) from the soda added to the batter. Coca-Cola cupcakes and cakes are served with Coke-flavored frosting and topped with bottle-shaped gummies. It’s just a 6 minute drive from The World of Coke museum.

Hard Rock Cafe – Situated in Atlanta’s Cornerstone Building, this restaurant could be considered a cornerstone of southern rock. Packed with memorabilia from rock legends with roots south of the Mason-Dixon Line, this cafe serves up delicious delicacies everyday.

Ted’s Montana Grill – Owned by CNN founder Ted Turner, this restaurant has become famous for its delicious bison, burgers, and salads. This chain has grown to have dozens of restaurants around the country.

Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles – Soul queen Gladys Knight has been serving excellent soul food since 1997. They offer a variety of Southern comfort food, but their most noteworthy is the Midnight Train, which is four fried chicken wings and a waffle. Other popular dishes are the smothered chicken, mac n’ cheese, and shrimp and grits. You may have seen this restaurant featured on the Travel Channel’s Man Vs. Food.

The Cheesecake Factory – Since first opening in Beverly Hills in 1978, these restaurants have become well known for their fun atmosphere, huge portions and more than 200 menu selections to choose from. They offer 50 cheesecakes and specialty desserts, with some that are only offered seasonally. These include: Key lime cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Cookie – Dough cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake (available from October – holidays), Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake, and after thanksgiving they even have a peppermint Bark Cheesecake!

Shopping

If there’s one thing that Atlantans love, it’s shopping. For someone who only has time to visit one mall on their trip to Atlanta, I highly recommend going to Lenox Mall, being that it truly has something for every budget and it’s conveniently located practically right across the street from Phipps Plaza.

Lenox Mall – Featuring 250 stores across four levels, Lenox has anchors that include Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s department stores. There are 250 shops, restaurants, kiosks, and services in the mall, including six movie theaters and several fine-dining restaurants. Among the best-known stores are Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, BCBG, Betsey Johnson, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Cartier, Club Monaco, Coach, Hermès (which is nearby), J. Crew, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Louis Vuitton, Nicole Miller, Polo/Ralph Lauren, Sephora, St. John, Stuart Weitzman, Urban Outfitters, and Williams-Sonoma. Pottery Barn (the world’s largest!!), Restoration Hardware, and Crate & Barrel all carry a selection of home furnishings and accessories, including many items that are usually available only by catalog. Many of these upscale stores do not have other locations within several hundred miles of Atlanta.

Phipps Plaza – With over 100 stores, Phipps Plaza opened in 1969 as the first multi-level mall in Atlanta, going on to become the South’s leading luxury shopping destination. Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Belk, the mall boasts a variety of luxury retailers like Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Bally, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, Omega, Rebecca Taylor,Wolford, Giuseppe Zanotti, Trina Turk, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Valentino, Elie Tahari, L.K. Bennett, Agent Provocateur, Hublot, Tory Burch, and Bottega Veneta. They have $7 valet parking and a free shuttle to Lenox Square at the Lenox Road entrance (though its almost right across the street so I always just walk).

Mall of Georgia – Located about a half-hour drive from downtown, anchors include Dillard’s, Nordstrom, and Macy’s. They’re joined by 225 of the biggest names in retail, including Ann Taylor, A/X Armani Exchange, Coach, J. Crew, Old Navy, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Talbots, and Williams-Sonoma. Dining and entertainment options abound here, with Max Lager’s American Grill, outdoor cafes, and a 500-seat amphitheater.

Discover Mills – Featuring 200 specialty shops and outlets, with some offering up to 70% off on designer fashions and brand names. Just 30 minutes northeast of downtown, Discover Mills features a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Burlington Coat Factory, Children’s Place Outlet, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Kenneth Cole Outlet, Justice, Mikasa Factory Store, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, Off 5th (Saks Fifth Avenue outlet), OshKosh B’gosh Outlet, Samsonite Company Store, and Sun & Ski Sports.

Transportation

Coming Soon!

Hotels

featured:

city_attraction:

#attraction

city_dining:

#dining

city_hotels:

#hotels

city_shopping:

#shopping

city_transportation:

#transportation

super_post:

a:5:{s:3:"tab";a:3:{s:7:"general";s:1:"1";s:8:"advanced";s:1:"0";s:7:"upgrade";s:1:"0";}s:5:"views";i:1915;s:5:"likes";s:1:"1";s:6:"emails";s:0:"";s:6:"custom";s:0:"";}

sbg_selected_sidebar:

a:5:{i:0;s:1:"0";i:1;s:1:"0";i:2;s:1:"0";i:3;s:1:"0";i:4;s:1:"0";}

sbg_selected_sidebar_replacement:

a:5:{i:0;s:1:"0";i:1;s:1:"0";i:2;s:1:"0";i:3;s:1:"0";i:4;s:1:"0";}

essb_cached_image:

http://www.uscitytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Screen-Shot-2013-11-17-at-5.21.34-AM-e1384683797899.png