The “Peach State” of Georgia’s capital, Atlanta, is in many ways the main hub of the American South. The city began as a military outpost before transforming into an early railway junction and then swiftly became a significant commercial town.
It served as a crucial Confederate bastion and supply centre during the Civil War, but when Union General William Sherman took it, it was in ruins. Margaret Mitchell, an Things to Do in Atlanta native, earned the Pulitzer Prize for her best-selling book Gone with the Wind, which was inspired by these events.
Atlanta has developed into a significant economic, cultural, and aviation traffic hub in recent years. The headquarters of numerous well-known companies, including CNN and Coca-Cola, are located here.
When visiting Atlanta, don’t expect to find a serene, sedate Southern metropolis. Instead, travellers will discover a pretty huge, constantly crowded, yet incredibly dynamic American metropolis with close to 500,000 inhabitants, all of whom appear to want to be exactly where you are. Despite this, Atlanta is undoubtedly not devoid of Southern charm.
10 Best Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Atlanta
Atlanta is home to a plethora of fascinating destinations, with top tourist draws in everything from the arts to sports. Along the trip, you’ll also come across a lot of historical buildings, cutting-edge museums, and stunning parks and gardens.
Whatever your interests, this list of the Things to Do in Atlanta and things to do in Atlanta, Georgia, will make it simple for you to organise your trip.
1. Take the Kids to Zoo Atlanta
Another entertaining family activity to include on your agenda is a trip to Zoo Atlanta. The zoo, which was established in 1889, has recently undergone a significant change that has catapulted it to the top of lists of animal attractions in the USA.
Its central location in Grant Park, also known as the Atlanta Zoo, makes it simple to travel to, and the construction of new parking facilities has improved the visiting experience. A gorilla and monkey habitat in the African rainforest is one of its most well-liked displays. Other adorable animals include an aviary, lemurs, bears, and giant pandas in the Asian rainforest section.
2. Have Fun at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta
Anyone who enjoys LEGO? The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta, one of the best family attractions in the city, offers LEGO lovers of all ages a wonderful opportunity to satisfy their passion for these miniature plastic building blocks.
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta debuted in 2012 and is situated in the upscale Phipps Plaza, a posh retail centre to the north of downtown Atlanta. Highlights include a size LEGO replica of the city made from no less than 1.5 million bricks, depicting popular landmarks like the Georgia Aquarium and the Fox Theatre.
There are additional kid-friendly rides with a LEGO theme, as well as a 4-D theatre presenting related film adventures. Age-appropriate seminars are regularly given, and an opportunity to stock up on the most well-liked construction toy in the world is provided by the on-site store. There is a café on the property as well.
3. Atlanta History Center
The Atlanta History Center is a sizable complex that houses the Atlanta History Museum, Centennial Olympic Games Museum, Swan House, Smith Family Farm, Kenan Research Center, as well as several historic gardens.
The History Museum houses both a permanent collection and changing exhibitions on a variety of subjects relating to Atlanta’s history, including the American Civil War, Southern Folk Art, and more.
The historical homes, which date from the 1860s to the 1920s, give visitors a taste of life at the time. The apartment where Mitchell composed Gone with the Wind is located in the Margaret Mitchell House. This chamber, as well as a small documentary and exhibition about Margaret Mitchell, are all included in the guided tour.
4. Enjoy a Walk or Jog through Piedmont Park
The oldest and biggest park in the Atlanta metro area is Piedmont Park, which is only a short distance northeast of the city centre. The Civil War’s Battle at Peachtree Creek took place on these grounds.
A four-mile circle around the park’s scenic features, natural areas, gardens, and historic sites is among the miles of hiking and running trails that wind through its gently sloping meadows and shaded woods. Join fitness enthusiasts on Piedmont Park’s Active Oval running track for a challenging workout.
The park contains off-leash dog parks, gardens, sports fields, a lake with fishing piers, children’s playgrounds, a swimming pool at the Piedmont Park Aquatic Center, and a splash pad for kids at the Legacy Center in addition to offering walking and running routes.
5. See a Movie or Performance at the Fox Theatre
The Fox Theatre was once constructed in the 1920s as the opulent Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, with an Arabian-themed interior. Its history is complex, and there were issues during the Great Depression, but ever since it was built, it has been a beloved monument. On the National Register of Historic Places, it is recognised.
In an effort to restore the theater’s original grandeur, extensive restoration work has been done to the inside over the years, including repairs and restorations to the furniture collection to keep its 1929 aspect.
There are hundreds of performances held at the Fox every year, featuring a variety of entertainment options like operas, ballets, rock concerts, and movies. The Egyptian Ballroom and the Grand Salon are two ballrooms that are in addition to the theatre.
6. Explore the “Real Thing” at World of Coca-Cola
A syrup was developed in 1886 by a chemist by the name of Dr. John Pemberton, or so he said, to treat headaches and other alleged illnesses. The world’s most well-known soft drink was created when a buddy of his combined the sticky liquid with water and carbonic acid.
The World of Coca-Cola entertains viewers of all ages while illuminating the history and triumphant development of the popular beverage. Scent Discovery, a brand-new exhibit that tests your sense of smell and investigates the roots of distinct perfumes, analyses the sense of smell and its origins.
7. Center for Civil and Human Rights
A wonderfully designed interpretive center/museum commemorates Atlanta’s role in the American Civil Rights Campaign of the 1950s and 1960s by relating this titanic fight to the larger global movement for human rights.
With authentic television newscasts, speeches, images, movies, personal testimonies, and interactive activities that immerse visitors in the struggle, the Center for Civil and Human Rights covers the history of Jim Crow laws. Men and women who lost their lives in the conflict are honoured via portraits and accounts of their labour.
The Human Rights Movement gallery broadens the scope of the story to include human rights issues such as women’s rights, children’s rights, and apartheid in South Africa, encouraging viewers to consider the rights of people everywhere.
8. Tour the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
A national historic site has been established to safeguard two blocks of Auburn Avenue. They include the civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace at 501 Auburn Avenue, which was built in 1895, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where his father served as a preacher, at 407–413 Auburn Avenue.
The National Park Service provides free tours of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace. Within the historic site, there are a number of additional linked locations to explore. King’s burial is located in the Freedom Hall Complex, just next to it. Fire Station No. 6, which played a role in the neighborhood’s life and where volunteers share tales of life here when King was growing up, is located between his birthplace and Ebenezer Baptist Church.
9. Take a Stroll through the Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a nice area where you may spend some time strolling around. A variety of well-designed gardens, including formal flowerbeds and imposing trees that frame Midtown Atlanta’s urban landscape, are some of this must-see Atlanta destination.
The botanical garden is wonderful all year round since there is always something in bloom. Having said that, spring is undoubtedly a fantastic season to travel because of the riot of hues. Other noteworthy features are the Desert House, the Winter Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Conservation Garden, and the Orchid Display House at the Fuqua Orchid Center.
10. Visit the Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium offers a vast range of marine life as well as some very engaging and interactive activities for guests, making it one of the best family-friendly things to do in Atlanta. One of the biggest aquariums in the world, it is home to more than 100,000 aquatic animals, including whale sharks, the biggest sharks in the ocean.
Additionally, you may view rare albino alligators and observe trainers working with California sea lions. The possibility to dive or snorkel in the shark tank is one distinctive option provided by the Georgia Aquarium. Visitors who are certified in SCUBA diving are required to engage in the dive programme.
