Atlanta Travel Guide
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Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is also considered the "Capital of the New South" because it is the center of trade, industry, and economy in the southeastern USA. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. In the last decade, the city's population has grown by 40 percent! Although the city is full of giant highways and ultra-modern skyscrapers, it manages to preserve the romantic atmosphere of the old and peaceful South and is abundant with trees and greenery. Jimmy Carter, who was the Governor of Georgia, is considered one of the people who greatly influenced the city's design. He wanted Atlanta to be a city where every one of its inhabitants would feel comfortable living, and indeed it is a well-planned modern city.
The number of residents in the city is about 420,000, but in the entire metropolitan area (including the many suburbs) more than 4 million residents live! Atlanta residents are known for their friendliness and their Southern hospitality. Their lifestyle is much more relaxed than that of residents of other large cities such as: New York, Chicago, or Philadelphia. The city has many universities thanks to which Atlanta is bustling with young people. The city's population is very diverse and has a significant representation of the black middle-to-upper class.
Tourist information can be obtained at the main visitor center: Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), address: 233 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 2000, Atlanta.
Book guided tours in Atlanta from GetYourGuide.com:
♥ Recommended Accommodations in AtlantaIn the city center: The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta - A 5-star hotel in the heart of the city with 444 rooms and suites. The hotel has a gym, sauna, and provides evening entertainment for its guests. The hotel features a restaurant and bar. Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park - A huge hotel with 1035 rooms with a 4-star rating. The hotel has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, spa, and a kids' club. Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Centennial Park - A high-quality and modern suite hotel from the Hilton chain in the city center, adjacent to the Olympic Park, with 321 rooms, all with a fully equipped kitchen. Free breakfast. The hotel features a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and gym.
For those with a rental car who prefer to live near the city's large shopping centers, it is recommended to live in the northern suburbs of the city in the "Perimeter" area:
Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter - A 4-star hotel with 275 rooms. The hotel has a swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym, and restaurant. Located a minute's walk from the Perimeter Mall. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta - N Perimeter Mall, an IHG Hotel - A 3-star hotel with 107 rooms, each with a refrigerator and microwave. The hotel features a swimming pool and gym. Free breakfast, internet, and parking. Hilton Suites Atlanta Perimeter - A suite hotel belonging to the Hilton chain with 224 suites located in the heart of a shopping area full of malls and restaurants. Each suite has a refrigerator and microwave. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, gym, jacuzzi, and restaurant. Free parking.
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Weather:
The weather in the city is pleasant for most of the year. There are clear differences between the four seasons of the year. In summer, it is hot and humid. Although locals call it "Hotlanta," typical afternoon rain showers cool the air slightly and overall it is certainly tolerable in the summer months (no less than New York, Washington, or Tel Aviv...). Winter days are pleasant and it is definitely possible to walk in the parks and sit in non-covered restaurants, but the nights are cold. At least once a winter it snows in the city. Precipitation is fairly similar in all seasons, so it's always good to be equipped with a raincoat or umbrella. The most comfortable temperatures are in spring and autumn.
Timing of Visit:
Atlanta is a recommended tourist destination in all seasons. It does not have a distinct "tourist season." Since it is a popular destination for conventions and exhibitions, it is advisable to avoid arriving during a large convention, as accommodation prices, especially in the city center, rise significantly. Autumn and spring are relatively long seasons and since the weather in them is the most comfortable and nature in the area is at its peak beauty (in April the blossoming of the many trees is in full glory), these are the most recommended seasons for visiting the city. The city's largest festival, in honor of the blossoming trees, is the Atlanta Dogwood Festival held annually in April. It is an art and entertainment festival held in the city, in Piedmont Park, for 68 years and hosts famous artists and singers. The festival includes entertainment stages, an artist market, and a kids' village.
It is worth staying in Atlanta for at least two full days. Those interested in visiting the large amusement sites: the "Six Flags" amusement park and spending a day at "Stone Mountain" should allocate at least 3 days for the city visit. The city is also a starting or ending point for a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Main attractions in the city:
Downtown Atlanta – Atlanta's city center is modern and impressive with skyscrapers, architectural landmarks, parks, shopping centers, and plenty of attractions. The Georgia State Capitol building, a renovated impressive structure with its gold dome, is also located in the area. Since the center is relatively small, it can be explored "thoroughly" by foot, but those who wish to tour it in a more special way are invited to ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Tours of an hour or half an hour take place in the city center, during which explanations about the city and its sites are given.
Another special way to see the area is a guided Segway tour. The Segway is an innovative and very friendly two-wheeled vehicle that travels at speeds up to 20 km/h. After a short practice, you discover how friendly, stable, and easy to ride this strange vehicle is, and you can enjoy riding it on trails, sidewalks, and boardwalks between the city's tourist sites while listening to guides' explanations (the ride is conducted in small groups) about the tourist sites and the uniqueness of each site. Due to the high popularity of the tour, places must be booked in advance! A fun and exciting experience.
Discount card for several attractions in Atlanta:
The main sites in the city:
World of Coca-Cola - one of the symbols of the city and a major draw in the city. It is essentially a hall of fame for the popular drink that presents the history of the drink, since the beginning of the Coca-Cola company in Atlanta in 1886. The place has many historical souvenirs, demonstrations, videos, and effects. The highlight of the visit is the many drink machines located side by side where you can taste the company's beverages produced in many places in the world, ranging from classic and familiar flavors to special flavors from exotic lands, such as: a fizzy lychee-flavored drink from China. Even drinks produced in our tiny country are represented. The place also has fountains that spray the popular beverage. At the end of the visit, a nice large souvenir shop awaits you where the company logo is stamped on each of its many products. The visit to the place lasts about two hours.
CNN Center - In the heart of Atlanta, near the Olympic Park, is located the world's largest television station broadcasting news 24 hours a day globally. 45-minute tours are held there, including explanations about the network and its broadcasts, visits to various studios, control rooms, and a demonstration of the special effects used during filming.
Underground Atlanta - this is the only ancient part of the city that has been preserved and restored. It is actually a street that became underground due to massive construction of railways and bridges above it, until it became completely covered. The area was neglected and shabby until, thanks to an ambitious development plan in the 60s, it was renovated and became an underground maze of cobblestone streets lit by gas lamps.
Turner Field - the former Olympic Stadium became the home of the local baseball team: "The Braves". Guided tours of about an hour behind the scenes of the modern stadium are conducted there, including visits to players' locker rooms, media booths, suites, and more.
Amusement parks:
Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags White Water, Stone Mountain Park.
Museums:
Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum,
Center for Puppetry Arts,
"Imagine It!" The Children's Museum of Atlanta.
Atlanta also has famous museums and historical sites, such as: Atlanta History Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, and several recommended art museums, but I will not elaborate on them since they usually do not excite children and youth.
Parks and Zoos:
This is the largest aquarium in the world. This modern and impressive aquarium opened only at the end of 2005 and has more than 100,000 animals from 500 species from all over the world. The building is designed as a giant ship entering a wave. The aquarium has five galleries, each representing a different ecological environment: Georgia's marine animals, river life, ocean animals, polar marine life, and tropical marine life. address: 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, Georgia, phone: 404-581-4000.
This is one of the oldest zoos in the US, which underwent extensive renovation in 1980 and has since continued to grow and innovate.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Gardens on an area of 120 dunams, including Japanese gardens, herb plants, rose gardens, local wildflowers, and desert plants. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org, phone: 404-876-5859.
Centennial Olympic Park-
A public park in the city center surrounded by ultra-modern skyscrapers, built in 1996 for the Olympic Games held in the city.
Chattahoochee Nature Center
Shopping:
Atlanta is considered the shopping capital of the US Southeast. In addition to many branches of all the large department stores, it has many and varied shopping centers scattered throughout its neighborhoods. Underground Atlanta, a unique shopping and entertainment center at a historical site (see above) located in the city center. The complex has over 100 shops and restaurants. There are two large parking lots nearby.