Atlanta is known for its stifling summer season as few even suggest it to be Hotlanta along with being the host to the busiest airports in the world, but the main haunts here in Atlanta go far further than that. This capital city of Georgia is a copious city that swanks notable historic spots and tourist destinations like the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.’s, retro entertainment venues like the Fox Theatre, a vivacious nightlife and a wide variety of activities to enjoy. Whether you are searching for the best places to visit in Atlanta Georgia or places to visit in Atlanta city, you will discover everything here.
Don’t skip the tasty eats of the South’s most scrumptious eateries, featuring amazing meat-and-three meals. Atlanta maintains a good balance for revisiting history and culture, art and shopping. Here we have listed some of the best places to visit in Atlanta that you shouldn’t miss:
- World of Coca Cola
Coca-Cola present everywhere in Atlanta which witnessed Coke grow since its invention in 1886 in downtown Atlanta by pharmacist John S. Pemberton. Atlanta is the corporate temple of the brand. Since 1990, the immersive attraction stretching 92,000-square-foot has welcomed upwards of 25 million caffeine-seeking guests. The Soda Universe leader is the king of fizz and fun. You will find here replica soda fountains, a museum boasting pop-culture and many memorable elements like the 4-D theater displays. The atmosphere is so immersive that you’ll feel like you’re in a paradise of coca-cola. You can also find an old-fashioned manual bottling device that uses over 700 pounds of pressure to seal each bottle. There are DIY beverage dispensers in the tasting room that offer different flavors from around the world that have more than 100 flavors, including limited editions.
- Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum
People in Atlanta love the Carter Center for its heritage as well as thought intriguing activities, showcasing literary pieces and exhibits such as Salman Rushdie and Jean Mohr. Even though Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum debuted in 1986, the architecture feels fresh even today. The facility which stretches 24,000 square feet of museum space is surrounded by antiquities from Carter’s time of his peace activism trips, running from his private diary to a life-sized imitation of the Oval Office and a display of his Nobel Peace Prize. A 4,000-square-feet is saved for transient exhibits. The museum not only covers the purely academic part but also presents interactive exhibits to explore Carter’s life since his early days to his after Oval office days.
- Fox Theatre
Voyaging back in the golden epoch of theater and movies, the Fox Theatre is undoubtedly the largest entertainment setting in Atlanta. Founded in 1929, the Fox theater was technically a part of a Shriner’s Temple. This is one of the incredible Atlanta places to visit that feature Islamic architecture boasting the onion dome on the crest of the building. Inside the structure, you’ll see decorative colored carpets and the ceiling peppered with sparkling crystals. Atlanta‘s Fox Theater is the spot to enjoy it all from the Chelsea Handler to B-52s to the summer movies by Atlanta’s popular local bands on the Broadway Across America. You can visit the behind-the-scenes trip of the Egyptian-style extravagance counting the biggest working Moller theatre organ on earth named Mighty Mo. To set the mood, get a ticket to appreciate the deluxe gable Marquee Club. The stage brags old-fashioned opulence. With a 4,680-seat capacity, events like musicals, dance and stand-up performance are always taking place at the Fox Theater. No wonder it is listed amongst one of the best places to go in Atlanta at night.
- Atlanta Botanical Garden
Stroll in the large lush green patch of 30-acre retreat in the center of Midtown crowded with hickory, oak and poplar treetops which greets over half a million visitors every year. Not far back in 2010, the garden almost expanded two-fold its area when it launched the Canopy Walk, a 600-foot footbridge suspended 40 feet above the flowering hydrangeas and bulbs. Visitors can relish the orchid house or stride across the comestible garden of native species. You can enjoy a delicious meal at Longleaf which is lodged in the flowerbed. The garden leads conservation efforts including the preservation of endangered plants and saving rare frogs along with an educational component. The spot additionally houses an authentic Japanese garden going back to the 1960s, starring a 300-year-old lantern, cyclical flowering plants and a rushing waterfall.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium has 71,000 seats; pavilion to the Atlanta Falcons in NFL and Atlanta United in Major League Soccer. This is one of the most unique Atlanta tourist attractions which is known for its tremendous size and also for its fan-driven experience, trailblazing innovations, and ecological model. The tech has helped to conceive accurate placement that lets each seat in the stadium to access the arena to monitor the activity, regardless of whether it’s a game or performance. Owner Arthur Blank gave special attention to the comfort of fans and stressed on having wider seating so that people could cherish the game experience comfortably.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
Atlanta is a birth city of the legendary MLK Jr. The historic site can be best visited with the help of a ranger-led tour so that you get detailed information about the life and happenings of Dr King’s journey. The tour will take you through Dr. King’s birthplace, highlighting repaired rooms and original fixtures from Dr. King’s childhood. You can pay tribute at the crypt for Nonviolent Social Change. Then you should sightsee around the demonstrations devoted to Dr King and his wife, Coretta Scott King who was an incredibly talented opera singer and Mahatma Gandhi. Dr King influenced socio-political change transforming the lives of people, many visitors are thus stunned by this historic site.
- Georgia Aquarium
This charming Aquarium is located near to Centennial Park and swanks 100 distinct fresh and saltwater habitats that delight a huge number of visitors happy for hours whenever they visit the place. It is there in the list of must-visit tourist attractions in Atlanta since it started in 2005. Georgia Aquarium is the biggest indoor aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. The aquarium houses a wide variety of aquatic species residing in more than 10 million gallons of fresh and saltwater. Georgia aquarium is a training hospital for veterinaries and marine biologists. The star sensations here feature the social Beluga whales, friendly dolphins, huge whale sharks and fluttering penguins. The Aquarium offers an app for self-guided tours helping you to navigate across the exhibits which include sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays and many others.
- Goat Farm Arts Centre
Previously the center was an erstwhile goat farm located in West Midtown, Atlanta. The popularity of Goat Farm has increased over the years. The visual and performing arts center developed in the 19th century is a hotbed of creative energy where many artists and groups have been incubated. You can always find dance, drama and music performances here at any time of the year. Art and Culture thrive in this space and many artists have leased studios on the vibrant campus. Goat Farm Arts Centre holds numerous events throughout the year like workshops for writers and experimental performances.
- Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park is a harbor for the jogging community and one of the top places to visit in Atlanta GA. The green landscape is filled with all kinds of Atlantans including bocce players, skating children and picnickers. Piedmont Park is a refuge away from the concrete jungle of Atlanta which thrives with greenery, rushing streams and active wildlife Piedmont is Atlanta’s reply to Central Park. The park holds regular art fests like the Dogwood Festival, an exhibition of fine art and the Atlanta Jazz Festival along with a farmer’s market.
What’s next?
Atlanta, the hometown of Dr. King has a prosperous culinary setting and great shopping venues. Whether you are looking for places to go in Atlanta GA or tourist attractions of Atlanta, the above guide covers everything. With so many exciting things to do make sure you browse through our list to get the most of your visit.
About Author: Shivangi Mujumdar