Atlanta, Georgia is a sprawling metropolis that is home to a striking skyline of architectural skyscrapers, historic neighborhood enclaves and the world’s busiest airport. Three-quarters of the Fortune 1,000 companies have offices in Atlanta and it has a booming convention business, making it one of the best places in the U.S. to do business.  Whether you are in Atlanta for business or pleasure, there are attractions you won’t want to miss.

Atlanta  Neighborhoods and Business Areas

The first thing you need to know about Atlanta is that it doesn’t have just one city center and that the urban sprawl runs 40 miles to the north and south. The city is encircled by Interstate 285 and generally speaking, outside the perimeter (OTP) is suburban and inside the perimeter (ITP) refers to anything city. Concentrated areas of development ITP include downtown, Midtown, Little Five Points, Virginia-Highland and Buckhead.

In the Downtown area, you’ll find some of the most popular sightseeing attractions. Centennial Olympic Park is a nice green space where the kids can play in the interactive Fountain of Rings in the summer or ice skate in an outdoor rink in winter. Adjacent to the Park is the Georgia World Congress Center convention facility, site of many major conventions, and the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest marine exhibit. Also nearby is the CNN Center, where you can take a 50-minute tour of Ted Turner’s news operation, and the World of Coca-Cola, a museum depicting the past, present and future of – you got it – Coke.

Moving north, the century-old residential area of Midtown has evolved into an energetic business a cultural area with contemporary condos and office spaces mixed into leafy neighborhoods of attractive houses. To the east of Midtown is the highly desirable residential neighborhood of Virginia-Highland that is filled with 1920s and 1930s bungalows, cozy outdoor cafes and sophisticated boutiques. Further north is the posh area of Buckhead, known for beautiful homes, expensive shopping, chic restaurants and nightlife, as well as contemporary sky scrapers housing the city’s financial center.

 

Sweet Auburn is the historic African-American neighborhood that was once thriving, declined and is now undergoing revitalization. The Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site is a 39-acre section of this community that includes National Park Service interpretations at locations where Dr. King was born, worshiped and is buried. The African-American Panoramic Experience Museum (APEX) and the historic Royal Peacock music venue are also in Sweet Auburn.

For an alternative experience, Little Five Points (L5P) offers trendy, quirky and outlandish shops, restaurants and bars east of downtown, near Decatur. Decatur itself is centered on a pedestrian-friendly downtown square with casual restaurants and shops. Two favorites there are the Brick Store Pub that claims the largest selection of beers in Georgia, and Eddie’s Attic, a small, but well-known live music venue.  

Atlanta Museums, Sightseeing & Activities

Some notable Atlanta museums include the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, with a full scale replica of the Oval Office and the award-winning Atlanta History Center where visitors can research their family trees. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is an innovative interactive experience for young children. The Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum contains the world’s largest oil painting with a three dimensional diorama in the foreground.

 

Next to the Cyclorama is Zoo Atlanta, known for its endangered species, including two giant pandas which are always a big hit with families. Kids also enjoy Six Flags Over Georgia family amusement park with its thrill rides and roller coasters. Stone Mountain Park east of Atlanta is another popular family outing. The sheer face of a colossal granite monolith is carved with mounted Confederate heroes in Mount Rushmore-style reliefs. A laser light show plays on the wall on summer nights and during the day a sky lift takes visitors to the top of the rock. 

Atlanta doesn’t lack for major-league sports; the Falcons (football) and the Hawks (basketball) call Atlanta home, but the biggest draw is Braves baseball. Men’s and women’s professional soccer and women’s basketball teams round out the major Atlanta teams.

Atlanta Transportation

To get around, MARTA public trains are inexpensive and a great way to beat the traffic congestion if your destination is near a stop, but in such a sprawling city, it doesn’t get you close to everything. A car is really necessary to get some places, but traffic around Atlanta is abysmal and rush hours last from 6-10 a.m. and again 4-7 p.m. The city’s streets are confusing – over 65 of them have “Peachtree” in their names – and a good map is indispensible, so driving is challenging at best. Many times, particularly for business meetings, a taxi is the best recourse.

Atlanta’s business centers give way to azalea- and dogwood-lined residential streets. Historic buildings and contemporary towers are companions in the sprawling urban landscape of Atlanta.  Business, convention and vacation travelers will all find the sights and sounds of this progressive city worth the visit. To plan your business or vacation trip to Atlanta, please contact Covington Travel.