Best things to do in Atlanta

Atlanta History Center

Travellers are sure to enjoy the Atlanta History Center's 13 hectares (33 acres) of beautiful gardens, award-winning exhibitions, and interactive activities. The main attractions are two historic homes, which are open to the public and offer informative guided tours. The Tullie Smith House originally stood outside the city limits but has been relocated to the History Center. The house was built in the 1840s and survived the near-total destruction of Atlanta in 1864 when General William Sherman burned almost two thirds of the city during his infamous 'March to the Sea'. The farmhouse is typical of most in Georgia at the time, despite popular belief that not all Georgians owned large plantations and mansions. The Swan House, built in 1928, is a grand Italianate mansion that is an Atlanta landmark. It was once the home of Edward and Emily Inman, who were heirs to a cotton brokerage fortune.

Website www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site

Venture through the Victorian house where Martin Luther King Jr was born in 1929. Here visitors can see where America's Nobel prize-winning Civil Rights leader grew up and where the movement was birthed. A half-mile stretch of Auburn Avenue, including King's birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, and the memorial tomb at the King Center, has been made designated a historic site, drawing hundreds of visitors every day. The exhibits contained within provide insight into the life and times of this much-revered man. Tours are conducted every 30 minutes on a first-come first-serve basis.

Website www.nps.gov/malu

World Of Coca-Cola

In 1886 Jacob's Pharmacy, a small drugstore in Atlanta, began selling a new headache and hangover tonic called Coca-Cola. In 1891, entrepreneur Asa Candler paid $2,300 to acquire the rights of what is now the world's most valuable brand. The following year he founded the Coca-Cola Company. The new, environmentally friendly construction houses more than just a museum dedicated to Coca-Cola; it is an entire soft-drink experience. Thousands of Coke objects, trivia, and memorabilia are contained among the interactive exhibits, backed up by commercials, radio jingles, a 4D theatre, tasting, and a Pop Culture Gallery.

Address 121 Baker Street, Pemberton Place

Website www.woccatlanta.com

Transport

MARTA stop W1 or N1

Opens Sunday to Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm.

Admission

$17 adults, $13 children (3-12); other concessions available.

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

Kennesaw Mountain was the scene of a bloody Civil War battle where, in 1864, General Sherman led his Union forces against the entrenched Confederate forces at the site. This resulted in the death of more than 67,000 soldiers. The park now consists of several thousand acres of protected land, covered with more than 17 miles (27km) of interpretive walking trails. The trails contain historic earthworks and cannon placements, where markers and memorials have been placed to commemorate the event. A small museum at the site displays Civil War artefacts, and a visitor's centre provides information about the battle on the site. This popular park is visited by more than a million people each year, many of whom come to picnic and enjoy the views that the mountain has over Atlanta.

Website www.nps.gov/kemo

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Travellers should be sure to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden while in the city. The Fuqua Conservatory in particular is worth seeing, as the giant greenhouse contains different climate-controlled eco-systems. A walk through the conservatory takes visitors from a desert into a steamy tropical jungle. The gardens are criss-crossed with dedicated nature walks, passing many quiet spots designed for peaceful contemplation. The garden permanently features numerous sculptures and art pieces, as well as hosting art exhibitions on a regular basis.

Website www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

As one of the South's pre-eminent museums, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a gateway for discovery and exploration. It explores the story of the earth's history, the physical universe, the environment and human culture through exhibitions, programs and films in the IMAX Theatre. Opened in 1992, Fernbank is 'Atlanta's Home to Dinosaurs,' a reputation highlighted by Giants of the Mesozoic, a distinctive permanent exhibition that features the world's largest dinosaurs.

Website www.fernbankmuseum.org

Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain is situated about 20 minutes from Atlanta and features manmade and natural attractions. The best of these is the huge relief carving of the three Southern heroes of the Civil War, which has been etched into the mountainside. The images of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee, and Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson cover an area larger than a football field and are part of the largest relief sculpture in the world.

Three sculptors worked in succession on the carving, beginning with Gutzon Borglum in 1915. He later became famed for his carvings at Mount Rushmore. Subsequently two other artists pursued the work that was completed finally in 1972.

Visitors can either walk up the mountain or take the Skylift to the top to see the breathtaking view over Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains. Stone Mountain also features a restored Antebellum Plantation featuring a colonial mansion, slave cabins, coach houses, and barns. The park contains several lakes and hiking trails, a wildlife reserve, and petting zoo.

Website www.stonemountainpark.com

Jonesboro

About 15 miles (24km) south of Atlanta in Clayton County is the town of Jonesboro, a not-to-be-missed destination for movie fans and those hankering for a taste of the real Deep South. Jonesboro was the setting for Margaret Mitchell's acclaimed novel and later film, Gone with the Wind. Devotees come to see the local historic plantation houses and learn about the real people whose lives inspired the fictional characters of the novel. In Main Street, the Road to Tara Museum is housed in the Jonesboro Depot Welcome Centre, containing original props, costume reproductions, doll collections, and an extensive photo gallery associated with the making of the movie. The Welcome Depot is also the departure point for daily tours, starting at 1pm (except on Sundays). The tours offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the true life stories on which the book was based. In Carriage Drive, a beautiful Greek Revival plantation home dating from 1839 is open to the public along with its authentic outbuildings.

Website www.visitscarlett.com

Georgia Mountains

Northern Georgia is predominantly mountainous, and is dotted with numerous small towns, fascinating historic sites, and national parks and forests. Among the highlights of this region are the New Echota State Historic Site (the last capital of the Cherokee nation), Chickamauga at Fort Oglethorpe, and Jasper, where the marble quarries produced the marble used in Washington, DC. Also worth seeing is the spectacular Tallulah Gorge near the town of Clayton and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, at the end of the Appalachian Highway. The Blue Ridge Mountains offer plenty of wooded hiking trails, sparkling trout streams, scenic lakes, camp sites and rental cabins. Most of the towns and attractions are within an hour's drive of Atlanta, making them perfect day trips or weekend breaks from the city.

The Fox Theatre

Atlanta's Fox Theatre, otherwise known as the Fabulous Fox, is a movie palace built in the United States during the 1920s. The theatre's unique beginnings and Moorish design set it apart from other theatres of that period. Today it hosts an array of artistic and cultural events, including a summer film series, the Atlanta Ballet, and performances by national touring companies of Broadway shows.

Website www.foxtheatre.org

Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta features around 1,000 animals representing 250 species from around the world and sees over 1 million tourists every year. Founded in 1889, the zoo has become one of Atlanta's top family attractions. It houses exhibitions on the African rainforest, a free-flying parakeet enclosure, and a reptile house. Children will absolutely love discovering all the animals, including the rare giant pandas, Sumatran tigers, clouded leopards, and komodo dragons. The zoo also has the country's largest collection of gorillas and orangutans. For smaller children there is a petting zoo where they can interact with goats, pigs, and sheep.

Website www.zooatlanta.org

Ebenezer Baptist Church

Though small, Ebenezer Baptist Church has played a large role in America's history. Founded in 1886, the church functioned as the epicentre of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Martin Luther King Jr acted as co-pastor from 1960 to 1968, and worked toward equal rights for African-Americans during this time. The church has a new premises across the street, but visitors can still tour the old sanctuary where King preached, before walking around the Martin Luther King Jr Park just outside. Annual events surrounding Martin Luther King Jr Day in January typically draw large crowds. Past speakers have included US Presidents, national and local politicians, and civil rights leaders. Remembrances are also held during Black History Month (February), and the anniversary of King's assassination on April 4, 1968.

Website www.historicebenezer.org

Atlanta

Things to do in Atlanta

Atlanta History Center

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site

World Of Coca-Cola

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Stone Mountain Park

Jonesboro

Georgia Mountains

The Fox Theatre

Zoo Atlanta

Ebenezer Baptist Church

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Atlanta History Center

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site

World Of Coca-Cola

Transport

Admission

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Stone Mountain Park

Jonesboro

Georgia Mountains

The Fox Theatre

Zoo Atlanta

Ebenezer Baptist Church