The capital city of Georgia has a lot to offer for all its visitors. When considering where to go in Georgia it can be difficult to evaluate if Atlanta is worth visiting. Hot-Lanta, as its lovingly known, is the capital city of Georgia and offers many fun activities for its visitors.
It is a bustling city on the northwestern side of Georgia. Not only is Atlanta the Delta Hub, but it is the gateway to many other places in the Southern USA. Atlanta is growing in popularity as a city to move to as well which means that there is even more for visitors to do. So here we detail all the reasons why Atlanta is worth visiting.
Why Visit Atlanta?
Many Unique Things To Do
As a city, Atlanta has so many unique things to offer. There are several popular things such as Coca-Cola World, the 1994 Olympic Park, and the world-famous Georgia Aquarium. For all travelers, you can also tour the Delta Museum at the Delta Headquarters.
Coca-Cola World is definitely such a cool place. You get to see how Coke is made and the history of the brand. Finally after seeing the bottling you can try every single Coke product across the world. My sister and I tried every single one. Beverly from Italy was by far the worst one. Then you get to leave with your own souvenir Coke bottle.
We are big Olympics fans in this family. Every Olympic Games we watch as many of the sports as possible including the opening and closing ceremonies. So a fun thing for us to do is to go see Centennial Olympic Park. Unlike other places, this is just a large, popular park that houses the Olympic Rings. It is still a popular place for festivals, concerts, and special events.
Finally, two great places to visit or tour other than the Delta Museum would be the World Famous Georgia Aquarium and CNN Studio Tour. CNN is one of the oldest TV networks in the world. They offer guided tours and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours. The Georgia Aquarium has over 100,000 different marine species. It was the largest aquarium in the world until 2012.
PRO TIP: Get all these things on one great pass here to save some money: Atlanta City Pass.
A multitude of Parks & Gardens
Although it is a city famous for its urban sprawl, Atlanta has so many green spaces for locals and visitors to unwind, take in a performance, or cool off during a warm summer day. Some of the great parks to check out are Grant Park, Freedom Park, Sprawling Piedmont Park, and the Atlanta BeltLine. There is also the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
Each park is special in its own way. Grant Park is Atlanta’s oldest park. It is surrounded by some of the city’s finest Victorian homes. Sprawling Piedmont Park has a free public pool and splash pad, making it extremely popular in the summer. Freedom Park is right near the Little Five Points neighborhood. It is full of sculptures and artwork.
With beautiful exhibits and breathtaking plants, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens are worth visiting at least once. They also host special events for kids such as Garden Grooves and Story Time. It is absolutely worth exploring alone and taking your time to see all the corners of the Garden.
Another cool place is the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum. This is 22 miles showcasing the unique, natural characteristics of all the neighborhoods it runs through. There are plenty of things to do on the BeltLine. It is free and open to all “green museums.” You can take a self-guided tour through the arboretum or just set off and explore some of the many miles of the BeltLine.
Irresistible Food
Given its location, Atlanta is a true melting pot when it comes to food. From pizza shops, burger stands, and barbecue pits to raw oyster bars, steakhouses, and rooftop bars; Atlanta is a foodie paradise. Wander through any neighborhood and find delicious and affordable dishes. Remember you’re in the South! The portions will be generous. Just another great reason why visiting Atlanta is worth it!
As an incredibly diverse city, the diversity is reflected in the foods you can find. Some favorites include Flip Burger Boutique, Ammazza (for Italian food), Gunshot (Brazilian-Chinese fusion), and Home Grown GA (the best Southern dining). You can’t go to the South and not get some fried green tomatoes and a fried chicken sandwich! Home Grown GA has got you covered.
There are also several food halls and the Atlanta Food Truck park which offers even more food options for all. Check out Sweet Auburn Curb Market, Ponce City Market, and Krog District. Finally, one of the coolest unique places to visit in Atlanta is the Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House. It offers all the same things a regular Chick-Fil-A offers with additional menu options such as green beans, fried okra, and cornbread. The diner portion of this restaurant has a dine-in service as well as a little dwarf door you can use to enter.
For a fun way to explore the food in Atlanta check out: MidTown Atlanta Food & Cocktails
Downtown Attractions
Most of the tourist attractions in Atlanta are found downtown. It is the ideal location to stay if you want to be within walking distance from the majority of the places you want to visit. In addition to the unique activities that I’ve mentioned above, there are plenty of additional attractions to see in downtown Atlanta.
There is the Atlanta Zoo which has a panda viewing area. There are many different historical locations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. Most of these are open to the public for you to explore and learn more about the man at the center of the US Civil Rights movement. For those traveling with children, the Atlanta Children’s Museum is located downtown. Finally, for all the football fans, head over to the College Football Hall of Fame!
Festivals
Atlanta is a busy city! There are festivals everywhere. By just exploring the city, you’re going to stumble into a festival or fair, or outdoor street market. One of my favorite types of festivals are food festivals/fairs so here are the top 10 festivals in Atlanta. They are going to keep you full so go hungry. This summer there is even an Ice Cream festival! A must-visit if you ask me.
For all music lovers, there are many music festivals in Atlanta as well. The Olympic Centennial Park hosts many of these festivals. Atlanta is a very popular place for singers to stop by while on tour. Atlanta has a packed calendar of events year-round.
Many Movie Locations
Atlanta has become an increasingly popular place to film movies. It is rising quickly in the Hollywood sphere. There are several hit series and movies that have been filmed in Atlanta. Finding the different scenes never gets old.
Stranger Things had essential filming locations in Atlanta. The Town of Jackson on the outskirts of Atlanta is the actual filming location for the popular series and you can take a tour to see all the popular sites. Everything from “Hawkins National Laboratory” (AKA Emory University’s Briarcliff campus) to the houses used for the main character’s homes.
Get a cool behind-the-scenes tour of all the Stranger Things Film Locations
Beyond Stranger Things, Atlanta has also been the backdrop for scenes from Hunger Games: Catching Fire (with some other scenes in North Carolina), Anchorman 2, The Vampire Diaries, and The Walking Dead. Additionally, the popular show Love is Blind had a season out of Atlanta. You truly never know what movie or TV series might be shooting around the corner!
Arts & Culture
From Classical art, street art, to performing arts there is always something to see in Atlanta. The High Museum of Art has over 17,000 works of art. You will need plenty of time in order to see all of it. The Museum of Art showcases European paintings, African-American art, modern art, folk art, and photography.
There is also fabulous street art throughout the city. Then you can experience some improv theater at Dad’s Garage. You can see a puppet show at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Of course, there is plenty of live music at a variety of music halls and bars.
Incredible History
During the Civil War, Atlanta was burned down, but you can visit the Margaret Mitchell house to show the Civil War history. Then when the Civil Rights Movement started Atlanta was thrust into the limelight again. You can explore this history throughout Atlanta.
The Atlanta History Center is the home of the “Turning Point: The American Civil War” which is one of the largest exhibits of its kind in the country. Definitely set aside a lot of time to visit the History Center! Additionally, you can visit the graves of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta. You can walk in Dr. King’s footsteps through the Historical Park, and visit the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum.
Of course, it is easier to have the tour set up for you with a tour guide instead of making your own tour: Black History & Culture
Where is Atlanta?
Found on the Northwest side of Georgia, it is centrally located near Charlotte, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Greenville, and the mountains. Plus as a hub for Delta, so many flights pass through Atlanta. It is truly a hub in Southern USA. Atlanta is very close to Charlotte. There are many great cities and towns near Atlanta to explore local areas while visiting Atlanta.
How to get to Atlanta?
The easy access to get to Atlanta is another reason why it is worth visiting, it also makes it super easy to visit. Given its location and the fact that it is a transportation hub, there are many ways to get to Atlanta.
FAQs about Visiting Atlanta
How many days should I visit Atlanta?
Atlanta is worth visiting, but with so much to see how long should you stay? At least 3-4 days are needed to get the best slice of Atlanta. You can absolutely make it a longer stay to explore more parts of the city, but the couple of long weekend trips we have taken to Atlanta have been absolutely perfect.
Get your 48 hours in Atlanta Itinerary here!
Why do people vacation in Atlanta?
There are many reasons why people consider visiting Atlanta is worth it for them. So many unique activities in Atlanta make it a city that appeals to everyone. There are plenty of activities for children, adults, people who like the outdoors, people who want to experience history, and all the foodies.
Is Atlanta safe to visit?
Like many larger cities, you need to exercise caution when visiting. It is not necessarily unsafe to visit the city, but it is still important to watch your surroundings. There are plenty of police and so many places that feel entirely safe. My sisters and I visited Atlanta together and had no problems or concerns with safety. I will also say driving is a little more intense in Atlanta with a lot more traffic which felt the most dangerous.
Final Thoughts on if Atlanta Is Worth Visiting
Atlanta is a busy city that has so much to offer all its visitors. There are so many things that make Atlanta worth visiting. It is easy to get to Atlanta, and it is easy to get around Atlanta. With all these things it truly makes it a perfect storm to visit Atlanta. We like going on long weekend trips and eating in so many delicious restaurants. We travel to eat!
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