The capital of Georgia, Atlanta is regarded as the principal center of the American South, lying in the foreland of Piedmont Plateau’s southern foothills, on the watershed between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Originally, the city was planned as a railway junction, but rapidly developed into an authoritative commercial town. In recent years, it has become an important hub of air traffic and a major cultural and economic center in the American southeast, with world-renown businesses, such as CNN and Coca-Cola, locating their headquarters here. While you cannot expect a romantic southern city for a holiday here, you will rather find a vibrant American city that offers southern charm.
Sightseeing destinations in Atlanta
Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Atlanta are located in downtown’s walkable attractions loop, which include the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Inside CNN Studio, Center for Civil and Human Rights, SkyView Atlanta and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. If you love nature, you can go to the other top attractions that are beyond downtown, such as the Stone Mountain and the Park Zoo Atlanta.
Top tour activities in Atlanta
During your sightseeing tour in Atlanta, you can play your way with these fun things to do!
- Catch a Broadway play - Classical plays, dramas and musicals light up the city’s theater scene before they are performed in the Big Apple. Specifically, the award-winning Alliance Theater offers a perfect way for you to spend the evening.
- Walk, run or bike on the Atlanta BeltLine - You can explore the long Atlanta BeltLine on foot or two wheels, where you can stop in one of the many restaurants along the path to enjoy good food and relax. Connection parks and neighborhoods, this place is a way to stay active that is unique to the city.
- Swim with the whale sharks - Indeed, you can actually scuba dive or snorkel with the whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. You can also interact with slightly smaller animals, such as penguins, otters and belugas.
Top tour attractions in Atlanta
Among the many attractions in Atlanta, here are those that you should not miss:
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site - This is now protected as a National Historic Site, which include the birthplace of the very influential civil rights advocate Martin Luther King Jr., which dates back to 1895, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King and his father served as ministers. It is also home to King’s grave and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
- Atlanta History Center - This is a large complex that is composed of the Centennial Olympic Games Museum, Atlanta History Museum, Smith Family Farm, Swan House and the Kenan Research Center, as well as some historic gardens. As for the History Museum, it is known for having changing exhibitions and a permanent collection that depicts the Folk Art of the South and the American Civil War.
- The Fox Theatre - Originally built as the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque in the 1920s, this building has an extremely posh Arabian-themed design. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has always been a much loved landmark, since its construction.
Atlanta sightseeing tours and activities
Check out all Atlanta sightseeing tours and activities here at La Vacanza Travel when planning your trip to this great city.