It doesn’t take much to fall in love with Atlanta. From its role in the Civil War and the American Civil Rights Movement to hosting the 1996 Olympics, Georgia’s state capital boasts a wealth of historical and cultural landmarks and events. It is also home to the 2021 Baseball World Series winners, the Atlanta Braves.
With so much to do in Atlanta, we highlighted a few of our favorite things to do when you’re next in town.
Georgia Aquarium is home to a massive array of stunning marine wildlife and an engaging spectacle for the whole family. Did you know Georgia Aquarium has several exotic underwater residents, including the largest known fish in the world – and the deceptively named – whale shark? However, the white beluga whales, California sea lions, and manta rays often steal much of the limelight.
And if being separated by a pane of glass from a host of ocean predators doesn’t intimidate you, Georgia Aquarium also offers guests overnight sleepovers. And, if you’re feeling truly fearless, how about getting in the water for an aquarium shark cage dive?
Another family-friendly excursion that should be on the bucket list has to be Zoo Atlanta. Despite there being nearly 1,000 animals at the zoo, the zoo’s stars are twin Giant Pandas, Xi Lun and Ya Lun. With less than two thousand pandas left in the wild, giant pandas are a highly endangered species, so seeing these twins in Atlanta is a truly unique experience.
Zoo Atlanta also thrives on its dedicated conservation practices. For those who like to get up close and personal with the animals, the zoo offers wild encounters with their resident pandas, elephants, and lemurs.
Not everybody knows this, but Atlanta was central to the American Civil Rights Movement and home to one of its ground-breaking leaders. When you are in town next, spend an afternoon at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, a 35-acre park in the heart of the city dedicated to the great man himself.
Here you can visit the site of MLK’s birth and discover where he lived, worked, prayed, and his final resting place, all located within the park’s grounds. Spend some time at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park for an insightful and engaging historical journey, right where it all began.
A trip to the incredible Fox Theatre is a must for Atlanta visitors who love arts and culture. Incredibly, this former movie palace built in 1928 still hosts over 150 performances yearly to its 4,665 seated capacity.
If you find yourself in downtown Atlanta, take a tour of the Fox Theatre and meet Mighty Mo, the theatre’s 3,600-pipe Moller organ. The 60-minute tour takes visitors around this impressive working theatre and event venue, and it’s worth a visit before you take in a performance.
If you weren’t already aware, Atlanta is also conveniently situated close to Georgia’s premier wine region. As a result, visitors to the city can partake in an afternoon or an all-day tour of the finest vineyards cast among the states surrounding rolling hills.
Book a tour with the team at Atlanta Sightseeing Bus Tours, which offers patrons the chance to experience a number of famous wineries with several wine-tasting opportunities along the way.
Rich in sporting history, Atlanta isn’t a stranger to hosting global sporting events. In the past, these have included the 1996 Olympics, three Super Bowls, and several World Series Championship games. While the Atlanta Falcons have made two Super Bowl appearances, sadly, they’ve never walked away with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. However, their baseball compatriots across the city have won the MLB World Series an incredible four times – most recently in 2021.
These Atlanta teams also boast two of the most modern sporting stadiums in the country, both opening new stadiums in 2017. Take a stadium tour at the Falcons’ new home in the downtown Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Braves’ home stadium, Truist Park, which opened in the same year and is located just 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.
Book your stay at Best Western Southlake Inn.