Atlanta is a less popular tourist destination than New York or Miami, which might make planning a trip there trip slightly more challenging. If you don’t know what there is to see or do in Georgia’s capital city, here’s a guide to having a fast-paced and exciting weekend.
To kick of your weekend, stroll around Atlanta’s BeltLine. The BeltLine was built to help connect the various neighborhoods of Atlanta, and the urban revitalization project has done exactly that. With more than 33 miles of walking paths and 22 miles of rail transit, 45 different neighborhoods and their various sights are all connected. Go walking with a friend or rent bikes to tackle the route, seeing parks, vistas, art murals, and plenty of restaurants and stores.
Ponce City Market is a great place to stop in, and you can reach it from the BeltLine if you’re already en route. See what’s going on ahead of time and plan accordingly, hopefully making time in your weekend to see a community event or concert. If there’s nothing special you’re dying to see, go for the people watching and plentiful food available all year long.
The Georgia Aquarium might be the only place in Atlanta already on your bucket list, and rightly so. This aquarium is the biggest in the world, making it quite the spectacle. With everything from whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and beluga whales, to sea otters and African penguins, you can spend hours in this aquatic wonderland. There’s a lot to see and learn as you wander around and observe the animals, and you can even swim with the whale sharks and manta rays in between watching one of their dolphin or sea lion shows.
It doesn’t matter which restaurant you go to, try a southern staple of chicken and waffles while you’re in a city with an abundance of culinary options. Gladys Knight’s will likely have a long line, but their meals are delicious and worth the wait for many. Otherwise, consider checking out Hattie B’s Hot Chicken or Atlanta Breakfast Club.
Atlanta is home to CNN’s headquarters, and if you have any interest in media, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. Get a sneak peek into how global news is broadcast in a 55-minute guided tour through the studio. You can also visit the news rooms and watch live programming in this behind the scenes attraction.
For fresh air and some lovely views, check out Atlanta’s Botanical Garden. The 30 acres of elaborate gardens aren’t your typical local park. There are grandiose plant sculptures of sleeping giants, camels, and characters from Alice in Wonderland at the moment. They also have an exotic orchid house and rose garden nestled among the many other stunning floral displays. This is a great stop if you want to slow down and unwind while still having your imagination captured. They also have a cocktail bar on Thursday nights if you’re starting your weekend early.
Less extravagant then the botanical garden, Piedmont Park is still a great place to hang out and get some fresh air. On Saturday, you can attend the weekly farmer’s market before strolling around over 200 acres of well-maintained green space. There’s a pool you can enter for $5, rentable scooters, dog parks, and lots of space for a picnic if you plan ahead.
End your weekend with a fascinating glimpse into the Civil Right’s Movement. The Center for Human and Civil Rights displays some of Martin Luther King’s personal papers and connects themes of his work to human right’s movements happening around the globe today. This museum is immersive and well done without being overly heavy for a weekend getaway.
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