Things to See & Do in Atlanta

Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, has grown tremendously in recent years and is now the ninth most populated city in the United States. Home to The Coca-Cola Co., Home Depot, The Weather Channel, and much more, Atlanta is an important economic center. With so much to see and do in Atlanta, we can only give you the highlights:

Local History & Culture

Get discount tickets to local attractions, museums, and performances through AtlanTIX or Atlanta CityPass.

• The Atlanta Preservation Center offers tours of Grant Park with its restored Victorian houses
• Historic Downtown
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in the Sweet Auburn District includes Dr. King's birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church, his Nobel Peace Prize on display, as well as where all the Kings' graves are located.
• The Margaret Mitchell House & Museum offers a museum and shop in the Tudor Revival mansion where Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind.
• Jimmy Carter Library and Museum holding include presidential papers and photographs from the Carter Administration, as well as President Carter's Nobel Peace Prize.
• The William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum explores Jewish heritage through exhibitions, publications, and other resources.

Shopping

• Underground Atlanta, where six city blocks have been transformed into a marketplace with over 100 specialty stores and entertainments, as well as restaurants, and the Aero Balloon-a ride that takes you 350 feet above downtown Atlanta.
• Atlantic Station is another great place to shop: boutiques, sidewalk cafés, and funky restaurants alongside movie theaters and festival and concert venues. Pick up a free shuttle at the Arts Center MARTA Station.

Attractions

• The World of Coca-Cola® features the largest collection of Coke memorabilia in the world, a functioning bottling line, Coke tastings, and a Pop Culture Gallery.
• Two Six Flags theme parks: Six Flags Over Georgia (with Goliath, the tallest roller coaster in the Southeast) and Six Flags White Water with amazing water rides.
• Zoo Atlanta features more than 40 acres of animal habitats and 200+ animal species.

Food

Students looking for some tasty food on a budget should check out:

• The Real Chow Baby on Howell Mill Rd. has a do-it-yourself stir-fry bar with your choice of more than 70 ingredients. It's the best all-you-can-eat Asian food around.
• Taqueria Del Sol on Howell Mill Rd NW has satisfying Latin-inspired food at more than reasonable prices.
• Eats (Ponce DeLeon Ave NE)- your high school cafeteria was never this good!
• Olive Bistro Midtown (Midtown Market, Ponce de Leon Ave NE) may not look fancy but the Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean food should not be missed.

Nightlife

If you're over 21, be sure to check out the:

• Lava Lounge on 13th St- the latest industrial and house beats, and great martinis.
• MJQ Concourse on Ponce DeLeon Ave NE is underground (literally) and plays R&B, punk, industrial rock, and more. The crowd includes all kinds from tech students, young professionals, and club kids.
• Blind Willie's on N. Highland Ave. has some of the best blues acts ever, whether local and better known musicians.

Accommodation

Students looking for clean, comfortable accommodations on a budget should contact these hotels for rates and availability:

• Highland Inn on N. Highland Ave. NE in Midtown
• Hammond Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center on Hammond Dr.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites on Paces Ferry Rd. SE
• Hotel Indigo on Peachtree St. NE in Midtown
• Residence Inn by Marriott on Peachtree St. in Midtown

Sports

In such a big city, you can find just about any kind of activity you want to be part of. And the weather is usually on your side!

• MLB: The Atlanta Braves play baseball at Turner Field, while the
• NFL: Atlanta Falcons play football in the Georgia Dome.
• Both the Hawks (NBA) and Thrashers (NHL) can be seen at Philips Arena.

Transportation

Between their trains, buses, shuttles, and Blue Flyer, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) can get you just about everywhere. Atlanta's traffic is legendary (and not in a good way) so avoid driving if possible.