Date of trip: February 2007

Although I had visited Atlanta before, the city has been undergoing exciting changes over the past couple of years. It was the perfect choice when I was looking for a place to spend a long weekend.

Highlights:

-When the Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005, it was the largest aquarium in the world. Whether or not it still holds that title is debatable but it certainly is massive. It is one of only 6 U.S. facilities to display beluga whales and the only one to exhibit a great hammerhead shark. It’s main attraction is its 3 whale sharks. Whale sharks are the largest living fish on the planet and can grow up to 40 feet long. Their tank is the size of a football field and 30 feet deep. Even the viewing window is an enormous 23 feet tall by 61 feet wide and 2 feet thick! It is truly spectacular to watch the whale sharks swim but even cooler to watch them feed. Whale sharks are filter feeders and they open their huge mouths as buckets of krill are dropped into the tank. Although you can not interact directly with the animals, starting in July, guests will be allowed to swim or dive in the whale shark tank with advance reservations. Since Taiwan banned the sale of whale sharks this year, the Georgia Aquarium is likely to remain the only place outside of Asia to see them.

-The Coca-Cola Company is headquartered in Atlanta and for the past 18 years, they’ve also run a museum to teach visitors about the soft drink. Last year, they opened a new 20 acre center right next to the Georgia Aquarium called the World of Coca-Cola. Here you can learn about the history of Coca-Cola, see some of the company’s famous advertising campaigns, shop for Coke merchandise and visit the famous tasting room where you can sample sodas distributed to countries all over the world. Of course, no guest leaves without a free bottle of freshly made Coca-Cola!

-The High Museum of Art is one of the best fine art museums in the U.S. It is very large and can be tricky to navigate, but the space allows for an especially impressive modern art collection. Don’t miss Roy Lichtenstein’s “House III” sculpture right outside of the main entrance.

-In 1996, Atlanta hosted the summer Olympic Games. Centennial Olympic Park was built downtown as a gathering area for the event. Today the park is a lovely commemoration of the games as well as a great place for locals and visitors to enjoy a walk. Throughout the year, major celebrations are held in the park including concerts, the Georgia Marathon and a holiday lighting complete with an outdoor ice skating rink.

-CNN, the first 24-hour television news network is America’s number one cable news source. The channel’s headquarters are located at the CNN Center in Atlanta and tours are offered several times a day. Visitors can see news teams at work, get a first hand look at some of the studios where shows are filmed and even get a picture behind a news desk.

-For good southern cooking, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option than Pittypat’s Porch. Named after a character in Gone With the Wind, the restaurant has been serving up fine southern fare since 1967. It’s also a great place to stop for a drink as the bar is set up like a giant porch where guests can sit in rocking chairs while they sip mint juleps.

Although there are many great things to see in Atlanta, you will remember the charm and kindness of the local people as fondly as any museum. The city works hard to welcome visitors and it is an excellent destination for families and couples alike. Southern hospitality is alive and well and there is no better place to experience it than in Atlanta.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Atlanta links:
Atlanta Official Site
Georgia Aquarium
World of Coca-Cola
High Museum of Art
Centennial Olympic Park
CNN Studio Tours
Pittypat’s Porch