Tourist Attractions in Atlanta

Tourist Attractions in Atlanta

Atlanta Botanical Garden
This garden sits adjacent to Piedmont Park, and has a number of different sections, each highlighting a different region, plant, or animal type. These include a Japanese garden, a rose garden, woodland areas and a children’s garden. One of the main highlights of the botanical garden is the indoor Fuqua Conservatory which hosts a range of tropical, desert and subtropical plants and animals. The nation’s largest orchid collection, tropical birds, turtles and poison dart frogs. For those who are not afraid of heights, the woodland park has a large canopy walk that allows guests to explore the treetops. The botanical garden often hosts art exhibits and other charity events. The most notable of these was a display of the glass work of Dale Chihuly in 2004, and brought half a million guests to the gardens.

Fox Theatre
Originally planned as a Moorish architecture Shrine temple, the Fox Theatre ultimately developed as a lavish movie theater. It later became a performing arts theater, and continues to host the Atlanta Ballet, traveling Broadway events, and some music concerts. The theatre is a draw even for those who aren’t going to see a show, as the combined Egyptian and Islamic architecture creates a spectacle that is worth taking a tour. The theater inside is fashioned like an Arabian courtyard, complete with a twinkling crystal starry sky. There is also a large ballroom designed after the temple of Ramses II, and the mezzanine for the women’s’ restroom has King Tut’s throne and little sphinxes on the makeup tables.

World of Coca-Cola
For anyone who has ever wondered what Coca-Cola tastes like in every nation of the world, this is the place to go. One of the top attractions in Atlanta, a new museum was revamped and relocated in 2007 to house a larger collection of company paraphernalia. Sixty years of jingles, ads dating back to the 1800’s, and a 4-D movie experience are just a few of the things to experience here. One of the biggest draws here is the updated tasting room that not only allows guests to discover the preferred formula versions from different parts of the world, as well as rare local drinks via their customized freestyle machine.

Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site
This historic site includes several buildings, including the boyhood home of this civil rights leader, as well as the church where his father, and later King himself first came to preach. The firehouse that was once a main community center in the sixties, a civil rights walk of fame, and the “I Have a Dream” international world peace rose garden are also a part of this historic park. Opposite the visitor center, a large mural depicts scenes in Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. The site hosts several large events, particularly during Martin Luther King day and Black History Month.

Centennial Olympic Park
Created for the 1996 Summer Olympics that was hosted in this city, Olympic Park continues to be a tourist draw every year. Located downtown between the Aquarium and the CNN center, the park has several fun features. An interactive fountain of Olympic rings is synchronized with lights, water jets and music. This is surrounded by a collection of the flags of all of the host nations of the previous Olympics. A large, air-conditioned Ferris wheel and large lawn that hosts a summer outdoor concert series are just some of the other features of this historic location of athletic excellence.

Piedmont Park
This park in the Northeastern Atlanta near Midtown began life as an out-of-the-city gentleman’s farm owned by a doctor named Benjamin Walker. It went through a series of owners, ultimately ending up the property of the Piedmont Exposition Company. The park has had several architects of importance working on different parts, most notably Olmstead of Central Park fame, who created many pathways still in use today. It also includes a large basketball complex, and was home of Atlanta’s first team in the early twentieth century. A large fishing lake, playscape, and large lawn that is host to many concerts are just a few of the other offerings here.