ATLANTA
Home to the fourth-largest convention center in the U.S., Atlanta is known as a premier meeting and convention destination. But Georgia's capital city has much more than just meeting space for attendees to enjoy.
DAY 1: THE FOOTSTEPS OF LEGENDS
9:00 AM
Start your journey at Centennial Olympic Park. Follow the brick-laid pathways toward Pemberton Place, home to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and the new Center for Civil and Human Rights. Use the touchscreen video panels to come face-to-face with legendary human rights heroes from around the world, and view the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, featuring a rotating selection of Dr. King's personal papers and items. www.centennialpark.com, www.civilandhumanrights.org
2:00 PM
Stride through the tunneled entryway of Centennial Olympic Park alongside a digital team of jogging players of the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience. Take in the massive wall of 768 helmets -- one for every college team.
6:00 PM
Take an evening spin on the 20-story-tall SkyView Ferris wheel, which rotates gently through the night air and provides picturesque views of the city and the twinkling holiday lights adorning the park. www.skyviewatlanta.com
DAY 2: HEART OF THE ARTS
9:00 AM
Meander through the Atlanta Botanical Garden, an urban oasis featuring 30 acres of outdoor gardens, the serene Storza Woods, Fuqua Orchid Center, and more. Throughout December, the Garden twinkles with more than 1.5 million lights. Finish with a bite from The Café at Linton's in the Garden, a new restaurant from James Beard award-winning chef Linton Hopkins. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
2:00 PM
Visit the Center for Puppetry Arts, the nation's largest puppetry center, where this month, the beloved characters of the 1964 animated special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer come to life on strings. After the show, see more than 350 puppets in the museum. In 2015, the museum will showcase the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the world. www.puppet.org
6:00 PM
Grab dinner at TAP, a stylish gastropub along Peachtree Street, situated one block from Woodruff Arts Center. Choose from more than a dozen beers on tap or the restaurant's cask-conditioned signature brew. Pair your drink with upscale pub comfort food such as fish and chips or seared steak. www.tapat1180.com
DAY 3: SHOP TIL YOU DROP
9:00 AM
Head north to Buckhead, Atlanta's "Beverly Hills of the South." Shop like a local at Lenox Square Mall and browse more than 250 stores, including the newly added Nike flagship store and J. Crew Men's Shop. Cross Peachtree Street to visit Phipps Plaza, which is home to more than 100 ultra-luxe retailers and Atlanta's most popular Santa Claus. www.simon.com/mall/phipps-plaza
2:00 PM
Peruse award-winning exhibitions, historic homes, and lush gardens on the 33-acre campus of the Atlanta History Center. Relive the past as members of the center bring history to life by playing the roles of historic figures. Engage in some pop culture fun during the museum's Capitol Tour experience at the Swan House which includes access to set artifacts and photos from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.www.atlantahistorycenter.com
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This article appears in the December 2014 issue of Successful Meetings.