A city of “courageous firsts,” Atlanta boasts a rich southern history and culture. Explore the city with an impressive legacy of leadership, progress, and inspiration and see where some of the country’s greatest movements and innovations first took hold.
Day 1: A City of Firsts
9:00 AM
Atlanta was the birthplace and home of Martin Luther King, Jr. and one of the major centers of the Civil Rights Movement. The MLK National Historic Site offers tours of his birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the King Center. Groups of up to 45 are allowed, but require a reservation.
www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm
12:00 PM
Coca-Cola was first sold in Atlanta in 1886 as “patent medicine” and has since become the world’s most famous beverage brand, now encompassing up to 60 different products. Tour the World of Coca-Cola and learn about the soft drink’s history and how it is made.
www.worldofcoca-cola.com
6:00 PM
Atlanta is the home of CNN, the first all-news channel in the U.S. Go behind the scenes for a glimpse of news and broadcasting in action with a CNN studio tour. Tours are 55 minutes long and groups of 20 or more are eligible for discounts.
www.cnn.com/tour
Day 2: A Breath of Fresh Air
9:00 AM
Start the day off with a walk or a run on the Silver Comet trail, which is over 60 miles long and ends at the Alabama/Georgia state line. Once the path of a now-abandoned railway, the trail allows residents and visitors to bike, jog, or walk through old railroad tunnels.
www.silvercometga.com
2:00 PM
No matter when you’re in Atlanta, you’re bound to be just in time for a festival. The Atlanta Jazz Festival brings musicians to the streets in May, while Taste of Atlanta spices things up in October. Festivals take place all over the city in locations like Piedmont Park and Decatur Square.
www.atlanta.net
6:00 PM
Meander through one of Atlanta’s unique neighborhoods such as Decatur, Cabbagetown, or Little Five Points. Each has its own personality and offers a range of shopping and dining experiences.
www.atlanta.net
Day 3: Under and Over
9:00 AM
The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world with over 10 million gallons of fresh and marina water. View the different species of fish and aquatic animals as if you were underwater with them through 16,000 feet of viewing windows. The aquarium is also home to whale sharks and Beluga whales, the only aquarium in the Western Hemisphere to have them.
www.georgiaaquarium.org
3:00 PM
Enjoy the view from above with a hot air balloon ride. From your perch, you’ll be able to see the Atlanta skyline, Lake Lanier, Stone Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, and the beginnings of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountain ranges. Special group packages are available.
www.balloonsovergeorgia.com