Things to Do in Atlanta

Whether you’re new to the area or have lived in Atlanta for years, around Atlanta there is something fun for everyone. From interactive venues to historical sites and sports venues to beautiful performing arts, Atlanta offers so many options.

Atlanta Tours

Screen Shot 2016-02-10 at 3.51.15 PMDTours – offers a variety of private guided tours so you can tour like a local! 

  • Art On The Streets – explore the creative spirit in the streets of Atlanta
  • A City in a Forest – explore Atlanta’s natural beauty including The Beltline, parks and gardens
  • From Civil War to Civil Rights – learn about Atlanta’s history from Civil War to Martin Luther King
  • The “Heart” of the City – learn about Atlanta’s many charitable and volunteer opportunities  

Museums in Atlanta

  • Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum – Located at Grant Park, Cyclorama will take you through a journey through time. Sit at the center of a sweeping panorama of the Battle of Atlanta, fought on July 22, 1864, during the American Civil War.
  • Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame – Features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team’s history from its beginnings in Boston (1871-1952) to Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present). 
  • Atlanta History Center – This Buckhead attraction features 32 acres of gardens, wildlife trails and woodland areas. You will walk through different exhibitions on subjects such as the Civil War, African-American heritage and Southern folk art. There is also a section dedicated to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
  • Fernbank Museum of Natural History – At Fernbank Museum you can view the world’s largest dinosaurs, learn the development of life on Earth and engage in a variety of hands-on exhibitions.
  • Georgia Governor’s Mansion Tour – Public tours of the Governor’s Mansion are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday between 10:00am – 11:30am. Tours are free and are conducted year round.
  • High Museum of Art – High Museum of Art in Atlanta has grown to become the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States with its renowned collection of classic and contemporary art and renowned architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.
  • Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta – A hands on experience for children to learn and explore while developing skills in Reading, Social Studies, Math, Science and the Arts.
  • Jimmy Carter Library and Museum – Home to 27 million pages of Jimmy Carter’s White House material including documents and correspondence along with photographs and other historical memorabilia from Jimmy Carters’ presidency from 1976 to 1981.
  • Margaret Mitchell House – Features guided tours of the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote the 1936 novel, Gone with the Wind. The house is operated by the Atlanta History Center.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site – Tour Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home and the historic Ebenezer Church. View films and exhibits, and reflect at his grave site.
  • World of Coca-Cola – Features more than 1,200 Coca-Cola artifacts from around the world showing Coca-Cola’s story of past, present and future. The last stop of the tour allows visitors to sample over 60 different Coca-Cola products from around the world.

Professional Sports in Atlanta

Atlanta is home to several professional sports franchise, including teams from all major leagues sports along with NASCAR, minor league sports and collegiate sports.

Arts in Atlanta

  • Alliance Theatre – Alliance Theatre serves as Atlanta’s foremost theatre, working within the local, national and international communities to become one of the leading theaters in America.
  • Atlanta Opera – The Atlanta Opera offers four main stage productions each season, in addition to other programs, such as Pre-Opera Lectures and student matinees to further enhance the experience of opera. You can see the Atlanta Opera at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
  • Atlanta Ballet – Atlanta Ballet, founded in 1929, is the oldest professional dance company in America, the largest self-supported arts organization in Georgia and is the official Ballet Company of Georgia. The company’s performances combine contemporary and traditional with classic ballets and new choreography. You can see the Atlanta Ballet at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
  • Terminus Modern Ballet – Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre is a collective of five principal dance artists who wish to create a place of innovation and creative thinking.
  • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – One of America’s leading orchestras, known for the excellence of its live performances, presentations, renowned choruses, and its impressive list of Grammy® Award-winning recordings. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s main concert venue is at the Woodruff Arts Center .
  • The Fox Theatre – This opulent historic landmark presents shows by Broadway in Atlanta and Theater of the Stars, as well as a Summer Movie series. The Atlanta Ballet performs its holiday season favorite “The Nutcracker” at The Fox Theatre.
  • Center for Puppetry Arts – The Center is the largest non-profit organization in the U.S. dedicated to puppetry. Get up close and personal with puppets in the Center’s Museum, which houses a collection of puppets, books, posters and videos from around the world.
  • High Museum of Art – High Museum of Art in Atlanta has grown to become the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States with its renowned collection of classic and contemporary art and renowned architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.

Parks in Atlanta

  • Atlanta Botanical Garden – This peaceful oasis includes 30 acres of gardens, an urban forest, wildflower trails, the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory and a 10,000 square-foot Fuqua Orchid Center. The gardens are adjacent to Piedmont Park.
  • Centennial Olympic Park – This 21-acre site was one of the most popular spots in the city during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Today, year-round programming featuring concerts, family activities and festivals make the park a gathering place for Atlantans and visitors. The park features the world’s largest Olympic Ring fountain.
  • Chattahoochee Nature Center – Located on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell. The Center is on a beautiful site comprised of 127 acres of native plants and gardens that showcase the beauty of Georgia.
  • Chastain Memorial Park and Cadence Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park – Chastain Park is the largest city park in Atlanta. The 268-acre park includes jogging paths, playgrounds, tennis courts, a golf course, swimming pool, private horse park and amphitheater. Located in the park is the Chastain Park Amphitheater, an outdoor concert venue that operates from April through October.
  • Grant Park – Atlanta’s oldest park, it is home to the Atlanta Zoo and Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum.
  • Piedmont Park – Located in Midtown, Piedmont Park is home to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. It is known as the premier green space in Atlanta.
  • Silver Comet Trail – A 61 mile non-motorized, wheelchair accessible trail for walkers, hikers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, horses, and dog walkers. It starts near Mavell Road in Smyrna and ends at the Georgia/Alabama state line near Cedartown. It then connects to a 33 mile long Chief Ladiga Trail.
  • Stone Mountain Park – Stone Mountain Park is home to the world’s largest piece of exposed granite rock and is the state’s most visited attraction. With more than 3,200 acres of natural beauty, the park offers families recreational activities, special events, lodging and camping.
  • Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – The 12,000-seat Ameris Bank Amphitheatre seats 7,000 under a roof, and another 5,000 on a lawn area. The venue provides a unique setting for both music lovers and first-time concertgoers.

Recreational Sports in Atlanta

  • ALTA Tennis – Founded in 1934, the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association is a non-profit organization developed to encourage tennis for recreation and physical fitness. There are ALTA Tennis leagues throughout metro Atlanta.
  • Atlanta Swim League (ASL) – Offers adult swim teams in Atlanta
  • Atlanta Swim Association – Competitive swim teams for various age groups
  • USTA Atlanta Tennis – A national organization, the United States Tennis Association was founded in 1881 to support tennis across the country. In 1980, Atlanta Community Tennis Association was formed to promote USTA in the Atlanta area. USTA Atlanta leagues are available throughout Atlanta.
  • Golf Courses in Atlanta Area – See a list of golf courses that can be found in and around Atlanta.
  • Georgia Boating and Fishing – Get information on GA fishing license, how to register your boat, and see where the best places to fish and boat in Georgia.

Theme Parks in Atlanta

  • Six Flags Over Georgia – Located on Interstate 20, just west of Atlanta, this theme park has been the destination for affordable, family fun. With 10 action-packed roller coasters, two playfully themed children’s areas in Thomas Town? and Bugs Bunny World and four interactive water rides, there’s no better spot for thrills and spills than Six Flags Over Georgia!
  • Six Flags White Water – A 70-acre water park located in Marietta off of US 41. Plunge down the 90-foot Cliffhanger, one of the world’s tallest free-fall water slides, or funnel through the 735-foot-long Run-a-Way River, a vicious four-person tunnel raft ride. Younger parkgoers can splash around in Little Squirt’s Island and Captain Kid’s Cove, or just float down one of two lazy rivers.

Shopping in Atlanta

  • Alpharetta – Alpharetta a shopping and entertainment district called Avalon. 
  • Atlantic Station – A fusion of homes, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. Atlantic Station is a small village surrounded by downtown Atlanta.
  • Buckhead – With three major shopping areas, Buckhead Village District, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square, there is plenty of shopping for everyone. However, Buckhead also offers hundreds of clothing boutiques and endless number of interior design stores.
  • Decatur – In this walking community, Decatur offers endless rows of boutiques, restaurants and galleries.
  • Downtown Roswell – Roswell’s town square is a shopper’s paradise, from the period storefronts to a rich mix of great food, art galleries, antiques, hip shops and unique boutiques.
  • Virginia-Highland – This community east of Midtown is best know for its restaurants, galleries, unique shops and it’s nightlife.

Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta & More

  • CNN Studio Tour – Ride up the longest freestanding escalator in the world to embark on an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the CNN Studios located in Downtown Atlanta.
  • Georgia Aquarium – In November 2005, the doors opened to the world’s largest aquarium. The Georgia Aquarium features more animals than any other aquarium in more than eight million gallons of water. Not only can you see all the amazing animals but can also learn about and touch many of the animals.
  • Georgia State Capitol – Learn about the history and government of Georgia by visiting the Georgia State Capitol. It is open to the public Monday – Friday (except holidays) from 8:00am – 5:00pm. Guided tours are available.
  • The Varsity – Located by the Georgia Tech campus, The Varsity is the world’s largest drive-in restaurant. When answering, “What’ll ya have?”, verify your order is correct by learning The Varsity Lingo.
  • Zoo Atlanta – Home to over 1300 animals and more than 220 species. Zoo Atlanta has the nation’s largest collection of gorillas and orangutans. It is also one of only four zoos in the U.S. currently housing giant pandas.

Extras

  • Atlanta City Pass – Pay one price and see 6 top Atlanta attractions. Not only do you get a big savings, you also get extras such as a behind the scenes tour at the Georgia Aquarium. The pass is good for 7 continuous days. Whether your visiting Atlanta or live in Atlanta and want a stay-cation, the Atlanta City Pass is a great bargain.
  • Georgia’s Official Tourism Website – Read more about the Atlanta Metro events and attractions. This site will also give you information about where to stay if you are visiting.