In less than two centuries, Atlanta has grown from a sleepy railroad town into a truly international city.
The host of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Atlanta has managed to retain a sense of its southern charm amidst the big city bustle of skyscrapers, highways and Fortune 500 headquarters.
While summers can be hot and humid, the weather here is mostly pleasant year round.
Both shoppers and foodies will have plenty of options here, but at a much more reasonable price and with a slower, Southern pace than other East Coast cities.
Atlanta has a fantastic array of family attractions, many conveniently located in the downtown area. Those that are farther afield are well worth the trip.
Two of the city’s most famous residents, former President Jimmy Carter and civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr., have centers less than two miles apart, allowing parents and kids alike to mix family fun with some important historical lessons.
To the west of the city, Six Flags Over Georgia will provide hours of thrills for the whole family, with themed rides incorporating Superman, Batman, the Joker and the Justice League. In addition to hyper-coasters, there are a nice selection of family and kids-only rides, as well as Hurricane Harbor, a waterpark located within Six Flags.
Just eastward from downtown is Stone Mountain Park, a 1,600-foot stone dome that juts out of the Georgia countryside. In addition to a museum, cable car and scenic railroad, visitors can enjoy the nightly laser show projected onto the side of the mountain—which features an enormous (and controversial) bas-relief sculpture of Confederate era soldiers and generals.
Whether your family is hungry for nature, history, excitement or a certain famous beverage, you’re sure to find it here.
This public aquarium, one of the world’s largest, had a unique genesis, thanks to a $250 million gift from the founder of Atlanta-based Home Depot. The main tank, a 6.3-million-gallon monster, houses whale sharks, the world’s largest fish. Seeing these graceful creatures in person is worth the admission price alone. Other impressive exhibits focus on dolphins, beluga whales and sea lions. For an extra fee, the behind-the-scene tours are worth considering if your kids are truly fish fanatics.
One of Atlanta’s most famous inventions, Coca Cola is recognized across the globe. This museum, which traces the history of the iconic beverage, also looks at the company’s brilliant marketing efforts through the years. The tasting room at the end is always a kid-favorite part—you can sample more than 100 beverages from around the world.
Kids who fantasize about being a TV news star will love taking the CNN Studio Tour, an Atlanta mainstay for more than three decades. Learn about how the network began in 1980, how it has evolved in today’s cable-obsessed world and how live news is written, edited and broadcast.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and adjacent Carter Center illustrate the life and times of our 39th president and focus on his longtime passion for building peace, helping the poor and fighting disease. A short drive to the southwest will take you to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, with The Eternal Flame and the crypt housing Dr. and Mrs. King. Dr. King’s birth home and the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church are also part of the complex.
Atlanta’s airport, located on the southwest side of the city, is one of the world’s largest and the main hub for Delta Airlines. You can catch MARTA, the city’s extensive and modern subway system, right at the airport. If you plan to venture further farther out of the main city areas, though, a rental car is recommended. Atlanta’s traffic is notoriously bad, and the Connector, where I-75 and I-85 join up to run through the heart of the city, can be a maddening choke point. So if you are driving, make sure to check traffic conditions before you head out.
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