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Must-do Atlanta

20 of Atlanta's best attractions.
by Tony Ware - September 2006

Published in Atlanta :: Atlanta

Must-Do Atlanta

*20 must-do experiences for visitors and locals alike.

ESSENTIAL ATLANTA

Atlanta's charm is a blend of new and old, where the quirky and the quaint sit easily beside the tall buildings and booming businesses. Stay inside the city's Perimeter and you can explore both the good ol' South and the great big future with ease. Somewhere in between lies the true Atlanta . . . big enough to house world-class art, the planet's largest aquarium and hit-making hip-hop artists, but small enough to say "please" and "thank you."

01 > Cyclorama / Zoo Atlanta
www.bcaatlanta.com | www.zooatlanta.org

Set in the rolling hills of Grant Park, the city's oldest park and largest historic neighborhood, the Cyclorama remains one of the more offbeat and retro-charming of Atlanta's tourist attractions. Visitors are seated indoors as a 360-degree painting of the 1864 Battle of Atlanta- the world's biggest painting-rotates around them, and taped narration complete with sound effects tells the epic tale. Also charming, and undeniably adorable, are Zoo Atlanta pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang. The zoo, which is adjacent to the Cyclorama, is also home to lions, tigers and a batch of gorillas beloved by the city.

02 > Stone Mountain
www.stonemountainpark.com

Southern pride stands tall at Stone Mountain Park, a 20-minute drive outside Atlanta. Climb atop the 825-foot stone behemoth-the world's largest exposed piece of granite-for a killer view of Atlanta to the west. Then take the sky car down to see Confederate heroes Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson in the biggest bas-relief sculpture in the world (it's even larger than Mt. Rushmore). Down below, catch a riverboat cruise on Stone Mountain Lake, or a locomotive ride around the mountain. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the hiking and bike trails, and everybody adores the legendary laser light show.

03 > Sun Dial Restaurant
www.sundialrestaurant.com

The highest perch above Peachtree Street, the Sun Dial is located on the top fl oor of the Westin Peachtree Plaza-the tallest hotel in the Western hemisphere. From 723 feet above the ground, the rotating restaurant reveals an awe-inducing 360-degree view of the Atlanta skyline and beyond. Sip a signature cocktail and raise a toast to the New South, the Old South and all the surprises in between.

04 > Turner Field
www.atlantabraves.com

The Atlanta Braves (whose season runs through September) play America's favorite pastime, but it's still possible to savor the South at Turner Field. Buy a bag of boiled peanuts outside the stadium, or feast on a Georgia dog in the stands. Tip your cap to Hall of Famer "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron at the 755 Club, and do the tomahawk chop as the Braves rally in the 9th. Tickets in the upper balcony often sell for as little as $5-a Southern baseball bargain indeed.

05 > The Varsity / Mary Mac's Tea Room
www.thevarsity.com | www.marymacs.com

While Gone with the Wind certainly has its place, some of the most hallowed Southern books are cookbooks. And to get a literal taste of tradition, a visit to either the Varsity or Mary Mac's Tea Room is mandatory. The collegiate-themed Varsity, its brake-light red "V" easily seen from the Interstate, is the world's largest drive-in restaurant, and its car hops have been serving up hot dogs and frosted orange sodas since 1928. Not far away down the Ponce de Leon corridor, Mary Mac's has been offering deep-fried meat-and-threes within a sprawling labyrinth of dining rooms for over 50 years. You might get confused if you are being called "sweetie" or being offered a "sweet tea," but either way it's all comfort (food).

06 > World of Coca-Cola / Underground Atlanta
www.woccatlanta.com | www.underground-atlanta.com

Lychee nut soda is all the rage. No, really! At the World of Coca-Cola, not only can you guzzle down the history of the city's-make that the world's-favorite carbonated soft drink (invented at an Atlanta soda fountain in 1886), but you'll also sample more than 20 exotic fl avors not sold in the US. Plus, the World of Coke allows repeated viewings of those awesome Michael J. Fox Coke ads from the '80s and is just steps away from the shopping, restaurants and nightlife at Underground Atlanta, the original terminus of a metropolis that was once a tiny rail crossing.

07 > Georgia Aquarium
www.georgiaaquarium.org

The Georgia Aquarium is so popular with locals that 290,000 annual passes were sold in just three months. Viewers of all ages are fl ocking to the world's largest aquarium to see over 100,000 marine animals-including Ralph, Norton, Alice and Trixie, the whale shark stars of the gargantuan Ocean Explorer exhibit. Beluga whales, African black-footed penguins and Georgia sea turtles, plus 500 other species from under the sea, can all be found within the wave-breaking, ark-shaped exterior. While you're there, don't miss Tropical Diver - The Coral Kingdom.

08 > The Georgia Capitol Building
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/geo.htm | www.sos.state.ga.us

Cruising north on I-85/75, the golden dome of The Georgia Capitol rises proudly into view. The building where Ray Charles's "Georgia on My Mind" was declared the state song is a gleaming nugget of living history. The Capitol museum offers exhibits on the state's sometimes-turbulent past, and the Hall of Valor showcases historic battle fl ags. And when the Georgia General Assembly is in session, you can catch a live video feed of Southern lawmakers on the job.

09 > Centennial Olympic Park / CNN Center / Phillips Arena / Georgia Dome
www.centennialpark.com |
www.cnn.com/tour www.phillipsarena.com |
www.gadome.com

Major venues sit side by side in downtown Atlanta. Centennial Olympic Park was built for the 1996 Games, and as host for numerous free events is still a good spot to size up the city. Across the street, the CNN Center offers a fun tour with a peek into the newsroom. The CNN Center is attached to Phillips Arena, home to the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers, big-name concerts and a grand ol' Atlanta sign. Across the way sits the Georgia Dome, where the Atlanta Falcons get down to the nitty-gritty on the gridiron.

10 > Shooting the 'Hooch
www.nps.gov/chat

The 'Hooch in question is the Chattahoochee River, 48 miles of which were set aside as a preserve by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. Those looking to go rafting, kayaking, canoeing or tubing among Class I and II rapids-or fl y fi shing, hiking and biking-can travel along the same stretch of calm, chilled water and "painted rocks" that Native American tribes once used as a border and a vessel. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is only 25 minutes north of Atlanta, but worlds away from the city's urban bustle.

11 > Center for Puppetry Arts
www.puppet.org

Funny, furry and friendly to visitors of all ages, the Center for Puppetry Arts was the fi rst of its kind in the US when it opened in 1978. Today, the Center has a hands-on museum with eye-opening wonders like a trash can that rises into a nine-foot Phoenix (the symbol of Atlanta). Performances range from the kid-friendly Peter Pan to the adults-only Spooky Horror Puppet Show. And Create-a-Puppet workshops mean you can bring a new friend home from your Atlanta adventures.

12 > Margaret Mitchell House / The Fox Theatre / Oakland Cemetery
www.gwtw.org | www.foxtheatre.org | www.oaklandcemetery.com

Midtown Atlanta is exploding with new high-rise condos and offi ce towers, but one historic structure will never be gone with the wind. Frankly, my dear, it's the Margaret Mitchell House, and it's a must-see for fans of the book, the movie or Atlanta history. And mere blocks away is the fabulous Fox Theatre, the opulent 1920s-erected mosque-styled setting, where in 1989 the 50th anniversary re-premiere of Gone with the Wind was held. A little south of Midtown, Oakland Cemetery is the fi nal resting place of the novel's esteemed author, as well as Atlanta luminaries such as golfer Bobby Jones and 25 Atlanta mayors. A cemetery may sound morbid, but it's actually a swell place to stroll, and, should you take the guided tour, a rich source of Atlanta history.

13 > MLK District / Sweet Auburn
www.thekingcenter.org | www.nps.gov.malu

The City of Atlanta recently paid $32 million to save Dr. Martin Luther King's personal papers from auction. The legacy of Dr. King looms large in the city, and a walk through the Sweet Auburn district is a good place to take it all in. The historic center of African-American business and culture is still the site of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King once preached. His boyhood home is a registered National Landmark, and his tomb sits by a refl ecting pool at the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

14 > Piedmont Park / Botanical Gardens
www.piedmontpark.org | www.atlantabotanicalgardens.org

Piedmont Park, in the center of the city, is where Atlantans go to sit pretty and get sweaty as they enjoy traditions such as the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Dogwood Festival and Screen on the Green. Runners and rollerbladers make fast use of the trails that snake through the grassy knolls of the city's largest park, and pet owners frolic with their four-legged pals. A quick picnic is achieved with take-out from the nearby Flying Biscuit Café (www..#64258; yingbiscuit.com). The Atlanta Botanical Gardens overlook Piedmont Park and are always blooming with a colorful array of natural wonders, limited-engagement artistic installations and cultural celebrations.

15 > Little Five Points / Starlight Six
www.l5p.com | www.starlightdrivein.com

In the Little Five Points community, longtime bars (Brewhouse, Euclid Yacht Club, Star Bar) share real estate with hip eateries (Vortex, Five Spot, Zesto) and quirky shopping (Stefan's vintage clothing, Junkman's Daughter, Wax 'N Facts records). South down Moreland Avenue is the Starlight Six drive-In, offering movies since 1949. And that era is celebrated annually when Little Five Points establishments and the Starlight team up to host bands, classic car shows and more during Drive Invasion and Tiki Invasion.

16 > Lenox Square / Phipps Plaza
www.lenoxsquare.com | www.phippsplaza.com

While Midtown's Crescent Avenue-12 Street club district remains the premier arena for seeing Atlanta's hip-hop stars dressed to the nines, Buckhead's Lenox and Phipps malls are the places to catch more laidback native and visiting celebrities shopping till 9pm. Located catty-cornered to one another, these two shopping centers conveniently offer everything you'd need to strut the same red carpet as an in-demand producer or MC. Doing a few laps around the stores is de rigueur and will help you get in shape to show off any couture purchases (and with shops such as BCBG, Jimmy Choo, Versace and Hèrmes, the temptation is very high indeed). Additionally, both malls offer fine-meets-fun dining at Twist and Prime.

17 > Carter Presidential Center
www.jimmycarterlibrary.org

Jimmy Carter-peanut farmer-turned-President-turned-Nobel Peace Prize winner-founded the Carter Presidential Center to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering. The center is set on 35 acres with a library, museum and garden open to the public. A replica of the Oval Offi ce and memorabilia from the Carter presidency share space with exhibits such as From Apartheid to Democracy: The Struggle for Freedom in South Africa and the American South. Plus, the Nobel Peace Prize is on display.

18 > High Museum of Art / Woodruff Arts Center
www.high.org | www.woodruffartscenter.org

The recent expansion of the High Museum of Art has locals beaming with pride. The soaring, light-fi lled spaces are home to a world-class collection of art and special exhibitions, such as an upcoming three-year partnership with the Paris Louvre. Every third Friday night, the museum becomes the hippest jazz club in the city, and a popular fi lm series screens an eclectic and international array of work. Next door, the Woodruff Arts Center hosts the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and theatrical events, such as the world premiere of The Color Purple before it made its way to Broadway.

19 > Fernbank Museum of Natural History / Science center
www.fernbank.edu

Science is sexy at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, at least every Friday evening January through November at "Martinis & IMAX." This is where of-age Atlantans sip signature cocktails, such as the Milky Way, and watch IMAX movies like the ever-popular Everest. All this beneath the skeleton of the Giganotosaurus, a 47-foot-long meat-eating dinosaur 100 million years old. Nearby, at the Fernbank Science Center, budding astronomers explore the starry skies in the planetarium and observatory.

20 > Historic Black Colleges / Wren's Nest
www.morehouse.edu

The MLK papers recently acquired by the city will be housed at Morehouse College, the great man's alma mater and one of several historically Black colleges located in Atlanta. A campus tour of Morehouse, Spelman or Clark Atlanta University offers an unbeatable history of African-American higher education in America. Nearby lived author Joel Chandler Harris, who compiled African-American folklore in his Uncle Remus tales. His home, dubbed the Wren's Nest, is the oldest house museum in Atlanta.

Published in Atlanta :: Atlanta

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