What to See and Do in Atlanta

While it may not be the most scenic or touristy place in all of the United States, Atlanta still has a lot of charm that anyone can enjoy. From its up and coming art scene to its connection to history especially in regards to the Civil War and Civil Rights, there is a lot you can learn and experience in the city. I have family in the suburbs of the city so I have visited many times and with that includes visiting a lot of different attractions and sites and even visiting some of the same ones multiple times, so here is what I would suggest for anyone visiting the city.

First before we get into what to do, let me introduce you to the city and how to get here. Atlanta airport is one of the busiest and biggest in the US. It is also Delta’s hub so if your airport is also a Delta hub, then you most likely have a lot of options for direct flights here. Just keep in mind that the airport is a bit complicated and can be overwhelming, but once you figure it out, its not too bad. Once you leave the airport you will witness the vastness of the city. It has a downtown and a midtown and any part of a city you can think of, but instead of all being condensed in a small area, these different parts are spread out. They are easily connected by the highways, but the city is notorious for its traffic. It is not a walkable city, but it is also a nightmare to drive in sometimes, so you have to make the decision to either rent a car and take on the traffic or uber everywhere.

I would recommend the city during the fall or spring. The south can get hot in the summer, which can be quite miserable in a city. While the winters aren’t too cold and make a good break from the Minnesota winter, everything is still dead so you don’t get to experience the full charm of nature in the south. In spring and fall you won’t have extreme temperatures and you can still enjoy what makes the south unique. Now here is what I would recommend you do with you time in the city.

Visit the World of Coca-Cola

The biggest tourist attraction in all of Atlanta would have to be the Coca-Cola Museum. It is up for debate whether it is truly worth it. I would say it completely depends on who you are and the experience you are looking for. As an adult now it probably wouldn’t be my first choice in things to do in Atlanta, especially since I don’t drink soda anymore. When I went a couple times as a young teenager, it was a lot of fun! It is a great activity for families. Although its maybe not the best for families with young children, but for families with tweens and teenagers, it is a well worth stop for everyone to enjoy.

At the museum you will learn all about the creation of the soft drink and its rise to fame. There are exhibits, artifacts, and videos to experience the journey. There are lots of photo opps on the way and you will even get to do a coca-cola tasting where you’ll get to try all the different flavors of Coke that have been created. There also is a cafe as well a gift shop where you can get whatever Coke merch you can think of. The museum is open from 10 am to either 5pm or 6pm depending on the day. You can buy tickets online or at the museum! Admission varies from $23 to $27, so it isn’t exactly cheap for a family, but if you are a Coca-Cola fanatic, it is worth the price!

Check Out the Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United States. I think this site unlike the Coca-Cola museum can be enjoyed by all ages. Why might I say that? Because I went for the first time when I was 13 and then for the second time 3 weeks ago over 10 years later. I was a little hesitant to go when I was there this last time because I thought it wasn’t going to be as cool as an adult, but as it turns out, I was wrong. Animals I think are something that can be enjoyed by all ages. Its like going to a new country and learning about the environment and critters there, except in an aquarium and zoo, they all are in one place. There is always something you can learn about the world around you.

At the Georgia Aquarium you can expect to find river animals, which includes otters, as well as sea creatures ranging from whales, sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and so much more. You can catch some shows (I would highly recommend the dolphin show) for no extra charge. Just be sure to check out the schedule of when these are happening when you get there so you can plan you visit accordingly. The thing you have to absolutely do it go up to the biggest tank you have every seen and then go through the hall where you are completely surrounded by water and fish.

Tickets to the aquarium can get a bit pricey. You can purchase them online or on site. They are going to be about $55 per person. It is a lot but I promise you get your money’s worth and you know the money is going towards a good cause. It is totally a skippable activity as well though if the price keeps you away. Aquariums aren’t everybody’s thing.

Enjoy Spring at the Botanical Gardens

In Midtown you will come across the more natural side of Atlanta at its botanical gardens. While the outdoor park portion may still look as dead as the rest of the city in the winter months, you’ll still find many plants alive and thriving due to the gardens dedication to conservation and enjoyment. I really enjoyed the gardens because I got to see plants I wouldn’t see at home in Minnesota where the cold climate would maybe not allow them to grow. The displays are also unique making you feel immersed in the flowers and also providing great photo opps.

The gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5 pm. You can purchase tickets online or onsite, but you can save $2 by purchasing online. Otherwise an adult ticket onsite will cost about $35. I promise it is worth the price, especially if you are a nature lover.

See Some Art at the High Museum of Art

If you are more of the museum type, but Coca-Cola is not your thing, then you can visit the High Museum of Art, Atlanta’s Art museum. While I am not typically an art person, I can appreciate it for its cultural significance in history so my art cousin, who does truly enjoy looking at art, has taken me to the museum a couple times. I have to say the interesting thing about an art museum is no matter how many times you visit, you will always get something new out of it, unlike a history museum where the information usually stays the same. The art museum also has rotating exhibits so this last time I visited I got to check out the fashion exhibit showing Viktor&Rolf statement pieces. Beyond this the museum has pieces of many different styles from many different eras, so there is bound to be something that interests you!

Tickets are $23.50 and they can be purchased online or on site. My family had a membership so we got to visit for free, but either way the money spent goes towards keeping the museum running. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm with a later opening time on Sundays.

Learn About Southern History While Experiencing a Great View at Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain is quite controversial site in Atlanta which is why I am including the part about this being a learning opportunity. It is a pretty unique thing to do in Atlanta as it is a giant rock dome made up of quartz monzonite on the outskirts of the city. That is what makes it so cool and a highly recommended spot for anyone visiting the city, but the piece that is problematic is not its geological history, but rather its significance in history. You have to go into this experience with a historian mindset, ready to think critically about historical events. This site has a confederate memorial with its carving depicting confederate soldiers and the “Lost Cause” which is quite problematic as its signifying the the South’s fight to keep slavery as a devastating lost. This is also significant meeting and rally sight of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1900s. I don’t think you should stay away from the site solely for these reasons, because I think it is a chance to learn and reflect on how we can do better in reparations. It is also a cool geological site where you get to ride a cable car up to the top and have a pretty amazing view. The state has been working hard to change the parks significance from its confederate ties to be focused on its natural aspects, but that still doesn’t change its history, which I think is important to recognize. There are so many more historical and natural sites in the park as well, so it is a nice trip out of the city.

The kind of tickets you can get to visit is dependent on what you plan to do, so check out the website and see what is right for you. And if you feel strongly that you don’t want to contribute to a site historically tied to racism, I would completely support not visiting as well and encourage you to then check out some of these others sights in Atlanta!

Live Out Gone with the Wind at the Margaret Mitchell House

The Margret Mitchell House was one of the first sites I visited in Atlanta as you can see by the baby pictures. It also was one of my favorites. Located in Midtown as a part of the Atlanta History Center is the home of the author of Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell. She lived here in a small apartment in the 1900s when she wrote her famous book. Here you will learn about her life, the book, and the history of Atlanta along with the story’s depiction of the South and the Civil War. It is the perfect stop for any history lover or fan of Gone With the Wind.

Admission is $18.50 for adults and you can download that app for an audio tour around the home. Parking is free at the site as well, which is always a bonus in Atlanta. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm. I would highly recommend planning the stop as I don’t think it is talked about enough as something to do in Atlanta.

While there is so much more you can do in Atlanta, because I swear I am always doing something there, these are the things I would recommend to anyone visiting the city for the first time that doesn’t know anyone there to tell them what to do. It really is a cool city that has something for everyone whether you are a food, art, sports, history, or shopping lover. It is a lovely city full of lovely people.