| |
Guide to Atlanta, USA - Georgia
|
Click to go to Flight Prices for Atlanta
|
Atlanta
To some, Atlanta, Georgia, is just another regular city with not much to offer except business, pollution, and traffic. There is however, something special about this southern city of the US - if you care to look closer, you may find things that you really appreciate and find interesting.
How To Get There
Hartsfield International Airport is a busy hub serving the southern United States. There are lots of options for your onward journey into Atlanta such as taxis, shuttle buses, vans, rental cars and the MARTArail and bus system.
Travelling Around
We don't recommend renting a car unless you plan on travelling out of Atlanta as city traffic can be heavy. The MARTA system is a good way of getting around, and is easy to navigate.
When To Go
The ideal time to visit Atlanta is in spring or autumn, as summer weather in the southern United States can be uncomfortably hot.
What To See
Look out for the old-style buildings that run for twenty blocks downtown. These were built after the Civil War, and are a great insight into how the city would have looked in the antebellum era. The contrast between this style of architecture and the modern buildings of midtown goes to show what a diverse city Atlanta is.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, and his childhood home in the Sweet Auburn district has been preserved as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Other historical attractions are the Atlanta History Center and the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum. The Georgia State Capitol, built in 1889, offers tours and exhibitions.
The Georgia Aquarium is the largest in the world. Opened to the public in 2005, it has more aquatic life than any other aquarium, and holds eight million gallons of water. Next door is the World of Coca-Cola which tells the story of famous soft drink brand. This and the aquarium are in Pemberton Place which is within walking distance of Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, the CNN Center and other downtown attractions.
Spend some time walking around Piedmont Park, Atlantas biggest, which holds cultural events throughout the year.
If youre in Atlanta during September, take a trip over to Stone Mountain Park for the Yellow Daisy Festival. This event revolves completely around the daisy, with arts, crafts and displays dedicated to the flower.
Hotspot
One of Atlantas most famous exports is novelist Margaret Mitchell, who wrote the 1936 Pullitzer Prize winning novel Gone With the Wind. The classic tale of Southern belle Scarlett OHara is one of the most popular books of all time, selling more than 28 million copies.
Mitchell wrote the novel while living at 990 Peachtree Street in midtown Atlanta, and the house has been turned into the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum. Visitors can tour the fully restored house and take part in literary events. Its a great attraction, not just for fans of Gone With the Wind but for anyone who wants to see what a 1930s Atlanta house looked like from the inside.
Night Life
Atlanta is home to a huge music scene, with big record labels based in the city and many big rap and hip-hop stars as residents.
As for night life, midtown is where all the major clubs are, especially around Peachtree Street and Crescent Avenue. Buckhead has some bars and clubs, and Little Five Points is where the college crowd go. Check out the Atlanta Night Guide for up to date listings.
Make sure you try some proper Southern food. It is rich and plentiful, and southerners fondness for sugar and honey is obvious with classic desserts like pecan pie, banana pudding and peach cobbler.
fast facts
- Atlanta is the fastest growing city in the United States
- Martin Luther King started the Civil Rights movement here
- Atlanta has 32 streets called Peachtree
- The Atlanta Ballet is the oldest ballet company in the USA
Quick History
The area where Atlanta now lies was originally home to Cherokee tribes. The city started life in 1837 as Terminus, a town at the end of the railway line to Chattanooga. It was renamed Marthasville and then Atlanta (a shortening of Atlantica-Pacifica), and incorporated in 1847. Since the regions major railways met in Atlanta, it soon became an important southern hub despite only having 10,000 inhabitants at the start of the Civil War.
Union troops seized the city in 1864 and burned it to the ground. The subsequent rebuilding and development is commemorated in the phoenix emblem on the city shield. It became the state capital of Georgia in 1868.
By the mid-twentieth century the city had raised itself to national importance, mainly through its contribution to the Civil Rights movement in the shape of many leaders such Martin Luther King Jr. Desegregation happened peacefully and efficiently, and Atlanta continues to be a diverse and welcoming place.
Hosting the 1996 Olympics helped to turn Atlanta into a truly international city.
Money
There are about two dollars to the pound. Up-to-date exchange rates can be found on a currency converter.
|
|
|
