The electric capital of Georgia, Atlanta has always had an important place in US history, in particular during the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, being the birthplace of famous activist Martin Luther King Jr. Apart from its history however, the city is a popular weekend getaway full of beautiful parks, exciting museums and plenty of up and coming bars and restaurants. Here are some of the best things to make sure to do while visiting Atlanta, GA.
SkyView Atlanta
This 200-foot high Ferris wheel towers over Atlanta's Olympic Park offering some of the most glamorous views of the city. The huge glass windows of the gondolas offer unrivalled panoramic vistas over the city, particularly beautiful if you visit at night when the city lights are lit up. Each ticket lasts for four rotations of the Ferris wheel, giving you plenty of time to get that perfect photo.
Georgia Aquarium
Visiting an aquarium in a city hundreds of kilometers from the sea might seem a bit lackluster, but the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is something unique and special. The largest aquarium in the world for seven years until 2012 and still the largest in the western hemisphere, Georgia Aquarium is huge, with thousands of sea creatures and hundreds of species to see.
There's tones to see here, with regularly changing exhibits and special events that make the aquarium unique every time you visit. They also offer guided tours that are well worth it for learning in depth about each species in the aquarium. Some of the most popular areas are the penguins, huge whale sharks and belugas at Georgia Aquarium.
Center for Civil and Human Rights
As a major part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, shaping the future of American history, Atlanta is the perfect place for this incredible museum documenting civil and human rights in the United States and around the world. Even for those not so interested in US history, the museum is designed beautifully and offers a number of interactive exhibits that make visits fun and captivating. For those that are interested in learning more about this fascinating period of time, there's no better place than the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.
Make sure to also check out the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park while visiting Atlanta too which is a short drive away from the museum.
Piedmont Park
A beautiful, sprawling expanse of greenery right within the city of Atlanta, Piedmont Park makes for a beautiful place to explore for a number of reasons.
It's one of the best places to see the skyline of Atlanta, with the skyscrapers of midtown as a backdrop to the park's beautiful Lake Clara Meer. Piedmont Park is particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves change to an incredible range of autumn colors.
Stone Mountain
This huge rock sits just outside the city of Atlanta and one of the biggest attractions in the state of Georgia. At just over 500 meters in height, Stone Mountain isn't that tall, but it's sheer rock façade and imposing size is what makes it so impressive. Either climb up the trail to get to the top or take an easy cable car ride. On clear days you'll also get beautiful views over to the city center of Atlanta from the top of the rock.