Atlanta is a city steeped in history and sweetened with culture. From the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site to the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, the city is a living, breathing text book. Despite being burned to the ground in the Civil War—a travesty it’s long since recovered from—the “new capital of the South” fearlessly welcomed the Olympic Flame in 1996. But that’s not all it’s known for. Peachtree Street, Atlanta’s main thoroughfare, pulses with life; the Fox Theater, a legendary movie house, Symphony Tower, and the home of author Margaret Mitchell are all located along this main drag. Hotels are everywhere—luxury sky-rises and charming inns. Start the day with eggs, grits and bacon, stroll through (or sprint if you’re pressed for time) the 180-acre Piedmont Park, then enjoy some soul food for lunch. Fancy and casual, busy and laid-back—the city’s variety is as rich as its cultural diversity.

	Top rated hotels
	1. JW Marriott Hotel Buckhead Atlanta 3300 Lenox Road (Buckhead) 4. Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead 3300 Peachtree Road NE (Buckhead) 2. Regency Suites Hotel 975 West Peachtree St. (Midtown) 5. Hilton Suites Atlanta Perimeter 6120 Peachtree Dunwoody Road (Buckhead) 3. Residence Inn Atlanta Midtown/17th Street 1365 Peachtree Street 6. InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta 3315 Peachtree Road Ne (Buckhead) View more Atlanta hotel info »«

	Top rated attractions
	In Atlanta 1. Explore the Martin Luther King, JR. Historical Site The Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Site encompasses 35 acres with Dr. King’s Auburn Avenue birth home at its heart. Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, the civil rights activist’s wife, the site became a national historic landmark in 1977. Now 500,000 visitors explore the grounds annually. Take the Atlanta Tourist Loop or a MARTA bus and stop by the visitor center for tour information and a free map. Most of the park is self-guided, but the birth home is only accessible by guided tour. Come early; they don’t take advance reservations. Tours start at 10:00 AM.  « hide 2. Centennial Olympic Park Created for the 1996 Olympic Games, Centennial Olympic Park sprawls over 21 grassy acres. Hop on the MARTA West Line to enjoy soothing water features, live music and Family Fun Day on the fourth Saturday of the month. During seven daily concerts, the Olympic Ring Fountain sprays bursts of water in time with the music—the kids won’t want to leave! Don’t forget your ice skates in the winter. Visit Centennial Olympic Park online to download a walking map and take a virtual tour.  « hide 3. The Margaret Mitchell House and Museum Interested in winning a Pulitzer? Visit Margaret Mitchell’s house, the birthplace of Gone With the Wind, and perhaps some of her inspiration will rub off. Even people who’ve never read the book or seen the classic film enjoy the house’s rich sense of history. Tours last 60–90 minutes, start at the Visitors Center and end at the Gone With the Wind Movie Museum. Don’t forget a Tara paperweight for Grandma. The Museum Shop offers collectibles, memorabilia and assorted gifts. The site is one block from the Midtown MARTA station.  « hide 4. Take a CNN Studio Tour Take a peek behind-the-scenes to see where global news stories break, twenty-four hours a day. Plan ahead—tours are so popular they often sell out days in advance. Learn the marvels of green screen technology and view footage from the top news stories of the last two decades. Tours start every ten minutes and last just under an hour. The tour ends in the Turner store, so bring some extra cash. Before you leave, channel your inner journalist reading the headlines on camera.  « hide 5. The World of Coca Cola at its New Location Over 13 million guests visited the old World of Coca Cola throughout its seventeen year history. The new building is located at Pemberton Place, a 20-acre complex named for Dr. John S. Pemberton, who invented Coca Cola in 1886. The new and improved site still showcases more than a thousand artifacts and allows visitors to sample over 70 beverages, but also offers a 4D movie experience and an exhibit devoted to Coke and pop culture. Take the MARTA and get off at stop N1: Peachtree Center.  « hide

	Top rated restaurants
	1. Antica Posta Antica Posta, Atlanta is a rustic Tuscan-style restaurant that serves antipasti, pasta and a generous selection of entrees. Peruse the extensive wine list for the perfect complement to signature dishes, such as homemade veal sausages and eggplant parmigiana.  « hide 6. Silk Asian Steak and Seafood Silk Asian Steak and Seafood, Atlanta looks sleek and chic yet unpretentious. Try the Pan-Asian style tapas or opt for sushi if you prefer to share. Need to send a quick email halfway through the meal? Pull out your laptop, then—they have free Wi-Fi. Private parties are welcome. Call or visit their website to make a reservation.  « hide 2. La Grotta La Grotta, Atlanta is a romantic spot with rustic architectural nuances and a quaint inner courtyard. This family-owned business revamps tried and true recipes with innovative twists. Locals rave about the escargot, veal and goat cheese ravioli. Valet parking only.  « hide 7. Atlanta Grill at the Ritz Carlton Atlanta Grill at the Ritz Carlton, Atlanta is not just for hotel guests—anyone who enjoys fine dining is welcome. Expect gourmet French food in an elegant atmosphere and wear your Sunday best—it’s a no jeans zone.  « hide 3. Maggiano’s Little Italy Maggiano’s Little Italy, Atlanta is a great place to bring the family—they offer family-style service and serve individual entrees. Veal and chicken dishes spice up the menu, full of Italian classics like chicken cacciatore and braised beef cannelloni. Stop by the bakery counter for a warm treat on the way out.  « hide 8. Nikolai Roof Nikolai Roof, Atlanta serves French and Russian cuisine and delivers an unforgettable experience. From the rooftop dining room, the Atlanta cityscape is breathtaking. Women, bring out the little black dress. Men, bring a jacket—but the tie is optional.  « hide 4. Savoy Bar & Grill Savoy Bar & Grill, Atlanta at the Georgian Terrace Hotel is an ideal pre-theater dining spot. Dine al fresco on the terrace or enjoy the elegant dining room. Their seafood is beyond compare. Start with the jumbo lump crab cake, try the seared Atlantic salmon as an entrée and forget the vanilla bean cheesecake—have the sweet caramelized ocean scallops for dessert.  « hide 9. The Sun Dial Restaurant The Sun Dial Restaurant, Atlanta is situated over 700 feet above the ground atop the Peachtree Plaza Hotel. You’ll easily see the whole city while dining on New American cuisine—the dining room slowly revolves. Take a peek through a telescope for a closest look.  « hide 5. Max Lager’s American Grill and Brewery Max Lager’s American Grill and Brewery, Atlanta starts you off with their varied “Maxetizers” and then pulls you in with wood-fired steaks, tasty salads, pasta and pizza. It’s the oldest independent brewery in Georgia, and it’s obvious why it’s been around so long. The beer selection and quality is unmatched.  « hide 10. East Andrews Neighborhood Bar and Andrews Upstairs East Andrews Neighborhood Bar and Andrews Upstairs, Atlanta – Downstairs and upstairs are two different worlds—one quaint and the other swank. Downstairs, the bar serves signature martinis and fine wines to enjoy over an acoustic set. The upstairs entertainment venue offers an intimate setting for comedy and music—both regional and renowned. An amphitheater-shaped dance floor provides a space for moving to late night beats. Head upstairs to the intimate loft for a cocktail away from the action.  « hide

	Atlanta Insider tips
	1. See the North Georgia Mountains and Waterfalls North of Atlanta Nature enthusiasts find it worthwhile to rent a car and drive roughly an hour north to see the North Georgia Mountains and Waterfalls. Black Rock Mountain State Park, Cloudland Canyon State Park and Tallulah Gorge State Park attract scores of visitors. Hike along the mountainside walking under cascading waterfalls, take a dip to cool off and enjoy the stunning views. Battles for Chatanooga Museum and the historic Incline Railroad both sit at Lookout Mountain in Cloudland Canyon State Park. http://ngeorgia.com/naturally/waterfalls.html  « hide 2. See the North Georgia Mountains and Waterfalls North of Atlanta Nature enthusiasts find it worthwhile to rent a car and drive roughly an hour north to see the North Georgia Mountains and Waterfalls. Black Rock Mountain State Park, Cloudland Canyon State Park and Tallulah Gorge State Park attract scores of visitors. Hike along the mountainside walking under cascading waterfalls, take a dip to cool off and enjoy the stunning views. Battles for Chatanooga Museum and the historic Incline Railroad both sit at Lookout Mountain in Cloudland Canyon State Park.  « hide 3. Rent a Bike at Skate Escape With so many museums, theaters and attractions to choose from, visitors often forget to cheer on the local teams. A trip to Bobby Dodd stadium is exciting for everyone, whether you know what a post-possession foul is or not. Don’t buy from a scalper because you might get scammed, but catch a game if you can. The football team is the first to win all four bowls—Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Rose. The stadium holds 55,000 people and is located at historic Grant Park, accessible by MARTA. Midtown, 155 North Ave., N.W.  « hide 4. See a Georgia Tech University Yellow Jackets football game at Bobby Dodd Stadium With so many museums, theaters and attractions to choose from, visitors often forget to cheer on the local teams. A trip to Bobby Dodd stadium is exciting for everyone, whether you know what a post-possession foul is or not. Don’t buy from a scalper because you might get scammed, but catch a game if you can. The football team is the first to win all four bowls—Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Rose. The stadium holds 55,000 people and is located at historic Grant Park, accessible by MARTA. Midtown, 155 North Ave., N.W.  « hide 5. Avoid the Underground—It’s a Tourist Trap Locals seem to agree that the Underground isn’t worth visiting. The shopping and entertainment plaza caters largely to tourists, pulling them in with the promise of specialty stores, varied dining options and a thriving nightlife in Kenny’s Alley. The restaurants are mostly chains, and the food is known to be just OK. The stores are fairly standard for a mall and, overall, the area doesn’t live up to the hype. If you do decide to make the trip, do a little people watching and sight seeing, but don’t stay after dark.  « hide 6. Atlanta Neighborhoods to Avoid Urban sprawl has been changing the city’s worst neighborhoods into its best, but there are still a few places that aren’t the safest. Vine City, the area surrounding Georgia Dome, sees frequent police patrols. Bankhead, surrounded by West End, Vine City and Grove Park is better left unexplored. The Underground, a shopping complex in Downtown’s Five Points, is another risky area. Downtown in general can be dangerous at night; don’t take the MARTA alone and stay in well-lit areas. Remember what Mom told you and don’t talk to strangers—there are a lot of hustlers in Atlanta.  « hide 7. Don’t Drive Within Atlanta City traffic is never fun, but Atlanta breeds road rage with—what seems like—an around the clock rush hour. It’s best to avoid the major interstates before 9:30 AM and between 4:00 and 8:00 PM. Drivers do not proceed with caution at blinking yellow lights or adhere to most well-known road rules. Since the city is fairly spread out, taking cabs back and forth can get a little pricey. Cab drivers charge a flat fee of $6 to go from one spot in Midtown to another; it works the same in Buckhead. Check the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) websites for routes and schedules.  « hide

	Atlanta nightlife
	In Atlanta 1. Compound Once a high-end car showroom, Compound is now a night spot for every taste. Whether you prefer a laid-back lounge or a crowded dance floor, you’ll find yourself at home at Compound. A trendy crowd gathers at this sprawling club, so come dressed to impress. Check out the Glass Room for hits of the 80s, 90s and today and The Garage for house, techno and hip-hop. NOTE: Currently closed, but will re-open in Fall 2009  « hide 2. Lava Lounge The lower-level dance floor is often packed with people who want to see and be seen while grooving to hip-hop, house and techno. The mod second level bar, furnished with velvet couches, serves a killer martini to enjoy fireside. As for the third floor—well, if you’re not a VIP or willing to act like one, you best stay on the bottom two levels. If moving and shaking tires you out, step out onto the “Tropical Deck” to regroup and take in the Atlanta skyline.  « hide