There really are a ton of things to see and do in Atlanta. The regular highlights include Centennial Olympic Park — a 21-acre sprawl in the middle of downtown Atlanta and site of the 1996 Olympics; the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest and a no-regrets way to empty your wallet; Underground Atlanta, a dedicated six city blocks have been transformed into a hopping mini-burb.
Things to See and Do
Historic guided tours, more than 100 specialty stores, Kenny's Alley (the nightclub and restaurant hub), street-cart merchants and annual events; City Segway Tours (a group of tourists being guided through an orienation of the city while trying desperately to figure out how to slow a Segway, or get it going in the first place. If the tour itself doesn't appeal to you, chuckling at the efforts of the participants might; Sweet Auburn is unmissable of you know anything about the civil rights movement in the United States. This is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the place where his Nobel Prize is displayed, and the final resting place of both him and his indomitable wife Coretta Scott King.
Off the Beaten Path
Atlanta has it's own hidden treats too. One of the biggest expenses of any vacation, after accommodation, is food, but not when you have places like Souper Jenny's and the Morningside market. Jenny's is hugely popular with the local crowd and as all food is made at the beginning of each day, the menu is pretty much set – and once it's sold, it's sold. Ten bucks will buy you a sandwich, soup (or salad), bread, a drink, a piece of fruit and a cookie! Leave the cards at home though, this place is strictly cash only.
The Morningside market is Atlanta's answer to the ubiquitous open-air markets of Europe. Fresh produce, dirt-cheap hot sandwiches and sweets, clothes, homewares, shoes – you name it. Perfect for when the airline has lost your luggage and you need to clothe a family of four for less than a hundred dollars. Little Five Points is the bohemian epicentre of Atlanta. From upper-class burg of the 1900s to a decline into slums, Little Five Points has experienced the resurgence that comes with young, creative homeowners who aren't afraid of fixer-uppers. The neighborhood is busting at the seams with cafes, galleries, bookstores, live music venues and theaters. Summer nights are a great time to wander among the streets full of promenading locals.
Hotels
Atlanta hotels are pretty varied in price and quality. There is still a seamy streak in this city and the skid row hotels to match. Adventurous types who aren't too fussy about things like private bathrooms, room service or working elevators will be able to pick up deals for around $20 a night. For those of us who like to know our locks are guaranteed to work, be prepared to pay closer to $150 per night for a room that sleeps two to three. Online specials are definitely worth looking out for though. A room in a sweet place like the Peachtree (on 14 acres of parkland) can be had for only $70 a night if you are quick enough.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in Atlanta.
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