Things To Do In Atlanta for Families
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Atlanta is a dazzling cosmopolitan city. Our Atlanta moms agree that the arrays of restaurants, mansions, museums, shopping malls, five star hotels, and art galleries are just among the few reasons why Atlanta is worth a visit.
Also known as ‘The Gateway to the South’ or ‘The City Too Busy to Hate’, Atlanta has a rich and diverse culture prominent not just in Georgia but also in other states of the US. Since the city’s foundation in 1733, the people have started to cultivate their own identity in music, commerce, and arts, with legends and stories that are hard to miss.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
A visit to Atlanta is not complete without visiting the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. At Fernbank Museum of Natural History, history comes alive with cultural treasures and ancient fossils the museum houses. The Museum also holds a special event called “Martinis & IMAX®” on Friday nights, where one can enjoy dinner with cocktail drinks indoors under two large dinosaur skeleton replicas or outdoors in a spacious patio while listening to a live band playing jazz music. After supper, visit the little IMAX theatre and watch fascinating, factual films like Wild Ocean. At Fernbank, there’s always something new to unravel, for it isn’t just a museum — it’s a journey to another place and time.
High Museum of Art
Also, take time to visit Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, which houses over 11,000 art pieces as part of the museum’s lasting collection. The museum also hosts several remarkable traveling expositions and trade fair. The museum sometimes houses world-famous artworks of the world’s greatest artists, including Leonardo Da Vinci.
Don’t forget to visit the museum’s Road to Freedom, which contains photographs and mementos during the 1956 to 1968 period of the Civil Rights Movement. The Road to Freedom has over 200 images wherein some of the demonstrations and exhibits are deeply moving and are a learning lesson on the subject of history. The museum also houses a detention record presenting Rosa Parks’ name, and alarming leaflets that the Ku Klux Klan disseminated in the early 1960s.
Georgia Aquarium
But if history and art don’t fascinate you, here’s another alternative: Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest aquarium. Georgia Aquarium’s length is 284 feet, its width is 126 feet and its depth is 30 feet. At Georgia Aquarium, you can see various sea creatures alongside whale sharks and you can even swim with them if you like!
The Aquarium also features awesome exhibits and showcases for children and various petting puddles and pools where people can touch some sea animals. There is also a model of a ship indoors and an enormous replica of a whale featuring a slide in its inner side.
Atlanta Shopping
Among its upscale shopping malls are Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square both situated in Buckhead neighborhood, home to many of Atlanta’s elites and wealthiest residents. Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza are a fashion paradise, with an enclave of 250 shops which sell signature items, including shoes by Jimmy Choo, products by Giorgio Armani, and bags by Michael Kors.
Dining in Atlanta
Fine restaurants are also everywhere Atlanta. Similarly situated in Buckhead, Seasons 52 is where one can choose its choices of delectable dishes that surely satisfy your hungry stomach. Interesting inclusions on the restaurant’s menu is its five flatbread types, which are appropriate for light lunch coupled with pine nuts- and pear-covered spinach salad. Seasons 52 offers a healthy menu with gluten-free and low-calorie dishes and gluten-free meals.
Atlanta is very popular for its wonderful cuisine. More often than not, the city is associated with restaurants that offer a wide selection of delicious and appetizing food. If you are looking for variety, restaurants in Atlanta would surely present a wide array of choices of mouth-watering dishes. American cuisine is just one of the many diverse dishes offered in Atlanta. Name it and Atlanta has it, whether your hungry stomach craves for Italian, Mexican, or French cuisines. With all these tempting offers, dining experience in Atlanta would definitely be enjoyable and unforgettable.
In order to attract customers, restaurants in Atlanta developed innovative ideas such as taking on a certain theme that would enhance the ambience and target a particular set of patrons. There are restaurants that present a combination of sophisticated atmosphere and country dishes. Most restaurants also offer a specialty cuisine. Share and taste plates are usually available, allowing delectable dishes to be distributed around the table. Examples of such dishes are tuna crudo, pear, squid with crushed olives, chorizo, and appetizers such as oak grilled asparagus. To perfectly enjoy a sumptuous meal, the restaurants also serve cocktail drinks that usually match with the deliciously cooked cuisines.
Restaurants in Atlanta can be classified based on several categories such as cost, presentation, features, and cuisines. For a satisfactory dining experience in Atlanta, remember to visit the best restaurants in the city.
Pigeon Forger Restaurant
Pigeon Forger Restaurant is very well-known among Atlanta residents and guests. The restaurant’s menu includes seafood, catfish, steaks, chicken, and other appetizing foodstuff. Pigeon Forge Restaurant is very conducive to family gatherings because of its varied food choices for kids.
If you want a taste of Hollywood in a “Gone with the Wind” style, you better check out Pittypat’s Porch. This restaurant took its name from the character of Scarlett O’Hara’s aunt in the movie Gone with the Wind.
Dining at Dante’s Down the Hatch does not limit you to good food. Aside from being the best place for fondue lovers, you will surely enjoy the nautical ambience of the restaurant, with live crocodiles and jazz bands performing six nights per week.
The Varsity
The largest drive-in restaurant in the world is located in Atlanta and known as The Varsity. This restaurant was built in 1928. Among the restaurant’s specialties are the well-known frosted orange drinks and the oily chili dogs.
Sun Dial Restaurant
Another restaurant that you would certainly never want to miss out is The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View. Situated 723 feet above Atlanta’s business district, The Sun Dial has more than exceptional dishes, entrees, desserts, and wines to offer. It is the sole three-level dining compound in Atlanta, showcasing a rotating cocktail lounge, a revolving high-class restaurant, as well as an observatory View Level which presents an overwhelming 360-degree view of the horizon.
R. Thomas Deluxe Grille
Vegans and meat lovers would definitely have no conflict of interests when dining in R. Thomas Deluxe Grille. Among the most loved dishes in this restaurant are the French toast, the smoothies, and of course, the grilled-not-fried wings. The setting would also add up to the pleasant dining experience, with its windmills, birds, bells, and plants.
A Rich Culture
The city of Atlanta is home to a number of natural attractions and parks that will surely satisfy people who crave for cultural events and adventurous vacations. Because of the city’s moderate climate, the city hosts a lot of outdoor activities, including live concerts, biking and hiking, art exhibitions, and vibrant festivals and cultural events.
Atlanta festivals
The vibrant festivals and cultural events that the city holds throughout the year reflect its rich history and culture. One of Atlanta’s famous festivals is the Atlanta Jazz Festival. This month-long festival is celebrated in May, and is sponsored by the city government. It features live concerts with performances from various jazz artists. The festival also features workshops and classes conducted by professionals in jazz music.
Meanwhile, Dog Festival is an annual celebration of arts in Atlanta celebrated during the month of April. It features arts and crafts booths, dog competitions, and a variety of food and delicacy, with live music entertainment. The annual Atlanta Pride, also known as the Gay Pride Festival, is celebrated for three days in June. This festival features scantily-dressed parade participants. The National Black Arts Festival, on the other hand, is a celebration of African-American culture in different categories, including theater, literature, music, and film. This ten-day festival is celebrated in mid-July, and is participated in by people from all regions in the world. Inman Park Festival is celebrated towards the end of April. The festival is filled with live music, parades, and a tour of homes.
These festivals and other cultural events are held in different historical sites throughout the city. Centennial Olympic Park is among Atlanta’s famous destinations. This park was constructed to serve as a reminder of how Atlanta excellently hosted the famous Olympic Games in 1996. It also hosts a number of springtime celebrations. For people who yearn for Atlanta ‘ history, The King Center is the perfect place. This center houses the famous Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was founded in 1886.
This brick church is open to all tourists and to various cultural events throughout the year, and is strongly recommended to American and Atlanta history students. Aside from this church, The King Center also has a fountain that symbolizes peace, tranquility, and nonviolence. Meanwhile, the Fox Theater, one of Atlanta’s historic sites with high value, hosts various Broadway shows, concerts, and modern performances by different artists. This theater started as a movie theater and was later renovated into a building it is today. Piedmont Park is also among the famous festival venues in Atlanta.
Arts in Atlanta
Arts in Atlanta are also well represented in the city’s various theaters and historical museums. Among these are The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center which houses the city’s variety of contemporary arts; and The High Museum of Art, which is the city’s major venue for fine arts and visual arts, and exhibits a large collection of different arts and a variety of travel exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Opera, which was established in 1979, is considered one of the top emerging opera outfits in the U.S.
Getting to Know Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia’s capital and largest city, is located on the eastern portion of the Mississippi River. The city is about 8,480.27 square miles in area, and is the 41st largest city in the United States. It is composed of 28 counties and 140 municipalities. Atlanta is actually the fifth city capital of Georgia; the previous capitals were Milledgeville, Savannah, Augusta, and Louisville. Famous natural attractions in the city include the Stone Mountain, which rises about 825 feet and bounds the city’s eastern region, and Chattahoochee River, which bounds Atlanta in its northwest portion.
Population
Population in Atlanta is composed of different races and nationalities. There are about 55% black people and 37% white people in the city. The rest of the population could either be Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians, or Asians. These give the city a population of approximately 425,000.
Climate
The mild and moderate climate of Atlanta is among the reason why many people, natives and expatriates, prefer to live or visit the city. The city has abundant rainfall throughout the year, with an annual average precipitation of about 50.2 inches. Although, the city occasionally experiences snowstorm, the worst of which happened in 1973, snowfall is recorded at an annual average of no more than 2 inches. January is observed as the coldest month; average is at 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, July is considered the warmest month with 89 degrees Fahrenheit as the average temperature.
Atlanta is recognized as a gamma world city. It is currently in the third place in terms of cities in the United States with the highest number of Fortune 500 companies; the other two cities are Houston and New York City. Some of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the city of Atlanta include United Parcel Service, the Coca Cola Company, and Home Depot. There are also high-tech centers in the city, employing about 126,700 jobs. Currently, Atlanta holds the 10th position in terms of the number of cyber cities or high tech centers. The third largest employer in the city, however, is the Delta Airlines. Other major and famous companies located in Atlanta include Equifax, Arby’s, Waffle House, and Newell Rubbermaid, which recently relocated to the city. Meanwhile, financial institutions headquartered in the city include Wachovia and SunTrust Banks, which is considered as United States seventh largest bank when it comes to asset holding.
How to Get Around Atlanta
Atlanta is not a complicated city to explore. Visitors just need to equip themselves with the knowledge on the travelling practices of the city locals, the means of transport they usually employ, and their rules to live by when getting around the city of Atlanta. The most common modes of transport in this city are mainly train, bus, taxi or car.
By Train
Atlanta has a fairly extensive railway system that operates within the city limits. Visitors can reach almost any corner of the city by means of the railway network. The city’s subway system is operated by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA. This rapid rail or subway system, which has been operating since 1979, allows visitors to travel conveniently by offering modernized and clean stations as well as reliable services. Visitors are advised to ride the subway during day time when the train is not so cramped with riders which is usually the case during early evenings. On a daily basis, the MARTA rail way, which ideally arrives and departs every eight to ten minutes from 5:00 A.M. to 1:00 A.M., transports over half million passengers, despite the general belief that traveling via the subway in big cities like Atlanta is unsafe. It is observed that most frequent riders are more confident than irregular riders when it comes to the security of the trains and stations. Currently, the MARTA operates 40 train stations with plans to increase the number to about 45 stations. It has two lines namely, the South-North trains, which pass from the airport to Doraville and North Springs; and the East-West trains that move from Indian Creek to Hamilton Holmes. The two lines intersect in the downtown area at Five Points Station where visitors can transfer to another train at no charge. In the The Martalatter part of 2000, the MARTA subway added the Sandy Springs and North Springs stations to its north line which is parallel to Georgia Highway 400. Standard fare is $1.75 for single rides but multiple passes are also available.
By Bus
Buses are another way of getting around the city of Atlanta. Buses generally cover almost any part of the city limits. Similar to the subway system, the bus network in Atlanta is operated by MARTA. The MARTA buses transport the riders to most of the city’s major tourist spots and excursion stops. Visitors just need to be patient as waiting periods between buses are long and bus travels can be slow. MARTA buses operate 150 routes for around 1,500 miles. Standard fare is also $1.75 and passengers are advised to bring either an exact fare or a Breeze Card. Special shuttle buses generally operate in the downtown area which transport passengers to the city’s major conventions and stadium sports events.
By Taxi
Taxis are another convenient way to get around the busy city of Atlanta. Taxis or cabs await passengers outside the major hotels, the airport, the Underground Atlanta, and most MARTA train stations; however, it is not always possible to hail cabs outside the MARTA subway stations, with the exception of those in the downtown area. In cases like these, it is advisable for visitors to employ the MARTA white assistance phone available at the station and MARTA will be the one to call the cab for them.
Standard taxi fares vary across different zones in Atlanta. In the downtown area, flat rate per rider is $5.00 plus $1.00 per additional passenger. Flat rates per passenger are $30.00 from downtown Atlanta to the airport, $32.00 from the airport to midtown area, and $38.00 from the airport to Buckhead, plus $2.00 for each additional rider in each of the three destinations. Standard Atlanta taxi fare outside said zones is $1.50 flag down rate up to the first 1/6 mile, plus $0.20 for each additional 1/6 mile, and a flat rate of $1.00 per additional rider. Waiting period is $15.00 per hour.
By Car
Visitors can also get around Atlanta by car but this mode of transport is not advisable during entertainment, sporting events and conventions because the streets of Atlanta are generally congested during such times. Just like in every big city, heavy traffic is commonplace in Atlanta, particularly in the interstates, during rush hours which are generally between 6:30-9:00 AM and 3:30-7:00 PM. But the good thing about this city is that car rentals and parking are not a problem in Atlanta. Cheap but secure parking abound in the city and car rental agencies usually offer package deals to visiting tourists.
Staying in Atlanta
Atlanta offers a wide range of hotel choices, from affordable budget to high-end luxury hotels. Regardless of your budget, you can always find great downtown, midtown, or airport hotels at very reasonable prices. Hotels of any type are sprawled all over the city.
Downtown hotels
Hotels located in the heart of this vibrant metropolis are surrounded by business establishments. Most Downtown hotel properties are also just a quick walk from the city’s best attractions and entertainment venues. The Glenn Hotel, one of the most popular hotels in Downtown Atlanta, is an amalgamation of sophistication and a reflection of Atlanta’s own southern charm. The hotel prides on its traditional southern inspired furnishings with a mix of contemporary twist and colors inspired by human emotions and earth elements. Other most popular hotels in downtown Atlanta are the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Omni Hotel at CNN Centre, Renaissance Atlanta Downtown Hotel, Wyndham Atlanta, and Courtyard Atlanta Downtown. These hotels are just a few minutes away from all the major attractions in Atlanta, including Georgia Dome, CNN Center, Stone Mountain, and Georgia State Capital. For a great selection of places to stay with discount prices visit Atlanta Hotels for more information.
Atlanta luxury hotels
For a luxurious stay, just take your pick from the wide choices of luxury hotels located in downtown Atlanta. The high-end Ritz-Carlton offers an exceptional retreat in the heart of the city. This luxury hotel features a modern and sophisticated setting and offers impeccable service and a wide range of amenities. Another luxury hotel is the Georgian Terrace Hotel. This hotel had been the choice venue for most of the prominent events in Atlanta such as playing a host to the reception of the world premiere for the movie “Gone with the Wind” in 1939. The Gregorian Terrace Hotel is also recorded and a part of the National Register of Historic Places. This hotel also offers 307 suites that are both stylish and roomy with provisions for state-of-the-art conference facilities and world-class friendly professional staff.
Luxury hotels in Atlanta also offer a wide array of amenities, including spa or fitness centers high-speed internet services, business center , data ports, complimentary newspapers, cable television, a coffee maker, hair dryer, restaurants, indoor or outdoor swimming pools, and many more services for conferences, weddings, meetings, conferences, and other occasions. A night stay at these hotels is usually priced at 200 to 500 USD, depending on the accommodation/room and meal inclusions.
Airport hotels
There are also many hotels near the airport. Most airport hotels offer free shuttle service to and from the airport. These hotels are uniquely constructed in a way as to reduce the impact of sound of airplanes. One of the most fabulous and popular hotels near the airport is the Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta, which is one of the most esteemed hotel chains in the world. This hotel is located one knot from the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport or ATL. Each of this hotel’s guest room opens onto the magnificent 11 story atrium. The Renaissance is built with sophisticated and acoustical style, unusual to most hotels, which design curtails noise but still lets splendid sights to be viewed through its enormous windows. There are other first-class airport hotels in the city such as the Sheraton Gateway, Courtyard, Hilton, and Amerisuites.
