The Peach State: Georgia, Atlanta

Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is known as the Peach State. It is a city that exudes southern charm despite its hustle and bustle, tall skyscrapers, and burgeoning traffic. Its suburbs offer some of the most beautiful homes and gorgeous landscaping with millions of dogwoods and azaleas. The best time to visit is during the month of April if you want to see these in bloom.

Located on Marietta Street, The worldwide headquarters for CNN (Cable News Network) offers a tour of the studio. Also, you can get a bite to eat at one of the restaurants or shop at several of the trendy stores that are located there.

Across the street, the Centennial Olympic Park features 21 acres of lush landscaping, walking paths, sculptures, and the Fountain of the Rings, an interactive fountain. The park was built for the opening of the Olympic Games in 1996.

Nearby, the Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world, is a great place to visit since it is home to numerous sea mammals and more than one hundred thousand fish. Open since 2005 through the generosity of Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, the Georgia Aquarium has continued to expand and now includes several different viewing arenas including the Georgia Explorer, River Scout, Cold Water Quest, Ocean Voyager, and Tropical Diver.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is worth a visit. This site includes the tomb of the civil rights activist, his church, and several other historic buildings.

Tours of the campuses of several universities located at the Atlanta University Center District are offered Mondays through Fridays. The schools included in this are: Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, the Interdenominational Theological Center, and Spelman College.

Adventure awaits visitors at Six Flags Over Georgia featuring over 100 exciting rides on more than 100 acres. Additionally, sports fans can catch a good old-fashioned baseball game at Turner Field.

The cultural spots to visit in Atlanta range from places that feature grand opera to ballet to the symphony to films to modern dance to Broadway shows to dinner theater. Contact the historic Fox Theater, Woodruff Arts Center, the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, and the Chastain Memorial Park Amphitheater for more details on events, prices, and starting times.

Warm summers and mild winters make it easy to visit Atlantic any time of the year. It offers plenty of employment opportunity as well since at least 750 Fortune 1000 companies are based in Atlanta. Getting around in Georgia is simple since you have lots of choices. Personal or rental cars can easily navigate the city streets. Parking garages, lots, and metered parking offer ample parking spaces. Additionally, buses, taxis, and rapid rail transit provide numerous routes throughout the city.

A variety of bus or walking tours will take visitors to various neighborhoods and exciting places to see including Stone Mountain, Ansley Park, Druid Hills, the Governor's Mansion, and the historic sections of Atlanta. The Gray Line Bus Company offers five individual tours that take visitors to the most popular and historic spots in the city. These special tours, each offering several hours of educational stops, include the All Around Atlanta, Georgia's Great, the Atlanta Grand, a Combination Tour A, and a Combination Tour B.

Atlanta offers a City Pass, valid for nine days, that includes admission to the following sights: the High Museum of Art, the World of Coca-Cola, the Inside CNN Studios Tour, and the Georgia Aquarium. Two options are also included with the pass. The first is to select either a visit to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The second is a choice between the Zoo Atlanta and the Atlanta History Center.