Tourist Attractions in Atlanta, Georgia

If you are planning a trip to the Atlanta area one of the first places I recommend you visit is The Botanical Gardens, located at 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE (404-876-5859). It offers over 30 acres of the most beautiful gardens and woodlands in the heart of bustling Atlanta. The Gardens offer year round exhibits, a children's interactive garden and one of the largest year round orchid displays. Rare and endangered plants from the rain forest and desert, also call this their home. Open Tuesday thru Sunday, April thru October, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and November thru March: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mondays except Monday holidays such as Labor Day and Memorial Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Extended hours, until 9 p.m., are in effect every Thursday, May thru October. The Gardens offer a gift shop for souvenirs and a café where you can just sit back and relax, with breathtaking scenery all around. See their website for directions. (URL in reference section.)

For all you baseball fans, The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, located on the northwest side of Turner Field, aisle 134, at 755 Hank Aaron Drive, is definitely a place you will want to visit (404-614-2310). It includes over 500 artifacts, photographs and videos that trace the history of the Braves from their start in Boston in 1871 to their current home in Atlanta. When you visit the hall you will also receive a guided tour of Turner field. Tickets can be purchased at the Braves ticket window during operating hours. Baseball Season Hours: April thru September, Monday thru Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sunday 1 - 3 p.m. Off-Season Hours: October thru March, Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed December 23 - January 3. Tours are not available on days when the Braves have afternoon home games. The museum opens two and a half hours before each game and closes in the middle of the seventh inning. Tours start at the top of each hour and last approximately one hour. See their website for directions. (URL in reference section.)

Whatever time of year, Stone Mountain Park has much to offer at Highway 78 East. The park includes over 3,200 acres of recreation, nature and a wide variety of attractions for young and old. If you are visiting in the spring or summer, be sure to check out the spectacular laser light show held nightly May through August. The Nightly Fireworks and Snowfall Celebration are treats for all ages. The story Emily's Magical Christmas is featured nightly, December 18 - 30 (except the 24th and 25th). Park hours vary throughout the year, so check their website for your specific days (URL in reference section).

Big fan of Coca-Cola®? The World of Coca-Cola® at Underground Atlanta is definitely a stop worth making. At 55 Martin Luther King Dr., you will discover a collection of over 1,000 pieces of Coca-Cola® memorabilia that traces the history of the world's most popular soft drink. There are several interactive exhibits including soda fountains of the past and future, where you can sample over 40 domestic and international beverages. Some of the beverages available are quite different. Taste at your own risk! Operating hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday thru Saturday and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday. See their website for directions. (URL in reference section.)

Where's the wildlife? Head over to historic Grant Park and visit Atlanta Zoo at 800 Cherokee Avenue less than ½ mile from Turner Field (404.624.WILD). The younger kids will love the petting zoo, where they can interact with a variety of different animals or play at the KIDZone playground. The playground encourages imagination and role-playing. Older kids can see how fast they can go up a 24-foot rock wall (safely harnessed of course). All will enjoy the train ride through the zoo, which allows visitors a relaxed close up view of the wildlife. Open Monday thru Sunday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. on weekends). Ticket booths close at 4:30 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Park in zoo lots on either Boulevard or Cherokee Avenue. Parking space is limited, so you might want to consider Marta, bus route 97. (See Marta URL in references.) See the zoo website for directions. (URL in reference section.)

References:

Atlanta Botanical Garden http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/home.do

The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/atl/ballpark/museum.jsp

Stone Mountain Park http://www.stonemountainpark.com/

World Of Coca-Cola® http://www2.coca-cola.com/heritage/worldcocacola.html

Marta http://www.itsmarta.com/