Atlanta

This area of about 2 blocks around Auburn Avenue was established to preserve the birthplace and boyhood surroundings of the nation's foremost civil rights leader. — Frommer's

The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site provides a definitive look at the life of the great native-Atlantan civil rights leader. — Travel + Leisure

Begin your tour at The Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site Visitor Center, where the history of black America... is told. — Michelin Guide

The area, run by the National Parks Service, is home to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change, Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King Birth Home, and more. All of the... — Where

The historic site commemorates the life, work and legacy of the civil rights lodestar. The center takes up several blocks. — Lonely Planet

Designed in 1983 by Richard Meier, the High was named one of the 10 best works of American architecture of the 1980s by the American Institute of Architects. Italian Architect Renzo... — Where

Atlanta's modern High Museum was the first museum in the world to ever exhibit art lent from Paris' Louvre and is a destination as much for its architecture as its world-class exhibits. — Lonely Planet

The High's permanent collection includes some 11,000 works of art, with a particular emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century American painting and decorative arts. — Travel + Leisure

This museum's permanent collection includes 19th- and 20-century American works, including many by African-American artists. — Fodor's

Atlanta's best-known art museum. — Not For Tourists

While not your typical museum, the Atlanta History Center is the hub of preservation in the city and owns the Margaret Mitchell House, Swan House, and the Tullie Smith House in addition... — Afar Magazine

Four excellent permanent exhibits in the Atlanta History Museum bring the city's defining experiences to life. — Michelin Guide

The Atlanta History Center chronicles the past of Georgia and the Southeast, as well as the history of Atlanta. — Frommer's

Life in Atlanta and the rest of the South during and after the Civil War are a major focus of this fascinating museum. — Fodor's

Set on the grounds of Swan House, one of Atlanta's classic historic estates, the Atlanta History Center features permanent and special exhibitions devoted to the history of the city and region. — Travel + Leisure

The official library/museum of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the US (1977-81). — Michelin Guide

This complex occupies the site where Union General William T. Sherman orchestrated the Battle of Atlanta (1864). — Fodor's

Located on a hilltop overlooking downtown, it features exhibits highlighting Jimmy Carter's 1977–81 presidency, including a replica of the Oval Office. — Lonely Planet

This impressive presidential library houses some 27 million pages of documents, memoranda, and correspondence from Jimmy Carter's White House years. — Frommer's

This museum details President Carter’s life, including his Navy career and the work both he and Rosalynn have done since leaving the White House. The replica of the Oval Office is a... — Where

World's largest aquarium with fish petting zoo. — Not For Tourists

Since it opened to continual massive crowds in late 2005, the world's largest aquarium has had Atlanta abuzz about its 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water. — Frommer's

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Georgia Aquarium is the world's largest in terms of gallons of water (10 million), square footage (604,000) and number of aquatic animals... — Where

The world's largest aquarium is Atlanta's showstopper. It's crowded, like Venice, but it's awesomeness is hard to deny. — Lonely Planet

The world's largest aquarium is one of Atlanta's absolute must-visits. — Travel + Leisure

An iconic museum of the choice drink of Atlanta, the World of Coca-Cola is pretty awesome. Walk through the secret vault to learn about the recipe, check out the art gallery, walk through... — On the Grid

You can sip samples of 60 different Coca-Cola products from around the world and peruse more than a century's worth of memorabilia from the corporate archives. — Fodor's

Soft drink ad disguised as museum. — Not For Tourists

Next door to the Georgia Aquarium, this self-congratulatory museum might prove entertaining to fans of the fizzy beverage and rash commercialization. — Lonely Planet

The history of the world's most recognizable brand—which was created right here in Atlanta back in 1886—is documented at this fun, interactive museum. — Travel + Leisure

The restored home of “Gone With the Wind” author Margaret Mitchell showcases furniture, letters and memorabilia from Mitchell’s life. Tours M-Sa 10 am-5:30 pm, Su noon-5:30 pm. Adults... — Where

Called "the dump" by the "Gone with the Wind" author. — Not For Tourists

Filled with memorabilia, props and footage from the 1939 film, the Gone With The Wind Museum opened here in 1999. — Michelin Guide

Visitors to Atlanta, especially Southern history and literature buffs, won't want to miss the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum, operated by the Atlanta History Center. — Travel + Leisure

A shrine to the author of Gone With the Wind . Mitchell wrote her epic in a small apartment in the basement of this historic house, though nothing inside it actually belonged to her. — Lonely Planet

Zoo Atlanta opened in April 1889 after a small group of animals were abandoned by a bankrupt circus, but today Zoo Atlanta is one of the nation's best zoos, and now more than 1,500... — Where

The Zoo Atlanta , which features flamingos, elephants, kangaroos and the odd tiger. But the zoo's pride and joy are the giant pandas. — Lonely Planet

Zoo Atlanta is one of Georgia's most loved institutions. — Michelin Guide

This delightful 40-acre zoo dates from 1889, when George W. Hall (aka "Popcorn George") brought his traveling circus to town. — Frommer's

Starring Lun Lun and Yang Yang, those adorable Commie pandas! — Not For Tourists

Centennial Olympic Park, one of the most enduring legacies of the 1996 Olympic Games, is a living monument to the city's memories -- both good and bad -- of that seminal event. — Frommer's

Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park is the city's focal point for visitors. — Lonely Planet

This 21-acre swath of green was the central venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics. — Fodor's

It was the 1996 Centennial Olympic Summer Games that turned Atlanta into the direction it is now heading. — Afar Magazine

Centennial Olympic Park was built for the 1996 Olympics. — On the Grid

Sprawling 189 acres just northeast of Atlanta's downtown, Piedmont draws sporty types with its miles of trails for running, biking, and strolling. — Travel + Leisure

Considered Atlanta's Central Park, the 182-acre park is popular with joggers, bicyclists and rollerbladers, and hosts festivals and events nearly every weekend during warm-weather months.... — Where

Piedmont Park's 185 acres encompass the Atlanta Botanical Garden. — Michelin Guide

If you want to get in touch with nature, spend an afternoon in Piedmont Park, Atlanta’s answer to New York’s Central Park. — Afar Magazine

Atlanta's answer to Central Park. — Not For Tourists

In the northwest corner of Piedmont Park, the stunning 30-acre botanical garden has a Japanese garden, winding paths and the amazing Fuqua Orchid Center. — Lonely Planet

Occupying 30 acres inside Piedmont Park, the grounds contain acres of display gardens... and the award-winning Fuqua Orchid Center. — Fodor's

Great for green thumbs. — Not For Tourists

This delightful botanical garden, occupying 30 acres in Piedmont Park, includes the Fuqua Orchid Center, a children's garden, an education center, and the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory. — Frommer's

The Atlanta Botanical Garden has been voted the city's best place to commune with nature and upon visiting you'll agree. Located next to the sprawling Piedmont Park, the gardens boast 30... — Afar Magazine

In June 2014, the $68-million National Center for Civil and Human Rights welcomed its first visitors to a landmark downtown building designed by Phil Freelon. Emotional exhibits include... — Travel + Leisure

The Center for Civil and Human Rights is dedicated to the achievements of the Civil Rights movement here in the States as well as the achievements of human rights for all across the globe. — On the Grid

This three-level 43,000-square-foot hands-on museum offers visitors a multisensory immersion into both the U.S. civil rights movement and global human rights efforts. Each exhibit is a... — Fodor's

The Center for Civil and Human Rights is the newest addition to the Centennial Olympic Park tourism corridor, but it is much more than a museum. While there is certainly an emphasis on... — Afar Magazine

This museum includes three galleries: a collection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s handwritten manuscripts, documents and personal effects; a series of multisensory galleries about the... — Where

The ultimate tourist trap. — Not For Tourists

This thriving mix of street vendors, retail outlets, entertainment and dining facilities. — Michelin Guide

This downtown area dates back to the 1800s, and is where Atlanta began as a railroad town. Today, the area teems with restaurants, retail, entertainment and nightlife; food trucks come... — Where

Created from the web of subterranean brick streets, ornamental facades, and tunnels that fell into disuse in 1929. — Fodor's

The complex is still worth a look if you're in the downtown area, but keep in mind that it's mostly a tourist attraction at this point. It's still struggling to find its place in the urban mix. — Frommer's

This 1929 theater is a lavish showplace of Moorish-Egyptian style. Upcoming shows: Mamma Mia, June 13-18; Bring It Live, June 29. — Where

Opened in 1929, when movie theaters were conceived along lavish lines, the Fox is a Moorish-Egyptian extravaganza complete with arabesque arches, onion domes, and minarets. — Frommer's

This former movie palace with a can't-miss marquee on Peachtree Street plays hosts to more than 250 shows each year, from Broadway productions to concerts. — Travel + Leisure

One of a dwindling number of vintage movie palaces in the nation, the Fox was built in 1929 in a fabulous Moorish-Egyptian style. — Fodor's

The Fox Theatre, a world-renowned event venue on Peachtree Street, began its story in a most unusual way. In 1928, the Fox was originally conceived as a home for Atlanta’s Shriners... — On the Grid

The capitol, a Renaissance-style edifice, was dedicated on July 4, 1889. The gold leaf on its dome was mined in nearby Dahlonega. — Fodor's

A scaled-down version of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. — Michelin Guide

A National Historic Landmark, the 1889 building was designed to resemble the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Historical markers on the grounds explain how the city was rebuilt after the... — Where

The gold-domed capitol is Atlanta's political hub. The free tours include a film about the legislative process and a glance at the government's communications facility. — Lonely Planet

Modeled after the nation's Capitol, another neoclassical edifice atop a "crowning hill," its 75-foot dome, covered in gold leaf and topped by a Statue of Freedom, is a major Atlanta landmark. — Frommer's

Founded in 1886, Ebenezer was a spiritual center of the civil rights movement from 1960 to 1968, when Martin Luther King, Jr., served as copastor. — Frommer's

To better understand the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on Atlanta, stop by Ebenezer Baptist Church, a living, breathing landmark. — Afar Magazine

Sunday services are now held at the new Ebenezer Baptist Church across the street from the historic Ebenezer. — Lonely Planet

Where Martin Luther King, Jr. first preached. — Not For Tourists

A Gothic Revival–style building completed in 1922, the church came to be known as the spiritual center of the civil rights movement. — Fodor's

Rhodes Hall is one of a few remaining pre-World War I Peachtree Street mansions -- a significant reminder that Peachtree was once a fashionable residential street. — Frommer's

Inside, the grand mahogany staircase is flanked by nine stained-glass panels depicting the rise and fall of the Confederacy. — Michelin Guide

Built in 1904 for Rhodes Furniture founder Amos Rhodes, the Romanesque Revival-style “Castle on Peachtree” was constructed of Stone Mountain granite. It is open for tours and special... — Where

This former residence, now headquarters of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, is one of the finest works of Atlanta architect Willis F. Denny II. — Fodor's

Follow winding paths through ornate mausoleums and sculptures at this eerie Grant Park attraction. — Travel + Leisure

Final resting place for notable Atlantans. Gorgeous architecture. — Not For Tourists

Established in 1850 in the Victorian style, Atlanta's oldest cemetery was designed to serve as a public park as well as a burial ground. — Fodor's

The best place in Atlanta to hang with the dead. Less than a mile from downtown, Oakland Cemetery is the resting place to some of Atlanta’s first citizens and dates back to the 1850s.... — On the Grid

Civil War soldiers, captains of industry, and paupers all interred on historic grounds.  — Atlas Obscura

This tour of the world's largest newsgathering organization is lots of fun and a uniquely Atlanta experience. — Frommer's

Studio tours show visitors the inner workings of the network and allows access to a glassed-in gallery. — Michelin Guide

The home of Cable News Network occupies all 14 floors of this dramatic structure on the edge of Downtown. — Fodor's

When R. E. "Ted" Turner bought WJRJ-Atlanta, Channel 17 in 1970, he laid the foundation for today's Cable News Network—the news organization still headquartered in Atlanta but known... — Travel + Leisure

Media icon Ted Turner founded his 24-hour television news network in 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia, and a tour of the CNN studios provides a fascinating insider's look at what it takes to run... — Afar Magazine

The largest puppetry organization in the country houses a museum where you can see more than 350 puppets from around the world. — Fodor's

Dedicated to expanding public awareness of puppetry as a fine art and to presenting all of its international and historical forms, the center opened in 1978. — Frommer's

Located in Atlanta's vibrant Midtown district, the Center for Puppetry Arts has been offering family-friendly puppetry programs since 1978. — Travel + Leisure

A wonderland for visitors of all ages and, hands-down, one of Atlanta's most unique attractions, the museum houses a treasury of puppets, some of which you get to operate yourself. — Lonely Planet

After a recent expansion, the nation's largest private organization dedicated to puppetry arts is now home to the world's largest collection of original Muppets from the Henson... — Where