Atlanta

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

The modest Queen Anne–style residence is where Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised. — Fodor's

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 emotional core of this sprawling city can be found in the Preservation District of downtown Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood. — Concierge

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 best-known art museum. — Not For Tourists

The High's $130-million, three-building expansion brought the museum to truly world-class status. — Frommer's

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

Stumbling across the High Museum of Art during a weekend trip to Atlanta gave me new perspective on the Southern art scene. I especially enjoyed the Picasso to Warhol temporary exhibit,... — Afar Magazine

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

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

Start here to learn Atlanta's history. — Not For Tourists

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

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

Faithfully preserved records and artifacts from the 39th president's administration are on permanent display at this museum and library. — Concierge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With more than 10 million gallons of water, this wildly popular attraction is the world's largest aquarium. — Fodor's

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

This 21-acre park is a permanent legacy to the Atlanta-hosted 1996 Olympic games. A starting point for many visitors, it offers easy access to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola,... — Where

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

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

Kids love running through the fountains. — Not For Tourists

Displays here trace the Coca-Cola story from its humble beginnings at a downtown Atlanta drug store to its multinational presence today. — Michelin Guide

Soft drink ad disguised as museum. — Not For Tourists

An exposition showcasing the world's most popular soft drink, World of Coca-Cola sounds like a huge Coke commercial -- and it is. — Frommer's

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

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 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

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

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

Eight decades after it was first published, Gone With the Wind continues to fascinate people around the world. — Frommer's

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

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

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

Piedmont Park has playgrounds, fishing ponds, extensive jogging and bicycle paths, a tennis center, and playing fields that can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis online. — Concierge

The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden as a non-profit is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation, and enjoyment. — On the Grid

Piedmont Park is still expanding: 35 acres complete with a fountain and new sports facilities were added in 2011, and another 15 were tacked on in 2012. — Fodor's

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

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

In the middle of midtown, a glorious, rambling urban park and the setting of many cultural and music festivals. — Lonely Planet

Folks who come to Atlanta quickly learn that it’s a sprawling city more akin to L.A. than to Charleston. One simple way Atlantans orient ourselves is whether you are ITP or OTP. ITP... — Afar Magazine

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

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

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

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

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

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

This striking 2014 addition to Atlanta's Centennial Park is a sobering $68 million memorial to the American Civil Rights and Global Human Rights Movements. — Lonely Planet

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 ultimate tourist trap. — Not For Tourists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Founded in 1889—originally with animals stranded from a traveling circus gone bankrupt—Zoo Atlanta is now a state-of-the-art facility, where all creatures live in re-created habitats. — Travel + Leisure

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

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

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

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

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

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

Back in 1991, CNN put Atlanta on the map with its real-time Gulf War coverage and its then-revolutionary concept of a 24-hour cable news service. — Concierge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Center for Puppetry Arts is a unique cultural treasure - a magical place where children and adults are educated, enlightened, and entertained (yes, with puppets!). — On the Grid

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

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and regarded as one of the finest Victorian cemeteries in the U.S., the 48-acre Oakland Cemetery is a showplace of sculpture and... — Where

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

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this outstanding 88-acre Victorian cemetery was founded in 1850. — Frommer's