Atlanta is the capital and the majority populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. The Atlanta metropolitan area, with more than 5.4 million people, is the second prime in the Southeastern United States and the ninth largest in the country. Atlanta is measured to be a top business city and is a primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States – via highway, railroad, and air.

Atlanta attracts the fifth-highest number of foreign tourists of any city in the United States. The city features the world’s largest indoor aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, which officially opened to the public on November 23, 2005. The new World of Coca-Cola, opened contiguous to the Aquarium in May 2007, features the history of the world-famous soft drink brand and provides visitors the opportunity to taste different Coca-Cola products from around the world. A historic shopping and entertainment complex lies under the streets of downtown Atlanta. Atlantic Station, a huge new town renewal project on the northwestern edge of Midtown Atlanta, officially opened in October 2005.

Atlanta hosts a diversity of museums on subjects ranging from history to fine arts, natural history, and beverages. Museums and attractions in the city include the Atlanta History Center; the Carter Center; the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site; the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum; the Wren’s Nest; historic house museum Rhodes Hall; and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum. Children’s museums include The Fernbank Science Center and Imagine It! Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Future museums designed for the city include the National Health Museum, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Center of Civil and Human Rights, all to be constructed in the emerging tourist district surrounding Centennial Olympic Park.

Piedmont Park hosts many of Atlanta’s festivals and cultural events, together with the annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival and Atlanta Pride. Atlanta Botanical Garden sits next to the park. Zoo Atlanta, in Grant Park, features a panda exhibit. Just east of the city raises Stone Mountain, the largest piece of exposed granite in the world.

Festivals:

In January and February, look for the city-wide festival of visual arts with ATLart and enjoy an early spring at the Southeastern Flower Show held at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

In March, Atlanta celebrates Irish Heritage with Downtown Atlanta’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, followed, in April, by the Atlanta Dogwood Festival staged at Piedmont Park with children’s activities, an artist market, and more.

The Georgia Renaissance Festival allows people to knowledge merry old England during the days of King Arthur.

Each May celebrates jazz in Atlanta, the Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented at the Woodruff Arts Center and other venues.

In June, visitors can experience the Atlanta Film Festival. The Georgia Shakespeare Festival presents plays from June through October at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University.

The National Black Arts Festival is held during the third week in July and is the world’s largest cultural celebration of African-American art.

The Atlanta Pride Festival is an October three-day celebration held in Piedmont Park.

Atlanta Celebrates Photography promotes photography exhibitions and events citywide every October.

Hotels at Atlanta:

The Mansion on Peachtree- A Rosewood Hotel & Residence
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Airport West – Camp Creek
Wingate by Wyndham Atlanta – Buckhead
The St. Regis Atlanta
Loews Atlanta Hotel
Ellis Hotel