Who doesn't want that southern hospitality the film industry talk about when they mention the southern parts of America? Well folks here is a place where you can get a taste of what all them’ people are talking about. Atlanta is the capital of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is where the weather is warm and the people are kind. So why is Georgia on my mind?
I've been to Georgia three times. Twice in the summer spending my time in Atlanta, the suburbs and in the countryside trekking and exploring and once in the fall. Where I had a chance to see North of Georgia in all its colors.
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| Stone Mountain, Georgia |
History of Atlanta
Atlanta was put on the map as a place to visit after it was the host of the summer Olympics of 1996. But the city and area is much older and have a lot of history if you are keen to look for it. Atlanta was established in 1837, but the history of the city starts even way before that. When you visit this big city filled with skyscrapers and fried food, it is hard to imagine a time when it looked different than now but wandering through the streets of downtown Atlanta you share the history with the Native Americans who first called this land home. Prior to the arrival of European settlers in north Georgia Creek and Cherokee Indians inhabited the area. At least until they were forced to give up the area as a result of the systematic removal of Native Americans from northern Georgia from 1802 to 1825. Around 1821 was when the first settlers started to make the area around Atlanta home.
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| House in Downtown Atlanta |
Later in time the beautiful and serene green spaces were the battlefields of a great war, the Confederate War which tore the country apart in civil war. Atlanta was burned to the ground in 1864 when the troops surrendered to the Union Army leaving only little untouched. Today Atlanta is a pulsating big city with skyscrapers, fast-food, universities, Olympic parks and the world’s busiest airport and upland with an expansion of the population that in the future might make some of the suburbs even bigger than Atlanta.
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| Olympic Park, Atlanta |
Atlanta's diversity
Black Lives Matters was boiling in Atlanta in 2016 which is a city with and with a big black population in the downtown city. One of the things Atlanta prides itself on is being the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a house, and museum you can visit free of charge to get a bit of history about a great man. Explore the Martin Luther King, Jr. National historic site, which includes the preserved boyhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his final resting place. Another one is Ralph David Abernathy who played a major role in the movement of Civil rights. So while you are here join in the pride of civil rights in America and visit a few of the many landmarks dedicated to strong African American leaders.
Tourist-spots in the City
According to statistics, Atlanta is the seventh-most visited city in the United States, with over 35 million visitors per year.
One of the main tourist attractions is the Georgia Aquarium. It is located in the city-center and is, to this day, the world’s largest indoor aquarium. It is a great place to bring the children and explore the wonders under the sea up-close.
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| Coca-Cola Museum, Atlanta |
My personal favorite is the Coca-Cola museum or World of Coca-Cola featuring the history of the world's best-known brand! You get a chance to see all the commercials Coca-Cola has used throughout the years, the development of Coca-Cola and the very best is, of course, you get to taste all of Coca-Colas flavors. I didn’t count them but their webpage tells me it is over 60 different tastes from all over the world. I didn’t like very many of them and but the end, because I had to taste them all, my stomach was killing me. I’ve not gotten any smarter though because I have visited the museum twice and I’ve tasted them all both times.
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| Coca-Cola Museum, Atlanta |
Besides these two places, the CNN building attracts many tourists. The Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, this one I really liked and found the history, portraits and old war relics fascinating. I am not sure how long it will stay open though. It has been accused of being racist and discriminating so I have been told it is about to close down.
On a more positive key, a beautiful place to visit is the Botanical Garden with more than 30 acres of gardens, forest, wildflower trails and the 10,000-square-foot Fuqua Orchid Center. And of course in the center and close to the Coca-Cola museum you’ll find the Centennial Olympic Park Home of the 1996 Olympic Games and the world's largest Olympic Ring fountain.
If you are a fan of Gone With the Wind visit the Margaret Mitchel House and Museum.
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| Stone Mountain. Georgia |
Food
When on vacation, you’ll want to try some local food. You might think because it is the US, Atlanta only has fast food, however, Atlanta is rather famous for the city’s culinary scene, containing many ethnic restaurants serving cuisine from every corner of the world, and traditional places specializing in Southern dining. They DO, however, have a lot of fast-food options. Try the world's largest drive-in restaurant the Varsity and get your greasy, fatty fix of the day.
Nightlife
In terms of going out, Atlanta keeps the party going from day to night. Whether you're in the mood for Virginia-Highland's laid-back vibe, chic style in Buckhead or a trendy, cosmopolitan scene in Midtown, Atlanta nightlife suits every style of letting loose. You can always find a concert, theater, live music or pumping nightclub it really comes down to what you are in the mood for that day.
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| Old Farmhouse in Stone Mountain Park |
Must visit while in Atlanta
Stone Mountain
One thing you cannot miss while visiting the Peach State is Stone Mountain Park, home to the world’s largest piece of exposed granite rock, and longest running laser show telling the story of the civil war and playing country music even tourists can sing along to. Again this attraction may shot down because it has been accused of being racist and discriminating. I, however, loved the show. Stone Mountain has the Confederate leaders of the Civil War carved into the rock and a proud memory from the South (President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson ). As part of your day away climb the mountain and visit the old cotton-farm houses telling a tale from a time long gone.
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