Atlanta every day is an opening day

Only in Atlanta

Atlanta is experienced every day by people who have never even visited the city. Each time you watch CNN on television or buy a liter of Coca-Cola from the grocery store, you experience Atlanta. This three day itinerary highlights only a few attractions, but be prepared for sensory overload as you glimpse the sights seen only in Atlanta.

*Unless otherwise noted, transportation to these venues is accessible by MARTA, Atlanta's rail and bus line. Plan your trip via MARTA.

Day One: Downtown and Around

Morning

Head to the World of Coca-Cola where the famous soft drink's story is told through fascinating exhibits, classic ads and an imaginative replica of the bottling process. Taste Coca-Cola products from around the world and pick your favorite before raiding the gift shop for souvenirs.

Walk through Underground Atlanta , with several shops and restaurants, as well as a rejuvenated nightlife scene. Underground is an area of town where Atlanta literally built the city on top of it in the 1920s.

Insider's Tip: Take the Underground Atlanta's Guided History Tour.
Unlock the secrets that make up Underground's historic past with a personal guide on this 45-minute tour. Entitled "From Civil War to Civil Rights," the tour makes 10 historic stops, experiencing everything from a journey through freight depots and old hotels to the Peachtree fountains and amazing views of the Georgia capitol building.

Visit Centennial Olympic Park , the world's gathering place during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Today, the park features the popular Fountain of Rings and a variety of events including Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days, a free festival with hands-on activities, April through September.

Insider's Tip: Music at Noon is a free concert series every Tuesday and Thursday during the warm months.

Lunch

The SunDial Restaurant Bar & View is located at the top of the tallest hotel in the western hemisphere, the Westin Peachtree Plaza. Travel to the top to dine in the revolving restaurant with breathtaking views of downtown Atlanta.

Afternoon

The CNN Studio Tour is an exciting way to discover how a newsroom operates. Watch behind-the-scenes action of the newsroom, see what it takes to put a news broadcast together and even learn how the weather map works.

Insider's Tip: Don't spend vacation time waiting for an appointment time. Make reservations in advance for the 45-minute tour.

The Sweet Auburn district is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site includes a visitor center depicting the story of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, the restored King Birth Home, Ebenezer Baptist Church where three generations of the King family preached, and the King burial site.

New this year: the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame
The shoes of Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall and Medgar Evers are among a collection of 17 civil rights leaders' shoes on display at the MLK Historic Site. This tribute to the warriors of justice is a new addition to the site's poignant exhibitions of this important time. Soon to add Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Or:

Visit the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum , located next to the Carter Center. The library includes a replica of the Oval Office and Jimmy Carter's Nobel Peace Prize, as well as traveling exhibitions.

*Transportation to the MLK National Historic Site or Jimmy Carter Library/Carter Center would be best by car (both locations have free parking) or Marta bus system.

Evening

Evening Option #1: Between April and October, catch a MLB Atlanta Braves baseball game. Arrive early at Turner Field and take advantage of activities such as pre-game pep rallies, or test your hitting or throwing skills at Scout's Alley in the west pavilion. Grab a bite to eat at the Chop House situated above the Braves bullpen, and visit the Braves Museum & Hall of Fame.

Insider's Tip: Visitors are allowed to bring food into the ballpark, so grab dinner at an Atlanta landmark on North Avenue, The Varsity, serving chili dogs, hamburgers and the signature Frosted Orange. Picnic tables are located right inside the ballpark's entrance.

Evening Option #2: During the cooler months, experience Atlanta's indoor teams by attending an NBA Atlanta Hawks basketball or NHL Atlanta Thrashers hockey game at Philips Arena.

Plan your Day:
World of Coca-Cola
Guided History Tour of Underground Atlanta
Centennial Olympic Park
SunDial Restaurant Bar & View
CNN Studio Tours
MLK National Historic Site
Jimmy Carter Library
Atlanta Braves
The Varsity
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Thrashers

Day Two: Cultural Quickies
Mix and match these cultural must-sees in Atlanta. All are located in the Midtown area except for Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Tour the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum , centered around the Midtown apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote "Gone with the Wind." Exclusive photographs and exhibits tell the story of Margaret Mitchell beyond the book. The Gone with the Wind Movie Museum illuminates the making of the movie with memorabilia including the actual doorway of Tara from the movie set.

Insider Tip: The Center for Southern Literature literary series at the Margaret Mitchell House hosts well-known authors with an evening reception, reading and a book signing.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden features one of the world's largest permanent displays of tropical orchids, 15 acres of outdoor display gardens and the Fuqua Conservatory, home to rare and endangered tropical and desert plants. The Garden also includes an expansive children's garden with special enclaves including a maze beginning at a colorful caterpillar's mouth and ending at the Butterfly Pavilion; fossil digging; and carnivorous plants.

The High Museum of Art hosts European and American paintings, special exhibitions, African, decorative, folk and 20th century art and photography. Past exhibitions have included works by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Picasso, Degas and Elton John's private photography collection. The High recently opened an expansion that includes two new galleries, an open-air piazza and the restaurant Table 1280.

Housing the largest museum dedicated to the art of puppetry, the Center for Puppetry Arts is your ticket to see dazzling sets and the artistry of puppetry from several different areas. Adult shows complement the children's performances, and a museum hosts famous puppets such as Pigs in Space from "The Muppets," masks from "The Lion King" and Izzy from the Centennial Olympic Games.

Home to the world's largest dinosaurs, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast. Fernbank uses innovative exhibit design and programming to bring natural history to life through galleries and hands-on exhibits to stretch your imagination. The 315-seat IMAX theater provides a powerful adventure experience with films showing in the afternoon and evening.

Evening

Evening option #1: An evening at The Fox Theatre
The opulent Fox Theatre was designed in the late 1920s as headquarters for the Shriner's organization. Now, it presents Broadway musicals, the Atlanta Ballet, a summer movie festival, concerts and more. Check out the schedule for the Fox while in town. The lavish decorations inside include an indoor Arabian courtyard with twinkling stars and drifting clouds; a striped canopy; and ornate period furnishings.

Also at the Fox: the Atlanta Ballet is the oldest continuously running ballet company in the U.S. presenting classical and contemporary works by dancers from around the globe. During the season, which is fall through spring, the Ballet's performances are located in The Fox Theatre.

Evening Option #2: The neighborhood of Virginia-Highland is one of Atlanta's most popular areas for shopping, dining and nightlife. Noted for its renovations of 1920s homes, the area features tree-lined avenues dotted with unique ethnic and chef-owned restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, spas and salons, boutiques and a selection of bars and pubs.

Plan your Day:
Margaret Mitchell House
Atlanta Botanical Garden
High Museum of Art
Center for Puppetry Arts
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
The Fox Theatre
Atlanta Ballet
Virginia-Highland neighborhood

Day Three: The World's Eighth Wonder

Stone Mountain Park is Georgia's most visited attraction, drawing nearly 4 million visitors each year. With more than 3,300 acres of natural beauty, the park is a unique destination where families and friends can enjoy the outdoors while experiencing an exciting variety of attractions, entertainment and recreation. Travel back in time to the town of Crossroads to see what life may have been like in a 1870s Southern town. Crossroads includes the new Treehouse Challenge (Opening May 28); Georgia's only 4-D theater; The Great Barn, Atlanta's largest children's indoor play experience; and live entertainment. Other attractions include the skylift to the top of Stone Mountain, the new Ride The Ducks Adventure, Scenic Railroad, Antebellum Plantation and more.

Stone Mountain Park dinner option:
Miss Katie's Sideboard is an attraction in itself with down-home, delicious Southern cooking. Tables revolve and get taller all by themselves and watch out for (literally) hand tossed rolls coming your way.

*You will need a car to visit Stone Mountain Park. The entrance fee is $7.

Plan your Day:
Stone Mountain Park

• Sign up for the Atlanta eNewsletter
• Sign up for information about FAMs