Atlanta travel guide

 

 

 

Atlanta is a place of great diversity and culture: Northerners and those from elsewhere which account for more than half the population and have undeniably affected the character of the city. There is a blend of many immigrants: Irish, German, Hungarian, Austrian and they keep coming.

In the past two decades Atlanta has experienced unprecedented growth in building construction, it has spent the last 140 years or so building what's been described as the Capital of the New South and the Next Great International City. Asian and Latin-American communities have also grown and related restaurants, shops, and institutions have become part of the city's texture.

People have linked Atlanta to the civil rights movement for more than four decades. There are quite a few accomplishments of which Atlanta's African-American community is proud. Among these the most notable is the Nobel Peace Prize that Martin Luther King won.

Tara, Scarlett and Rhett are names that come up when someone mentions Atlanta and some visitors are looking for Old South stereotypes -- white-columned mansions, owned by slow-moving folks with strong accents. Atlanta's heritage may be Southern, but now its straight-up economic vitality drives this city's engines and people find a lot more cosmopolitan and interesting city.

No doubt about it, Atlanta is and always has been a city on the move and the spirit of Atlanta is one of working together to get the job done, it has an inability to sit still -- even for a minute. And its role as host for the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996 finally convinced the rest of the world that Atlanta is a great place to visit.

Recent projects have drawn lots of visitors. These new ventures include the Georgia Dome, which hosted the Super Bowl in 2000 and will host basketball's Final Four again in 2007, the five-million-gallon Georgia Aquarium, and the new World of Coca-Cola coming in 2006.

Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Georgia-Pacific, The Home Depot, BellSouth, and Cox Enterprises and may others have their headquarters in Atlanta making it one of the best cities in the world in which to do business and make money but also spend money as you certainly find many where to shop as Atlanta is considered the shopping capital of the Southeast. But commerce and development are not the only things that characterize this bustling metropolis. Its success is due in no small part to its quality of life, which is hard to beat. Atlanta is often called the City of Trees, and the streets are indeed filled with dogwoods and azaleas. The city has a small-town quality to it, with dozens of neighborhoods and parks. A temperate climate makes Atlanta a magnet for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, and the city's Southern roots ensure graciousness and hospitality.

While visiting Atlanta, make sure you also go check out the archaeology museums, the outstanding symphony; the ballet company, the Broadway musicals, the Confederate and African-American heritage sites and dozens of art galleries, but don’t forget to visit Georgia's Stone Mountain Park, the regional theme park, the botanical garden, etc.

If you’re out for contrast then you must explore this wonders that this city has to offer so start packing your bags for a journey to Atlanta.