A Southern belle on the rise
Atlanta is an international corporate stronghold, where Coca Cola, CNN, Delta Air Lines – and BCD Travel Americas – have their headquarters. It is also famously known as a city where most residents are not native Atlantans.
As fans of Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel Gone with the Wind already know, Atlanta was burned to the ground during the Civil War and rose from the ashes to become the cosmopolitan Mecca and southern cultural oasis it is today. One only has to travel through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to see Atlanta’s bustle. The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson accommodated 89.3 million passengers and 994,346 flights in 2007, serving 243 nonstop destinations in 46 countries, more than any other airline hub in the world.
Atlanta boasts a range of political and historical sites. Befitting the city’s status as the cradle of the American civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Center for Non-Violent Change is located in downtown Atlanta, where King was born and buried. Another influential Georgian, former President Jimmy Carter, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for promoting social and economic justice. The vehicle for his global humanitarian efforts, the Carter Center also houses his Presidential Library. Atlanta also has several notable Civil War sites and museums including the Cyclorama, which depicts the Battle of Atlanta and billed as the world’s largest oil painting; the Atlanta History Center, one of the largest history museums in the country; and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield, a 2,884 acre site that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta campaign.
Atlantans are very active (despite the heat and humidity!) and Piedmont Park in Midtown is the 183-acre epicenter of outdoor activities within the city. Every July 4, 60,000 runners participate in the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10-kilometer race in the world. For anyone who likes a good climb, Stone Mountain, the largest piece of exposed granite on earth, is a challenging hike and only a 30-minute drive from downtown.
In spite of its reputation as a sprawling city, Atlanta is defined by neighborhoods, located on each side of Peachtree Street. In what might be seen, were Atlantans not so famously courteous and friendly, as a move expressly intended to befuddle tourists, over 50 streets in Atlanta have the word “Peachtree” in their names. The public train system MARTA is the best way for visitors to get around the city and avoid battling traffic.
Exploring the landscape
The city contains multitudes – one handy approach is to structure your sightseeing according to the activities you are most interested in.
Shopping and dining
Buckhead
Atlanta’s uptown features first-class hotels, high-end shopping and elegant dining. Stop by the contemporary Terminus building for a bite at one of the chic new restaurants or get a hot lather shave at the Grooming Lounge. Take a scenic ride down West Paces Ferry Road to see some of Atlanta’s most stunning old-money homes, including the Governor’s mansion, and a number of glitzy celebrity dwellings.
Cultural activites
Midtown
Music, theatre, dance, art and green spaces shape this cluster. If you’re looking for a combination of too-cool restaurants, cultural venues and sheer entertainment, this is your spot. Midtown features the Fox Theater, the Woodruff Arts Center, the High Museum of Art, Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, plus some of the city’s top-rated restaurants.
Neighborhood strolls
Virginia Highlands and Little Five Points
Two neighborhoods stand out for their proximity, yet they’re a world apart. Virginia Highlands is delightful for a stroll and some unusual shopping; the streets are flanked with large trees and charming houses, giving it a civilized, laidback feel. Close out an evening here with a visit to Blind Willie’s blues bar. The other side of the spectrum is a mile away: visit funky Little Five Points for a bohemian experience of music at the Variety Playhouse or the Star Bar, vintage shopping at the Junkman’s Daughter and the best burgers in town at biker bar The Vortex.
Tourism galore
Downtown
This is your stop for tourist attractions: you can visit Underground Atlanta, the Aquarium (don’t miss the beluga whales!), the Coca Cola Museum, CNN Center and Centennial Park in a day. If history’s your thing, the King Center and the Carter Center are close by.
A taste of the town
Atlantans are passionate about food. Atlanta has more than its share of fine restaurants, showcasing diverse, high-caliber cuisines from around the world.
Kevin Rathbun Steak
Atlanta has a vast number of great places for steak, with celebrated standards like Chops and Bones and trendy Brazilian restaurants like Fogo de Chão. But one of the top choices for locals who both great meat and a chance to be part of the hip crowd is Kevin Rathbun. Step next door for an amazing wine selection at Krog Bar.
Cuerno
This new restaurant is quickly earning a reputation as one of the most coveted tables in town. The upscale bohemian atmosphere conveys the mood of Barcelona, while the food incorporates both traditional and “new Spanish� cuisine. There’s a nice selection of tapas and jamón ibérico, plus traditional Northern Spanish dishes like cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig). Have a cocktail at adjacent restaurant Beleza, for a taste of Brazil.
The Food Studio
Probably the only place in Atlanta that serves sweetbreads and will keep you asking for more! This restaurant, located in an admittedly industrial but rapidly gentrifying area known as King Plow Arts Center, features exceptionally innovative dishes. You’ll enjoy not only the food and extensive wine list, but the way the old factory loft housing the restaurant has been refurbished.
Bluepointe
This upscale and modern restaurant is a favourite with visitors and locals alike. The décor features chrome railings, white tile floors, oversized windows, and blue velvet booths; the kitchen specializes in delicate Asian fusion dishes and some of the best sushi in town. The impressive bar is the place to see and be seen. As a bonus, if you’re in the mood for a Gucci scarf or a pair of Jimmy Choos, Atlanta’s most upscale shopping destination, Phipps Plaza, is right across the street.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 9:15 pm and is filed under Corporate Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
