Atlanta
has something to offer everyone, day or night, indoors or out - the city is filled with adventures.

Festivals in July
Any time of year, there is always a celebration in Atlanta.
National Black Arts Festival
This 10-day cultural festival celebrates the contributions of Africans and African-Americans to art with events throughout the city featuring the work of more than 1,000 artists from the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Included are artist and vendor markets, a gallery crawl and live entertainment encompassing music, literature, theatre and performance art, film, dance, visual art and folk art. Special events include the Pan African Film Festival and Soul Suite, where artists gather to present late-night soul and hip-hop showcases. The 2005 festival will be July 14-23. 404.730.7315 or www.nbaf.org.

Tours of Atlanta

Five fabulous tours to choose from:

A Taste of the Peach
Legacy of Leaders
Atlanta's Famous Firsts
Shopping Options
Twilight Tour of Swan House

Click here for details and to sign up:
http://www.atlantaarrange.com/FEW/

Deadline for Pre-Registration is Monday, June 26, 2006.

Top Must-See Attractions in Atlanta

Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park is a monument to the 1996 Olympic Games that were held in Atlanta, and is also a memorial for the bombing that took place during the games. The park holds special events throughout the year, including exhibits, concerts, holiday lights, and much more.

The King Center
The King Center not only honors civil rights legend Martin Luther King, Jr., but also keeps alive his dream of the "beloved community" through active community service programs. The historical Ebenezer Baptist Church and King's birthplace home are all part of this inspirational site. The King Center is educational and inspirational for the whole family, especially teenagers and other young people looking for guidance or a path in life. There are many interactive exhibits that illustrate the beloved community that Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned and how that dream can still become a reality.

CNN Center or Studio Tour
Eccentric media mogul Ted Turner launched CNN in 1980, the first live, 24-hour world news network in the history of television. The tour provides visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at this fast-paced world. Reservations recommended. Television news is something we take for granted, but it's interesting to get a "behind the scenes" peek at the frenzied world of television journalism with the CNN Studio tour. Pre-teens and teenagers can gain insight into the world of broadcast journalism, and decide if it is a career they are interested in pursuing. Reservations are highly recommended for the tour.

Oakland Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery is the resting place for many well-known Atlantans, including "Gone with the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell and Mayor Maynard Jackson. In addition, there are a diverse set of architectural styles to admire, as well as a section where civil war soldiers are buried.

Springtime
A season is an attraction? Well, yes, springtime in the city of Atlanta is a beautiful event for the senses. Blossoming trees and the lush greeness that takes over Atlanta's ample greenspace is a breathtaking example of nature's beauty. Allergy sufferers, stock up on your medication so you can enjoy the springtime in Atlanta as well.

The Fox Theatre
The Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta's most prized historical sites, a performance venue that started off as a movie theatre, and almost saw the wrecking ball, before being saved and renovated into the gorgeous performance venue it is today. Broadway shows, concerts, film series, and other special events take place at the Fox.

Piedmont Park
Atlanta's answer to New York City's Central Park, this outdoor recreation destination is having a centennial celebration.



Margaret Mitchell House
Visit the home of the author who wrote one of the best known novels in the world, "Gone with the Wind." Even if you are not a fan of GWTW, the Center for Southern Literature is also housed here, and presents readings by contemporary Southern writers, such as Jim Grimsley and Anne Rivers Siddons. For literary lovers and Gone With the Wind fans, this attraction can't be missed. The house where author Margaret Mitchell resided now houses memorabilia from the famed author's career, and also serves as a literary center for living Southern authors. Special author readings and creative writing courses are held at the center.

The Varsity
Love it or hate it, the Varsity in Atlanta is heralded as one of the original, and now largest drive-in restaurants in the country. The burgers and chili dogs joint near the Georgia Tech campus has a unique and colorful history, and it's worth experiencing a "chili steak" and an "F.O." at least once.


World of Coca-Cola
Another kid-friendly attraction in Atlanta, this musuem dedicated to the world's favorite beverage is interesting for the whole family. Learn a bit about the history of Coca-Cola, which was developed in Atlanta, then taste various formulas of the soda from all over the world in the tasting room.

Underground Atlanta
Some people think the Underground is a tourist trap, but the below street level shopping mall and entertainment facility is undergoing a makeover, which the city hopes will turn the Underground into a world-class entertainment district. In the meantime, this is the place to buy your Atlanta souvenirs. There are also festivals that go on during the spring and summer months.

Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a beautiful exhibit of nature's glory, right in the heart of the city. A walk through the garden is a great stress reliever. There are always special events going on, including unique flowers, summer concerts, romantic jazz nights, and children's activities.

Stone Mountain Park
One of Atlanta's most recognizable tourist attractions, this huge monument to the confederacy covers 25 million square feet and rises 825 feet above the surrounding area, carved with the likeness of three confederate heroes. There is plenty to see and do, including the ever-popular laser show, holiday events, hiking, boating, fishing, and souvenir shopping.

Cyclorama
This visual depiction of the Battle of Atlanta is a unique way to study Atlanta history. A film giving background on the battle is shown before entering the painting room, where visitors sit in the center, and slowly revolve to view the painting on the wall. There is also a Civil War museum tour that is included in the reasonable admission fee.

Turner Field
Turner Field is a state-of-the-art sports facility, and the Atlanta Braves have an interesting history, so the tour of Turner Field is a must for any baseball fan. Get a chance to see the press box, the clubhouse, the dugout, a luxury suite, and the broadcast booth. Don't miss the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame.

Georgia Dome is home of the NFL Atlanta Falcons. Phillips Arena is home to the NBA Atlanta Hawks and NHL Atlanta Thrashers.

Atlanta Motor Sports features Road Atlanta and the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton hosting NASCAR and ARCA events throughout the year. It features sports car, vintage, motorcycle, motocross, and go-cart races from March to November.

CRASH COURSE ON ATLANTA

The deep South is known for its unusual accents and sayings. Atlanta has its own variety of Southern Slang and it's a good idea to brush up on some of the local phrases and nicknames before you visit. It is especially important when trying to make sense of the traffic reports in Atlanta, which are full of local slang. Otherwise, you may think Spaghetti Junction is a restaurant and not part of the local interstate system.

Buckhead: North of downtown Atlanta, centered at Peachtree and Rowell roads.
Inside Scoop: Where old money meets frat parties, where streets lined with magnificent homes empty onto Atlanta's most famous singles scene.

Downtown Connector: Where I-85 meets I-75.
Inside Scoop: Traveling those few miles through downtown Atlanta where the two superhighways meet can take a few lifetimes. Stay away if you can.

Five Points: Marietta and Peachtree Streets
Inside Scoop: Used to be the center of downtown, where the city's five biggest streets converged. Now it's better known as the city's biggest MARTA station, where the East-West and North-South lines converge.

Little Five Points: Moreland and Euclid Avenues
Inside Scoop: Atlanta's version of New York's East Village. Kids with Mohawks and tattoos, street musicians, a cool boutique called the Junkman's Daughter, and a joint called the Star Community Bar, complete with an Elvis shrine. Walk around, catch a local band, stare at people who look weirder than you - get a little funky - and collect "you wouldn't believe what I saw" stories for the folks back home.

The Perimeter: I-285
Inside Scoop: Like the Beltway in Washington, this ring around Atlanta tends to be an unofficial demographic marker, separating the in-towners from the suburbanites. It is also the home of some of America's most infamous traffic.

Spaghetti Junction: I-85 at I-285
Inside Scoop: One of Atlanta's most appropriately nicknamed landmarks. A soaring roadway of tangled over- and under-passes, on-ramps and exits that tend to confuse even the most seasoned traveler.

King Center/Sweet Auburn: About one mile east of Peachtree along Auburn Avenue.
Inside Scoop: Auburn Avenue was the heart of the black business and entertainment district in the city's early history. It fell on hard times and hasn't quite come back. It's worth a stroll through, especially after a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. national Historic Site, which includes the birthplace, church and grave of the revered civil rights leader.

The Art and Soul of Atlanta

Atlanta's extensive art scene and rich history create cultural offerings unmatched in the South. From historic to modern, visitors can enjoy art, performances, beauty and education throughout the city.

Woodruff Arts Center
Considered the cultural center of Atlanta, Midtown is home to some of the best artwork, varied theater and the most beautiful gardens Atlanta has to offer. The Woodruff Arts Center has been a driving force in the revitalization of the Midtown neighborhood and now consists of the High Museum of Art, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the 14th Street Playhouse.

Museums
High Museum of Art
The premier museum in the South, Atlanta's High Museum of Art, hosts world-renowned exhibits with works by like Van Gogh, Norman Rockwell and Michelangelo. Strengthening its reputation through growth and partnerships, the High will partner with the Louvre in Paris to bring nine exhibitions representing each department of the world famous museum, Oct. 2006-2009. The High's permanent collection of more than 11,000 works of art includes African, American, decorative, European, folk, modern and contemporary art, and photography.

Atlanta History Center
At the future home of the Atlanta Olympic museum, visitors explore Atlanta's story, the Civil War, civil rights and antebellum South. Tour two historic homes, the 1928 Swan House and the Tullie Smith House, an 1840s plantation farmhouse with outbuildings, beautiful gardens and nature trails. Temporary exhibits like V for Victory: Georgia Remembers World War II and Gone with the Girdle: Freedom, Restraint and Power in Women's Dress expand the exploration of the museum.

Michael C. Carlos Museum
The Emory University museum is a hidden jewel in Atlanta, featuring the art of the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and the Americas, including Egyptian mummies, pre-Columbian pottery, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, artifacts from the Middle and Far East and European and American works on paper.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
President Jimmy Carter's life and administration and the Oval Office are portrayed through films, videos and displays.

Margaret Mitchell House and Museum
The apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With The Wind has been restored to its original condition, while the rest of the building exhibits the book, movie, Atlanta and her life. Across the is a museum housing memorabilia from the making of the movie.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Fernbank's permanent exhibits include "Giants of the Mezozoic," featuring the largest dinosaur skeleton ever discovered; "A Walk Though Time in Georgia," which takes the visitor through the chronological development of life in the geographic region that Georgia now occupies; "Spectrum of the Senses," a gallery filled with hands-on interactive exhibits dealing with light and sound; and the premier IMAX theater in Georgia, with a screen that measures 72 feet wide and five stories tall. Traveling exhibits throughout the year explore nature, science and the human experience.

The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum
The largest museum of its kind in the Southeast, the Bremen museum offers two core galleries depicting "Atlanta's Jewish Heritage" and "The Holocaust." Also at the museum are special exhibitions, archives, a hands-on Discovery Center, library and museum shop.

Theaters
Fox Theatre
The fabulous Fox Theatre is one of the country's best preserved "picture palaces" from the Golden Age of cinema. Designed and built in the 1920s, the theater was originally the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, the headquarters of the Shriners. A masterpiece of architecture and décor, visitors encounter an indoor Arabian courtyard with a sky full of flickering stars and magically drifting clouds. The stage at the Fox is home to the Atlanta Ballet and is a primary venue for Broadway productions and musical performances.

Alliance Theatre
The Southeast's leading professional theater offers group discounts, private theater performances, backstage tours and facilities for post-performance receptions. Recently hosted the world premier of Broadway-bound The Color Purple.

Neighborhood Theaters
Get a feel for the city visiting stages in various neighborhoods around Atlanta. Catch contemporary plays at Actor's Express on Midtown's Westside and Horizon Theatre in Little Five Points. For off-the-cuff improvisation Dad's Garage Theatre Company in Little Five Points or Whole World Theatre in Midtown pack the house. Classics by Shakespeare and other accomplished playwrights steal the show at the New American Shakespeare Tavern in Midtown. Atlanta's most diverse and adventuresome theater, 7 Stages, calls Little Five Points home and brings new plays and international artists to its stage. Theatrical Outfit performs at the new Balzer Theatre at Herren's downtown, a historic building once housing a landmark restaurant.

Performance Arts
Atlanta Ballet
The Atlanta Ballet is the oldest continually operating ballet company in the United States. Catch presentations of classical and contemporary works at the Fox Theatre and Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
One of the nation's finest orchestras, the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) performs more than 230 times annually for more than a half million music lovers. The ASO presents Classical Master Season Concerts, Champagne and Coffee Concerts and Family Concerts in Atlanta Symphony Hall from May to September and Classic Chastain Concerts at Chastain Park Amphitheatre from June to August, as well as various holiday performances.

Atlanta Opera
Considered one of Atlanta's cultural treasures, The Atlanta Opera presents full-staged grand opera performances in the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center.

Cultural Sites
Atlanta Botanical Garden
This 15-acre oasis bordering Piedmont Park features outdoor display gardens, five acres of shade-loving ornamentals from around the world and walking trails. Across the Flower Bridge is the two-acre Children's Garden, which has been designed as a "wellness" garden. The Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory houses rare and endangered plants from tropical rainforests and desert regions. The Fuqua Orchid Center houses a high elevation house, a tropical display house and a Center for Education and Conservation.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
Visit The King Center site and Dr. King's grave, the King birth home and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he preached. The surrounding historic Sweet Auburn District, centered around Auburn Avenue, was the thriving center of black enterprise in Atlanta from the 1890s through the 1940s. The street runs east from downtown's Five Points intersection.