Atlanta, GA: College Tour Planning

Atlanta, land of the free and home of the Braves. The city is historically famous for its civil rights policies and has more recently gained note for hosting the Summer Olympics in 1996, being one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and supporting four professional sports teams on an ongoing basis. Atlanta also houses the world’s busiest airport and a sprawling, often-congested interstate system that has earned Atlanta the nickname “Los Angeles of the South.” However, along with the mind-numbing numbers of headlights come an impressive number of mind-enhancing centers of learning.

Atlanta is home to more than 30 institutions of higher education, including the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of some of the most prestigious historically black colleges and universities in the nation. Among these are the all-male Morehouse College, alma mater of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the all-female Spelman College—which are considered the top two historically black institutions in the United States.

Additionally, universities such as Georgia State, the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and the private Emory University contribute to Atlanta’s status as an educational hotspot. Such an impressive and concentrated résumé of schools means one can visit a multitude of schools in one weekend and still have time to see the other sights in the city, thanks to that sprawling interstate system.

 

• The Westin Peachtree Plaza is a 73-story tower with a rotating restaurant atop.

Courtesy of the Westin Peachtree Plaza

When to Come and Where to Stay

You should be able to visit all of the aforementioned schools in a three-day weekend, and probably one or two more while you’re at it. Atlanta often boasts pleasant temperatures even in the dead of winter, although the city gets cold and snow as well. Spring and fall are probably the best seasons to visit, as you’ll avoid the hot, humid weather summer brings and any inclement weather the winter may cook up.

Like most large cities, Atlanta has a wealth of lodging options, including the Western Hemisphere’s tallest hotel, the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The 73-floor behemoth is close to several popular attractions and offers a panoramic view of the city from the revolving bar and restaurant on the top floor. For a historic, upscale hotel experience, stay at the 307-room Georgian Terrace Hotel in Midtown. Built in 1911 and on the National Register of Historic Places, this red-brick high-rise lodged Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh while they were in town celebrating the premier of “Gone with the Wind.” A more budget-conscious option is the Crowne Plaza one mile from the airport—still within easy driving distance of all the schools and sights and über-convenient for those flying into town.