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Atlanta is Georgia’s capital and largest city. In the late 20th century, the city experience tremendous growth and became a major commercial center: It is home to Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS and CNN, among other large companies. Atlanta was also one of the major centers of the American Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King was born in the city, and his boyhood home and his tomb at the center of the reflecting pool at The King Center are popular attractions for visitors interested in history.

Downtown Atlanta contains much of the commercial activity of the city. All the places to see here are within a 10-minute walk of each other. Highlights include Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, the Georgia Aquarium (the largest in the world) and Imagine It! Children’s Museum. You can also take a tour of the World of Coca-Cola and get a drink of various Coke products from around the world. Midtown Atlanta is the area immediately north of Downtown and is a major restaurant and arts quarter.

Families with children may enjoy the Fernbank Science Center and Museum of Natural History, with its planetarium, dinosaurs and IMAX theater.  

Just east of Atlanta, this 3200-acre (1300-hectare) park centers on the world's largest exposed granite mountain. Skylift gondolas whisk visitors 825 feet (251 meters) to the top, where commanding views of the Georgia countryside await them. The north face's 90x100-foot (27x30-meter) bas-relief memorial to Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson is the world's largest. An antebellum plantation, a riverboat, an antique auto museum and a petting zoo are all located within the park, as are camping, dining and lodging accommodations. During the summer, there are evening laser light shows on the mountain.

This thrilling attraction is located about 10 minutes west of the city on Interstate 20, and is the largest amusement park in the Southeast. In addition to an impressive roster of roller coasters, thrill rides and interactive games, the park features parades, special events, and Broadway-style musicals starring Bugs Bunny and other Loony Tunes characters. Dozens of snack shops and restaurants are strategically placed throughout the park, and strollers and wheelchairs are available for rent. See website for online specials, operating hours, and calendar of events.