Family Week in Atlanta
- Day 1 (7 schedule items)
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- Red-eye flight from SFO to Atlanta arrives early morning
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- A Atlanta, GA
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[Full Description]
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.
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- Pick up rental car at airport
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- B Marriott Atlanta Marquis - Atlanta, United States - TravelMu
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Marriott Atlanta Marquis - Atlanta, United States - TravelMu
One can rediscover the sophisticated Atlanta Marriott Marquis, a destination downtown Atlanta hotel, conveniently located in Peachtree Center, offering an indoor connection to MARTA and a short 15-minute ride to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. This contemporary hotel is steps from the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and few blocks from CNN Center, Georgia World Congress Center, Philips Arena, and Georgia Dome.The breathtaking atrium is marked by the 50-foot color changing sail of Pulse, a classically cool cocktail lounge and the new iconic symbol of this downtown hotel. One can delight in Sear, a new signature restaurant offering fire-inspired cuisine, or enjoy the lively ambiance of High Velocity, a trendy sports bar. The guests can experience the electrifying transformation of the unrivaled hotel.The guests can take pleasure in the freshly renovated guestrooms, including 1663 luxurious rooms and 94 spacious suites, boasting lavish conveniences and amazing skyline views. It offers wired Internet access.[Full Description]
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- C Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta
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This park, created for the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, has 21 acres (8.5 hectares) of green space, rock gardens and artwork. The nearly 500,000 commemorative bricks that make up its main walkway were part of fund raising efforts for the Games. During scorching Atlanta summers, children frolic in the ground-level Olympic Rings, which periodically shoot streaming arcs of water in time to the seven light and music concerts put on throughout the day. Flags honoring the nations that have played host to the Olympics in the past surround the fountain.[Full Description]
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- D Atlanta Cyclorama
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Outside the gates of Zoo Atlanta on the grounds of Grant Park stands a stark, white marble structure housing the world's largest oil painting, the Atlanta Cyclorama. Painted in 1885-1886, the Cyclorama is a 365° mural depicting the Battle of Atlanta, which in 1864 helped doom the South's fate during the American Civil War. A collection of artifacts and historical documents rounds out the museum, but the focus is on the one-of-a-kind centerpiece. Guided tours are available daily.[Full Description]
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- Sun Dial Restaurant Bar and View
- Day 2 (3 schedule items)
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- E Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta
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Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Atlanta's largest museum sits on 140 forested acres just east of downtown. The Great Hall soars 86 feet (26 meters) to a rooftop skylight, and gives way to a labyrinth of halls devoted to the miracle of nature. A 315-seat IMAX theater showcases the world's most dramatic films on its five-story screen, while a comprehensive planetarium makes the heavens easily accessible. Be sure to visit on Fridays for Martinis and IMAX, a trendy cocktail hour followed by a film.[Full Description]
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- F Atlanta History Center
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This comprehensive museum of Atlanta's past is located a few blocks from the Governor's Mansion in residential Buckhead. Exhibits cover the gamut of the region's history, including special sections on the Civil War, Southern folk crafts, African-American history, and the Civil Rights movement. The museum is surrounded by 33 acres (13.5 hectares) of gardens that feature the historic Swan House, the fully-restored Tullie Smith Farm, a library and archive, and several restaurants. Visitor maps are available in five languages.[Full Description]
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- ESPN Zone, a Taste of ESPN - Atlanta Zone
- Day 3 (1 schedule items)
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- G Six Flags Over Georgia, Atlanta
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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.[Full Description]
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- Day 4 (4 schedule items)
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- H Martin Luther King Jr. Visitor Center, Atlanta
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Martin Luther King Jr. Visitor Center
The iconic Martin Luther King, Jr. needs no introduction, and the Visitor Center at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is a great point of departure to glean new insight. A timeline along the wall of the museum at the Visitor Center leads one through the American Civil Rights Movement, the photographs supported by descriptive narratives. A "featured exhibit" and video showcases at the theater are also equally visitor centric and suitable for most ages. It is easy to forget that the lobby is primarily an information center to help visitors with their queries, from the complex to the mundane. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitor Center not only has all the answers, but raises a few pertinent questions as well. Admission is free.[Full Description]
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- I Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta
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Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
A few blocks to the east of downtown, the Sweet Auburn neighborhood is home to the birthplace of America's most influential Civil Rights leader. Operated by the National Park Service, this historic site contains Dr. King's boyhood home, his crypt and the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Tours are conducted daily on the hour beginning at 10a. During the summer, tours are on the half-hour, starting at 9:30a. Since the historic site covers several city blocks, visitors are advised to stop at the Visitor Center upon arrival for a map and touring advice. Free admission.[Full Description]
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- J Zoo Atlanta
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Just minutes from downtown Atlanta in historic Grant Park, this exciting zoo features the Southeast's most impressive collection of wildlife from around the globe. Legend says that the zoo got its start when the owners of a traveling animal show went bankrupt and suddenly fled town. Today, popular exhibits include daily elephant demonstrations, orangutan feedings, and the recently-acquired Chinese pandas.[Full Description]
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- K Horseradish Grill, Atlanta
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This trendy spot across from Chastain Park has won rave reviews from locals and from critics as respected as those at Gourmet magazine. Set in a rustic old home that feels more like a mountain lodge, the restaurant features a small bar near the entrance and an enclosed, very romantic patio. The menu of forward-thinking regional cuisine includes such innovative recipes as the sautéed spicy Gulf shrimp with Logan Turnpike grits, as well as Southern classics like homemade sausage in cream gravy with biscuits.[Full Description]
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- Day 5 (5 schedule items)
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- L Center for Puppetry Arts Museum, Atlanta
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Center for Puppetry Arts Museum
This unique museum is located within the Center for Puppetry Arts, the largest institute dedicated to the art of puppetry in the United States. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the history, creation, and craft of puppetry, and witness featured exhibits from all around the world. Performances and workshops are regularly scheduled, and a special birthday party program is available for kids of all ages. Stop by for a tour today, or call for a schedule of performances at the adjacent theaters.[Full Description]
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- M Atlanta Botanical Gardens
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Founded in 1976, this 15-acre (six-hectare) expanse of natural wonder is located adjacent to Piedmont Park. A hardwood forest intertwined with walking trails surrounds the Fuqua Conservatory, which houses a Japanese garden, rock garden, and displays of flora from all over the globe. In addition to the Southeast's most comprehensive showing of indigenous plants, the conservatory maintains an amazing collection of carnivorous specimens and roses. Moonlight garden walks and seasonal shows are also sponsored.[Full Description]
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- N Mary Mac's Tea Room, Atlanta
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For real Southern food with real Southern atmosphere, Mary Mac's is the place. Stop by for everything from country fried steak to green beans that have been cooking for hours. The rambling restaurant on Ponce de Leon has remained unchanged since 1945, and is as much a cultural as a culinary experience. Be sure to bring your church program to Sunday brunch for a 15 percent discount. Regular favorites include the fried trout, baked or fried chicken, collard greens and sweet potato soufflé. Full bar and banquet facilities available.[Full Description]
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- O Margaret Mitchell House & Museum, Atlanta
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Margaret Mitchell House & Museum
This modest turn-of-the-century home is an architectural find in itself, but most notable because it houses the apartment where Margaret Mitchell penned most of the world's most popular novel, "Gone with the Wind." Having survived arson and many seasons of decay, the house has been completely restored. Guided tours feature a wealth of historical and anecdotal information on Mitchell, the house and Atlanta in general. A museum shop is also on site.[Full Description]
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- P Pittypat's Porch, Atlanta
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Every town has a gathering spot for local politicians and celebrities, and when the bigwigs turn out for Southern cuisine in Atlanta, this is the spot. Sip a mint julep while you peruse the menu of regional specialties, from Savannah crab cakes to coastal venison pie, home-baked breads and deserts to tomato-based barbecue. The hostess will greet you in a period hoop skirt, then escort you to the antebellum dining room to the accompaniment of live entertainment. A wine tasting is offered once a week as well. Full bar service available.[Full Description]
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- Day 6 (3 schedule items)
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- Q Georgia's Stone Mountain State Park, Atlanta
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Georgia's Stone Mountain State Park
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.[Full Description]
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- Stone Mountain - Sky Hike
- Stone Mountain - Crossroads 1870s town
- Day 7 (4 schedule items)
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- R Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
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The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 as one of the largest aquariums in the world. Located in downtown Atlanta, it is undoubtedly a breathtaking experience for all its visitors. A generous endowment from Bernard Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot, makes this dynamic aquarium possible. It showcases exotic sea creatures such as giant groupers, beluga whales, and whale sharks (which have never been seen outside of Asia). With 500 species, you will see something new and different no matter when you visit. In addition, the Georgia Aquarium offers an expansive educational program for students of all ages. Check their website for tours, special events, extended hours notices, and group discounts.[Full Description]
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- S World of Coca Cola, Atlanta
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Atlanta's most famous invention is also the world's most popular soft drink and nowhere is this more clear than at this unique downtown museum. The new 20-acre (eight-hectare) complex features a 4D cinematic experience, and the largest collection of Coke® memorabilia ever assembled, including a pop-culture gallery. The museum draws many visitors, and features an exhaustive look at the history, manufacture and distribution of Coca-Cola. Perhaps the most popular phase of the tour is the final stop, where guests are invited to sample vast and various recipes of Coke as it is marketed throughout the world. Tickets may be purchased through their website.[Full Description]
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- T CNN Center tour, Atlanta
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This downtown complex features not only the global headquarters of CNN and Turner Broadcasting, but an Omni hotel, several fine restaurants and a nice selection of boutiques and shops. Take a tour of the CNN studios for a behind-the-scenes look at news in the making, grab a meal at Bugatti's, and stick around for a taping of one of the popular shows telecast daily. In order to guarantee a place in a show's audience, be sure to reserve a seat in advance.[Full Description]
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- U Ted's Montana Grill, Atlanta
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Ted Turner and George McKerrow, Jr. ventured together to set up a stekhouse which would serve the all American steak in an authetic "Montana grill atmosphere." Besides steak there are delicious crab cakes, meatloaf, cedar plank salmon, burgers and lots more to dig into. Since 2002 when the first Ted's Montana Grill opened its doors, they have several outlets all over America to serve wholesome American fare, made from meticulously procured ingredients, which is evident from their taste and aroma. A stylish place for people who believe in style, elegance and tradition.[Full Description]
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- Day 8 (1 schedule items)
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- Flight from Atlanta to SFO departs morning
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