What's Going on in Atlanta

The sultry South will play host to this year’s Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. But don’t come expecting antebellum columns and Spanish moss — Atlanta is a booming international city with a little something for everyone. From one of the busiest airports in the world to the dazzling city skyline, Atlanta has a truly cosmopolitan feel. Sessions will be held in the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The hotel is right in the thick of downtown and is within walking distance of many local attractions. Whether it is museums, art galleries, good food, or shopping, Atlanta has it all!

Atlanta is the vanguard of the New South, with the charm and elegance of the Old. It is a city that balances southern traditions with sleek modernism. In Atlanta, the peach trees are plentiful and the tea is sweet, yet this city boasts three skylines and the world’s busiest airport. Atlanta has been burnt to the ground and built back up; it has seen the horrors of war and felt the pain of droughts and floods. Atlanta knows rebirth and endurance though, perhaps better than any other city. It was host to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, gave birth to the greatest figure of the Civil Rights movement, is the beloved capital of the state of Georgia, and has become the enduring leader of the American South.

Filled with a wealth of attractions and activities, Atlanta offers something for every visitor. Metropolitan museums highlight the arts, the Civil War period, Atlanta and Georgia history, science and technology, and African-American history. Some of Atlanta’s well-known tourist destinations include the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the CNN Studio Tours, Underground Atlanta, and the High Museum of Art.

For more Atlanta visitor information, guidebooks, and maps, contact the Atlanta Convention and Visitor's Bureau or view their website.

THINKING

Atlanta Cyclorama
800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
404-658-7625

Said to be the largest painting in the world - 42 feet tall, 358 feet in circumference. Also features civil war museum and 1800s steam locomotive on display. In Atlanta's Historic Grant Park next to Zoo Atlanta.

Centennial Olympic Park
265 Luckie Street NW
404-223-4636

Located in downtown Atlanta, this twenty-one acre legacy from the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games features “The Fountain of Rings” with four shows daily.

CNN Center
190 Marietta Street
404-827-2300

Journey into the heart of CNN Worldwide and get an up-close look at global news in the making! Inside CNN is a 55-minute guided walking tour with exclusive, behind-the-scenes views of Atlanta’s CNN studios and a glimpse of news and broadcasting.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Road NE
404-929-6300

Encounter prehistoric creatures, cultural treasures, hands-on science, exotic shells, activities for children, and the world’s largest dinosaurs. And you won’t want to miss stunning rotating special exhibitions or the incredible five-story experience of an IMAX film.

Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker Street NW
404-581-4000

The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest with more than eight million gallons of water and more aquatic life than any other aquarium.

Margaret Mitchell House
990 Peachtree Street
404-249-7015

Tours feature the apartment where Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind, a movie museum with a portrait of Scarlet, exhibit galleries, and museum shop. This two-block historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

World of Coca-Cola
121 Baker Street NW
404-676-5151

From a multi-sensory 4-D theater, a special one-of-a-kind World of Coca-Cola bottle produced exclusively for our guests on our bottling line, and an opportunity to sample over sixty beverages from around the world, you’ll experience something new and inviting around every corner of the new World of Coca-Cola.

Zoo Atlanta
800 Cherokee Avenue SE
404-624-9453

Zoo Atlanta inspires value and protection of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family fun. From native wildlife to critically endangered species, the Zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world.

SHOPPING

200 Peachtree
191 Peachtree Street
678-420-3408

A stunning retail and entertainment destination in the recently renovated historic Macy’s building featuring world-class traveling exhibitions, specialty retailers, restaurants, and over 40,000 square feet of special event space.

Atlantic Station
171 17th Street
404-733-1221

Atlantic Station is a 140-acre live-work-play community featuring Dillard’s, IKEA, Regal Cinema 16, TWELVE Hotel and Residences, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and fine dining all grouped around a central park in a beautiful streetscape setting.

Little Five Points
Moreland Avenue and Euclid Streets

What Greenwich Village is to New York, Little Five Points is to Atlanta. Located along the boundary between two turn-of-the-century residential neighborhoods — Inman Park and Virginia Highlands — the business area reflects its bohemian air in unique retail stores, restaurants, bars, theater companies, music venues, cultural activities, and colorful people.

The Mall at Peachtree Center
225 Peachtree Street NE
404-654-1265

Come and explore over seventy shops, restaurants, and services in the heart of downtown Atlanta! Sites and shops include Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Benihana, and more!

Underground Atlanta
50 Upper Alabama Street
404-523-2311

Six historic city blocks in the heart of Atlanta transformed into an urban market with unique shopping, dining, entertainment, and nightlife! Underground Atlanta offers history tours on Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM and on Sunday, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM only.

SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves’ play at Turner Field, just minutes from downtown.  Turner Field can be easily reached by Public Transportation or by driving South on I75/85.  Once you reach the ballpark, there are plenty of options for parking for $12.  Tickets and pricing can be found here. For tours of Turner Field, click here.

Home Game Schedule

Friday, June 8 – Blue Jays at 7:35 pm

Saturday, June 9 – Blue Jays at 4:05 pm

Sunday, June 10 – Blue Jays at 1:35 pm

Monday, June 11 – NY Yankees at 7:10 pm

Tuesday, June 12 – NY Yankees at 7:10 pm

Wednesday, June 13 – NY Yankees at 7:10 pm

Friday, June 15 – Baltimore Orioles at 7:35 pm

Saturday, June 16 – Baltimore Orioles at 7:15 pm

Sunday, June 17 – Baltimore Orioles at 1:35 pm

The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Jersey Boys, May 22 - June 10

2006 Tony Award® Winner for Best Musical. “It's just too good to be true!” (Clive Barnes, New York Post) Broadway's biggest success story takes you behind the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons-and, as The New York Times says, “the crowd goes wild!” Follow the rags-to-rock-to-riches tale of four blue-collar kids working their way from the streets of Newark to the heights of stardom. Featuring such hits as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don't Cry,” “Can't Take My Eyes Off You,” “Oh, What a Night” and more.

Piedmont Park

Atlanta’s “Common Ground” since 1904 is located approximately 2 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The park runs along 10th Street (a block west of 10th & Monroe Avenue to a block east of 10th & Piedmont Avenue) and Piedmont Avenue (12th & Piedmont to just before 15th & Piedmont) in midtown Atlanta. The park is open daily from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm. Learn more about park activities and amenities. Download this map (PDF). 

Within Piedmont Park is the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  It has 30 acres and is composed of a number of smaller themed gardens. Each contains different landscapes to display a variety of plants. The Atlanta Botanical Garden also is home to the Kendeda Canopy Walk, a 600-foot-long (180 m) skywalk that allows the visitors to tour one of the city's last remaining urban forests ­from around 40 feet in the air through the treetops of the Storza Woods.

Six Flags Over Georgia

Six Flags is a 290-acre theme park located just west of Atlanta, off I-20 in Austell.  It’s 13 miles away, but can take up to an hour to arrive at depending on the time of day and traffic.  Adult guest passes are $55 and parking is $16, and the park is open from 10:30 am until 8 or 9 pm, depending on the day of the week.  Their sister water park, Six Flags White Water is located just next door if you’re interested in one of The Travel Channel’s top 10 water parks in the country.

Chattahoochee River Recreation

The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the US States of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida and is about 430 miles (690 km) long.  Locals do something commonly known as "Shoot the Hooch", which typically refers to floating down the river in a tube.  The cost is low for tube rental...$10-$15 and includes shuttle service and a few hours of entertainment.  Outfitters can be found here, which include kayak, canoe, and raft rental as well.

Stone Mountain

DeKalb County promotes itself with the tagline, "Home of Georgia's Number One Attraction."  That would be the five-square-mile Stone Mountain Park, an 825-foot high granite outcropping adorned with carvings of Confederate leaders, just 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta.  Park attractions include a 300-passenger riverboat, a scenic railroad, a Ride the Ducks tour, an 18-hole mini golf course and a seasonal snow park.  Newly opened this year is Geyser Towers, a climbing attraction featuring rope bridges and net tunnels.

Château Élan

Château Élan offers championship golf, a full-production winery, European health spa, and world-class amenities, in which you will experience warm southern hospitality combined with the beauty of the French countryside.

Within the sweeping panorama of the north Georgia foothills, just 40 minutes away from Atlanta, Château Élan began with the planting of vineyards in 1981. From these lush vines of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet & Riesling grapes has grown a 3,500 acre conference and leisure destination where French provincial and Southern hospitality combine to produce exceptional wines and warm memories.

LegoLand

Located in Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, the newly opened LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center is a world of color, creativity and fun for children aged 3-10. We offer a wealth of attractions, two rides, 4D cinema and more. A typical visit takes 2-3 hours, but you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Tickets for adults are $19 and $15 for kids.  

SPECIAL EVENTS

Dialogue in the Dark (Dates Extended!) Atlantic Station Exhibition Center
5/16/2011 - 8/1/2012 The exhibition serves as a platform to meet and compare different cultures and ways of life. In this way the objects in the exhibition are not the main focus, but provide a point of reference for discussions.
Due To ... Click Here for more info

BODIES... The Exhibition and DIALOG IN THE DARK Atlantic Station Exhibition Center
9/27/2011 - 8/1/2012 Due To Popular Demand, BODIES... The Exhibition and DIALOG IN THE DARK Extend Atlanta Run in Atlantic Station! The Two Blockbuster Exhibitions to Remain at the Premier Exhibition Center through August 2012! Box Office: ... Click Here for more info

Virginia Highland Summerfest Virginia Highlands
6/2/2012 - 6/3/2012 2012 Summerfest - Celebrating 29 Years of Art, Food & Fun. Click Here for more info

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Georgia Dome
6/3/2012 Brothers of the Sun Tour featuring Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Click Here for more info

Neil Diamond Philips Arena
6/6/2012 Neil Diamond Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 8:00 PM Tickets on sale December 5 • 10:00 AM Click Here for more info

Cocktails in the Garden: Hydrangeas and Honeybees Atlanta Botanical Garden
6/7/2012 - 6/28/2012 Explore the grandeur of the city’s urban oasis – in the cool of summer evenings during the 10th annual Cocktails in the Garden Thursday nights May through September. Enjoy specialty cocktails, music from the city’s ... Click Here for more info

First Thursday Art Walk Atlanta Area
6/7/2012 It's the perfect time to experience art inside and out. Each month we invite you to stroll with us through magnificent buildings and streets to enjoy the beauty of Downtown and the art created by our neighbors. Come ... Click Here for more info

Picturing New York High Museum of Art
6/9/2012 - 9/2/2012 “Picturing New York” from The Museum of Modern Art, New York is both an exploration of the life of the city and a documentation of photography’s evolution throughout the twentieth century. The exhibition consists of ... Click Here for more info

Picturing the South High Museum of Art
6/9/2012 - 9/12/2012 The High Museum of Art commissions established and emerging photographers to produce work inspired by the American South. With prints of landscapes, portraits of high school students, aerial views to spiritual and ... Click Here for more info

Red Bull Soapbox Race Piedmont Park
6/9/2012 Ready! Set! Go! Back by popular demand, Red Bull Soapbox Race will screech into Atlanta for a pit stop Saturday, June 9, 2012. The Red Bull Soapbox Race is a fun-filled day of laughs and cheers where participants ... Click Here for more info

Gypsy Atlanta Lyric Theatre
6/15/2012 - 7/1/2012 Gypsy June 15 – July 1, 2012 Music by Jule Styne; Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by Arthur Laurents – From the first trumpet blast of its legendary Overture to the last white-hot spotlight, Gypsy is considered by ... Click Here for more info