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Atlanta

Fernbank Museum Dinosaurs

Credit: Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

This wonderfully wooded, multiple-skylined, richly diverse cultural and economic center of The Peach State and county seat of Fulton County is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the country. Atlanta encompasses 132.4 square miles and is situated amongst the scenic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains; at 1,050 feet above mean sea level, it has the highest elevation of major cities east of the Mississippi River. Atlanta straddles the Eastern Continental Divide, sitting atop a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River, which is part of the scenic ACF River Basin.  Established in 1837 at the junction of two railroad lines, Atlanta literally rose from the grim ashes of the Civil War to become a thriving national center of commerce. Travel groups headed to the temperate climate of the seventh most-visited city in the United States will definitely find wonderful weather awaiting them-all the better to experience Atlanta’s many wonderful museums, historical landmarks and points of interest, unique neighborhoods and energetic downtown area and myriad outdoor attractions and activities in its 343 scenic parks, nature preserves, and gardens. Dedicated foodies on Atlanta excursion will find a delightful culinary scene serving up an eclectic fusion of urban establishments garnering national attention, ethnic restaurants tendering cuisine from every corner of the world, and traditional eateries specializing in classic Southern fare; a vibrant social scene and events calendar packed with multi-genre music festivals and concerts promise plenty of entertainment. “Hotlanta” is home to professional franchises for three major team sports: MLB’s Atlanta Braves, the NBA’s  Atlanta Hawks, and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons; it also boasts its own ice hockey and soccer franchises and has been the host city for  significant international, professional and collegiate sporting events. Whatever your pleasure, you can rest assured you will find it in Atlanta- “The Place of a Lifetime”.

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Sample Itineraries

Black History Tour

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This exciting destination offers both fun experiences, plus a focus on black history, Atlanta, Georgia!

    •  Behind the Scenes at CNN
    •  Dr. King’s Home
    •  World Famous Zoo

     

Attractions

Six Flags White Water

Caravans of summer sun and fun seekers on Atlanta escapades will want to incorporate a refreshing splash-fest at Six Flags White Water park into their Peach State agenda! In 2012, this 69-acre water park located northwest of Atlanta hosted 505,000 visitors, grabbing it the #12 spot on the list of top water parks in North America. An exciting variety of popular and unique thrills, family and kiddie rides and attractions treat waterdogs of all ages and propensities to a rip-roaring summer cool-off session; Thursday nights, June 12 through July 31st, new Special Feature “Dive In Movies” afford late-night pool partiers the best seat in the “Atlanta Ocean” – catch a flick while you float beneath the stars! Plenty of snack shacks and food carts tender famished floaters and tired tubers a plethora of refueling options-pizza and pretzels, nachos,  funnelcakes, foot long corn dogs, burgers and chili cheese fries, Chinese and Mexican, smoothies and waffle cones-feast til you can feast no more! Whatever you do, don’t go home without a souvenir or two- surely, someone back home will wish they’d come along on your wet and wild Six Flags White Water extravaganza!

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Six Flags Over Georgia

Six Flags Over Georgia Ride

Credit Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

After the wild success of his original Six Flags park in Texas, founder Angus Wynne began his quest for the ideal location for a second park and ultimately settled on a parcel of land situated along the Chattahoochee River just west of the sunny Peach State city of Atlanta. In 1964, the new entertainment complex broke ground and in 1967, the 290-acre theme park opened – replete with a supporting cast of popular cartoon and super hero characters – and Six Flags became the first multi-gate theme park operator in the United States. Groups of die-hard adrenaline junkies and coasterheads on Atlanta excursion jonesing for the ultimate terror tear  to break up a “safe” itinerary of feasting, shopping and sightseeing need look no further than Six Flags Over Georgia for an outrageous roundup of the most heart-pounding, hair-whipping, stomach-dumping rides-some of the fastest, tallest and wildest in the country. A complete range of tamer rides and quintessential “family” entertainment caters to those less intrepid types tagging along to keep them out of your hair while you feed your need for speed and crush your crave for crazy; a smorgasbord of fun, classic choices- All-American fare, healthy snacks, delectable sweets and a “world” of culinary delights – ensure foodies their perfect fuel. Word to the adventurous grasshopper: ride first, eat later! Don’t forget to grab a souvenir or two before you call it a day; you’ll find an awesome assortment of merchandise, memorabilia and fun ride photo ops for a perfectly personalized commemoration of your group’s Six Flags Over Georgia adventure.

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Sweet Auburn Historic District

No Peach State hiatus would be complete without a visit to Atlanta’s wonderful Sweet Auburn District, a mile-and-a-half long historic neighborhood concentrated along Auburn Avenue, just east of bustling Downtown Atlanta-an area rich with the history, heritage and achievements of Atlanta’s prominent black citizens. Wander and explore the streets where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and raised and where many African Americans established flourishing businesses, congregations, and social organizations despite enforced restrictions of the day. The six-square block, traditionally black neighborhood housed Atlanta’s affluent and educated African American community from the turn of the century through the ‘60s; today, it is home to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site which includes a captivating visitor’s center allowing guests to explore MLK’s crucial role in the Civil Rights movement, the restored King Birth Home, burial sites of the beloved Dr. and his wife, the Ebenezer Baptist Church Museum, where he co-pastored with his father and the International Walk of Fame – an interactive memorial created from the bronzed footprints of influential Civil Rights activists. Hungry historians will be delighted to find an authentic taste of the old South at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market – one of Atlanta’s premier farmer’s markets since 1918, tendering health-conscious shoppers fresh produce, meats and dairy from local and organic farms as well as classic Southern delights from Sweet Auburn Barbecue. Annually, a vibrant neighborhood arts community hosts Springfest – the South’s largest African-American heritage festival – and the National Black Arts Festival which attracts nearly 500,000 people over the course of an exciting, three-day celebration.

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Atlanta Tours

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Fernbank Museum

Fernbank Musuem Exterior

Credit Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

Fernbank Museum, conveniently located East of Midtown Atlanta, is more than just another attraction. It’s a thrilling expedition to another time and place, a fantastic, fossil-floored refuge from the day-to-day and an absolutely immersive experience unlike any other! A host of permanent features and exhibitions in addition to an exciting series of ever-changing special presentations and an IMAX theatre treat visitors to the Museum to an exhilarating voyage across the boundless universe of entertaining discovery. “Giants of the Mesozoic” recreates life in the badlands of Patagonia, Argentina; a realistically staged prehistoric battle of epic proportions unfolds in the Museum’s Great Hall. “A Walk Through Time” tells the two-fold story of Georgia’s natural history and the development of our planet with a series of lifelike dioramas that capture the sights and sounds of the Peach State’s main geographic regions. “Conveyed in Clay: Stories from St. Catherines Island” features a selection of objects from an expansive collection of over one million artifacts recovered from archaeological work on St. Catherines Island, Georgia, and explores thousands of years of human history by examining how the indigenous peoples of North America adapted to changes in natural and cultural conditions through the evolution of their pottery. The carefully-plotted, illuminated nighttime “Star Gallery” provides habitual sky watchers a “stellar” opportunity to learn about the celestial bodies that can be seen with the naked eye. Interactive special exhibit “Whales, Giants of the Deep” plunges spellbound guests into the mysterious and breathtaking underwater world of these enormous mammals, exploring their curious habits, magical song and nature of their relationship with humans through a unique fusion of science, legend and lore. Once you’ve explored ‘til you can explore no more, grab a seat at the Fernbank Café and enjoy delicious deli-style sandwiches, hot, fresh soups and other classic fare in this spacious dining area featuring a spectacular view of the Fernbank Forest Overlook; be sure to pop by the Museum Store to pick up a perfect memento or two of your adventure. The Museum’s mission is “to inspire life-long learning of natural history through immersive programming and unmatched experiences to encourage a greater appreciation of our planet and its inhabitants.” Come, and enjoy their mission-accomplished!

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Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame

Groups of Braves fans on Atlanta excursion won’t want to miss an opportunity to see their favorite ball club rock and roll at exciting, state-of-the-art landmark venue Turner Field just south of downtown and south of I-20! A calendar of special promotion and giveaway events gives you the heads-up on cool happenings so you can customize your Braves ballpark extravaganza-post game concerts, Friday Night Fireworks, Theme Nights, Awareness days, Foundation and Alumni weekends, Bobblehead nights and more! Arrive early and do a little shopping-an awesome variety of Braves merchandise is available around the park; enjoy a game decked out in authentic gear and show off your group’s team spirit! How about a seat in the All-You-Can-Eat section? Nothing better than a “bark in the park” and icy cold refreshment-that notorious “Hotlanta”  sun can spark a mighty thirst. Got a travel buddy with a birthday coming up or looking to acknowledge that special someone back home? A donation to the Braves Foundation lets groups create a wonderful, lasting memory at  any Atlanta Braves regular season game with a personalized in-game message displayed on the Turner Field Strike Out board!

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Atlanta Tours

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High Museum of Art

High Museum of Art

Credit Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

This magnificent institution, founded in 1905 and located in Midtown Atlanta’s vibrantly diverse arts and business district,  houses a fabulous display of more than 14,000 prominent multi-genre works of art include important 19th- and 20th-century American and European art, decorative, modern and contemporary art , African and Folk art and fine photography. Its permanent assemblage includes works by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Claude Monet, Martin Johnson Heade, Dorothea Lange, Clarence John Laughlin, and Chuck Close; in 1929, 29 Renaissance and Baroque paintings and sculptures from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation were donated, establishing the elegant core of the High Museum of Art’s European art collection. Notable highlights of the Kress benefaction include Tiepolo’s Roman Matrons Making Offerings to Juno, Giovanni Bellini’s Madonna and Child and Tommaso del Mazza’s Madonna and Child with Six Saints. The High places special emphasis on supporting and collecting pieces by Southern self-taught artists, such as Howard Finster, and showcases a contextual installation of sculpture and paintings from his Paradise Gardens. Visitors wishing to dine at the High are treated to menus from CJ’s Coffee Cart, High Café-serving fresh cafeteria fare and Table 1280-a full service restaurant featuring local, farm-to-fork offerings for everyone to enjoy.

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Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium Entrance

Credit Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

Thanks to an unheard of 250 million dollar gift bestowed upon the good people of Georgia by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of the Home Depot empire, the world-class Georgia aquarium opened its doors to the public debt-free in 2005. To date, this magnificent and magical water world has attracted over eleven million enthusiastic visitors to its more than fabulous 60 exhibits, hosting an impressive array of inhabitants-more than in any other aquarium-in over ten million gallons of fresh and marine water! Sea Monsters Revealed takes you to into the mystery and magic of the briny deep for a daring look at some of the largest, most elusive and potentially terrifying sea creatures ever encountered. The SunTrust Georgia Explorer gallery, a highly interactive showcase featuring touch pools full of vibrant and wiggling sea stars, cool stingrays, animated shrimp and medieval-in-appearance horseshoe crabs, and several larger habitats housing a loggerhead turtle and the fish of Gray’s Reef — a National Marine Sanctuary off the Georgia Coast-also introduces you to right whales, peaceful behemoths that cruise the local waters-and the venomous and invasive lion fish that don’t belong in them! Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest slides beneath the waves of frigid ocean waters to show you curious animals like weedy sea dragons and Japanese spider crabs, and gets you face time with gregarious Beluga whales, precocious African Penguins and playful Southern Sea Otters! Incredible acrylic passageways take the brave through the shadowy, deep waters where gentle giants whale sharks and manta rays drift, eat and play; where do visitors go to refuel? Wonderful Café Aquaria serves ravenous guests “best in class” local and national favorites, from pizza and pasta, fresh sandwiches, salads and seafood to plump roast chicken, crispy battered cod and juicy bacon cheeseburgers; a selection of house-made desserts sweetly wrap up your Aquarium repast. Two delightful gift shops treat you to a thematic fantasy of undersea browsing of collectibles, apparel, books, videos, custom art pieces and more for that perfect memento of your visit!

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World of Coca Cola

World of Coca Cola Display

Credit Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

Odds are, when you snap open that beaded and frosty, bright red and polar-bear white can of the most popular soft drink in the world, and suck down that first satisfying chug, you aren’t giving a bubble of thought to its original history, its immeasurable impact on society or pop culture, what the can looks like in other countries, or the value of hundreds of historic collectibles and works of art the world over; and dollars to donuts you’re not wondering about the top-secret recipe! Or…are you? Adventurous Coke fanatics on Atlanta getaway may want to leave room on the ol’ agenda for a couple of hours of refreshing enlightenment at World of Coca Cola in the friendly “Dogwood City” where an astonishing collection of special Coke exhibits are meant to entertain, inspire and educate! Your two-level tour begins in the lobby chock-full of vibrantly creative “Coke Art” and ushers you into Coca‑Cola Theater were you will experience a world of “Coke” celebration; you’ll get “this close” to the magical Vault of the Secret recipe-and intrepid comers will be afforded a shot at attempting-and sampling-“their” own Coca Cola formulation! Grab some cool and fuzzy hugs from beloved mascot “Polar Bear” and experience the convenience of endless flavors of Coca-Cola branded refreshment at the Freestyle fountain! The wildly interactive Pop Culture Gallery, a behind-the-scenes peek at the ever-important bottling process, classic Coke art exhibit, a lighthearted 4D look at Coca Cola around the world and exploration of decades of the beloved soft drink’s most popular TV advertisements treat your group to an absolutely immersive tour experience that will fill your heads with plenty of catchy Coke jingles for the remainder of your Atlanta holiday!

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CNN Studio Tours

CNN Studio Exterior

Credit Atlanta CVB

Sure, you butter your toast, click on the tube and tune in to catch the weather or current events over morning coffee – but do you ever wonder how – and where – your favorite news show comes together? Grab your Atlanta student travel group and get the scoop; see how national news is gathered, written and reported by the intrepid pioneers of 24 hour news! A variety of exciting options garner you special insights with amazing behind-the-scenes peeks at CNN. The “Inside CNN Atlanta Tour” offers a once-in-a-lifetime view of the global headquarters; these thrilling, 50-minute guided walking tours depart approximately every 10 minutes. A “CNN Morning Express Tour” experience features dynamically effervescent news personality Robin Meade’s acclaimed Morning Express Show and includes a Morning Express / Inside CNN Travel Mug, a cool souvenir photograph to commemorate your visit to CNN’s global headquarters, a tour of the actual HLN control room and an exclusive opportunity to experience Morning Express with Robin Meade from inside HLN’s Studio H.* The loaded “VIP Tour” affords privileged visitors fascinating expanded access to the working studios at the Global Headquarters of CNN Worldwide. CNN Center is open to the public and entrance to the building is free; visitors will enjoy exploring an excellent food court featuring both fast food and full-service restaurants along with convenient specialty retail and other services; a stop by the CNN Store ensures you leave with more than memories! Be sure to wear your running shoes – studio tours includes a leg-stretching eight-flight workout.

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MLK Jr. National Historic Site

MLK Jr. Historic Site Display

Credit NPS.gov

Groups on Georgia getaway will want to pencil in a few quiet hours to visit this wonderful monument to Martin Luther King, Jr. in the historic Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta. The 35 acre site is composed of various integral components of MLK’s life story, including his boyhood home and the church where he and his father pastored, Firestation No. 6 that served the Sweet Auburn community he was raised in, historically significant shotgun row houses, the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Colored Mission and the MLK gravesite. The “I Have a Dream” International World Peace Rose Garden, a visitor’s center that chronicles the Civil Rights Movement and features the multimedia exhibit Courage To Lead, and a memorial tribute to Mohandas K. Gandhi all stand with the preserved structures in loving reverence and fond remembrance of a great man gone too soon, and his important legacy as a leader of the American Civil Rights movement. The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame-a walkable promenade that showcases actual footstep impressions of those honored, created “to give recognition to those courageous soldiers of justice who sacrificed and struggled to make equality a reality for all” is also located at the site.

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