There are plenty of arts and cultural destinations around Atlanta, and it’s easy to reach them on a schedule that suits you when you rent a car. You can start your trip through the city by stopping at some of the preeminent museums such as the High Museum of Art, which boasts a 13,000-piece collection of modern and contemporary works. At the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, you’ll find exhibits that will fascinate the whole family, including crowd-pleasing dinosaur skeletons. The Delta Flight Museum features treasured aircraft from throughout aviation history, while the Museum of Design Atlanta celebrates product, industrial and architectural design in all their diverse forms.
Cultural Attractions in Atlanta
Atlanta has been a pivotal location in the struggle for civil rights, and it has plenty of places where visitors can get a close look at this important history. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is built around King’s birth home and the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached. The historical park contains the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, as well as King’s final resting place. The National Center for Civil Human Rights is another place to discover the legacy of pioneering fighters for freedom from racial oppression, through modern interactive exhibits.
When you want to take an afternoon to enjoy the warm Georgia weather, drive to the massive Piedmont Park, which encompasses Lake Clara Meer and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. For more outdoor adventures, you can put everyone in an air-conditioned minivan on SUV and bring the family to Zoo Atlanta, where everyone will be delighted to discover twin giant pandas, the only pair of their kind in the U.S.
Sports Attractions in Atlanta
If you’re a sports fan, Atlanta delivers several kinds of thrills. The venues are not clustered close to one another, but with a rental car, you can stop by any or all of them. The giant and modern Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts the NFL’s Falcons and has quickly become one of the top soccer destinations in the U.S., with Atlanta United FC drawing enthusiastic crowds. You can also catch the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena or hop in your rental car and visit SunTrust Valley Park, the new stadium where the Braves play their home games.
Between all of this sightseeing and adventuring, you’ll likely work up an appetite. Atlanta’s restaurants serve every style of cuisine imaginable, with a few special areas of focus. The soul food scene in the city is legendary, featuring local hotspots that have been in place for 50 years or more. Atlanta is a true haven for Southern cooking both classic and modern – many of the bold restaurants creating exciting hybrid flavors are located around the city. Steakhouses, barbeque joints and every kind of international cuisine are also on display in Atlanta and open for discovery on your own schedule if you can simply drive from one great destination to the next.
