Atlanta Overview

The capital of the New South, birthplace of the Civil Rights movement, Coca-Cola and CNN. Set in the rolling foothills of North Georgia, Atlanta's dramatic skyline and tree-lined neighborhoods are a far cry from the days of Scarlett and Rhett.

Districts

As in many cities, Atlanta's downtown serves as the center of most business and government doings. It is not, however, the hub of the social or cultural scene, and other than for fine dining or professional sports events, pretty much shuts down after business hours.

Entertainment

Visitors to Atlanta expecting a sleepy Confederate capital with Old South charm may be in for a surprise. For while Atlanta has held onto the charm and character of her past, she has also grown into her new role as a modern, cosmopolitan city.

Buckhead reigns uncontested as the epicenter of fast nightlife in Atlanta. Although establishments like the Havana Club and Otto’s cater to an older, more reserved crowd, the majority of clubs are the stomping grounds of the city’s 20- and 30-somethings.

Dining and Drinking

For dining out, Downtown's the place to see and be seen, while trendy Midtown is home to some of the city’s most enduring culinary landmarks sitting side by side with the latest and trendiest kitchens. Buckhead packs more tables per square foot than anywhere else and features many of Atlanta’s hippest offerings, while the restaurants of "L5P" (Little Five Points) keep a-pace with their surroundings in energy and attitude.

If drinks are your thing, the selection is just as varied. The downtown club scene matches the restaurant scene, with chic, if limited options. Midtown is top of the Atlanta heap for trendy, cutting-edge nightlife, and Buckhead reigns uncontested as the epicenter of fast nightlife in Atlanta. Although establishments like the Havana Club and Otto’s cater to an older, more reserved crowd, the majority of clubs in Buckhead are the stomping grounds of the city’s 20- and 30-somethings. In the Virginia-Highland district a more casual and eclectic flock finds its way out for drinks, while the eclectic corner of Little Five Points boasts Atlanta’s most extreme nightly parade of alternative rockers and rebellious youth.

Where To Stay

With its penchant for convention-hosting and a growing tourist trade, Atlanta stocks more than its share of lodging opportunities. Accommodations range from world class high-rise hotels to cozy bed and breakfasts to an abundance of standard chains. Because Atlanta has become such a Mecca for conventions, even the largest hotels often book solid weeks in advance, so make reservations early.

Did You Know?

The city was originally named Terminus and then Marthaville before finally settling on Atlanta.

Orientation/Geography

Atlanta is located in northern Georgia in the southeast corner of the United States. It looms 244 miles north of the Florida state line, 200 miles northwest of the Atlantic Ocean, for which it is named after, and 275 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico.


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