Atlanta
Sleepy? Drawling? Slow? These words dropped out of Atlanta’s vocabulary during the Lincoln administration. Atlanta has what is indisputably the widest range of cultural attractions, the best shopping, and the most exciting dining scene in the southeast. Racially diverse and gay-friendly, this hole in the Bible Belt offers world-class attractions to all luxury travelers.
Activities and Attractions:
The city that usually looks to the future has preserved some important parts of its past. In the Sweet Auburn neighborhood, for example, you can tour the boyhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Ebenezer Baptist Church is also here, as well as Dr. King’s burial site.
You can visit the former home of another renowned resident, Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell. It’s not Tara, but it’s well preserved and the museum has a fascinating tour. Round out your historical experience with visits to the Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, and the Atlanta History Center.
If history isn’t your thing, how about art? The High Museum of Art is one of the best in the country. There is also the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, an aquarium, a world-renowned zoo, and the headquarters of CNN, where you can take an interactive tour.
Don’t spend all your time sightseeing, though. Reserve some time to shop. You’ll find a little of everything in the posh Buckhead neighborhood, with its galleries, boutiques, and two upscale malls. Buckhead is also a good place to find yourself at the end of the day, as it has a high concentration of gourmet eateries catering to every taste.
Insider Tip:
There are two easy ways to get lost in Atlanta: When getting directions, it’s possible to confuse Five Points, a major downtown intersection, with Little Five Points, a funky neighborhood of vintage clothing shops and record stores. It’s also easy to confuse streets with “Peachtree” in their names—Atlanta has more than 10 of them.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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