by Wendy Dawn

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: December 08, 2008

Downtown Atlanta is a mecca of activity for residents and visitors. The best things to do in Atlanta center around Underground Atlanta and International Drive.

Underground offers live music, shopping, and restaurants. It is well known for its atmosphere and has been revamped over the past few years to keep the area fresh and exciting for visitors. Underground Atlanta is also the site for a number of annual festivals and festivities.

Around the corner is International Drive. On International Drive in Atlanta you will find the new World of Coke, which chronicles the history of Coca-Cola and affords visitors a taste of the international flavors of Coca-Cola. Kids and adults alike consistently rank the World of Coke as one of the best places to go and things to do in Atlanta.

International Drive is also the location of Atlanta's Olympic Park. Olympic Park is worth a visit, not just for it's historic value, but because there is always family fun to find in and around the park. It is another of Atlanta's premier festival sites and is particularly suited to music festivals. Spouting fountains allow kids a chance to cool off in the heat of an Atlanta summer. During the winter months a portion of Olympic Park is transformed into a popular ice skating center.

The newest and exciting thing to do in Atlanta is visit the world class Atlanta Aquarium. Shark, sting rays, indigenous and tropical fish, and exotic sea life await visitors to the Atlanta Aquarium. The price is a little hefty, but the aquarium is well worth the cost of a visit. The kids will love it. Atlanta Aquarium is a "must" on your list of things to do in Atlanta.

Shop and dine at fine restaurants at Lenox Square Mall. Take a short jaunt to Buckhead, just outside downtown Atlanta, where you'll find yourself rubbing elbows with Atlanta's "in" crowd and maybe a few celebrities along the way. You may prefer to grab a chili dog and Frosty O at the world famous drive-in restaurant and Atlanta icon, the Varsity. Be prepared for a historic greeting when you drive-up or walk through the door, "What'll ya' have?"

Time your visit to downtown Atlanta and you can find a concert, Circus, Hawks game, or Thrasher's game at Philip's Arena. Catch the Falcons or the SEC championship at downtown Atlanta's Georgia Dome, which is also frequently the site of concerts, speakers, and other shows.

There's plenty of things to do in Atlanta. It's not just a nice place to visit, you may find that you probably want to live there.

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