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Arts and Culture in Atlanta

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Boasting iconic sports venues and internationally-renowned performing arts centers, Atlanta is a city which shines on the world’s cultural stage. But Atlanta has also retained its Georgian heritage, with lush, Southern gardens and historic plantation houses providing just as much of a draw to visitors.

 

Landmarks

 

Downtown Atlanta gleams with glass and steel, and its soaring towers create an impressive skyline. On ground level, there are much more modest but very meaningful landmarks. After all, this is the birthplace of the country’s great civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

 

Immerse yourself in the story of Martin Luther King Jr. at this well-preserved site. You can visit the home where he was born, while in Ebenezer Baptist Church, his voice booms from recorded sermons. Finally, the Reflecting Pool awaits – here, in a marble tomb, the great man is laid to rest.

 

450 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Tel: +1 404 331 5190

 

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site website

 

Parks

 

Atlanta is abundant with green spaces, from tranquil gardens filled with exotic flora to amped-up entertainment venues. They all provide respite from the hustle and bustle of the urban streets, and create a community buzz of culture, leisure, and relaxed fun.

 

Centennial Olympic Park

 

The Olympic Games grace a city for just the blink of an eye, but the legacy lives on. Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park has transformed itself into a year-round venue, hosting everything from marathon races to headline concerts. In winter, you can get your skates on at the ice rink.

 

265 Park Avenue W Northwest, Atlanta GA 30313. Tel: +1 404 223 4412

 

Centennial Olympic Park website

 

Atlanta Botanical Garden

 

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is flooded with color, and provides a calm oasis in the city. You can escape the high-rise blocks of midtown and instead wander through the treetops on a Canopy Walk, before going for a pitstop and sampling some of the natural bounty in the Edible Garden.

 

1345 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30309. Tel: +1 404 876 5859

 

Atlanta Botanical Garden website

 

Museums

 

Atlanta is rich in museums, but for the best of the bunch head north to Buckhead, a district which encompasses several design and cultural areas. It’s a place where the past is preserved with historic museums, while the present is celebrated with galleries dedicated to contemporary artists.

 

Atlanta History Center

 

Home to the largest history museum in Georgia, the Atlanta History Center is a mecca for any history buff. As well as heaps of civil war memorabilia, the center contains restored plantation houses. There’s more recent history to be found at the Centennial Olympic Games Museum.

 

130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta GA 30305. Tel: +1 404 814 4000

 

Atlanta History Center website

 

Performing arts

 

Renowned internationally for its performing arts, including theater and music, Atlanta has a packed program of live entertainment. Whether you go to a major show with an audience of thousands, or just head into a tiny jazz club, your evenings in Atlanta will never be dull.

 

Woodruff Arts Center

 

Located in Midtown, this is Atlanta’s premier live venue. It has a symphony orchestra and the Alliance Theater, as well as supporting thousands of community productions and events. You can book a show or just pop along during the day – either way, your craving for drama will be indulged.

 

1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA 30309. Tel: +1 404 733 4200

 

Woodruff Arts Center website

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