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The options are truly limitless. 

Of course, you could stick with the tried and true favorites, like The Georgia Aquarium (the world's largest aquarium), The World of Coca-Cola, The CNN Center, Zoo Atlanta and the renowned High Museum of Art. History buffs have long loved attractions like the Atlanta History Center, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Oakland Cemetery, the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum and Fernbank Museum of Natural History.


 

Or you could check out some of the city's latest and greatest attractions, like the Center for Civil and Human Rights and College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta has long been home to incredible markets, like the Buford Highway Farmer's Market, Sweet Auburn Curb Market and Dekalb Farmer's Market, but the city has also recently welcomed newcomers, like Krog Street Market and forthcoming Ponce City Market. 

We've got theaters, entertainment venues and stadiums galore, whether you want to catch an off-Broadway show at Fox Theater, see a play at Alliance Theater or hit up a concert at Philips Arena or Chastain Park. Likewise, there's almost always a game on between Turner Field, the Georgia Dome, the Atlanta Motor Speedway or Georgia Tech’s old ThrillerDome.

Atlanta's shopping is some of the best in the country at Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza, especially with recent additions of Buckhead Atlanta and The Avalon. Though if you'd prefer to spend your day soaking up the sun, you can always hit up Piedmont Park (Atlanta's answer to Central Park) and Centennial Olympic Park or the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

You can hike Kennesaw Mountain or Stone Mountain Park, walk The BeltLine or Shoot the Hooch, and families love spending an afternoon at Six Flags Over Georgia. Don't miss our guide to Atlanta's lakes and beaches for water fun.

Or you can eat your way through the city--Atlanta is home to hundreds of incredible chef-owned restaurants (we had nearly a dozen James Beard semifinalists this year)--and be sure you don't miss the ethnic mecca that is Buford Highway. Atlanta's unique neighborhoods are ripe for exploring, whether you prefer edgy Little Five Points, charming Inman Park, the trendy Westside or quirky Decatur. There's a handful of incredible tours, like Atlanta Movie Tours, ATL-Cruzers Segway Tours and Atlanta Food Walks, to help lead the way!

Story by Kate Parham Kordsmeier, the Atlanta expert for About Travel and author of Atlanta Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Big Peach. Kate can be reached on twitter @KPKords or via email at kpkords@gmail.com. Don't forget to like us on Facebook.