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Atlanta
Atlanta was originally a hamlet and served as a railway terminus back in 1837, which was burned to the ground during the Civil War. Undaunted by the destruction, 135 years later Atlanta swarms with more than three million people, and has been chosen by numerous leading international companies as the home of their corporate or regional headquarters. The lively, thriving city styles itself as the capital of the 'New South', and its dramatic skyline is littered with gleaming skyscrapers. In the spirit of its most famous sons, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ted Turner (who founded CNN in the city in 1980) Atlanta's pioneering energy continues to fuel its evolution and development.
Home to an array of cultural attractions, Atlanta is also a top location for conventions in the USA; visitors arriving here for business or pleasure are hard put to see it all. When sightseeing palls, there is always shopping, and Atlanta will not let visitors rest in that respect either. The Peachtree Centre 'pedestrian village' downtown covers 14 city blocks of retail space together with three mega hotels, numerous restaurants and massive office towers.
Today the world-class city of Atlanta encompasses a vast area and is the cultural and economic centre for the South. But despite the changes brought by urban sprawl and a more cosmopolitan lifestyle the city has not strayed from its historical roots: to best enjoy this great city stroll around the charming residential neighbourhoods and relish in the Southern hospitality that has given the city its well deserved reputation as a genteel metropolis.
Atlanta History Center
Twenty-three acres of enchanting gardens surround the Atlanta History Center, which offers some fascinating collections and insights into the history of Georgia. The main attractions are two historic homes, open to the public offering informative guided tours. The Tullie Smith House originally stood outside the city limits but has been relocated to the History Center, along with its outbuildings. The house was built in the 1840s and survived the near-total destruction of Atlanta in 1864 when General William Sherman burned almost every business and more than two thirds of the city's homes during his infamous 'March to the Sea'. It was once the home of yeoman farmer Robert Smith and his family, who owned 11 slaves and farmed on about 324 hectares (800 acres). The farmhouse is typical of most in Georgia at the time, despite popular belief that not all Georgians owned large plantations and mansions. The Swan House, built in 1928, is a grand Italianate mansion that is an Atlanta landmark, once the home of Edward and Emily Inman, heirs to a cotton brokerage fortune. The History Center also features several other historic buildings and exhibitions.
Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield
A bloody battle in the Civil War took place in 1864 on the Kennesaw Mountain, when the forces of the Union were led by General Sherman against the Confederate forces and resulted in the deaths of over sixty-seven thousand soldiers. The park consists of several thousand acres of protected land, covered with more than 17 miles (27km) of interpretive walking trails. The trails encompass historic earthworks and cannon placements, and notable markers and memorials have been provided to commemorate the event. A small museum at the site displays Civil War artefacts, and a visitor's centre provides information about the battle on the site. More than a million people each year, many of whom come to picnic and enjoy the views afforded across Atlanta visit this popular park.
Telephone: (770) 427 4686 x0; Website: www.nps.gov/kemo; Opening time: Daily 8.30am to 5pm; Admission: Free, but there is a fare of $2 for adults and $1 for children to ride the shuttle bus to the top of the mountain
Atlanta Botanical Garden
An Atlanta businessman and his wife financed the climate-controlled ecosystem, which is encased in a giant green house at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Fuqua Conservatory. A walk through the conservatory takes visitors from a desert into a steamy tropical jungle. Outdoors the gardens are criss-crossed with dedicated nature walks, bypassing many quiet spots designed for peaceful contemplation, as well as tasteful garden sculptures.
Address: 1345 Piedmont Ave; Telephone: (404) 876 5859; Website: www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org; Transport: North Decatur bus 36 from the Arts Center Station; on Sundays, Monroe/Lindbergh bus 27; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 7pm (April to October), 9am to 5pm (November to March). Open until 9pm every Thursday from May to October; Admission: $12 (adults), $7 (children), concessions available
Stone Mountain Park
Atlanta is only twenty minutes away from the array of natural and man-made attractions at Stone Mountain. Most awesome of these is the huge relief carving of the three Southern heroes of the Civil War, which has been etched into the mountainside. The images of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson cover an area larger than a football field and are part of the largest relief culture in the world. Three sculptors worked in succession on the carving, beginning with Gutzon Borglum in 1915. He later became famed for his carvings at Mount Rushmore. Subsequently two other artists pursued the work that was completed finally in 1972. Visitors can either walk up the mountain or take the Skylift to the top from where the views of Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains are incredible. Stone Mountain also features a restored Antebellum Plantation featuring a colonial mansion, slave cabins, coach houses and barns. The park also contains several lakes and hiking trails, a wildlife reserve and petting zoo.
Telephone: For 24-hour Park information call (770) 498 5690 within the metro Atlanta area or 1-800-317-2006 outside metro Atlanta; Website: www.stonemountainpark.com; Opening time: Daily from 10am; closing hours vary according to the season and attraction. Summit Skyride open daily 10am to 5pm; Admission: Various packages available. A one day all-attraction pass costs $22 (adults), $18 (children 3-11). Vehicle entry to the park is $8
The Mountains
The mountainous region in North Georgia is home to many quaint small towns, lush natural parks and forests and interesting historical sites. Most of the towns and attractions are within an hour's drive of Atlanta. Among the highlights of an exploration of this region are the New Echota State Historic Site (the last capital of the Cherokee nation); Chickamauga at Fort Oglethorpe, which is the oldest and largest Civil War military park; Jasper, where the marble quarries produced the marble used in the Capitol in Washington, DC; the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, at the end of the Appalachian Highway; and the spectacular Tallulah Gorge near the town of Clayton. The northwestern Georgia region is a paradise for nature lovers, offering hundreds of wooded hiking trails, sparkling trout streams, scenic lakes and camp sites.
