Travelution: 15 fun and unique things you can only do in Atlanta

Explore the hidden gems of Atlanta with 15 fun and unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. Discover the city with our guide!

Honor civil rights heroes, bike on a former railway, try 100 types of Coke, and more.

Steeped in history from the Civil War to the civil rights movement, Atlanta holds immense cultural importance. Today, it’s a hot spot for those looking to dive into both the past and the present, from its museums and historical sites to its music and food scenes.

Dining in the self-styled capital of the South today means a mix of Southern classics like fried chicken and pecan pie with a wide variety of international cuisines, from Chinese and Cuban to Ethiopian and Indian. The art scene thrives with theaters, galleries, and world-class museums, while the nightlife has earned the city the nickname “Hotlanta.” Plus, it’s surprisingly green for a metropolis: there are 343 parks sprinkled throughout the city.

For help planning the perfect trip, read on for 15 fun things you can only do in Atlanta.

1. Learn about Martin Luther King Jr. in his home city

An Atlanta native, MLK Jr. spent much of his life in the city—a fact that the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park honors today. Covering nearly 35 acres, the park includes several sites related to the icon’s life and work, including the home where he was born; The King Center, founded by his wife to promote nonviolent social change; and Ebenezer Baptist Church, the 136-year-old house of worship where he grew the civil rights movement. A short drive from the historical park, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights expounds on King’s legacy with moving exhibits.

2. Bike the Atlanta Beltline

A former railway line that stretches for 22 miles, the Atlanta Beltline is now an al fresco cultural site that runs through some of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. The best way to explore the area is to rent a bike from Atlanta Bicycle Barn and hit either the Eastside or Westside trail, passing green spaces and numerous restaurants along the way. Watch skaters practice impressive tricks at the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, take in dozens of colorful murals and sculptures, and grab a snack at popular food halls like Krog Street Market or Ponce City Market (home to the rooftop Skyline Park, with a Coney Island-style boardwalk).

3. Go shopping at Little Five Points

A hub of Southern bohemia, Little Five Points is one of Atlanta’s hippest neighborhoods, with local restaurants, regular street performances, an indie-rock radio station, and more. It’s also a great place to shop, thanks to stores like Psycho Sisters (for vintage clothing), Rag-o-Rama (for a huge selection of thrifted clothes), and Junkman’s Daughter (for clothing, books, wigs, and other oddities). There’s also Crystal Blue for everything metaphysical (tarot cards, crystals, incense) and Criminal Records for vinyl and CDs.

4. Take a self-guided street art tour

Atlanta is an artist’s playground. On any given corner, you might come across a mural of flowers in bloom, or a giraffe decked in henna, or a message of female empowerment. To see some of the best, turn to Atlanta Street Art Map, which charts out self-guided tours of the city’s most popular works. Atlanta also has a tradition of art fairs, like the annual Artoberfest organized by Mutiny Artwrx (an artist’s collective in the historically Black Pittsburgh neighborhood) and Forward Warrior, a block party with live painting performances.

5. Visit historic cemeteries

Two of Atlanta’s largest cemeteries date back to the 19th century, making for historic—and atmospheric—places to explore. Oakland Cemetery was built in 1850 and is the final resting spot for many of Atlanta’s most notable residents, including the city’s first mayor, Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell, and musician Kenny Rogers. Founded in 1884, Westview Cemetery features a famous Gothic-style mausoleum and, at 582 acres, is the largest civilian cemetery in the southeastern U.S.

6. Check out Jimmy Carter’s presidential library

Home to the 39th president’s official archives, the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum is worth a visit for history buffs, architecture fans, and nature lovers alike. The collection features 27 million pages of documents and correspondence and half a million photographs from Carter’s time at the White House. Be sure to catch Day in the Life of a President, a short film from December 11, 1978, which follows Carter from the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep. Opened in 1986, the energy-efficient building reflects a Southern take on modernist architecture and sits within a 35-acre landscaped park with lakes and a Japanese garden.

7. Try 100 types of Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola, the world’s most popular soda, was invented in Atlanta in 1886. Delve into the beverage’s history at the World of Coca-Cola, where you can try 100 international versions of the drink, each with a subtle difference. The museum also includes a gallery about the brand’s impact on popular culture, as well as a vault where the famous secret formula is stored.

8. Dine at a meat ‘n’ three

A Southern tradition, the meat ‘n’ three is a cafeteria-style restaurant that serves a choice of meat (options include but aren’t limited to fried, baked, or grilled chicken; beef pot roast; country ham; or pork chop) and three sides, like lima beans, corn, and potatoes. Some of the city’s best include The Colonnade, in operation since 1927; Mary Mac’s Tea Room, opened in 1945; and the Busy Bee Café, considered the epicenter of soul food in Atlanta since it opened in 1947. There’s also Eats, which opened in 2019 and is a newer local favorite for jerk chicken and sides like mac and cheese.

9. Educate yourself at a recreated Antebellum farm…

A recreation of a working farm in the Antebellum South with preserved buildings from the 1860s, the Smith Farm sheds light on the lives of the enslaved people who worked in the area. Today, visitors can tour the enslaved people’s cabins, the farmhouse, the smokehouse, and the dairy and kitchen garden that once fed the farm’s inhabitants. Docents are on hand to tell the stories of the enslaved people who worked on similar farms and answer questions.

10. …then dive deep into the life of Alonzo Herndon

The Herndon Home Museum once belonged to Alonzo Herndon, who was born into slavery in 1858. After emancipation, he started successful barber and insurance businesses and eventually became the first Black millionaire in Atlanta. His opulent home, still decorated with many of its original furnishings, serves as a testament to his success and legacy.

11. Discover the history of money at the Atlanta Monetary Museum

Run by the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank, the Atlanta Monetary Museum delves into the history of money and the role the Fed plays in the economy through a variety of interactive, multimedia exhibits. After touring the displays, visitors can watch as millions of dollars are counted, sorted, or shredded in the bank’s cash-processing area.

12. Get to know the author of Gone with the Wind

Born and raised in Atlanta, Margaret Mitchell used her hometown as the setting for her Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, Gone with the Wind and its film adaptation. Today, fans can tour the Margaret Mitchell House to see where she lived with her second husband and penned her famous book. In addition to information on Mitchell’s life, the museum tour includes an important look at the historical fictions perpetuated by her novel.

13. Visit the Upside Down on a Stranger Things tour

The Netflix hit Stranger Things was partly shot in Atlanta. To directly experience the 1980s Americana depicted on the show, go on a self-guided tour of filming locations like Westside Reservoir Park, where Eleven fights off bullies, and Briarcliff Campus at Emory University, which serves as the Hawkins National Laboratory where Papa runs his nefarious experiments in the show’s early seasons.

14. Enjoy live music in historic venues…

Like many places in the South, Atlanta is a musical city with several great venues. Built in 1928 as the Shriners’s local headquarters, the Moorish-inspired Fox Theater now hosts major musical acts like Leon Bridges, Lady A, and Young the Giant. Other historic spots for live music include the Buckhead Theatre, built in 1930; the 1940s-era Variety Playhouse, known for hosting indie acts; and the Tabernacle, a Baptist church from 1910 that brings in big-ticket performers.

15. …or go dancing at a legendary club

Atlanta knows how to let loose thanks in part to its large selection of dance clubs. To groove to hip-hop music, hit the grungy MJQ Concourse or the Gold Room, a bi-level space filled with sparkly couches and crystal chandeliers. The Basement hosts themed dance parties like an all-Beyoncé night, the Havana Club is known for its Latin mixes, and Revel is the place to get down to live music.

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