Things to Do in Atlanta

If Nature is more your thing, there are dozens of great hiking trails around the city, just a short Uber ride from campus. The Palisades trails take you along portions of the Chattahoochee River on walks ranging from one to a few hours. You can also paddleboard, kayak or tube along one section from the Natahala Outdoor Center in Roswell (where Jungle Cruise was filmed!). An hour to 90 minutes drive north of Atlanta brings you to the Appalachian Trail where you can camp overnight or rent a cabin, and hike numerous State Parks.

For History Buffs we recommend starting on the east side of the city where you will find both the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library (closed Sundays), including a mock oval room and exhibits documenting his Presidency and global philanthropy; and the Martin Luther King Historical Park. Round out your day with a visit to the nearby Oakland Cemetry to see the remains of all those who shaped the city. Alternatively, go north a little to the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead that includes 33 acres of houses and gardens, an excellent exhibition (including a history of the Olympic Games in ATL) and various events. 

If you are looking for a lazy day including a picnic in the park, then head straight to Piedmont Park just a mile from campus.  On Saturday June 1 it hosts the Café City Music Festival all day, and the morning of June 2 sees the annual Atlanta Pride 5K Run, not to be confused with the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life Superhero 5K run the morning of Saturday, June 8.  We thoroughly recommend a few hours in the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) right next to Piedmont Park, currently exhibiting Alice in Wonderland in flowers, or if animals are more your thing, the Atlanta Zoo is known for the Giant Pandas. The High Museum of Art is not far from the ABG, on Peachtree and 16th Street.

For a Tourist day, why not visit downtown? The CityPass ($94) is valid for 9 days and gives you access to 5 sites including the Georga Aquarium (one of the largest in the world), World of Coca-Cola (you can taste coke from all over the world!), and highly recommended National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the College Football Hall of Fame (fun fact: John Heisman was GT’s most successful football coach, but we’ve never had a Heisman trophy winner). Downtown is also home to the Convention Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and Underground Atlanta, but don’t go out of your way to visit those unless there is a game.