Atlanta

Georgia

Restaurant Tip: During our visit in Atlanta in October 2016, we had a great time at Cuts Steakhouse Here you can get super tasty steaks in a nice atmosphere.

Hard Rock Café: 215 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Our visits: So far 2 visits in August 1994 and October 2016

Georgia State Capitol

Description: The Georgia State Capitol was designed by architects Franklin P. Burnham and Willoughby J. Erdbrooke and built between 1884 and 1889. Until today, it has been renovated and expanded several times to meet modern standards. During one of these renovations, the dome was also gilded. The Capitol was one of the first buildings with elevators.

For the GPS: 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA 30334

Our rating: Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit the Capitol from the inside, but it's worth a visit from the outside as well. We like state capitols and always try to visit them when we are nearby.

2.5/5

World of Coca Cola

Description: World of Coca Cola deals with all things related to the popular lemonade. In numerous exhibitions, you can learn all about the origins of Coca Cola. There is a cinema and, above all, a tasting station where you can try Coca Cola products from all over the world. Since 2007, World of Coca Cola has been located on John Pemberton Place, directly opposite of the Georgia Aquarium.

Our rating: We had already visited Coca Cola on our first trip together in 1994, then still at the old site. Because we loved it so much, it was decided that we would visit it again if we were in the city again. In October 2016, we were able to visit the World of Coca Cola at John Pemberton Place.

Just like in 1994, we especially loved the tasting station where you could try all the sodas made by Coca Cola worldwide. Some of them are really unusual. You can try as much as you want. It's all included in the price of admission.

4/5

Entrance fees and opening hours

Everything you need to know about a visit to the World of Coca Cola can be found on the official webpage.

For the GPS: 121 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Georgia Aquarium

Description: The Georgia Aquarium, largely privately funded, opened in 2005 at John Pemberton Place. It is one of the largest of its kind. It is home to over 10,000 animals from more than 500 species. These can be admired in over 60 tanks. There are several exhibitions, all thematically divided into different habitats. There are some very large basins with huge panoramic windows.

Our rating: Leaving aside the fact that keeping marine mammals in aquariums always has a bad taste, this aquarium is really well done. The tanks are huge and the exhibitions are very interesting and educational. We liked it here very much and can definitely recommend a visit. We would like it even more if the keeping of dolphins and beluga whales would finally be abandoned here as well. In the 21st century, this necessity should really be reconsidered.

A little note: When we visited the aquarium in October 2016, a private party was held in the facility. Therefore, it was not possible to visit the largest tank with its huge panoramic window. This was not mentioned to us at the entrance, however. This was very disappointing to us, because the huge tank with its hundreds of fish was the real reason why we had visited the aquarium in the first place. After complaining, we were then allowed to view the tank from above, behind the scenes so to speak, but that was only a small consolation. From this experience, we advise any visitor to whom this particular tank, or any other exhibition is important, to ask at the entrance whether all exhibitions are accessible.

4/5

Entrance fees and opening hours

Everything you need to know about a visit to the aquarium can be found on the official webpage.

For the GPS: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Zoo Atlanta

Description: The Atlanta Zoo was founded in 1889 and is home to many animals from around the world. Atlanta was one of the zoos that rethought animal keeping in zoos in the early 90s and began to rebuild the facilities to make them much more species-appropriate. A symbol for this rethinking was the gorilla Willi B. who had to live alone in captivity until he was 29 years old, before he was allowed outside for the first time. If you are interested in the story of Willi B., you can read it here. Today, the Atlanta Zoo has one of the largest gorilla facilities in the world. Another special feature are the giant pandas, which cannot be admired that often outside of China.

Our rating: We visited the zoo during our first vacation in 1994. At that time there were no pandas, but the gorilla enclosure and especially Willi B has interested us. Today, fortunately, there are very many zoos that have rebuilt their facilities so that a, at least improved, more species-appropriate attitude is possible. About the sense and nonsense of zoos, especially the keeping of apes etc. can always be argued. In any case, we liked the visit here, because at the beginning of the 90s, such zoos were not yet so common. 

3/5

Entrance fees and opening hours

Everything you need to know about a visit to the zoo can be found on the official webpage.

For the GPS: 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315