AFRICAN AMERICAN
The APEX Museum -- It stands for the African-American Panoramic Experience and it is located in the John Wesley Dobbs Building. The museum is the home in Atlanta for travelling exhibits from around the world, especially Africa. 135 Auburn Av NE 404-521-2739
AMUSEMENTShttp://www.apexmuseum.org/
Ebenezer Baptist Church -- Started in 1886, it was Martin Luther King Jr.'s church, and his father's before him. It seats about 750, and was usually packed for the two services on Sunday until the congregation's move to a new structure nearby. There are tours conducted by volunteers; donations welcomed. 407 Auburn Avenue 404-688-7263 Herndon Home -- Kwanzaa and Christmas both are celebrated there with music and storytelling at the annual open house of the 1910 home of Alonzo Herndon, founder of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and Atlanta's first black millionaire. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. 587 University Place. 404-581-9813 Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site -- He was born, raised, lived and worked all in the same neighborhood. His birth home is a ten-room house at 501 Auburn Avenue, built in 1894 and bought in 1909 by King's grandfather. The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, at 449 Auburn, is an early learning center, archives and library, and is the location of King's tomb (404-524-1956). National Park Service, 522 Auburn Av NE 404-331-3920 Sweet Auburn District -- A self-tour of the street, in the fifties called "the richest Negro street in the world," includes Atlanta Life insurance company, the Big Bethel AME Church (founded in 1847), the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and the Top Hat/Royal Peacock. Walking tour maps available from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, 233 Peachtree Street in Peachtree Center Mall 404-222-6688.) Tours of the neighborhood offered also by Atlanta Preservation Center 404-876-2040http://www.sweetauburn.com/
American Adventures (Marietta) -- A little amusement park, with a carousel, small roller coaster, ferris wheel, a train, a game room, and even bumper cars. Some indoor (The Foam Factory -- a three-level rig, connected by stairs and tube-slides, in which kids of all ages shoot harmless foam balls at each other) some outdoor. Birthday parties welcome. 250 N Cobb Pkwy, Marietta 770-424-9283 Six Flags Over Georgia -- Built in 1967, the park offers rides (including the Georgia Cyclone and the three-looped Mind Bender), Hollywood shows (The Batman Stunt Show), and evening fireworks and laser shows. One ticket covers all. 7561 Six Flags Pkwy, Mableton 770-948-9290
ANIMALS
Yellow River Wildlife Game Ranch (Lilburn) -- A trail leads you through the woods where deer eat peanuts and carrots out of your hand. Exhibits include hawks, bears, bison, foxes, General Beauregard Lee (the famous Southern groundhog who shows up every Groundhog day, shadow-hunting on national TV) and others. Food is available in the gift shop on the way in. 4525 Highway 78, Lilburn 770-972-6643 Zoo Atlanta -- Not too long ago, it was a dump, but it's now considered a model for other zoos. It has lions and tigers, rhinos and elephants, lemurs and snakes, and peacocks that stroll the paths along with visitors. The zoo's most famous citizen (and Zoo symbol), a gorilla named Willie-B, used to take his afternoon nap with his family next to the spectators' window, but he died a few years back after catching a cold during a chill. There are twice-daily elephant demonstrations, at least two sittings of Gorillas-doing-lunch at 2pm and 3pm, with the Orangutan's squeezed in at 2:30pm and 2:45pm. There's also a petting-zoo, a mini-train that circles the complex, gift shops & food, and an Environmental Resource Center where the public and teachers can do animal research. In Grant Park, 800 Cherokee Av SE 404-624-5600.
ARThttp://www.zooatlanta.org/
Abstein Gallery -- 558 14th St. 404-872-8020. Aliya Gallery -- 1402 N Highland Ave. 404-892-2835.
http://aliyagallery.com/
Ann Jacob Gallery -- 3261 Roswell Rd. 404-262-3399. Anne Irwin Fine Art -- 55 Bennett St. 404-352-0055. Archer Locke Gallery -- 3147 Peachtree Rd. 404-812-9600. Ariel Gallery -- At TULA Arts Center, 75 Bennett St, off Peachtree. 404-352-5753. Artists' Atelier of Atlanta -- 800 Miami Circle, Suite #200. 404-231-5999. Artists Center Gallery -- 2979 Grandview Ave. 404-237-2324. ARTS Hotline -- Not itself a place to visit or thing to do, but a number to call to learn about places to visit and things to do. Operated by the City's Bureau of Cultural Affairs, it's open for business seven-days a week, 24 hours a day, giving information about visual and fine art events in about 50 categories. The number is 404-853-3278, then hit 1 (theatre), 2 (music), 3 (dance), 4 (film & literary events), 5 (visual arts, galleries & museums), 6 (festivals, kids events, classes & workshops, special populations info), 7 (an artists' billboard for working artists), or 8 (a section to hear both excerpts of performances and messages left by callers.) Atlanta College of Art -- Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-5050. Atlanta Contemporary Art Center -- 535 Means St. 404-688-1970. Barbara Archer Gallery -- 1123 Zonolite Road, Suite 27. 404-815-1545. Bender Fine Art -- 309 E. Paces Ferry Rd. 404-842-1913. Bennett Street Gallery -- 22-F Bennett St. 404-352-8775. Michael C. Carlos Museum -- At Emory University, 571 S. Kilgo Street. 404-727-4292.www.emory.edu/CARLOS/
City Gallery at Chastain -- 135 W Wieuca Rd. 404-257-1804. Connell Gallery -- 333 Buckhead Avenue in Buckhead. 404-261-1712. Eclectic Electric Gallery -- All-electric artworks. 1393 N. Highland Ave. 404-875-2840. Evening Gallery -- 275 E. Paces Ferry Rd. 404-995-0530. Fay Gold Gallery -- 764 Miami Circle. 404-233-3843. Galerie Timothy Tew -- 309 E Paces Ferry Rd. 404-869-0511. Gallerie Dorita -- 3224 Peachtree Rd. 404-869-0041. Gallery Sklo -- 75 Bennett St., #E-2. 404-350-9763. Gallery V (Roswell) -- 10 Elizabeth Way, Roswell. 770-992-4144. Georgia Museum of Art (Athens) -- On the University of Georgia east campus, 90 Carlton Street, in Athens: 706-542-4662. Gwinnett Fine Arts Center -- Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building #300 in Duluth. 770-623-6002. High Museum of Art -- The High is named for Mrs. Joseph High, who had donated her Peachtree home for the original museum. After a 1962 tragedy in which 122 Atlanta art patrons were lost in a plane crash in Paris, donations helped build the present building, designed by renowned architect Richard Meier. 1280 Peachtree St NE 404-733-4444.http://www.high.org/
High's Folk Art and Photography Galleries -- Free; Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Located at 30 John Wesley Dobbs Ave 404-577-6940.http://www.high.org/
International Museum of Art & Design -- 285 Peachtree Center Ave. 404-688-2467. Jackson Fine Art -- 3115 East Shadowlawn Ave. 404-233-3739.http://www.photogal.com/
Kennesaw State University Fine Arts Gallery -- 1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw. 770-499-3223. Kiang Gallery Contemporary Art -- 1923 Peachtree Rd. 404-351-5477. Kubatana Gallery -- 1841 Peachtree Rd. 404-355-5764. Lagerquist Gallery -- 3235 Paces Ferry Place. 404-261-8273. The Lowe Gallery -- 75 Bennett Street, in the TULA complex. 404-352-8114.http://www.artnet.com/
Mable House Gallery -- Gallery hours: 10am-5pm. At the Historic Mable House, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton (13 miles west of Atlanta). The South Cobb Arts Alliance, 770-819-3285.http://www.artshow.com/MableHouse/calendar.html
Macon & Co. Fine Art -- 257 Trinity Ave, Atlanta. 404-582-0044.http://www.mindspring.com/~maconnco
Marcia Wood Gallery -- 1198 N Highland Av. 404-885-1808. Marietta Cobb Museum of Art -- 30 Atlanta Street, Marietta. 770-528-1414. Modern Primitive Gallery -- 1393 N. Highland Av. 404-892-0556. Momus Gallery -- Tula Art Center, 75 Bennett St #O-2. 404-355-4180. Nexus Contemporary Art Center -- 535 Means Street. Call 404-688-1970. Opus One Gallery -- Opus One Gallery, 75 Bennett St: 404-352-9727. Out of the Woods Gallery -- 22-B Bennett St. 404-261-8273. The People's Gallery -- Run by Atlanta's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-817-6815. Raymond Lawrence Gallery -- In the Tula Art Center, 75 Bennett St #M-1. 404-352-5058. Regency Fine Art Gallery -- 6458 Dawson Blvd, Norcross. 770-955-1763. Reinike Gallery -- 789 Miami Circle. 404-364-0490. Right Brain Art Gallery -- 664 N. Highland Ave. 404-872-2696. Sandler Hudson Gallery -- 1831-A Peachtree Rd. 404-350-8480. Shiki Handcrafted Japan -- #2140 in Perimeter Mall. 770-399-7777. The Signature Shop & Gallery -- 3267 Roswell Rd. 404-237-4426. Solomon Projects -- 1037 Monroe Dr. 404-875-7100.http://www.solomonprojects.com/
Spruill Gallery -- Free admission and parking. Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 11am-5pm. Spruill Center Gallery & Historic Home, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. 770-394-4019. Trinity Gallery Buckhead -- 315 E. Paces Ferry Rd. 404-237-0370. Trinity Gallery Evolution -- 49 Forsyth St., 404-659-0084. Upstairs Gallery -- 800 Miami Circle, #210. 404-237-2447. Vaknin Schwartz -- 1831 Peachtree Rd. 404-351-0035. Vermilion Gallery -- 1244 W Paces Ferry Rd. 404-869-9845. Vespermann Gallery -- 2140 Peachtree Rd. 404-350-9698. Wentworth Gallery -- Phipps Plaza. 404-233-0903. Westbrook Gallery -- At Georgia Tech's Robert Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Dr. 404-894-2787. Young Blood Gallery -- 629 Glenwood Ave. 404-627-0393. Youth Art Connection -- A program of the Atlanta Boys and Girls Clubs. 63 Auburn Ave. 404-614-6233.ARDENING & PLANTS
Atlanta Botanical Garden -- Thirty-acres of plants, including the 16,000 square-foot glassed-in Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory housing exotic plants from the world over, and walking trails through a 15-acre hardwood forest. Closed Mondays, free admission on Thursdays. 1345 Piedmont Av 404-876-5859
http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/
GOVERNMENTGeorgia State Capitol -- Topped with a dome of gold (leaf) from Dahlonega, Georgia, the building houses the office of the governor, the Georgia Senate and House, and The Museum of Science and Industry. Washington Street at MLK 404-656-2844
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/
Governor's Mansion -- Built in 1968, the first governor to live there was Lester Maddox. See a collection of Federal period furniture, as well as paintings and porcelins from the 18th & 19th centures. Tours: Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10:00am to 11:30am. (Tour hours are expanded during holidays. Also, check "Special Events" for the day of the lighting of the tree.) 391 West Paces Ferry Rd NW 404-261-1776HISTORY
Atlanta Cyclorama in Grant Park -- What is it? Completed over a hundred years ago, it's a 50-foot-high circular painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta from one specific spot on Dekalb Avenue. Visitors sit in a bleecher section that rotates around inside. The building also houses The Texas, the locomotive that chased and caught The General in the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase. (see Big Shanty Museum, below.) 800 Cherokee Av SE 404-658-7625 Atlanta History Center -- Houses exhibits from Atlanta's past, particularly the Civil War era. Among other things, the 32-acre complex contains the 1920s Swan House as well as the 1840s Tullie Smith House, which was originally located near what is now Executive Park off of North Druid Hills Road. The lifestyle of old Georgia is demonstrated, and the Center serves as site of various festivals throughout the year. 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW 404-814-4000.
http://www.atlhist.org/
Big Shanty Museum -- If you're familiar with Buster Keaton's The General (or Fess Parker's Great Locomotive Chase), you may be interested in seeing the actual locomotive involved in the Civil War episode, in the town where the chase began. It's located in a restored cotton gin that now serves as a museum. (The Texas, the OTHER locomotive that eventually caught up with Andrews Raiders, is housed at the Atlanta Cyclorama in Grant Park.) 2829 Cherokee St, Kennesaw 770-427-2117 Bulloch Hall (Roswell) -- If Roswell were south of Atlanta, this 1840 home might well have been burned during Sherman's March to the Sea. It was the home of Martha Bulloch, mother of Teddy Roosevelt and Grandmother of Eleanor. A Roswell city-owned cultural center is housed there now. 180 Bulloch Av, Roswell 770-992-1731 Carter Presidential Center Library & Museum -- The Center is a cluster of non-profit groups trying to reduce worldwide suffering and conflict, the Library is where scholars can research the Jimmy Carter presidential era, and the Museum exhibits memorabilia of his presidency, and allows visitors to peek into a mock-up of the Oval Office. 1 Copenhill Ave 404-331-0296. Ebenezer Baptist Church -- Started in 1886, it was Martin Luther King Jr.'s church, and his father's before him. It seats about 750, and was usually packed for the two services on Sunday until the congregation's move to a new structure nearby. There are tours conducted by volunteers; donations welcomed. 407 Auburn Avenue 404-688-7263 Federal Reserve Bank Monetary Museum -- A museum of the history of money and banking, housed on the third floor of the Federal Reserve Bank. 104 Marietta St NW 404-521-8764 Herndon Home -- Alonzo Herndon was a slave who owned a string of barber shops, then founded an insurance company (Atlanta Life) to become Atlanta's first black millionaire. The house is near the Morris Brown College campus, 587 University Pl NW 404-581-9813 Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (Marietta) -- A bloody battle that lasted for days and ended in stalemate, on Sherman's historic approach to Atlanta. Old Hwy 41 & Stilesboro Rd, Marietta 770-427-4686 Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site -- He was born, raised, lived and worked all in the same neighborhood. His birth home is a ten-room house at 501 Auburn Avenue, built in 1894 and bought in 1909 by King's grandfather. The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, at 449 Auburn, is an early learning center, archives and library, and is the location of King's tomb (404-524-1956). National Park Service, 522 Auburn Av NE 404-331-3920 Historic Mable House -- "An example of a plantation plain home, built circa 1843. Listed in the National Historic Register. Appointments are needed for groups of eight or more." Open Tuesdays, 2pm-5pm. Admission and parking are free. 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton (13 miles west of Atlanta). Operated by the South Cobb Arts Alliance and Cobb County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs 770-819-3285http://www.artshow.com/MableHouse/calendar.html
Oakland Cemetary -- Dating from the 1850s, this (still) city-owned cemetary is the resting place of Atlanta's first mayor, golfer Bobby Jones, Gone With The Wind author Margaret Mitchell, and scores of Civil War soldiers. A nice place to visit on a nice day. Admission is free, except for the tours. 248 Oakland Av SE 404-688-2107 Peachtree Creek -- Not much to do but look at it. There was a battle there in the Civil War, though, in Tanyard Park on Collier Road, west of Peachtree Road.Stately Oaks Plantation Community (Jonesboro) -- Looking for an antebellum house? (Isn't everybody who passes through GWTW country?) This Greek Revival mansion was built in 1839 and sports a wide central hall, double gallery porches, and a country store/museum shop. 100 Carriage Lane, Jonesboro 770-473-0197
Robert C. Williams American Museum of Papermaking -- 500 10th St. 404-894-6663. Williams-Payne House (Sandy Springs) -- You've heard of antebellum? This is an example of POST-bellum (built in 1869, after the war) living. The house was originally somewhere else, and moved next to the sandy spring for which the community was named. 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs 404-851-9111 Wren's Nest -- Once the home of Joel Chandler Harris (of Uncle Remus fame), now the restored building houses his memorabilia and hosts storytelling activities and a museum shop. 1050 Ralph D. Abernathy Blvd SW 404-753-8535MEDIA
CNN Studio Tours -- Watch news being made at Ted Turner's news network (now owned by ALO Time Warner) seen around the world. 1 CNN Center 404-827-2300
MUSICcnn.com
Atlanta Ballet -- Does four or five shows a year at The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. Info: 404-892-3303. Tickets ($15-$45) usually available from TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/)
NATUREhttp://www.atlantaballet.com/
Atlanta Civic Center -- Music and other live events. 395 Piedmont Av NE. Ticket Office: 404-523-1879. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) Atlanta Opera -- Mostly conducted by William Fred Scott, almost always at the Fox. Tickets available from TicketMaster (404-249-6400, or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/), or in person at the box office of The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St.http://www.atlantaopera.org/
Atlanta Symphony -- The regular Master Season performances of this award-winning group take place in Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center complex. Still, there are plenty of other places to see the Symphony throughout the year, including the Summer Pops series backing up big-name entertainers at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre, and free Summerfest concerts in local parks during summer. Box office: 1293 Peachtree St 404-733-4900.http://www.atlantasymphony.org/
Ballethnic -- Or "Ethnic Ballet," performed mostly at the Dean Dull Theatre, Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech 404-894-3481.http://www.aux.gatech.edu/studentcenter/ferstcenter/
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center -- Several performances a year. Info & reservations: 404-872-5338. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road NE.
http://www.callanwolde.org/
Capitol City Opera -- Does "Opera for Children" occasional series at San Gennaro Italian Restaurant, 2196 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 404-633-2848. Celebrity Rock Cafe -- 56 East Andrews Drive, Buckhead. 404-262-7625 Chastain Park Amphitheatre -- Summer rock/country concerts under the stars. 4469 Stella Dr. Tickets available from TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/). Cotton Club -- Music mostly for 18-years or older only. 1021 Peachtree St NE: 404-874-1993. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) Cowboys Atlanta -- Country and Western. 1750 N Roberts Rd, Kennesaw: 770-426-5006. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) DeKalb Symphony Orchestra -- Occasional performances in Clarkston Gymnasium, Georgia Perimeter College, 555 N Indian Creek Dr in Clarkston. Info: 404-299-4341.http://www.dekalbsymphony.com/
Eddie's Attic (Decatur) 515-B North McDonough St, Decatur. 404-377-4976.http://www.eddiesattic.com/
The Fabulous Fox Theatre -- Live music and plays and the like, for many of which you can get tickets from ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or at 404-817-8700). The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street. 404-881-2100 International Ballroom -- Live shows. 6616 New Peachtree Rd, Doraville. 770-936-0447. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) Lakewood Amphitheater -- I-75/85 south, go east on Lakewood Freeway to the end, then follow signs. HiFi Buys Lakewood Hotline: 404-627-5700. Tickets from Ticketmaster (404-249-6400, or http://www.ticketmaster.com/).http://www.lakewoodamp.com/
Lanierland Music Park -- Mostly country. 6115 Jot-Em Down Road in Cumming. 770-887-7464. Masquerade -- 695 North Av NE: 404-577-8178. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) Orchestra Atlanta -- Performs at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St, Roswell. 770-992-2559. Philips Arena -- The big-name tours show up here. One Philips Way, downtown Atlanta, next to CNN Center. Ticketmaster: 404-249-6400.http://philipsarena.com/
The Point -- Alternative music, often for 18-years or older only. 420 Moreland Av NE in Little Five Points: 404-659-3522. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400. Red Light Cafe -- In Virginia-Highlands area. 553 Amsterdam Ave. NE. 404-874-7878. The Rialto -- Big names, mostly classicalish. Rialto Center for the Performing Arts at Georgia State, corner of Luckie and Forsyth Streets. Info: 404-651-4727.http://www.rialtocenter.org/
Roxy -- Mostly alternative, located in the very heart of Buckhead. 3110 Roswell Rd NW. 404-233-ROXY (-7699). TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) Savoyards Musical Theatre Company -- Does musicals at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech, 349 Ferst Dr. 404-894-9600.http://www.aux.gatech.edu/studentcenter/ferstcenter/
Smith's Olde Bar -- Piedmont at Monroe: 404-875-1522. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) Spivey Hall -- Top-flight classical and jazz. NPR's "Performance Today" broadcasts out of here all the time. Clayton State University in Morrow. Reservations via phone at 770-961-3683.http://www.spiveyhall.org/
The Tabernacle -- TicketMaster: 404-817-8700 (http://www.ticketmaster.com/). The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie Street. Theater of the Stars -- Brings plays and music (such as Stomp ) to the Fox. Tickets available from Ticketmaster: 404-817-8700. Theater of the Stars: 404-252-8960. The Fox Theatre is at 660 Peachtree St.http://www.theaterofthestars.com/
Variety Playhouse -- Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Av NE in Little Five Points: 404-521-1786. TicketMaster: 404-249-6400.
Chattahoochee Nature Center -- A privately-funded center with live wildlife exhibits, aviaries and two nature trails. 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell 770-992-2055 Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area -- The river itself starts up north of Helen, Georgia, runs south through Lake Lanier and Buford Dam, passes to the west of Atlanta and becomes the Georgia/Alabama border, through West Point Lake, enters Florida and becomes the Apalachicola just before entering the Gulf of Mexico. In the 48-mile park, stretching from Lake Lanier to Peachtree Creek, you'll find rafting and canoeing, hiking, picnicing, fishing and horseback riding. National Park Service: 770-399-8070 Lake Lanier/Lake Lanier Islands (Buford) -- Lake Lanier is a 38,000 acre human-made lake located about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta. A neat thing to do in the summer is to rent a houseboat at Lake Lanier Islands, and doodle around and park on a different island every night. 6950 Holiday Rd, Buford 770-932-7200
NEIGHBORHOODS & TOWNSInman Park -- Reportedly the first planned suburb in America, Inman is the place in Atlanta to drive around and see restored victorian homes. Tours of the neighborhood are offered by Atlanta Preservation Center 404-876-2040
SCIENCEhttp://www.inmanpark.org/
Stone Mountain Village (Stone Mountain) -- The small Relics & Civil War Museum is a privately-owned collection of Civil War memorabilia (968 Main St; 770-469-1425). The Village Museum exhibits the history of the antebellum town (941 Main Street; 770-469-8045). The Village's Visitor Center is at 891 Main Street 770-879-4971 Sweet Auburn District -- A self-tour of the street, in the fifties called "the richest Negro street in the world," includes Atlanta Life insurance company, the Big Bethel AME Church (founded in 1847), the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and the Top Hat/Royal Peacock. Walking tour maps available from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, 233 Peachtree Street in Peachtree Center Mall 404-222-6688.) Tours of the neighborhood offered also by Atlanta Preservation Center 404-876-2040http://www.sweetauburn.com/
Fernbank Museum of Natural History -- It's the largest museum in town, and houses the first huge-screen IMAX theater in Georgia. The "A Walk Through Time In Georgia" permanent exhibit escorts you through the development of the earth, and the "Spectrum of the Senses" teaches you scientific concepts of light and sound. 767 Clifton Rd NE 404-370-0960; IMAX info 404-370-0019; Exhibit info 404-370-0910
SPORTShttp://www.fernbank.edu/
Fernbank Science Center (Forest & Planetarium) -- The planetarium, the largest in the southeast, is open to the public on Thursday and Friday non-cloudy evenings, and on Saturday mornings (no one under 5 years admitted), there's a regular program that explains what the sky will look like that night. There's also a forest preserve, and a science exhibition with dinosaur models. 156 Heaton Park Dr NE 404-378-4311 SciTrek - The Science & Technology Museum of Atlanta -- How to interest kids in science? That's the point here, with over a hundred hands-on exhibits in four halls demonstrating optics, mechanics and math. 395 Piedmont Av NE 404-522-5500http://www.scitrek.org/
Atlanta Braves Baseball -- In 1997, they started playing in the new Olympic Stadium, renamed Turner Stadium, after team-owner Ted. Tickets: 404-249-6400; Season Tickets & Groups: 404-577-9100 (Season Schedule) Atlanta Falcons Football -- They play in the Georgia Dome downtown. Ticket Office: One Georgia Dome Drive 404-223-8000 (Season Schedule).
http://atlantafalcons.com/ http://nfl.com/
Atlanta Hawks Basketball -- They play in the Omni Arena downtown. One CNN Center Tickets & info: 404-827-3865 or 404-249-6400; Season Tickets & Groups: 404-827-3865 (Season Schedule) Atlanta Thrashers Hockey -- Tickets & info: 404-584-PUCK. (Season Schedule)http://www.atlantathrashers.com/
Georgia Tech Basketball -- College Basketball. Tickets: 404-894-5447. Georgia Tech Basketball -- College Basketball. Tickets: 404-894-5447. Georgia Tech Football -- College Football. Tickets: 404-894-5447. University of Georgia Basketball -- College Basketball. (Although not really in Atlanta, lots of people who live here act as if it is.) Athens, Georgia: 706-542-3000. University of Georgia Football -- College Football. Athens, Georgia: 706-542-3000.THEATRE
Actor's Express -- At the King Plow Arts Center, 887 W. Marietta St. (From I-75/85 Connector: take 10th Street west, turn left on Brady Ave. At light, take right on West Marietta Street. King Plow is on your right after the bridge.) General info: 404-875-1606. Box office: 404-607-SHOW.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONShttp://www.actorsexpress.com/
Agatha's A Taste of Mystery Dinner Theater -- The question is, of course, who dunnit? The $40-50 price (depending on the night) includes a five-course dinner with "very cheap wine" and original comic murder mystery. Shows Tue-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 7pm. Agatha's - A Taste of Mystery, 693 Peachtree Street, across from the Fox Theatre. Reservations: 404-875-4321.http://www.agathas.com/
Alliance -- Housed in the Woodruff Arts Center complex, this is Atlanta's premier art house when it comes to lavishly-produced plays. Downstairs is the Alliance Studio theatre where more modest and minimalist productions play to smaller crowds. 1280 Peachtree St 404-733-5000http://www.alliancetheatre.org/
Aurora Theatre (Duluth)http://www.auroratheatre.com/
Barking Dog Theatre -- Occasional shows at the 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. 404-885-1621. Center for Puppetry Arts Museum -- This is a theater with performances for both children and adults, but it's also a museum with a collection of about 400 figures, including a large body Muppet created by the late Jim Hensen, and a Turkish exhibit that dates back to the thirteen hundreds. 1404 Spring St NW 404-873-3391http://www.puppet.org/
Dad's Garage -- 280 Elizabeth St. 404-523-3141.http://www.dadsgarage.com/
14th Street Playhouse -- 173 14th St. 404-876-9762. Fox Theatre -- Well, you KNOW the clouds and stars on the ceiling aren't real but are they actually moving? The 1929 building is arabesque, a true old-time movie palace that now also hosts Broadway musicals and other shows. (No, the Fox is NOT where "Gone With The Wind" premiered. That theatre was older and has since burned down.) Tours are available. 660 Peachtree St NE 404-881-2100 Horizon Theatre -- Euclid & Austin Avenues in Little Five Points. Box Office: 404-584-7450.www.mindspring.com/~horizonco
Jomandi Productions -- At the 14th Street Playhouse. 404-876-6346. Neighborhood Playhouse -- 430 West Trinity Place in Decatur: 404-373-5311.http://np.eventrunner.com/
PushPush Theater -- 1123 Zonolite Rd. 404-892-7876. 7 Stages -- 1105 Euclid Ave in Little Five Points. 404-523-7647.http://www.7stages.org/
The New American Shakespeare Tavern -- 499 Peachtree Street: 404-874-5299. Soul-stice Repertory -- At 7 Stages Back Stage Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave in Little Five Points. 7 Stages number: 404-523-7647.http://www.soulstice.org/
Theatre Gael -- Celebrates Celtic drama and music, most often at the 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. 404-876-9762.http://www.arthouse.com/gael
Theatre in the Square -- On Marietta Square, 11 Whitlock Avenue in Marietta: 770-422-8359 Fax: 770-424-2637.http://www.theatreinthesquare.com/
Theatrical Outfit -- Occasional performances at the 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. 404-872-0665. (Theatrical Outfit Offices: 70 Fairlie Street NW. 404-577-5255.)
Stone Mountain Park (Stone Mountain) -- It's the world's largest natural chunk of granite sticking out of the ground, and it has on one side a huge carving of Civil War heroes (all southerners, by coincidence). You can ride to the top by skyway (or you can climb). You can ride around it on a train or on the nearby human-made lake on a "steamboat." You can camp there or park your RV. There's an antebellum plantation to visit, and a game ranch with petting farm. 770-498-5600
WINERIEShttp://www.stonemountainpark.com/
Underground Atlanta -- It's really sort of a mall, with over 100 retailers of one sort or another, restaurants and music joints and night clubs, all down there where Atlanta began, before they decided at the turn of the century to build over the railroad tracks so traffic wouldn't stay constantly backed up. (If you visit, don't forget there's the World of Coke and Heritage Row nearby.) Peachtree & Alabama Streets 404-523-2311 The World of Coca-Cola -- Located next to Underground Atlanta, the museum traces the history of the Atlanta beverage through memorabilia and film. 55 Martin Luther King Jr Dr 404-676-5151
Chateau Elan (Braselton) -- Yes, a winery, but much more. There are two restaurants, an art gallery, a banquet facilty, and daily tours (with tastings, of course.) Founded in 1983 by an Irishman, this is the place that reputedly put Georgia wine on the map. 7000 Old Winder Hwy, Braselton (Atlanta number) 770-932-0900.
http://www.chateauelan.com/
Fox Vineyard & Winery -- Founded in 1984 by former Eastern Airlines pilot John Fuchs (and named after him, since "fuchs" is German for "fox"). Tasting room open daily. Go east on I-20, exit 47, Highway 11 South, near Social Circle, GA 770-787-5402.