When you think of cities to go away for the weekend, you may not think of Atlanta. But don’t count it out! Atlanta is a beautiful city, full of things to do and a perfect location for your next weekend away. Our time in Atlanta was amazing and we loved exploring the city. We would both highly recommend it for your next weekend getaway (or even longer! Atlanta is an exciting place with plenty of activities). When you visit, here are five things to include on your must-do list:

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1. The Georgia Aquarium

No matter what you do in Atlanta, you have to spend some time in The Georgia Aquarium. It’s the biggest aquarium in the United States and also the nicest aquarium I have ever been to! It’s full of exhibits and has thousands of animals, including some you don’t typically see in other aquariums like whale sharks, beluga whales, and manta rays.

One of the must-do exhibits includes the Ocean Voyager tunnel, which is a moving walkway that brings you through the whale shark exhibit. You can see manta rays and turtles and even the whale sharks swimming above your head. Once you make your way through the tunnel, you are let out into the Ocean Voyager exhibit, which is where you can sit and watch the animals in the tank. We got lucky and were able to watch the whale sharks feed, which was an amazing opportunity (they eat in such a cute way!)

Another must-do is the penguin exhibit. The penguins are cute and fun to watch. But what makes this exhibit different from other penguin exhibits is a tunnel that you can crawl through. At the end of the tunnel, you can pop your head up into an open observatory area and watch the penguins in their exhibit! It was fun to see them interact with each other and look at a penguin up-close.

Tips for your Georgia Aquarium Trip:

• Make sure to go on a day where attendance will be light (i.e. a weekday or a day where the weather is nice out). It was raining outside the day we went, and the whole aquarium was absolutely packed by lunchtime. We struggled to be able to move through all of the people, especially in the lobby.
• If you want to watch the dolphin show, make sure to get to the theatre early. Seating fills up, and if you’re late you’ll either have to sit in the splash zone (which gets pretty wet!) or all the way in the back.
• Look for tickets and discounts online before you arrive. There are plenty of discounts available and tickets will be much more expensive at the door. There is also a separate line for those who have pre-bought their tickets, allowing you to get inside the aquarium (and get to the fish) faster!

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2. World of Coca-Cola

Located right across from the aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola is a must-do for anyone who loves the drink. The experience is part-museum and part-history lesson. Not only does it explore the origins of Coke, but it also follows the way the drink has influenced American and pop culture. Throughout the museum, you can learn everything that goes into Coca-Cola. You can watch the bottling process, see how Coke is made and learn about where Coke is distributed throughout the world. There’s even a Coke film you can watch in the 4-D theatre! 

The favorite highlight for anyone visiting the museum includes the tasting room where you can try 100+ different flavors of coke, ranging from new to old to flavors from around the world. Time in the tasting room is unlimited, so try to your heart’s content. Some highlights and unexpected offerings include Vitamin Water, Nestea, and Fanta.

Tips for Your Visit to World of Coca Cola:

• Spend the extra money to take the tour. The museum is large and can be hard to follow, so a tour will help you make sense of what you’re seeing and make sure you get the best experience. There is also a separate entrance for those going on the tour, so it allows you to skip the line and get to the Coke quicker!
• Try the Beverly in the tasting room! Any Disney fan knows that the Beverly is the quirkiest drink at the Taste Test in Epcot – but now you don’t have to go to Orlando to try it! It’s an Italian soda that has now been discontinued, so this is a rare chance to taste it. Some love it, some hate it, so make sure to get a sample to see how you feel.

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3. The Beltline

The BeltLine is a former railroad that used to circle around Atlanta. Thanks to the suggestion of a graduate student, the city began to purchase the railway and turn it into a multi-use walkway that will eventually surround the city. Some areas of the BeltLine are trails, but some of the main areas include housing, restaurants, and bars. Even if you don’t walk the whole of the BeltLine, it’s worth finding an area and walking down for a bit. In addition to bars and restaurants, there is art up and down the BeltLine, all from artists who are very large or up-and-coming names in the art world. So make sure to stop and take a look at the “graffiti” as you walk up and down – it may really be a mural by someone who is well-known! 

We explored the section between the Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market and the whole section blew me away. It was clean, easy to navigate and full of different things to do, from shopping to dining. We loved dining at a Mexican restaurant in Krog Street Market called Superica but there are plenty of other great choices in this section if you’re feeling something different. You can also learn more about Krog Street Market in this review by Town & Tourist. On a nice day, the BeltLine is packed with people who are walking their dogs, riding their bikes and rollerskating. Join them by grabbing a scooter, and heading to a restaurant, bar or attraction of your choice. Scooters are a popular way to get around in Atlanta and can be rented through the Uber and Lyft apps. On both the BeltLine and throughout Atlanta, scooters can be found on near-about every corner.

Beltline Tips:

• Atlanta attractions that are accessible from the BeltLine include Ponce City Market, Piedmont Park, and the Botanical Gardens. If you visit one of those, make sure to head down to the BeltLine afterward to take in all that it has to offer (or use the BeltLine to get there).
• If you’re looking for a beautiful view of the whole city, make sure to stop on the roof of New Realm Brewing! It’s a hike to get to the top, but once you’re up there it is worth it. You can see each neighborhood of Atlanta clearly from the top (and even grab a great beer).

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4. Ponce City Market

Ponce City Market is a former Sears & Roebuck warehouse that has since been turned into a large mixed-use food hall. Atlanta spent years and millions of dollars renovating the building, but it is now one of the premier destinations in the city after opening in 2014. You can access the Market directly from the BeltLine and there are tons of things to do inside, including restaurants, shopping, and bars. It’s easy to spend at least half of a day walking through the Market, tasting different foods and shopping at different places.

There are dozens of restaurants inside, but the one that always has the line is Hop’s Chicken. Their recipes were perfected over many years and are only available at PCM – so if you eat one dish, make it be from here. Another highlight is 18.21 Bitters. They have a variety of bitters, syrups, and mixes that you can use to take your cocktails to the next level, all made onsite.

Ponce City Market Tips:

• There’s more to Ponce City Market than just the first few floors – don’t forget to visit the roof! The roof has a carnival-style market where you can play mini-golf and games all while overlooking the Atlanta skyline. It costs $10 for admission, but you get a wristband that gives you access for the day. If you want to avoid the price, then head to one of the restaurants where you can get the same view without the entry fee.
• In the back of PCM is an event space called The Shed that holds different events throughout the year, such as farmer’s markets, pop-up food stations, fitness classes, and even an ice skating rink! Check the schedule beforehand so you can make sure you are at the market in time to participate.
• There’s a bike valet (similar to a car valet) that will take your bike and park it for you (tips are still accepted!) 

5. CNN Studio Tours

I saved the best for last – because this was my favorite thing in Atlanta! Put any journalism biases you may have aside and make sure you visit this exhibit. The CNN Tour follows the production of live CNN shows, from news productions to live shows to a view inside of a working newsroom. The tour starts off by taking a ride on the world’s longest freestanding escalator to the top of the CNN building. The tour starts by showing how a producer and director make a live broadcast happen. This is demonstrated by watching a live broadcast happen (ours was a live view of an Anderson Cooper newscast). From there, the tour demonstrates how green screens and teleprompters work. The tour then brings you through the rest of the building for a live glimpse into shows produced at the Atlanta studios and a view into the global headquarters newsroom.

Highlights of the tour include a discussion of how the news is produced from the global headquarters and how it is distributed to the D.C. and L.A. studios. For example, cameras in all studios are piloted remotely from the Atlanta studio. This helps to keep the production values the same without having to pay as many cameramen. 

CNN Studio Tour Tips: 

• If you want to learn as much as you can about CNN, then upgrade to a VIP tour. While the regular tour only shows you the studios and newsrooms, this tour gives you an inside look into each area. Unlike the other tours, this tour only happens a few times a day, so make sure to check your calendar before booking.
• If you’re hungry, make sure to eat in the CNN building. There is a food court in the bottom of the building that is reasonably priced and has everything you could want – from hamburgers to salads to the hometown favorite Chick-Fil-A.

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Other Atlanta Ideas

If you have some extra time in Atlanta, here are some other ideas of things to do: 

• College Football Hall-of-Fame – If you’re a big college football fan, then this is the place for you. The exhibits are all about the highlights of college football throughout the years, giving every fan an up-close look at the action and players initiated into the hall. This museum is also sponsored by Chik-Fil-A and there’s a location inside.
• Atlanta Braves – If you like baseball, then a visit to the Braves is already on your list. The atmosphere of a professional baseball game makes it worth attending, even if you’re not a baseball fan. You can also tour Suntrust Park year-round, even when the Braves aren’t in town.
• Zoo Atlanta – One of the biggest zoos in the country, Zoo Atlanta sits on 40 acres. And they use that space by filling it with plenty of unique animals such as Sumatran tigers, lemurs, and even Giant Pandas. Make sure to budget plenty of time to visit, as this zoo has many interactive exhibits.
• Sweet Water Brewing – Sweet Water Brewing’s Atlanta home is the perfect stop for the beer lover. The tasting room, which also has a full kitchen, is a great place to try a few beers and a few beer-infused dishes. Our favorites included the Sweet Water Blue (a blueberry-flavored ale) and the flagship 420 IPA. 
• Dwarf House – Did you know Chik-Fil-A started in Atlanta? The company operates in Atlanta to this day but pays homage to its roots with the Dwarf House. This restaurant operates as it did when it opened, with counter service and a menu that includes more than chicken (such as steak and hamburgers). It’s near the airport, so stop when you’re coming in or out of town.

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Are you ready to spend your weekend in Atlanta? Which of these things do you want to try? Are there any other places you recommend? Let me know by leaving a comment below! 

Want to read more about our time in Atlanta? Check out my Instagram stories.

And don’t forget to save these must-do activities using the images below!