Monetary Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank, Atlanta

Although it doesn't sound like much of a tourist drawcard, visitors to the Federal Reserve Bank are unanimous in their enthusiasm about the fascinating Monetary Museum found there. Whether part of a guided group tour (recommended for scholarly types), or just perusing the exhibitions on one's own, a visit to the Federal Reserve Bank is bound to instil in visitors a renewed appreciation for the rich history that informs present-day money use in America. Tour highlights include an extensive 'History of Money' exhibition, displaying antiquated currency from all over the world; interactive, multimedia displays that teach you how to spot counterfeit money; the opportunity to lift a $450,000 gold bar; and a free bag of shredded money to take home as a souvenir. Visitors are guaranteed to leave the tour with a better understanding of the role that money plays in their everyday lives.

Opening Times:
Tours are offered from Monday to Friday, at 9:30am, 11am, and 1pm. Tours must be requested, by filling in a form on the Federal Reserve Bank website. Self-guided tours are possible Monday to Friday 9am-4pm. Self-guided tours are limited to the Visitor's Centre and the Monetary Museum, and do not need to be scheduled in advance.

Admission:
All tours are free of charge.

Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta features around 1,000 animals representing 250 species from around the world and sees over 1 million tourists every year. Children will absolutely love discovering all the animals and even some slightly more exotic ones such as the giant pandas, the 24 western lowland gorillas, Sumatran tigers and Sumatran orangutans. For smaller children there is a petting zoo which allows kids to interact with goats, pigs and sheep.

Opening Times:
Open Monday to Friday 9:30am-5:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:30am-6:30pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Admission:
$20.99 (adult); $15.99 (children)/

Six Flags Over Georgia, Atlanta

A great day out for kids of all ages, Six Flags Over Georgia is a fantastic amusement park filled with rides and thrills for just about every child to enjoy. Try the Acrophobia, the Superman, the Batman or the Goliath for the really adventurous, while younger tots will enjoy the Thomas the Tank Engine ride, Up UP and Away and the River Carousel.

Opening Times:
Weekends only from March to mid-May and September to October; daily Memorial Day to Labour Day. Gates open 10am; closing hours vary

Admission:
$54.99 (adults); $39.99 (children). Discounted tickets are available via the website.

Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta, Atlanta

The Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta is one of the most fascinating places parents on holiday in the city can take their younger kids for a day of exploring, learning and discovering. With exciting galleries such as the Curious George Gallery or exploring trees, children also get the opportunity to paint the walls, crawl through a playground or even don a raincoat and play in a forest stream.

Opening Times:
Open Monday to Friday 10am-4p; Saturday and Sundays 10am-5pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Admission:
$12.75, children under two are free.

Wren's Nest, Atlanta

Home of the author Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote of the sly fictional characters Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, Wren's Nest has been open to the public since 1913 after Harris's widow sold it to the Uncle Remus Memorial Association. A great place to visit for any child who knows the Uncle Remus tales, there is even storytelling on Saturday afternoons.

Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-2.30pm. Storytelling on Saturday at 1pm.

Admission:
$8 (adults); $5 (children). Other concessions available.

The Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta

The Woodruff Arts Center, originally known as the Memorial Arts Center, opened in 1968 and is one of the largest arts centres in the United States. The Woodruff uniquely combines four visual and performing arts divisions on one campus and is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, Young Audiences and the 14th Street Playhouse.

Getting There:
Head northeast on Peachtree Street toward Walton Street NW.

Opening Times:
Monday 10am-6pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 12pm-8pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm.

Admission:
Ticket prices vary for different shows. General admission to the museum is $18 (adults) and $11 (children), with other concessions available.

The Fox Theatre, Atlanta

Atlanta's Fox Theatre, which is often promoted as the Fabulous Fox, is one of the magnificent movie palaces built in the United States during the 1920s. The theatre's unique beginnings and Moorish design set it apart from other theatres of that period. Today it hosts an array of artistic and cultural events, including a summer film series, the Atlanta Ballet and performances by national touring companies of Broadway shows.

Getting There:
Located at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown Atlanta.

Opening Times:
Box office is open Monday to Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, closed on Sundays.

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

Atlantas's High Museum of Art is home to 11,000 pieces in its permanent collection and includes 19th and 20th century American and decorative art, important and visiting European collections, as well as contemporary art and photography, and African folk art.

Getting There:
Head northeast on Peachtree Street toward Walton Street NW.

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm (open till 8pm on Thursday); Sunday 12pm-5pm. Closed Mondays.

Admission:
$18 (adults), $11 (child aged 6-17 years). Other concessions available.

The Flatiron Building, Atlanta

Located in downtown Atlanta, and home to the law firm in the Matlock TV series, the Flatiron Building is officially known as the English-American Building. It was completed in 1897, five years before New York's Flatiron Building, and shares the same unique and prominent flatiron shape. Designed by Bradford Gilbert, the building has 11 storeys and is the city's second and oldest standing skyscraper, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. While the building is occupied by tenants ranging from architectural firms to law offices, its exterior is an impressive site.

Getting There:
Located on the block between Peachtree Street NE, Poplar Street NW, and Broad Street NW.

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield, Atlanta

In 1864 Kennesaw Mountain was the scene of a bloody Civil War battle when General Sherman led his Union forces against the entrenched Confederate forces at the site, resulting in the death of more than 67,000 soldiers. The park consists of several thousand acres of protected land, covered with more than 17 miles (27km) of interpretive walking trails. The trails encompass historic earthworks and cannon placements, and notable markers and memorials have been provided to commemorate the event. A small museum at the site displays Civil War artefacts, and a visitor's centre provides information about the battle on the site. This popular park is visited by more than a million people each year, many of whom come to picnic and enjoy the views afforded across Atlanta.

Opening Times:
Daily 7:30am-5pm (opens 8:30am in winter).

Admission:
Free, but on weekends there is a fare of $2 (adults) and $1 (children) to ride the shuttle bus to the top of the mountain.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta

Though small, Ebenezer Baptist Church has played a large role in America's history. Founded in 1886, the church functioned as the epicentre of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Martin Luther King Jr acted as co-pastor from 1960 to 1968, and worked toward equal rights for African-Americans during this time. The church has a new premises across the street, but visitors can still tour the old sanctuary where King preached.

Opening Times:
Tours are conducted Monday to Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 9am-2pm, and Sunday 2pm-4pm.

World Of Coca-Cola, Atlanta

In 1886 Jacob's Pharmacy, a small drugstore in Atlanta, began selling a new headache and hangover tonic called 'Coca-Cola'. In 1891, entrepreneur Asa Candler paid $2,300 to acquire the rights of what is now the world's most valuable brand. The following year he founded the Coca-Cola Company. The new, environmentally-friendly construction houses more than just a museum dedicated to Coca-Cola; it is an entire soft-drink experience. Thousands of Coke objects, trivia and memorabilia are contained among the interactive exhibits in this building, backed up by commercials, radio jingles, a 4-D theatre, tasting and a Pop Culture Gallery.

Getting There:
MARTA stop W1 or N1

Opening Times:
Daily 9am-5pm, but hours vary on weekends and in summer.

Admission:
$16 (adults), $12 (children 9-12); other concessions available.

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, Atlanta

In January 1929 a baby boy was born in an upstairs bedroom of a house in Atlanta. Today the Victorian house is the centre of a protected site dedicated to the memory of that baby, Martin Luther King, who grew up to become America's Nobel prize-winning Civil Rights leader. A half-mile stretch of Auburn Avenue, including King's birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, and the memorial tomb at the King Center where he is buried, has been designated a historic site, drawing hundreds of visitors every day. The exhibits contained within provide insight into the life and times of this much-revered man.

Getting There:
Auburn Avenue bus 3 at the MARTA Five Points station, or MARTA's Atlanta Tourist Loop.

Opening Times:
Daily 9am-5pm (until 6pm from mid-June to mid-August).

Admission:
Free

Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta

The impressive Georgia Aquarium is the largest of its kind and boasts over 100,000 animals from 500 species. A range of different environments play host to fascinating animals from around the world, from belugas and African black-footed penguins, to sea lions and sea otters, stingrays, sharks and a riot of colourful fish. The Aquarium also has a 4-D theatre that features an animated 3-D film, interactive seats and live actors; a café and the Ocean Ballroom for special events.

Getting There:
The Aquarium is connected to the Five Points MARTA Train station by bus Route 97

Opening Times:
Sunday to Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 9am-6pm. Extended hours apply during holidays.

Admission:
$34.95 (adults), $28.50 (children 3-12 years). Ticket prices vary according to season, check the website for specific dates. Free audio tours are available.

Atlanta History Center, Atlanta

Set in nine hectares (23 acres) of beautiful gardens, the Atlanta History Center is the ideal place to soak up the rich history of the state. The main attractions are two historic homes, open to the public offering informative guided tours. The Tullie Smith House originally stood outside the city limits but has been relocated to the History Center, along with its outbuildings. The house was built in the 1840s and survived the near-total destruction of Atlanta in 1864 when General William Sherman burned almost every business and more than two thirds of the city's homes during his infamous 'March to the Sea'. It was once the home of yeoman farmer Robert Smith and his family, who owned 11 slaves and farmed on about 324 hectares (800 acres). The farmhouse is typical of most in Georgia at the time, despite popular belief that not all Georgians owned large plantations and mansions. The Swan House, built in 1928, is a grand Italianate mansion that is an Atlanta landmark, once the home of Edward and Emily Inman, heirs to a cotton brokerage fortune. The History Center also features several other historic buildings and exhibitions.

Opening Times:
Museum: Monday to Saturday 10am-5:30pm; Sunday 12pm-5:30pm. Tullie Smith House and Swan House Tours: Monday to Saturday 11am-4pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm.

Admission:
$16.50 (adults), $11 (children 4-12 years) excluding tax. Other concessions are available, and discounted tickets are available through the website.

Jonesboro, Atlanta

About 15 miles (24km) south of Atlanta in Clayton County is the town of Jonesboro, a not-to-be-missed destination for movie fans and those hankering for a taste of the real 'Deep South'. Jonesboro was the setting for Margaret Mitchell's acclaimed novel, and later film, Gone with the Windand devotees come to see the local historic plantation houses and learn about the real people whose lives inspired the fictional characters of the novel. In Main Street, the Road to Tara Museum is housed in the Jonesboro Depot Welcome Centre, containing original props, costume reproductions, doll collections and an extensive photo gallery associated with the making of the movie, Gone with the Wind. The Welcome Depot is also the departure point for daily tours, starting at 1pm (except on Sundays), that take in the local scenes where the film was shot and offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the true life stories on which the book was based. In Carriage Drive, a beautiful Greek Revival plantation home dating from 1839 is open to the public along with its authentic outbuildings.

Opening Times:
Road to Tara Museum: Monday to Friday 8:30am-5:30pm, Saturday 10am-4pm; Stately Oaks: Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm. Gone With the Wind Tour: Monday to Saturday 1pm, or by appointment.

Admission:
Road to Tara Museum: $7 (adults); Stately Oaks: $12 (adults), $6 (children). Gone With the Wind Tour: $24.95.

Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta

Stone Mountain is situated about 20 minutes from Atlanta and features numerous man-made and natural attractions. Most awesome of these is the huge relief carving of the three Southern heroes of the Civil War, which has been etched into the mountainside. The images of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson cover an area larger than a football field and are part of the largest relief sculpture in the world. Three sculptors worked in succession on the carving, beginning with Gutzon Borglum in 1915. He later became famed for his carvings at Mount Rushmore. Subsequently two other artists pursued the work that was completed finally in 1972. Visitors can either walk up the mountain or take the Skylift to the top from where the views of Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains are incredible. Stone Mountain also features a restored Antebellum Plantation featuring a colonial mansion, slave cabins, coach houses and barns. The park also contains several lakes and hiking trails, a wildlife reserve and petting zoo.

Opening Times:
Daily from 10am; closing hours vary according to the season and attraction. Summit Skyride opens daily from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours in summer and on holidays

Admission:
Various packages available. A one-day, all-attraction pass costs $37. Vehicle entry to the park is $10.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta

As one of the South's pre-eminent museums, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a gateway for discovery and exploration, unfolding the story of the earth's history, the physical universe, the environment and human culture through exhibitions, programs and films in the IMAX Theatre. Opened in 1992, Fernbank is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is 'Atlanta's Home to Dinosaurs,' a reputation highlighted by Giants of the Mesozoic, a distinctive permanent exhibition which features the world's largest dinosaurs.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm.

Admission:
Museum: $17.50 (adults); $15.50 (children 3-12). IMAX: $13 (adults), $11 (children 3-12); discounted combination tickets are also available.

Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta

A highlight of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is the Fuqua Conservatory, a giant greenhouse enclosing different climate-controlled eco-systems that was financed by an Atlanta businessman in memory of his wife. A walk through the conservatory takes visitors from a desert into a steamy tropical jungle. Outdoors the gardens are criss-crossed with dedicated nature walks, bypassing many quiet spots designed for peaceful contemplation, as well as tasteful garden sculptures.

Getting There:
North Decatur bus 36 from the Arts Center Station; on Sundays, Monroe/Lindbergh bus 27

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sunday 9am-7pm (April to October), 9am-5pm (November to March).

Admission:
$18.95 (adults), $12.95 (children 3-17 years), concessions available.

Turner Field, Atlanta

Originally built for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Turner Field was converted after the event to serve as the home of major league baseball team the Atlanta Braves. Affectionately known as 'The Ted', the attractive open-air stadium is a great place to spend a hot summer night in Atlanta, the stadium is also home to the Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, with exhibits on famous Braves players like Greg Maddux, Bobby Cox, and Hank Aaron, as well as Braves owner (and stadium namesake) Ted Turner.

Admission:
Game tickets start at $10, museum admission is $5 ($2 on game days); walk-up tour tickets are $12. Concessions available.

Georgia Mountains, Atlanta

Northern Georgia is hilly and mountainous, dotted with numerous small towns, fascinating historic sites, national parks and forests. Most of the towns and attractions are within an hour's drive of Atlanta. Among the highlights of an exploration of this region are the New Echota State Historic Site (the last capital of the Cherokee nation); Chickamauga at Fort Oglethorpe, which is the oldest and largest Civil War military park; Jasper, where the marble quarries produced the marble used in the Capitol in Washington, DC; the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, at the end of the Appalachian Highway; and the spectacular Tallulah Gorge near the town of Clayton. The northwestern Georgia region is a paradise for nature lovers, offering hundreds of wooded hiking trails, sparkling trout streams, scenic lakes and camp sites.