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Atlanta is the sixth-largest U.S. metropolitan area and is the home of momentous civil rights history, great food and, until 2012, the world’s largest aquarium. Now, we are so excited that it will be home to the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference, taking place October 8-10.

The city has been a destination hub for travelers and business-minded people alike since the introduction of the railroad and remains a critical hub to this day, as the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest airport in daily passenger flights.

However, it wouldn’t be an NRPA event without some green spaces, and thankfully Atlanta also features the densest urban tree coverage of any major city in the United States. This Georgia city also boasts the Kendeda Canopy Walk, the only skywalk of its kind in the United States, which allows visitors to tour one of Atlanta’s last remaining urban forests from 40 feet above the ground.

If you haven’t already, be sure to register for the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference so you can join us and take advantage of all that NRPA and Atlanta have to offer!

Things to Do

Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium contains more than 11 million gallons of water. Despite being bumped down to the fourth-largest aquarium in the world, the nonprofit aquarium still remains the largest in the United States and is well worth a trip during your stay in Atlanta.
Address: 225 Baker St., Atlanta, GA 30313-1809
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: georgiaaquarium.org
Admission: Anytime General Admission is $64.99, but check the website for discounted tickets bought in advance.

Atlanta Botanical Garden
Explore the captivating Atlanta Botanical Garden and embrace tranquility while viewing unique collections, such as high-elevation orchids, and traversing the Kendeda Canopy Walk.
Address: 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309-3366
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Website: atlantabg.org
Admission: Adults $26.95, children $23.95

World of Coca-Cola
Explore the story of the world’s most popular beverage brand. At World of Coca-Cola, you can see the vault where they secure the secret formula, check out art and memorabilia, and taste more than 100 beverages from around the world.
Address: 121 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313-1807
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: worldofcoca-cola.com
Admission: Prices vary; see website for more details.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to see Dr. King’s home, the church where he preached and his resting place as you learn more about his role leading the civil rights movement.
Address: 450 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30312-1504
Hours: See website for details.
Website: nps.gov/malu/index.htm
Admission: See website for details.

Zoo Atlanta
Visit Zoo Atlanta to see more than 1,000 animals from across the globe. Learn about your favorite animals, from pandas and apes to reptiles and amphibians, while diving into the zoo’s work in conservation, research, education and more.
Address: 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30315-1470
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last entry) daily
Website: zooatlanta.org
Admission: See website for details.

Centennial Olympic Park
Visit this public park to attend free weekly concerts and a dancing water fountain for children. The park was constructed for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and it includes a memorial quilt in remembrance of the victims of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing.
Address: 265 Park Ave. West NW, Atlanta, GA 30313-1615
Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Website: facebook.com/centennialolympicpark

College Football Hall of Fame
In 2014, the College Football Hall of Fame opened in Atlanta, a major hub of college football activity. Explore three floors, five themed galleries and more than 50 interactive exhibits. Don’t miss the three-story wall of more than 750 college football helmets and the 47-yard football field!
Address: 250 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313-1602
Hours: See website for details.
Website: cfbhall.com
Admission: Adults $30.25, children $23.75

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Learn about the legacy of President Jimmy Carter, from his childhood to his time as president, as well as the advocacy and charity work he and his late wife, Rosalynn, continued following his presidency. At the library and museum, take in the view of the Atlanta skyline while traversing 35 acres with two small lakes and a Japanese garden.
Address: 441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy. NE, Freedom Park, Atlanta, GA 30307-1496
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Website: jimmycarterlibrary.gov
Admission: Adults $12, seniors $10, children $0

Piedmont Park
Walk or jog around this 185-acre park, home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and a popular spot for summer festivals.
Address: 1322 Monroe Dr., Atlanta, GA 30306-3440
Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Website: piedmontpark.org

National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Learn about the U.S. civil rights movement and how it relates to our present day at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Explore rotating galleries with items from The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection.
Address: 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30313
Hours: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: civilandhumanrights.org
Admission: Adults $19.99, seniors $17.99, children $15.99

High Museum of Art
This beautiful building was designed by architect Richard Meier and features captivating art inside. Explore the four-story glass atrium as you view American, European and African art and photography, which are part of a collection of more than 11,000 pieces.
Address: 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309-3502
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: high.org
Admission: $23.50

Atlanta History Center
Founded in 1926 with the purpose of preserving and researching Atlanta history, the Atlanta Historical Society now offers programming, exhibitions, historic houses and 33 acres of Goizueta Gardens for visitors to experience.
Address: 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305-1380
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: atlantahistorycenter.com
Admission: Adults $24, seniors $20, students $20

Center for Puppetry Arts
Discover the craft and artistry behind puppetry at the Center for Puppetry Arts, which opened in 1978. This spot invites visitors to see live performances, take part in educational workshops and explore hands-on experiences at the museum, as well as other learning opportunities.
Address: 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309-2820
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: puppet.org
Admission: Prices vary; see website for more details.

Ponce City Market
Ponce City Market is great place for shopping and exploring interesting food stalls.
Address: 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308-1884
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Swan House
Built in 1928 right before the Great Depression, the Swan House invites visitors through its blue doors to immerse themselves in the Jazz Age and learn about the culture, trends and style of the time.
Address: 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305-1380
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: atlantahistorycenter.com/buildings-and-grounds/swan-house
Admission: Adults $24, seniors $20, students $20

SkyView Atlanta
Get an unbelievable view of the city in a Ferris wheel that is almost 20 stories high with 42 gondolas that are designed to accommodate up to six people.
Address: 168 Luckie St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303-2000
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Website: skyviewatlanta.com
Admission: Prices vary; see website for details.

Margaret Mitchell House
Explore the turn-of-the-century Tudor Revival mansion where Margaret Mitchell wrote her famous novel, “Gone with the Wind.” Tour the house, included on the National Register of Historic Places, to learn about the author’s story, the Pulitzer Prize-winning book and its movie adaption.
Address: 979 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Hours: Hours vary; see website for details.
Website: tinyurl.com/2zs5nzst
Admission: Prices vary; see website for details.

East Palisades Trail
Take a break from the big city by enjoying a hike along the river path and wind up in a bamboo forest.
Address: 1425 Indian Trl., Atlanta, GA 30327

The Atlanta BeltLine
Explore the four trails and six parks that are currently open along the Atlanta BeltLine. This redevelopment project will advance sustainability, connect neighborhoods and offer 1,300 acres of public parks.
Address: 100 Peachtree St., NW, Ste. 2300, Atlanta, GA 30303
Website: beltline.org

Buckhead Village District
Explore an array of more than 50 designer shops, cafes and restaurants along gorgeous, landscaped streets while visiting the Buckhead Village District.
Address: 3035 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: buckheadvillagedistrict.com

The Chattahoochee Nature Center
Explore and learn about nature at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. This private, nonprofit 127-acre nature center focuses on environmental education and invites guests to visit the LEED-certified Discovery Center Museum and Nature Exchange to engage with the river’s story. Come to picnic, hike, explore the butterfly and native plant gardens, or walk the river boardwalk, all while seeing Indigenous animals. Be sure to also take a tour of the new zip lines and canopy walk.
Address: 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell, GA 30075
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: chattnaturecenter.org
Admission: Prices vary; see website for details.

Atlanta Monetary Museum
Explore the history of money, from the days of bartering to modern finances. Check out rare coins and currency while learning about the tumultuous history of banking in the United States. Stop by the visitors center to find engaging multimedia exhibits and take a deep dive into the Federal Reserve and its place in the U.S. economy.
Address: 1000 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
Hours: See website for details.
Website: atlantafed.org/education/visit/atlanta
Admission: Prices vary; see website for details.

Places to Eat

• Agave (Southwestern)
• Anis Cafe & Bistro (French)
• Aviva by Kameel (Lebanese)
• Bone Garden Cantina (Mexican)
• Buttermilk Kitchen (American)
• Cafe Agora (Mediterranean)
• Canoe (Fusion)
• The Capital Grille (Steakhouse)
• Copeland’s of New Orleans Atlanta
• (Cajun and Creole)
• Desta Ethiopian Kitchen (Ethiopian)
• Eight Sushi Lounge (Japanese)
• Fat Matt’s Rib Shack (BBQ)
• Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q (BBQ)
• Gunshow (American)
• Home Grown (American)
• Hsu’s Gourmet (Chinese)
• La Grotta Ristorante Italiano (Italian)
• La Tavola Trattoria (Italian)
• Mali Thai Restaurant (Thai)
• Mary Mac’s Tea Room (American)
• Murphy’s Restaurant (American)
• Nan Thai Fine Dining (Thai)
• No Mas! Cantina (Mexican)
• Nuevo Laredo Cantina (Mexican)
• Poor Calvin’s (Asian-Southern Fusion)
• Ray’s on the River (Steakhouse)
• South City Kitchen Midtown
• (American)
• Steamhouse Lounge (Seafood)
• TABLA (Indian)
• Thumbs Up Diner (American)
• The Vortex – Midtown (American)

Chris Brummett is Production Coordinator at NRPA.