Last Updated on September 15, 2024
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
By Jim Ferri
Like many travelers, I mentally keep a list of places I want to visit someday. Atlanta was on that list for quite some time until I finally decided to jump in the car for a two-day visit.
Two things surprised me about the city. The first was the number of interesting indoor things to do in Atlanta, which is always important to know when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
The second was how sophisticated the city is, with so many interesting things to do in a fairly small area. In fact, the city has such a profusion of exciting places that I could have easily stayed for a few more days.
A Super Popular Indoor Activity: The World of Coca Cola
Walking through Centennial Olympic Park, I passed the CNN building where, unfortunately, visitor tours are no longer given. Fortunately, however, tours are given at two of its neighbors, The World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. Both are only a 10-minute walk past the media giant, at the other end of the pretty park.
Not surprisingly, the World of Coca-Cola is a great indoor activity in Atlanta with all of the smiling, friendly, and helpful staff. When our effervescent guide asked where everyone called home, I was surprised to hear that in addition to being from a dozen or so U.S. states, many had also traveled here from Denmark, Argentina, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and several other countries.
The tour begins with an excellent, high-quality animated movie. After that, we were led out into a small atrium, where we could have our photos taken with the Coca-Cola polar bear or one of the cartoon characters.
From that point on, the tour was self-guided, so you could take your time. I moved on to “The Vault,” which included an exhibition on Coke’s “Myths and Legends,” a section on Coke history, and then the actual vault, in which we were assured the secret recipe is kept.
The two most popular areas at the end of the tour were a sampling area containing Coke products from all over the world and the Coca-Cola store, which was filled with just about everything that could have the Coca-Cola name embossed on it. Generally, it was quite crowded, and business was brisk, especially with the foreign tourists.
The Georgia Aquarium – an Incredible Indoor Exhibit
An hour later, I was next door at the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest, walking through a glass hallway in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Without a doubt, it was one of the highlights of my trip. It was an incredible indoor experience, almost like being in a theater with a presentation going on all around you.
Of course, sharks, whales, and countless other types of fish were the actors in this presentation. I’ve been to other aquariums with large tanks where you can look underwater through a side window, but I’ve never experienced anything like this, in which you’re right in the middle of the action. By all means, pay it a visit someday.
There are several different indoor exhibits in this Aquarium. In addition to the walk-through Ocean Voyager, I was entranced by Coldwater Quest, which highlights Beluga whales. It incorporates a floor-to-ceiling glass wall in front of which people sit seemingly forever. Of course, you’ll want to join them, just as I did.
You soon understand why as you become mesmerized by the stunningly beautiful and relaxing sight of being so close to these giants of the deep, and the impact of it all is incredibly calming. One discovers many things as you travel, and that day I learned how to sex a Beluga.
The Margaret Mitchell “House” and An Unusual Cemetery
Following an unexpectedly good lunch at the Aquarium, I set off for the Margaret Mitchell House, an indoor Atlanta mini-museum, home of the author of Gone With the Wind. It turned out that it actually was not Mitchell’s house since she only rented one of the 10 apartments there.
I’m not a Gone With the Wind fanatic like my wife (who, unfortunately, wasn’t with me), but I did find the short tour interesting. I learned that Mitchel did nothing to enhance the family name, instead being considered risqué and wild for her time.
Later, I dropped by Oakland Cemetery (which is not an indoor activity in Atlanta, I’m afraid, unless you’re among the deceased), one of the most scenic cemeteries I’ve ever seen. If it weren’t for the tombstones, you would think you were in a beautiful city park. It took me a while and several requests to people I passed along the way before I found Mitchell’s grave.
The cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places, and when I passed the caretaker’s cottage, I was surprised to learn that private events—including dinners, birthdays, weddings, and family reunions—are held in the cemetery. There are also a number of special events, including, among others, “Tunes from the Tombs: A Festival of Music and Spirits,” the “Run Like Hell 5K,” and, of course, “Capturing the Spirit of Oakland” Halloween tours.
Atlanta’s Interesting Jimmy Carter Center and the High Museum
Later, I found the Jimmy Carter Center, one of the 14 presidential museums and libraries around the U.S. Highlighting Carter’s life and career, I found it interesting not only for its historical value but also for making me remember how much actually happened in history during that time in my life.
As in some other presidential museums, you can view an exact replica of the Oval Office and see some state gifts given to the President. If you’ve never seen the Nobel Peace Prize, here’s your chance. It’s a great indoor activity in Atlanta, although children might quickly get bored.
I had trouble finding the High Museum of Art, touted as the leading art museum in the Southeastern U.S. Although rushed, my visit to the High was interesting, especially the special exhibit at that time of Vermeer’s beautiful “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” considered by many to be the “Dutch Mona Lisa.”
The Fascinating Atlanta History Center
But the place that really mesmerized me was the Atlanta History Center, one of the wonderful indoor things to do in Atlanta. I had half-expected a boring museum reciting the city’s history but found a fantastic, multifaceted museum complex instead.
The indoor exhibits at this Atlanta exhibits included a Folklife Gallery showing how folk arts shaped traditions in the changing South; a presentation on Indians in Georgia; an exhibition on golf legend Bobby Jones, Jr. and the evolution of the Masters Tournament; the charming and fascinating Smith Family Farm from the 1860s; and the 1928 Swan Mansion back through the woods behind the museum. Consequently, it has a lot for everybody.
Most riveting, however, was the Center’s exhibition “Turning Point, the American Civil War,” which, in a personal way, explained the impact the Civil War had on people’s lives both in the North and the South. It was not pro-South or pro-North but pro-education.
At the end of the exhibit, a sign on the wall asks the question, “Really, just what did it get for all of us?” The answer, attributed to Southern writer Robert Penn Warren in 1961, is, “The Civil War is, for the American imagination, the great single event of our history…we became a nation only with the Civil War.”
I walked through it and thought, ” This is the type of exhibition every high school student in America should see.” And for that matter, most adults, as well.
Martin Luther King National Historic Site – Both Indoor and Outdoor
I’ve left the Martin Luther King National Historic Site for last simply because it is both indoor and outdoor and has different buildings. Nevertheless, you should try to visit it if you can when you’re in Atlanta, rain or shine.
I went to the site at about 8 a.m., and although I didn’t expect to find it open at that hour, I was nonetheless surprised to find no one else in the little park.
As you might expect, it was a very quiet and dignified place, built as part of the neighborhood. However, it didn’t look as monumental as I expected. The tomb of King and his wife is set in a simple pool next to the old Ebenezer Baptist Church, with a modern new church across the street.
If you go to Atlanta in rain or not, don’t miss it.
You may also enjoy: Traveling to Atlanta With Kids: Finding Great Things to Do / 10 Really Interesting American Small Museums / Golden Isles of Georgia
If You Go:
The World of Coca Cola
121 Baker St NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/
Tel: (404) 676-5151
Admission: adults (13-64) $21-26, senior (65+) $19-24, children (3-12) $17-22, under 3 free
Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
http://www.georgiaaquarium.org
Tel: (404) 581-4000
Admission: General admission; tickets bought for a specific time start at $39.99; anytime tickets are $64.99. There are numerous other prices for special tours and other programs. See here.
Open: 365 days per year although opening hours vary.
Martin Luther King National Historic Site
450 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
http://www.nps.gov/malu
Tel: 404 331-5190 x5046
Admission: free
Open: every day 9am–5pm.
Margaret Mitchell House
990 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Tel: (404) 249-7015
Admission: 13+ $18.50 / 4 – 12 years $14.50 / 3 and younger free. $2 discount for active military and AAA / CAA members
Open: Daily 9am-4pm
Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
http://www.oaklandcemetery.com
Tel: (404) 688-2107
Admission: free
Open: daily from dawn to dusk year-round except for the following dates: September 29: Closed for Sunday in the Park / October 17-20 and 23-27: Closing at 3:00 p.m. for Capturing the Spirit of Oakland / November 3: Closed for Dia de Muertos
The Jimmy Carter Center
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30307
http://www.cartercenter.org
@ [email protected]
Tel: (404) 865-7100
Admission: free
Open: Monday- Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm
High Museum
1280 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Tel: 404-733-4400
http://www.high.org
Admission: General admission $23.50 / Members and children under 6 free
Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm / Sunday noon-5pm / closed Monday
Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Tel: (404) 814-4000
http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/
Admission: 13 and older $27 / children (4-12 years) $24 / 3 and younger free. $2 discount for active military and AAA / CAA members
Open: Tuesday–Sunday 9am-4pm (historic houses open at 11am)
Jim, good to see you enjoyed my old hometown.
Just want to mention that the name of the park is Centennial Olympic Park. It was built in 1996 for the Centennial Olympic Games.
You are absolutely right, Leslie. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’ll correct it in the article.
Great ArticlE, Jim. Made Me Want To Visit!!
Glad you liked it — it’s a great city for a long weekend.