Where to take holiday visitors in Atlanta
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
The guest beds are made and the home's been de-cluttered for holiday visitors. But you still have no clue where you'll take your loved ones.
Why it matters: Play all the board games you want. At some point, everyone has to leave the house.
- We rounded up some ideas tailored to the type of visitor coming to town this holiday season.
Super tourist
🍟 The Varsity: "What'll ya have?"
🥤 World of Coca-Cola: More than 1 million people visit this corporate shrine every year.
🎡 SkyView Atlanta: Opt for the VIP car to skip the line.
🦍 Zoo Atlanta: The pandas are gone, but plenty of creatures remain.
🧇 Waffle House: Here, they're everywhere. To visitors from outside the South, they're nowhere.
Sports fan
🏈 Falcons: The New York Giants drop by on Dec. 22.
⛹️♀️ Hawks: Trae Young and company host the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Bulls and Heat before the end of 2024.
🏟️ College Football Hall of Fame: Just in case the televised games aren't enough.
Fitness buff
🥾 The Chattahoochee River: Explore scenic trails along our city's main waterway.
- Note: The Paces Mill park unit is closed through May 2025 for renovation.
🏃 Beltline Run Club: Join locals for a jog along the Eastside Trail.
🚴 Critical Mass: The monthly hundreds-strong group bike ride returns on Dec. 27.
History nerd
👀 Bicycle Tour: Pedal through Atlanta's historic east side and Downtown.
🚂 Atlanta History Center: The Buckhead museum houses the Cyclorama and vast archives.
⛪️ King Memorial District: Walk the streets where Martin Luther King Jr. grew up and visit Ebenezer Baptist Church.
- Note: The civil rights activist's childhood home is closed for repairs.
Arts lover
🎨 High Museum of Art: The city's heavyweight arts museum is currently exhibiting the collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.
🧑🎨 Street art: Head to Krog Street Tunnel, the city's playground for public painting enthusiasts, and check out Living Walls and Forward Warrior murals.
🖼️ Indies: See what's on display at the MODA, MOCA GA and other arts spaces.
Political animal
🐮 Georgia Capitol Museum: Don't skip the two-headed calf on the fourth floor.
🍻 Manuel's Tavern: The spiritual home of Georgia Democratic politics.
🥜 Jimmy Carter Presidential Library: Dive into the former governor and president's legacy.
The tourist who's seen it all
🪆 Doll's Head Trail: Concern your in-laws with a walk along this spooky and artful path lined with... dolls' heads.
🛕 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir: Trek to Lilburn to tour the Hindu temple.
🥵 JeJu Sauna: Sweat away the temptation to debate politics at dinner with the traditional Korean spa.
