15 Fun Things To Do In Atlanta, Georgia

Buckle up – Atlanta doesn’t just sit still, it sizzles, soars, and surprises at every corner. One moment you’re staring down a whale shark the size of a bus, the next you’re zooming behind the wheel of a sleek luxury car that growls on the track.

The city’s rhythm mixes Southern charm with sky-high adventure. Food halls spill with aromas of barbecue and global bites, while leafy parks offer a pause from the downtown buzz. History lovers can time-travel through Civil War stories, while thrill-seekers chase glowing skyline views from giant Ferris wheels.

Atlanta feels like a choose-your-own-adventure book, where every turn brings a fresh thrill or flavor. It doesn’t just entertain – it sweeps you up, shakes you awake, and dares you to discover more. So pack your curiosity and let Atlanta claim your weekend, your senses, and maybe even your heart.

1. Swim With Giants

Georgia Aquarium houses massive whale sharks gliding gracefully through crystal-clear waters. You’ll stand mesmerized as manta rays perform underwater ballet just inches away.

Certified divers can actually swim alongside these gentle ocean giants! The Journey with Gentle Giants program delivers an experience few aquariums worldwide can match.

2. Wander Through Botanical Wonderland

Flowers burst with color year-round at Atlanta Botanical Garden, filling the air with sweet scents that lift your spirits! The orchid collection glows with exotic aromas and shades so vivid they seem unreal.

Walking the Kendeda Canopy Trail feels magical as treetops sway, leaves rustle, and birds sing around you. Seasonal displays shift with each visit, from tulips to pumpkins to sparkling lights, making every return feel as fresh and exciting as the very first adventure.

3. Cruise The BeltLine

Once railway tracks, now Atlanta’s coolest pathway, the Eastside Trail links lively neighborhoods and fills the air with the scent of fresh paint and sizzling street food while murals shift like a living canvas.

Hungry explorers find joy as tempting bites and coffee aromas drift from eateries along the route. Bikes glide by and footsteps echo through a gallery under the sky, carrying wanderers at their own pace past Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and Midtown.

4. Play Above The City

Who knew rooftop mini-golf could feel so exciting? Ponce City Market’s Skyline Park fills the air with sweet carnival scents and laughter that makes you feel like a kid again. Views sparkle in every direction, more dazzling than a postcard.

After putting past quirky obstacles, food hall aromas call you down for a treat. A repurposed Sears building now bursts with energy, mixing history and style into pure fun.

5. Taste Global Soda Flavors

World of Coca-Cola isn’t just a museum, it’s a fizzy flavor carnival! Imagine sipping sodas from every corner of the globe, some sparkling like liquid candy while others wrinkle your nose with strange surprises. Sweet scents drift through the air as laughter bubbles around the tasting stations.

History exhibits pull back the curtain on brand secrets, mixing nostalgia with curiosity. A hug from the cuddly polar bear mascot seals the visit, leaving you with a photo that spreads smiles faster than a chilled Coke on a hot Atlanta afternoon.

6. Walk Through History

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park preserves powerful pieces of American history. Standing in the church where Dr. King preached sends chills down your spine.

The visitor center brings the Civil Rights Movement to life through compelling exhibits. Walking the peaceful neighborhood surrounding his birth home helps you understand the community that shaped a world-changing leader.

7. Experience Human Rights Struggles

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights packs an emotional punch! Interactive exhibits let you experience lunch counter sit-ins through headphones and touch sensors.

Global human rights stories connect surprisingly to American civil rights history. Though sometimes challenging, these powerful exhibits leave visitors inspired to create positive change in their own communities.

8. Marvel At Artistic Treasures

Art lovers, prepare to lose track of time! High Museum bursts with treasures from European masterpieces to daring contemporary works that bend reality and stir emotions. The white building gleams like a jewel, its curves catching sunlight in ways that feel almost sculptural.

Special exhibitions rotate often, giving repeat visitors fresh sights, new scents of polished halls, and thought-provoking surprises every time.

9. Step Into Movie Palace Magic

Fox Theatre whisks you straight into 1929 Hollywood glamour, where the scent of polished wood and velvet ushers in nostalgia. Above your head, twinkling stars and drifting clouds create the dreamy illusion of sitting beneath a night sky touched with magic.

Egyptian and Moorish details sparkle from every corner, colors and patterns dazzling the senses. Watching a Broadway show or concert here feels unforgettable, while guided tours reveal backstage secrets and restoration tales that carry the theatre’s history into the present with charm and pride.

10. Go Wild At The Zoo

Zoo Atlanta’s giant pandas munch bamboo with adorable clumsiness that’ll melt your heart! The great ape habitats bring you surprisingly close to gorillas and orangutans.

Kids squeal with delight at the petting zoo and splash pad areas. Conservation messages throughout help visitors understand why protecting these amazing animals matters for our planet’s future.

11. Score A Touchdown

Football fans will flip for the College Football Hall of Fame’s glowing wall of helmets, a dazzling display that lights up your favorite team with just a touch and fills the space with excitement. The scent of turf drifts through the air as the indoor field invites visitors to kick field goals or try crisp passes that echo like game-day moments.

Even those less interested in sports can’t help but get swept up in the high-tech exhibits, each one celebrating Saturday traditions that make America’s game feel larger than life.

12. Splash In Olympic Glory

Centennial Olympic Park’s Fountain of Rings creates watery magic shows set to music! Kids dash through shooting water jets, giggling as they try to predict the next splash pattern.

This green oasis commemorates Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic Games. Surrounding attractions make it the perfect starting point for downtown adventures, especially when summer heat demands a refreshing cool-down.

13. Time-Travel Through Atlanta

History buffs, rejoice! Atlanta History Center stretches across 33 acres scented with blossoms and aged wood, where historic homes and gardens invite curious footsteps. Air carries a nostalgic mix that pulls you gently into another era.

Restored Cyclorama claims the spotlight, a sweeping 360° painting of the Battle of Atlanta that surrounds you with vivid strokes and stirring drama. Swan House, with graceful staircases and ornate halls, adds movie magic, thrilling visitors who recognize its grand presence from the Hunger Games films.

14. Soar Above Downtown

SkyView Atlanta’s towering Ferris wheel pods rise nearly 20 stories, lifting riders into cool, climate-controlled comfort with views that feel larger than life. Unlike creaky carnival rides, smooth rotations let you soak in the city’s skyline without a wobble, while faint scents of popcorn and street food drift up from Centennial Park below.

Nighttime spins shimmer with magic as Atlanta’s lights twinkle like jewels scattered across the horizon. Perfect photo angles unfold in every direction, turning this sky-high escape into a must-snap memory of the city’s most distinctive skyline.

15. Drive Dream Cars

Speed demons and luxury car lovers, the Porsche Experience Center delivers automotive dreams! Professional coaches guide you through heart-pounding laps on specialized tracks designed to showcase these engineering marvels.

Simulator stations let you test virtual driving skills. The Heritage Gallery displays historic models that trace Porsche’s evolution from classic speedsters to modern supercars.