In Atlanta, there is always a story to tell, whether it centers around the life of a well-known leader of the Civil Rights Movement like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or the tale of an all-but-forgotten Civil War soldier buried in the Historic Oakland Cemetery. The city is known for its important role in the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement so it is unsurprising that Georgia’s capital is bursting with history just waiting to be recognized. But make no mistake, Atlanta is not stuck in the past, it is also home to modern attractions like one of the largest aquariums in the world and the iconic College Football Hall of Fame.
With such a wide variety of popular and historic attractions to choose from it may be hard to take a step off the beaten path and explore Atlanta’s alternative side, but you will be happy you did. Atlanta is full of hidden gems like secret hiking trails that double as community art exhibits or unconventional performances at the Center for Puppetry Arts. If music and the arts are what your students seek, they can take a seat at one of the many beautiful performing arts venues where they can watch Broadway and Grammy-winning performances or steal the stage by competing in one of the many seasonal festivals.
From the string of exotic restaurants along the Buford Highway to authentic Italian cuisine at Amalfi Pizza, your students’ taste buds will be sent on a trip around the world. After such a long journey, they will need a place to rest and shelter is never far away in Atlanta as there are plenty of affordable, safe and comfortable hotels just a short walk from some of the city’s most popular attractions. With so much to experience in “the city too busy to hate” your students are sure to work up an appetite and when they think of Atlanta food, one thing probably comes to mind: barbeque. While the city sure has its fair share of those (it wasn’t named one of the best cities for barbecue in America by Travel & Leisure for nothing), what you may not expect is that it is also home to one of the most culturally diverse restaurant scenes in the country.