The Atlanta area leaves little to be desired — consistently ranked No. 1 in business and earning its name as the new Hollywood, Silicon Valley and arts capital of the Southeast, it has no shortage of incentives for relocators that make those who live here happy to thrive here. There are many great things unique to metro Atlanta that help set it apart, creating a quality of life unmatched anywhere else. Here are just some of the many things to love about living, working and playing in this area.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – The world’s busiest airport, with more than 270,000 daily passengers.
2. Peachtree – The heart and main artery of the city, many of the city’s main attractions are on or near this street and it often preludes any directions a local will give you. But don’t get confused — there are 71 streets in Atlanta with variants of “Peachtree” in the name.
3. World of Coca-Cola – Explore the fascinating story of Coca-Cola, the world’s best-known beverage brand and Atlanta’s signature drink.
4. Georgia Aquarium – With more than 60 exhibits, the Georgia Aquarium weaves a global water story with a tank of whale sharks you will not want to miss.
5. Zoo Atlanta – Home to Atlanta’s cutest celebrities, Mei Lun and Mei Huan the pandas, visitors can enjoy animals from all over the world in their natural habitats.
6. The Varsity – The world’s largest drive-in, originally opened in 1928, serves more than 30,000 people when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play a home football game.
7. Stone Mountain – Well known for its geology and as the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world, Stone Mountain Park offers fun for the whole family.
8. Piedmont Park – This 189-acre urban park is in the center of Midtown and is where Atlantans go for festivals, strolls, fitness and some of the best skyline scenery in the city.
9. Atlanta Botanical Garden – Featuring 30 acres of plant life, this attraction adjacent to Piedmont Park offers events, classes and collections to help you commune with nature.
10. Trees Atlanta – Thanks to Trees Atlanta, the city has more trees than cars. From any high-rise view in the city, all you can see are trees.
11. Education – From Georgia Tech, Emory and Georgia State, the city’s higher education creates a quality and diverse employee environment and gives back to the city in immeasurable ways. With more than 57 colleges and universities and more than 250,000 students enrolled each year, Atlanta is definitely a “college town.”
12. High Museum of Art – The leading art museum in the Southeast, the High’s classic and contemporary collections and award-winning architecture bring some of the most famous exhibits in the art world to Atlanta.
13. The Fox Theatre – The gem of Peachtree Street, this premiere live entertainment venue holds 4,678 seats and is booked year-round with Broadway, ballet, rock and comedy shows. As hinted by its Moorish design, The Fox was originally planned as a shrine temple before it opened as a lavish movie theater in 1929.
14. Festivals – The Decatur Book Festival, Dogwood Festival, Taste of Atlanta and so much more: Festivals are plentiful, diverse and celebrate what makes the city tick.
15. Tennis – The No. 1 tennis city in the world and home to the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), many of your neighbors in metro Atlanta are sure to hit the courts. There are more than 80,000 members in ALTA alone.
16. Lake Lanier – A mere 45 minutes north of downtown Atlanta, Lake Lanier’s 38,000 acres of water are a prime location for water sports, relaxing on the docks and much more.
17. Weather – A city with four seasons, Atlantans enjoy only 2.1 inches of snow on average, Colorado-clear skies in the fall and that signature Southern heat in the summer months.
18. Blue Ridge Mountains – From exploring and hiking to shopping, dining and relaxing, there is no shortage of mountainside escapes that await you in Georgia’s Blue Ridge region.
19. Atlanta BeltLine – The most comprehensive revitalization effort ever undertaken in the city, this system provides public parks, multi-use trails and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown Atlanta and connecting many neighborhoods.
20. AJC Peachtree Road Race – An Atlanta institution for 45 years, the AJC Peachtree Road Race is hosted by Atlanta Track Club and is the largest 10K in the world, with more than 60,000 runners annually.
21. Martin Luther King Jr. – The Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta, where Dr. King grew up, is a centerpiece of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, and the King Center is a global destination to his legacy.
22. College Football Hall of Fame – Opened in August 2014, this museum is dedicated to college football and signifies the South’s love of the sport and the great accomplishments made over the years.
23. Atlanta Braves – You’ll be sure to hear the “Tomahawk Chop” a mile away from Turner Field, the current home of Atlanta’s Major League Baseball team.
24. Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta’s team joined the NFL in 1965 and construction on a $1.4 billion stadium, which will seat 83,000, is underway and it is scheduled to open in 2017.
25. Centennial Olympic Park – Built for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, this 21-acre park in Downtown serves as Atlanta’s lasting legacy to the Olympics and the revitalization of Georgia’s capitol.
