If you’re lucky enough to get to visit Atlanta, Georgia, but you just have a short amount of time to check out the city, you’ll want to make the most of your time. Check out our perfect weekend getaway in Atlanta itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.
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Day 1 | Exploring Downtown Sites and Fancy Dinner
World of Coca-Cola
Start your day with a visit to the world-famous World of Coca-Cola. Learn about the history of this iconic brand and see some of the unique Coke memorabilia on display as well as getting to taste some of their iconic products. After exploring the memorabilia, you can check out Scent Discovery area. Here you can experience different smells in Coca-Cola products and identify which ones you might prefer. Don’t forget to check out the Bottle Works exhibit to see the process of how Coca-Cola is processed and grab some merch on your way out at the Coca-Cola store.
Georgia Aquarium
Afterward, you can walk across the lawn to the Georgia Aquarium for a few hours of underwater fun. Be sure to check out the beluga whales, penguins, and sea otters! The aquarium has 7 different galleries featuring different themes, all accessed from a main atrium.
They also have a dolphin show and a sea lion show, the dolphin show was fun but if you can only go to one, do the sea lion show, it was great! You should get tickets either online or right when you get there so that you know you have a seat. The main tickets are free and you can upgrade your seating for around 5 dollars but we found that it wasn’t really worth the extra money for the reserved seating area.
We really loved the moving sidewalk that takes you through a clear tunnel and you can see sea creatures all around you. The manta rays and whale shark were definitely a highlight to see swimming around you.
Evening at Bacchanalia
In the evening, treat yourself to a delicious dinner at Bacchanalia. This is a fine dining 4 course, Prix Fixe meal, where they come take your order for all 4 courses at once and then serve those plus a few extras throughout your time there. Everything was amazing when we went, the food was incredible, the service impeccable and it was a great way to spend our evening. I recommend the Crab Fritter and the Lamb, both were really stand out dishes. We did upgrade dessert for the souffle and it was good but I think I liked the Coffee dessert a little better, but I might be a little bias-coffee is my favorite flavor! We thought this restaurant was one of the top 10 places we have EVER eaten at.
Day 2 | See Some History and Grab Tasty BBQ
Spend your second day in Atlanta exploring some of its many historical sites and then finish it off with some Texas style BBQ and after dinner drinks.
Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site
Start at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The best place to start your time at this historic site is to go to the Visitor’s Center, where they have information about all the activities you can do, including getting tickets for the Birth Home tour and have an exhibit geared towards children that talks about the children of the civil rights movement. From there you can make your way through the International World Peace Garden and go into the Ebenezer Baptist Church to look at some exhibits on the history of the church or listen to some of the sermons and speeches of Dr King. Then take some time to explore the Birth Home Block with exhibits about the people who lived there.
Carter Center and Museum
After your time at the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, head over to the Carter Center and Museum. This Presidential Library is on 35 acres of beautiful grounds and always has 2 rotating exhibits that you can check out as well as some permeant ones. Spend some time exploring a replica of the Oval office and see what a day in the life of the president is like. You can also view Jimmy Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize and learn about his work that lead to him earning it. Take some time to walk through the beautiful grounds, including a Japanese garden.
Fox Bros. BBQ and Red Phone Booth
Finish up your day with dinner at Fox Bros. BBQ. They are a Texas style BBQ restaurant that offers smoked meat and original sides. Try the Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage and Pimento Cheese appetizer as well as the Brisket. After dinner grab some drinks at Red Phone Booth, they have some great classic cocktails, like a smoked old fashioned or a Sazerac.
Day 3 | Tasty Breakfast and Get Outdoors
Breakfast at Joy Café
On your final day in Atlanta, grab a delicious southern breakfast at Joy Cafe in downtown. This place is a bit on the smaller side but does have a patio, so plan on getting there early. We really loved this place, the service was friendly and they has some great recommendations for us to try. We got the Southern Breakfast Biscuit and the omelet with pimento cheese and caramelized onions with a side of chorizo gravy. Everything was so great but this biscuit wins, I tried a lot of biscuits on our trip and this was the winner! It was light and fluffy but still buttery at the same time, everything you want in a delicious biscuit.
Stone Mountain Park
After your hearty breakfast, take a scenic drive out to Stone Mountain Park. Here you can hike or bike around the massive granite outcropping, or take a ride on the Aerial Tramway for spectacular views. They have 15 miles of hiking trails of all levels and lengths as well as picnic areas. Check out some great historic buildings while you are there, such as the Grist Mill and Washington W. King covered bridge. If you need some more recreation, they do offer tickets that include a scenic railroad ride, mini golf and access to Dinosaur Explore and more.
Don’t forget a great water bottle to take with you and I think hiking sandals are a great to pack with you-they don’t take up much room and are great for hiking wherever you are.
So, if you have a few days to spare and want to explore everything Atlanta has to offer, I’ve put together a perfect weekend getaway in Atlanta itinerary for you. Of course, this is just a starting point – feel free to mix and match or add in your own favorite spots. Be sure to let me know what you think of my recommendations in the comments!
What are some things you like to do in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments.
Need ideas to help make your packing less stressful so that you can enjoy your trip more? Check out our essential packing guide to help give you some ideas.
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