Atlanta is a sports-loving town, providing year-round live entertainment for thousands of fans. Home to the MLB Braves, the NFL Falcons, the NHL Thrashers, the WNBA Dream and the NBA Hawks, it also has a Motor Speedway that hosts NASCAR events like the Nextel Cup.  In addition, the city’s has a professional men’s soccer team, the Silverbacks. The MARTA bus and rail system provides convenient transportation to many of these teams’ pro sports events.

Along with sports, Atlanta is rich with culinary and cultural attractions. More than 500 Zagat-rated restaurants can be found in its variety of neighborhoods, and Atlanta has its own opera, ballet, symphony and zoo. In addition, the city’s Aquarium is the largest in the world, and one of the only places in which beluga whales can be viewed. History buffs can visit Margaret Mitchell’s mansion or tour antebellum homes in the city’s Roswell Historic District. Families may way want to check out the Children’s Museum and the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park.

Why go?
Visitors to Atlanta receive Down Home southern hospitality, but with big-city amenities. To take advantage of some of its top attractions, like the CNN Inside Studio Tour and the World of Coca-Cola, consider purchasing an Atlanta CityPass for significant savings.  Accommodations are plentiful, as Atlanta is home to the fifth largest supply of hotel rooms nationwide. Choices range from the swanky Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons to the budget-friendly Holiday Inn.

When to go?
The most comfortable months are the fall and spring – and in April and May, the lovely azaleas and dogwoods are in bloom. July tends to be Atlanta’s hottest month, and January its coldest. The most precipitation usually comes during March.

How to get there?
About 80% of the U.S. population lives with a two-hour flight from Atlanta (it is also the world’s busiest Airport), and more than 150 destinations have nonstop service to/from Atlanta. From the airport, it is about a $40 cab ride to downtown.

Must see
Recommendations from Atlanta locals typically include the following must-dos in Atlanta, in no particular order. The Centennial Olympic Park, where visitors from all over the word gathered during the 1996 Olympics, has a massive fountain where kids can frolic. The Georgia Aquarium, as previously mentioned, is the world’s biggest. The CNN Studio Tour offers 55 minutes behind the scenes and receives rave reviews. At the Margaret Mitchell House and museum, guests can see the humble abode where the author penned Gone with the Wind, the second best-selling book in the world after the Bible.  The Martin Luther King National Historic Site can be found in the Sweet Auburn part of downtown, and mansions and fine shopping can be found in the ritzy downtown Buckhead neighborhood.