5 Things You Can Only Do in Atlanta

1. See the largest fish through the largest window in the largest aquarium in the world. Head to the Georgia Aquarium, where you can see tens of thousands of animals in more than 8 million gallons of water. The world’s largest aquarium houses whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea and only whale sharks in an aquarium in North America, along with beluga whales, otters, penguins and much more. Visitors can now swim or dive with the world’s largest fish in the world’s largest aquarium. In late 2010, the Georgia Aquarium is scheduled to open a state-of-the-art dolphin exhibit that will include dolphin encounters, viewing windows and dolphin shows.
Staples Center

2. Try a “Coke and a smile.” Taste the variations of Coke from around the world at the World of Coca-Cola, which opened in May 2007 beside the Georgia Aquarium. The tasting lounge features 70 beverages arranged by continent and includes a rotating selection of teas, water and new beverages. Inside the 75,000-square-foot attraction, visitors will learn about the famous soft drink’s story through fascinating exhibits, classic ads and an imaginative replica of the bottling process. The Pop Culture gallery displays artwork from renowned artists such as Steve Pendley, Howard Finster and Haddon Sundblom. The gallery also gives visitors the opportunity to create their own pop culture by using Coke iconography.

3. Race the gold shoes for a gold medal. As host of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta continues to commemorate the Olympic legacy. Centennial Olympic Park was the world’s gathering place during the Games and includes the Fountain of Rings, the world’s largest fountain utilizing the Olympic Symbol of five interconnecting rings. In 2006, the Atlanta History Center opened a $10 million wing celebrating the Centennial Olympic Games that includes interactive exhibits allowing visitors to compete against Olympic legends such as Michael Johnson and his gold track shoes.

4. Be a weatherman and news anchor, all in the same day. Visit CNN Center, the global headquarters of CNN Worldwide and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. The Inside CNN Studio Tour provides a behind-the-scenes sneak peek into the studios and newsrooms of the global news network. Visitors enter a dramatic 48-foot diameter globe and get a view into the new CNN HD studio and an eagle’s-eye view of the CNN main newsroom. Every Thursday morning at 8:30, HLN provides an exclusive look inside the Morning Express with Robin Meade show, where visitors get the chance to watch the live broadcast and meet Robin Meade.

5. Hike the world’s largest exposed mass of granite. Make the 1.3 mile trek or ride the sky lift up Stone Mountain. With more than 3,300 acres of natural beauty, a variety of outdoor attractions, entertainment and recreation, Stone Mountain is the most visited attraction in Georgia. Visitors can now climb to new heights on Sky Hike, a quarter of a mile course that allows visitors to trek through the treetops by mastering wooden bridges, balancing on a single rope suspended in the air and climbing to the top of vertical net bridges.