Atlanta, Georgia, Family Vacation

Atlanta is called "Hotlanta" for good reason -- it's hot, hot, hot. It's also a city of superlatives: It has the biggest aquarium, the coolest Coca Cola Museum, and the largest white-water park in the southern U.S. Outdoor activities that celebrate nature, like the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Kangaroo Conservation Center, abound, as does high culture -- from art museums to innovativee puppet theater. A family could spend a month in Atlanta without doing the same thing twice.

Atlanta is a great place to visit any time of the year, but especially in the spring or early fall, when it's less packed than the summer. Spring comes early to Atlanta, and flowers start blooming in March and April while other parts of the country are still under snow.

Atlanta has long, hot summers and mild winters, though it can get chilly and rainy in the winter. The city, lined with trees and flowers, is gorgeous during the spring months when temperatures average 75 degrees. The heat usually starts to subside in September and October. To compensate for the hot weather outside, the air conditioning is usually cranked up inside, so bring a sweater or a light jacket no matter when you visit. View more weather info.

The enormous Hartsfield International Airport (ATL) is the only airport servicing Atlanta and is the hub for Delta Airlines. AirTran, a discount airline (the former ValuJet), is also based at Hartsfield and often offers great deals to and from Atlanta. The airport is so big that it can take up to an hour to get from ticketing to the terminal, and you should expect to walk long distances to your gate. MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit) goes from the airport to downtown for a flat rate of $1.75 and cabs are numerous (and expensive). Most people who visit Atlanta rent a car so they can explore places outside of downtown.

Although Atlanta is not known as a commuter-friendly city, MARTA has been expanding its service. But the truth is that most people drive, and without a car in Atlanta you are a bit stuck. So rent a car but, to avoid the pervasive traffic, use it wisely and leave it parked when you can take MARTA easily to where you want to go.

Look out for uniformed Welcome Ambassadors stationed outside MARTA and at other key locations. These folks are super helpful, so don't be shy about asking them for directions.

Atlantans love an excuse to have a party and the Atlanta calendar is jam-packed with celebrations, conventions, and festivals year round.

• Chinese New Year (Jan.)
• Atlanta Dogwood Festival (April)
• Georgia Renaissance Festival (April)
• Inman Park Festival (April)
• Virginia Highland Summerfest (June)
• National Black Arts Festival (July)
• Latino Festival (Aug.)
• Atlanta Greek Festival (Oct.)
• Little Five Points Halloween Festival and Parade (Oct.)
• Atlanta Botanical Garden's Scarecrows in the Garden (Oct.)
• Stone Mountain Highland Games (Oct.)
• Festival of Trees (Dec.)

Atlanta.net is the official visitors' site.

Many Atlanta attractions offer discounted tickets if you buy them in advance on the Internet. The Atlanta CityPass is an all-in-one pass to some of the city's most popular attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, the New World of Coca Cola, Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour, and elsewhere. There is also a youth city pass option for ages three to 12. The passes must be used within nine days of the date written on the top of the booklet.

• Conventions, anyone? More than 3 million people attended conventions in Atlanta and more than 78 million people went into and out of Hartsfield International Airport in 2005.
• Atlanta is the home to the worldwide headquarters of 30 major companies, including Home Depot, Coca Cola, and the Boys' and Girls' Clubs. The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention is also located in Atlanta.
• Atlanta has 951 shopping centers (you'd have to visit three a day to see all of them in a year), and more shopping center space per capita than any other U.S. city except Chicago.