AtlantaGa.com

Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia and the third largest city in the United States. The metropolitan population consists of nearly 6 million individuals. Over the past decade, and especially since hosting the 1996 Olympic Games, the population of Atlanta has grown exponentially. Indeed, it is the fastest growing city in the U.S. and the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world.

Residents are attracted to the city because of the abundant job opportunities, high quality of living, and uniquely southern cosmopolitan flair. In terms of job opportunities, a number of hallmark businesses are headquartered in Atlanta, including CNN, The Coca-Cola Company, Turner Broadcasting, AT&T Mobility, and Delta Air Lines. Additionally, Atlanta is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies such as UPS and Home Depot.

Locally nicknamed "ATL", "A-Town", "the A" and "Hotlanta", Atlanta is a young city with a median age of 33 years old and it contains over 40 institutions of higher learning including the well-known Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), Georgia State University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College (from which Dr. Martin Luther Jr. graduated). Atlanta’s median household income is $50,000, which is a reflection of its emphasis on education. Atlanta contains over 1,500 churches, nearly 300 public parks, 8,000 restaurants, 350 bars and nightclubs, over 50 movie theatres, and approximately 100 public golf courses.

Quality of life in Atlanta is high, mainly because real estate is so reasonably priced compared to other regions of the country. Home buyers can acquire a new or historic home on acres of land for a median price of approximately $200,000. Atlanta is also a health conscious city with some of the country’s most state-of-the-art fitness centers (e.g., Midtown Athletic Club, Concourse Athletic Club) and largest farmers markets (e.g., Decatur Organic Farmers Market, Dekalb Farmers Market).

The city’s urban development is not without expansive green areas and parks such as the lively Peidmont Park, which hosts year-round events including the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Screen on the Green. Atlantans have effortlessly combined their rich cultural heritage with avant-guard philosophies and practices to produce a home like no other.

Tourists are attracted to Atlanta for a variety of reasons: historical importance, including being the birthplace of the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr., home to Margaret Mitchell author of 'Gone With the Wind', and the Historic Oakland Cemetery dating back to the 1850's. MLB's Atlanta Braves, NFL's Falcons, NBA's Atlanta Hawks, WNBA's Atlanta Dream, and NHL's Atlanta Thrashers all refer to Atlanta as a place called home. Try a world-class theatre, international dining, boutique retail shopping, infamous golf course, funky neighborhood, or thriving nightlife Atlanta has to offer. The capital of the south welcomes thousands of conference and special events visitors each year, and is home to both the tallest and largest hotels in the southeast (i.e., The Westin Peachtree Plaza and Atlanta Marriott Marquis).

Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta is approximately four million square feet in size and encompasses the Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Dome. The facility is among the top five destinations for conference attendees in the United States. Atlanta is also home to the world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, which opened its doors in 2005 in the heart of downtown. The facility contains 8 million gallons of water and over 100,000 marine animals.

Family fun includes Six Flags Over Georgia, which provides 100 acres of fun and excitement. The amusement park is best known for its roller coasters, but includes rides for the whole family as well as shops and dining facilities. Perhaps one of the more unique attractions Atlanta has to offer is the World of Coca-Cola. At this gigantic facility, visitors can sample over 60 beverages from countries around the world, observe a mechanical assembly line bottling Coca-Cola products, and partake in exhibits such as the 4-D movie theater.

Atlanta mixes the liberal with traditional, new with old, and sophisticated with quaint southern hospitality. It is a city in which Gone with the Wind was set and in which the third largest gay and lesbian population in the United States resides. In this city, individuals can enjoy both down-home comforts and the finer things of life, whether it is indulging at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack or wine tasting at The Dining Room, attending a Braves game or shopping at the trendy Lenox and Phipps Plazas, there is something for everyone in Atlanta, GA. In a sense, Atlanta is a city of contradictions that blend harmoniously together to create a place that is full of charm and novelty.