Atlanta Has Puppets, History and Chocolate Pecan Pie

During the Civil War, Atlanta did indeed burn, but in the years since she has rebuilt, restored and in fact reinvented herself. Down but not out, she rose like the phoenix from the ashes of a bitter conflict to become queen of the American south. Multi-columned antebellum mansions rub shoulders with high rise office buildings and the musings of business are conducted at a slower pace with the pleasing purrs of the local accent. Atlanta, Georgia is the home of southern hospitality.

Traveling to Atlanta, Georgia by air brings you into one of the busiest airport hubs in the nation. An Automated People Mover (APM) System has been in service since 1980, carrying over 200,000 passengers daily between the main terminal and the six airside concourses. The user friendly system displays passenger information in eight languages; English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Korean.

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recently opened a fifth runway to keep up with the demand and will soon open a new 12 gate international terminal. Part of the upgrade includes a new energy efficient car rental facility. In addition to rental cars, transportation options to downtown Atlanta include taxis, limos, shuttles and an extension of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MARTA) which can have you in the city core in twenty minutes. Traveling beyond Atlanta? Greyhound Bus Lines has a pick-up point right at the airport and Amtrak provides a shuttle to its downtown station.

Visitors to Atlanta may choose from spending the night in the historic surroundings of a colonnaded mansion turned B&B, an old fashioned and perhaps themed boutique hotel or the most luxurious of resorts. Many accommodation choices are available within the downtown core and within walking distance of some of the best restaurants and shopping opportunities in the world.

One area in particular, known as Buckhead, is an upscale section of town that sometimes is referred to as the Beverly Hills of the East. Sporting a retail district similar to Rodeo Drive it is home to not only fashion from top designers, but to noted eateries such as Au Pied de Cochon (Intercontinental Hotel), Cassis at the Grand Hyatt and Seasons 52.

Baseball fans can follow the Braves as they chase the World Series Pennant and football lovers can watch the Atlanta Falcons vie for a Super Bowl Championship. Hockey anyone? See some ice action at an Atlanta Thrashers game. Golfers can tee off at a number of challenging courses in the area, some designed by such legends as Jack Nicklaus and Jim Fazio.

While in Atlanta, you'll have the chance to catch a performance of the country's oldest ballet company, the Atlanta Ballet, or the Grammy Award winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Museum lovers will find not only collections dedicated to local and Civil War history, but a unique Center for Puppetry Arts, which is the world's largest museum dedicated to the art of puppetry. After a busy day of exploring find yourself some buttermilk fried chicken and some chocolate pecan pie and relax as you contemplate the many facets of Atlanta, Georgia.

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