Staff Favorites

Adjacent to Piedmont Park, the sprawling gardens provide the perfect setting for a leisurely afternoon stroll. Here you can explore over 30 acres of stunning outdoor gardens that will make you forget you’re just minutes away from bustling downtown Atlanta.

This summer, take a trip down the rabbit hole at Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined, fall for delicate and colorful orchids from around the world at the Orchid Daze exhibit, and let the little ones run around in the interactive Children’s Garden. From an expansive permanent collection of art installations by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly to an active amphibian conservation program featuring rare and threatened species, the Atlanta Botanical Garden offers something for everyone to enjoy.

Guests have to be 21 or older and will get to experience the beautiful magic of the aquarium after hours—all while jamming out to throwbacks with a live DJ, sipping on cocktails, and enjoying access to all 5 galleries. Don’t forget to wear your 2000’s inspired outfit!

Admission is from 7:00 pm to -10:00 pm and tickets include 2 drinks. Plus, Wolfgang Puck dining options are available for purchase in Café Aquaria until 9:00 pm.

Planning on staying for the night? The VIP and Sleepover ticket includes access to an exclusive VIP section and bar, 4 drink tickets, and a small bites buffet from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

For members, tickets cost $29.95 for general admission, and for non-members, $39.95.

Purchase your tickets today!

Gather over ice-cold beer, delicious bourbon, and great music at this lively event! With over 60 different beers and 40 bourbons, each guest will receive a souvenir glass, and an opportunity to participate in multiple seminars—Tasting Theater with Master Distillers, Brewmasters, and Pit Masters from the Deep South.

Browse hot sauces, BBQ accessories, and enjoy amazing contests on the main stage: Atlanta’s Best Beer Belly, Drink Like a Lady, and of course, bacon-eating competitions.

Planning on spending the day? There will be a VIP area with delicious food and exclusive specialty tastings—lots of local restaurants will be sharing their famous Southern dishes.

General admission is just $29 and VIP admission starts at $89. We hope you enjoy!

After you’ve sampled hundreds of Coke flavors, you can view artifacts from a bygone era, and learn the real story behind Coke’s secret formula. Take a tour through myth and fact of the creation, history, and distribution of this tasty and famous drink.

If you’re really looking to capture the full experience, you can even take a photo with the famous Coca-Cola Polar Bear. On your way out, make sure to stop by the Pop Culture Gallery to learn about how Coca-Cola became the powerhouse name that it is today.

Whether you’re in town for business or pleasure, this magical festival is sure to light up your evening. Taking place in Centennial Olympic Park, this year’s theme is “Into the Wild” and will feature handcrafted lanterns of over 25 different kinds of animals, including depictions of endangered species, highlighting the importance of animal protection. Plus, this year will have interactive lanterns that visitors can experience up close. 

There will be plenty of booths with sweet treats and Chinese paintings for you to keep as a souvenir or even give as a gift. Along with incredible and huge lanterns, there will be an array of authentic Asian food selections and exciting live performances—featuring acrobatics, dancers, theatre performances, and more. Start planning your visit today!

Sip and savor 40-45 different varieties of wine from all over the world, ranging from red to sparkling, along with all the cheese you could imagine. Not a wine person? Don't worry, there will be a beer and cocktail tent too! Tickets include a souvenir tasting glass, complimentary wine, and of course, delicious cheese to sample.

This tour of culinary delights is simply a can’t-miss. We highly suggest trying everything! Italian wines include Asti-Coppo Moncalvino Moscato d'Asti, Orvieto-Campogrande Orvieto, Coppo Gavi La Rocca, Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio, Benvolio Pinot Grigio, Frescobaldi Chianti Castiglioni, Chianti Rufina Nippozano, Barolo Riva Leone, and more. All-inclusive tickets for ages 21 and older are just $65, and designated driver tickets are only $45. Learn more about the event and buy your tickets today!

Beginning in Piedmont Park, the Halloween Half Marathon & 5K will be taking place on Sunday, October 27th. Not only is this a running event, but the perfect place to show off that costume you’ve been wanting to pull out for years. Not a runner? Trust us, it’s still a joy to watch the runners decked out in full costume as they make it to the finish line.

This event invites runners of all skill levels to join! Awards will be presented to the top 3 costumes in each age category, so if you’re going to participate, we highly suggest going all out. 

This year, make sure to bring some extra sneakers. Gently worn, used, and new athletic shoes will be collected and donated to Sneakers4Funds to raise money for local schools and developing nations like Haiti, who can sell the sneakers in their local communities to support their families.

Lace-up your running shoes and register today!

This museum looks more like a Coca-Cola-themed campus dedicated to showcasing “the worlds most famous and most loved beverage brand” rather than a traditional museum.
Take a tour through myth and fact, history and legend, creation and distribution of the world’s first (and most beloved) soft drink. Learn how one lone pharmacist launched a global empire of sweetness. Get behind the scenes knowledge on Coke’s patented bottling process. Sample hundreds of Coke flavors, view artifacts from a bygone era, then learn the real story of Coke’s secret formula from inside the famous Coca-Cola Vault. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to have a photo-op with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear! Finally, stop by the Pop Culture Gallery and learn how it was the fans of the brand that made Coca-Cola the powerhouse name it is today.

CNN is famous for revolutionizing the television industry by introducing a news-only, around the clock network discussing the things that mattered most to the general public. What’s now known as the “CNN Effect,” a term coined for CNN’s real-time play-by-play coverage of the Gulf War, has now become the news standard globally.

Today, CNN makes its world headquarters in Downtown Atlanta, and offers studio tours to the public, showcasing the lifestyle of hard-hitting researchers, writers, producers, and their mission to keep the public up-to-date on “the story.” Learn what it takes to make a broadcast, visit the anchor room, see special effects, and even have the chance to even play news anchor yourself when you sit behind the big desk for your photo op. Get the whole story here.

This is a good old fashioned parade. Originating from the celebration of our country’s Bicentennial in 1976, the parade is perfect for the solo traveler or as a family event. This year’s theme is “Happy Birthday” and will feature local marching bands, stunning parade floats, clowns, and performing animals. You might even be able to catch a glimpse of a surprise celebrity guest!

The parade route is about two miles long and runs from the intersection of Mount Vernon Road at 9:00 a.m. to Dunwoody Village. After the parade, be sure to head for the grounds in front of Dunwoody Village where there will be concerts, parade awards, citizenship swearing-in, kids zone, and plenty of local food vendors.

This annual festival benefits in the Civic Association, dedicated to keeping the Virginia-Highland Neighborhood of Atlanta the most resident-friendly by building new parks, local schools, and businesses within the community. Located about ten miles from our hotel, the festival is the perfect way to spend a weekend in Dunwoody.

Dozens of bands will take the main stage with a variety of tunes to put a song in your heart and a skip in your step. The festival also features two different artist’s markets. The Juried Artist Market is where you’ll find two hundred of the best artists in the Southeast showcasing their original work. The Makers’ Market is where you can stock up on fragrances, soaps, lotions, candles, honey, and other homemade items. Be sure to check out their events page for the full lineup.

Phoenix Rises
Atlanta is the only North American city to ever be razed to the ground. In 1864, General Sherman marched into Atlanta on a bitter November day and torched the city. Only 400 buildings were saved, but the city itself quite literally rose from the ashes. Our city's symbol is the phoenix.

Oh, the Peaches
Except you won’t find very many peaches here—at least not in their delicious, juicy form. It’s thought that the association with peaches in Atlanta is actually a mispronunciation of the English translation of the name “Standing Pitch Tree,” given to the area by the indigenous peoples. Today, over sixty streets in Atlanta are named “Peach Tree.”

Frequent Flyers—Really
Almost every airport on the planet claims to be the busiest in the world, but Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport actually is! The airport itself is larger than forty-five football fields put together. Atlanta is a mere three-hour flight from most major American cities, making this airport a popular travel staple.

Our beloved Atlanta Braves have called the park home since their move in 2017, but the park and grounds have much more to offer than the mere surge of adrenaline found from the seats of 40,000 screaming fans.

Behind home plate, you’ll find the most extensive collection of Braves memorabilia, artifacts, and history in the city. Art-lovers will appreciate the nine-foot-tall snapshot statue of the famous Hank Aaron, crafted by world-renown artist, Ross Rossin. Baseball fans will swoon when seeing the moment Aaron shattered Babe Ruth’s home run record captured in bronze. When you’re finished here, head beneath the dugouts and see your favorite players in action at the new indoor batting cages or make your way to the Terrapin Taproom and relax with a pint of Georgia’s favorite brew.

This park is fun for the whole family with an array of challenging obstacle runs, zip lines, and aboveground feats to dazzle and thrill. Whether you are a first-timer, novice, intermediate, or expert level tree walker, you’ll receive the training and resources necessary to keep you safe as you spend over two hours exploring the trees.

For your safety, be sure to wear closed-toe shoes to Treetop Quest—no flip flops or sandals of any kind will be permitted on the course. You’ll also need time to sign waivers for you and your children and time to learn how the harness equipment works. Try to show up to the park a half hour or more before your scheduled start time as instructors will be waiting to train you. Adventure is waiting. Find it in Dunwoody.

Sprawling out over 38,000 acres, Lake Lanier sits 45 minutes north of Atlanta. Constructed as a reservoir for the Chattahoochee River, the 59-square-mile basin was completed in 1956, and quickly became a favorite attraction for Georgians across the state.

From the intrepid outdoorsman to the Sunday lounger, Lake Lanier has something for everyone. The reservoir is stocked with largemouth bass, brook trout, and more, promising bountiful fishing. It’s 692 miles of shoreline are perfect for sunbathing, wading, and boat spotting; and with 10 marinas scattered along the coast, you can plan a soothing day of sailing. Looking for something a bit more involved? Grab an oar and hop in a racing shell: In 1996, Lake Lanier hosted the rowing and canoeing events at the Summer Olympics.

So rally your family, rent a car, and hit the road: The water’s calling.