We included this section because four of the "tourist traps" were actual clue sites. (Several more were on our initial list before we started to pare things down.) To keep these four from being too obvious and out of place, it was then necessary to come up with a long enough list to provide the appropriate cover. There was an idea that we might reference this list with a clue to direct you to the site. (This is why the sites were numbered. In a small font. If anyone noticed, no one bothered to mention it.) When clues were written up and later parceled out to individual sites, we found we didn't need to use this section of the manual as it was originally planned. By then, of course, the idea of a "what to see" section had become firmly entrenched, and I was stuck writing up 50 descriptions for all these locations to provide camouflage for a clue idea that we were no longer going to use. This might be a contributing factor to the amount of humor used in the commentary -- I knew in advance that none of this had to be taken seriously, even if you (the reader) did not.
Our sources:
Atlanta Botanical Gardens
1345 Piedmont Avenue, just north of Piedmont Park
Plants, plants, and more plants. The Atlanta Botanical Garden
is home to several humongous greenhouses, nice outdoor gardens, nature
walks, educational offerings, and a butterfly collection. (Unlike
the one you did in 7th grade, this one features live specimens.)
Atlanta Brewing Company
1219 Williams Street, north of 14th.
Beer, beer, and more beer. The Atlanta Brewing Company is the
proud maker of such quality products as Red Brick Ale and Laughing Skull
Bohemian Style Pilsner. The do a tour-and-tasting deal every Friday
afternoon, which is definitely worth the trip. Of course, from campus
or Home Park it is a relatively short trip but that is definitely part
of its appeal.
Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport
6000 North Terminal Parkway
Well, if you have guests coming in from out of town, they will probably
have already seen this one. What is this doing in a list of tourist
traps and other sights? Well, it is a big tourist trap, for
one thing, to the tune of several hundred millions. It is also the
best place to shop for all your tourist crap: mugs, shotglasses,
t-shirts, postcards, and anything else you could think to emblazon with
the city name or sports team logos can be purchased here. And it's
actually kind of nice since they renovated.
Atlanta Zoo
800 Cherokee Avenue, at the south end of Grant Park
They may have lost their star attraction when Willie B. died, but there
is still plenty to do and see at Zoo Atlanta. Well, if you're six
years old, maybe. Or if you're a biology major who's into this sort
of thing. As an alternative for the rest of you, maybe you should
check out the new Zoo Bar in Buckhead. (Editor's note: the
Zoo Bar closed in Dec. 2000. Bad concept, poor management...)
The Behemoth
7065 Mount Zion Circle, in Morrow
The Behemoth, also known by its official but less descriptive name,
AMC Southlake Pavilion 24, is a really big movie theater. If you
want to see a big-budget action movie with about 500 of your closest friends,
this theater complex is one of your few choices. The comfortable
seats, digital sound, and gigantic screens should be enough to put this
place on your short list.
The Big Chicken
You know where it is.
It probably doesn't hold any records, it isn't world famous, and your
friends from out of town will go blank and stare the first time you mention
it. but take them to the Big Chicken anyway, and they will stare
blankly in awe. The Big Chicken may be the fakest, silliest, most
touristy thing you can name in the metro Atlanta area: It's guaranteed
to be a big hit in the old vacation photo album.
(there is also a Restaurant Listing for
the Big Chicken)
The Biltmore
796 West Peachtree Street
From world-class hotel to world-class eyesore and back again, this
Biltmore could be called a symbol for all of Atlanta. But then they
had to go and fix the place up. The Biltmore has a couple of fine
restaurants, and they do a marvelous Sunday brunch. Odds are good,
however, that unless your guests are staying in the hotel, they will probably
be satisfied with briefly seeing the outside, before doing something (anything)
more interesting. (Editor's note: in the past year, at least
half the Biltmore has been converted to condo apartments and office space.
I'm not sure if a hotel still operates at this location.)
Bobby Jones Golf Course
384 Woodward Way
Bobby Jones Golf Course was named after, you guessed it, Bobby Jones.
If you don't know who Bobby Jones is, report to the Dean of Students office
and turn in your rat Hat. Besides being notable for this connection
(however tenuous) to Georgia Tech, Bobby Jones Golf Course is also worth
remembering because it is open to public. Perfect for any golfer
who has been to long away from his club.
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Luckie Street, in Downtown between Techwood Drive, Luckie Street,
and Marietta Blvd.
Atlanta has very few nice parks, so it is good we managed to squeeze
another one in, even if we had to pay for it. I personally don't
see why WE had to pay for the park (via the sales of approximately 6.02x10ee12
of those vanity brick) when the various Olympic committees made out like
bandits from advertising revenue off of the games. It's just the
Man, keeping us down. The park itself, however it was financed, is
very nice.
Charlie Brown Airport
3952 Aviation Circle
Officially the "Fulton County Municipal Airport", old Charlie Brown
is located just outside the Perimeter, north of I-20. You can find
it on the map. I wouldn't call it much of tourist attraction (though
you can eat lunch here at the Skyline Cafe) but it could be important to
know where it is if your friend from out of town is a rich pilot, and happens
be flying his own plane into town.
Chastain Amphiteater
200 West Weiuca Road
Chastain is home to many concerts in the summer, from the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra to annoying pop bands to swing bands to Bela Fleck and back again.
Chastain is a marvelous venue because they encourage you to bring your
own food and drink into the amphitheater. For those of you already
figuring out how to smuggle alcohol in to your favorite band's concert,
stop straining that one lonely brain cell, because they don't care.
Bring the beer, some barbecue, and a small folding table, and then sneer
at the yuppies noshing on chardonnay and warm brie in the seats next to
you.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Fulton and Cobb Counties
The Hooch, many years ago, used to be a great place to waste a warm
summer afternoon. Now, with pollution and other water quality issues,
you'd be better off going to a pool if you want to get wet. The Chattahoochee
River Naitonal Recreation Area has a bit more to offer thatn just the river,
thought, and the woodland trails are enjoyed by many joggers and bikers
year round. There are several places you can go and park your car,
for the Recreation Area is quite large. Check a map.
Civic Center
380 Pidmont Avenue
The Civic Center is a fairly nice venue, but odds are good you've never
been there. They miss out on a lot of the better shows becasue the
venue are run by the City of Atlanta. The city government would not
be my first choice to run a lemonade stand, let alone a place this size,
but every now and then they can steal a prize show away from the Fox Theater.
Miss Saigon, for example, played the Civiv Center, but if I remember correctly
that was because the helicopter used in the set didn't fit in the Fox.
Oh, and don't forget "Jeopardy!", whne they came though town just this
past March (Editor's note: March 2000) they taped their shows
right here.
CNN Center
One CNN Center, go figure
For those of you living under a rock or in some other place without
basic cable, Cnn broadcasts worldwide from right here in downtown Atlanta.
And you, you lucky stiff, can be a part of that TV magic. Studio
tours are given several times daily, and at the end of the tour you even
get to hear a few words from Ted himself (on video tape). One caution,
my friends: the tour is not free. My suggestion would be to
score some hockey tickets first (the Thrashers play next door) and then
do the studio tour just to waste time. That way the outing won't
feel like a total waste if you're disappointed by the tour.
The Cyclorama
800-C Cherokee Avenue, in Grant Park
Ahem, from the brochure, "This 100-year-old musem tells the history
of he 1864 Battle of Atlanta through a massive circular painting and narrated
dialog." It's a sit-down show nowadays, though I understand at one
point you had to walk around inside the building to see the entire mural.
It's fairly interesting, though it reminded me too much of a classroom
lecture, from the uncomfortable seats and dusty subject matter, right down
to the strong urge to take a nap. While the cyclorama might appeal
to some, like Tim and other students of "The War of Northern Aggression",
you might want to take a nap in the park, on the nice comfortable grass,
while your friends are inside.
ESPN Zone
3030 Peachtree Road, at the intersection of Peachtree and Buckhead
Avenue
The newest of those annoying theme restaurants is the ESPN Zone, conveniently
located in Buckhead with the other bars, and not hidden downtown like the
Hard Schlock Cafe or Planet Copycat. The food here is OK. You're
not going to come here for th food. The gift shop, yeah, it's nice
and all, but you're not going yo come here for the hats and t-shirts either.
The Throne Zone, that is why you must make this pilgrimage, my son.
It's like my living room on horse steroids: Big Screen TV, Big Ass
Recliners, and someone to bring you food and beer. Come, my friends,
and join me at the ESPN Zone, and we will live like kings!
Fernbank Natural History Museum
767 Clifton Road, north of Ponce
Since we have only one natural history museum, we are lucky that it
is such a nice one. The permanent exhibits are well done, and the
visiting collections will usually knock your socks off. Of course,
if science doesn't quite do it for you (you cretin) then you might also
want to check out the IMAX theater here.
The 14th Street Playhouse
173 14th Street, at 14th and Juniper
Home to three different stages and at least six of Atlanta's small,
independent theater companies, the 14th Street Playhouse has got a show
running almost every night of the week, all year long. Look in the
Loaf for show times and dates, and try to make it down here at least once.
You have a responsibility to help support the Arts.
Fox Theater
The Fabulous Fox Theater, the premier venue for just about anything
that even remotely resembles a public performance, is home tot he best
shows and concerts and shows here in Atlanta. They have, at times,
hosted the Atlanta Opera, Blues Traveler, Sting, top Broadway shows like
Phantom and Les Mis., and nearly everybody else. The Fox is also
on the National Register of Historic Places, because of its unique architecture.
Georgia Dome
The street address is One Georgia Dome Drive. Gee, that's helpful...
The Georgia Dome is that big hulking thing west of downtown -- you
may have seen it. The Dome is home to the Falcons, high school football
championships, monster truck shows, tractor pulls, and numerous other "sports"
events designed to appeal to the redneck and country music fan in all of
us. Yeah, I don't go there either. (Editor's note:
with the recent ACC B-Ball tourney at the Big Top, the management has proved
to me and everyone that they can host top sporting events. Apparently,
the Dome just chooses not to on a regular basis.)
Hard Rock Cafe
215 Peachtree Street
It's the other theme restaurant at the intersection of International
and Peachtree in downtown. Do you really need another t-shirt?
Particularly from the Hard Schlock Cafe that's in the same town you live
in? I didn't think so. Other than the gift shop, a necessary
shop for tourists who must collect a t-shirt from every Hard Rock in existence,
I can think of no good reason to visit this restaurant. Your out-of-town
guests may insist on it, however, so learn where it is anyway.
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street
The High Museum, contrary to popular belief, is not called "High" because
of its altitude or the perceived importance of the art collection housed
here. It is named after Mrs. High, a nineteenth century widow who
died without heirs, and donated her Peachtree Street mansion to become
the city's first art museum. (Yes, Matt really does know too much
trivia.) The mansion is long gone, of course, but the new building
is much better suited to the purpose anyway. The High's permanent
collection is nice enough, if you like modern and folk art, but the visiting
exhibits are really the reason to come here. Picasso, Rockwell, and
Monet are just a few of the artists whose work has been featured here in
the past year. (Note: 1999-2000, of course: the 12
months before this was originally published)
Historic Roswell and Roswell Square
um, it's in Roswell.
Founded in 1838, and burned by Sherman in 1864, Historic Roswell is
one of those old town squares trying to look both quaint and historically
important, but different enough to be considered more important than all
the other quaint and historically important town squares in nearly every
other small town for at least a 500 mile radius. If you go there
and take the tour, you'll have to let me know if they succeeded.
Jimmy Carter Center, Library, and Museum
441 Freedom Parkway
No, this facility does not feature exhibits about peanut farming.
It is dedicated to the ongoing work and accomplishments of Jimmy, Georgia's
favorite president. From securing democracy and elections in countries
whose names you've never heard of and can't pronounce, to his continuing
involvement with and commitment to Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy has proved
to be a better statesman since we kicked him out of office then he ever
could have been while stuck in that house up in Washington.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Cobb County
Conveniently located on Kennesaw Mountain, this site is chock full
of historic importance, at least for all the Civil War and military history
buffs out there. Watch wbhere you step out here: people are
still finding bullets, so you may have just tread on a small but important
historical artifact. This site also features over 11 miles of Union
and Confederate earthwork defenses.
King Center
449 and 550 Auburn Avenue
Officially it's called the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Site,
but the site itself along with the accompanying museum and vistor's center,
as well as the building housing the foundation still run by the Reverend's
family (the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change)
are all usually collectively referred to by the shorter apellation.
The King Center is loacted in the historic Auburn Avenue district (a.k.a.
"Sweet Auburn") which is worthy of a visit in and of itself, for
those of you who want to learn more about the dynamic black community here
in Atlanta and their role in the events and history of the century just
past. The King Center is almost always being visited by one school
group or another, so finding a place to park amongst all the big yellow
school buses can be a problem. Take Marta instead.
Lakewood Amphitheater (name changed in 2001 to the Hi-Fi Buys
Amphitheater)
2002 Lakewood Way. take the Lakewood Freeway exit off of I-75/I-85,
and head east.
Lakewood is the home of the summer rock concert. So many bands
play here I can't even start to list them all -- check the web (it used
to be run by HOB productions, and still may be) or the latest copy of Creative
Loafing for concert info. Lakewood has both a section with permanent
seats and a lawn area, but the lawn seats are usually both cheaper and
more fun. If your looking for something to do tonight, (editor's
note: original date of publication April 15, 2000) well then,
Lakewood is not the place; the first act won't open here for another month.
Lenox and Phipps Shopping Malls
3393 and 3500 Peachtree Road
These are the twin mall-like structures at Peachtree and Lenox Road,
in case you hadn't seen them before. These two shopping nodes house
more stores than you can shake a stick at. Offhand, I can only think
of one thing you can't buy here, but maybe I just don't know which store
clerk at Macy's I should be asking for. If your relatives are anything
like mine, you have at least one aunt or cousin or grandmother who thinks
shopping a strange mall is enough of a reason to make an out-of-town trip,
all by itself. These two malls, plus the new Mall of Georgia, will
call these avid shoppers like moths to the flame.
The Leviathan
2600 Cobb Place Lane, in Kennesaw
Also known as the AMC Barret Commons 24, this is another really huge
movie theater complex. Like its sister on the Southside (the Behemoth)
the Leviathan offers stadium seating, digital sound, and a bunch of truly
cavernous theaters. The Leviathan differs in that it is both never
and a hell of a lot closer to our new house up in Marietta.
Mall of Georgia
3333 Buford Drive (a.k.a. state route 20) between I-85 and I-985 in
Gwinnett County
I understand that this place is really huge. I wouldn't know,
I've never been thre. A shopping mall, particularly one that is as
out of the way as this one is, just doesn't call me enough to force me
to make a pilgrimage. Check the theater listings, though -- they
have a IMAX theater there.
Marietta Square
Um, it's in Marietta
With a number of small, funky shops and some nice restaurants, Marietta
Square makees a nice change of pace for those of you tired of being shopping-mauled
in places like Lenox, North Point, and the Mall of Georgia. It is
most definitely worth a visit, particularly on a warm spring afternoon
when you don't mind at all that you are outside rather than in some stuffy
mall.
The New American Shakespeare Tavern
499 Peachtree Street
Don't let the name change fool you: these fellows are the same
act that operated as the "Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern" for years.
The new name merely adds a veneer of respectability to suit their critical
acclaim and accomplishments. Their roots are even grimier that most
would expect, considering their first performances were part of a stunt
pulled by out-of-work actors and perpetrated on the premises of Manuel's
Tavern all the way back in 1984. For six years they operated out
of that neighborhood dive, until mocing to their current digs on Peachtree.
A word to the wise: drink the beer here (mmmm.... Beer and Bard)
but eat dinner before the show as their kitchen leaves a little to be desired.
These guys also get bonus points for using the phrase "raison d'etre" on
their web page.
Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Avenue
Founded in 1850 and encompassing more than 88 grass covered acres,
Oakland Cemetary is home to more than 40,000 people. They are all
dead, of course, but if they could vote, they would constitute the 12th
largest municipality in the state of Georgia. Among the notables
buried here are golfer Bobby Jones, writer Margaret Mitchell, and a whole
bunch of governors and Atlanta mayors. Believe it or not, it even
has its own visitor's center, with tourist maps of the cemetary available
to the public.
Philips Arena
One Philips Drive. I'm beginning to see a trend here...
The new arena is a sight to behold. I visited several times while
it was under construction, and even in the bare-bones-steel-and-concrete
stage I could tell that we had a first class facility on our hands here.
All the seats have excellent sight lines, the in house restaurants make
a nice compliment to the usual concession stands, and of course the concerts
and sporting events make most trips dow here worth the money. Two
tips for those of you who may not have made it down to the arena yet:
first, take Marta, as a station is right there next to the arena, and tokens
are cheaper than parking, and second, day-of-game hockey tickets are available
for only $10 (quantities are limited.)
Piedmont Park
In Midtown, between 10th, Piedmont, and Monroe.
"Atlanta's Front Lawn" may or may not be our answer to New York's Central
Park, but taken on its own merits it is a very nice park indeed.
From the overcrowded trails full of in-line skaters to the many thousands
of people walking their dogs, Piedmont Park is obviously a popular place
to be. And Aside from the advantages offered by the park's paths
and open stretches of grass, there are numerous athletic fields, tennis
courts, a swimming pool, and playground equipment for the young ones.
Of course, my favorite way to enjoy the park is to sit back on the patio
of the Park Tavern while downing a few beers, but this may prove to be
too strenuous an exercise for those of you not in the same kind of physical
shape as myself.
Planet Hollywood
218 Peachtree Street
It's the other theme restaurant at the intersection of International
and Peachtree in Downtown. Yep, its there. I can think of nothing,
good or bad to stay about it. Since it opened, Planet Hollywood really
hasn't made much of a blip on the radar screens. I guess it's still
open; I haven't heard that it closed.
The Roxy
3110 Roswell Road, in Buckhead just north of the Roswell/Peachtree
split.
The Coca-Cola Roxy Theater is a great little venue, playing host to
a number of top musicians and commedians. Conveniently located near
your favorite bar in Buckhead (whichever one that happens to be), the Roxy
is an old movie theater converted into a live act venue, and though a bit
smaller than some others, that just means you're that much closer to the
music. Check the web page of Creative Loafing for current listings.
Sci-trek, the Science and Technology Museum of Atlanta
395 Piedmont Avenue
Sci-trek offers one of those interactive, hands-on experiences that
is a whole lot of fun and supposedly also very educational. I don't
know about that second part, but you are going to feel like a kid in a
toy store in this place. Sci-trek has over 150 permanent exhibits,
each based on or demonstrating some sound scientific principle, and they
actually want you to go up and touch the stuff. If your out-of-town
contingent of visitors includes some young ones, than in my opinion
this is the best place to go.
Six Flags over Georgia
Take the Six Flags exit on I-20 west of town, just a few minutes outside
of I-285
Now home to eight big roller coasters, Six Flags is once again looking
like a major amusement park. Ticket prices are probably higher than
you remember, but numerous coupons and offers are available. With
a little advance planning and a coke can, you can get in at a substancial
discount. Six Flags has been open since mid-March, so get on down
there while the little ones are still in school and the park is less crowded.
Stone Mountain Park
It's that big rock east of Atlanta. Kind of hard to miss...
Stone Mountain Park consists of 3,200 acres of beautiful green space,
and on Big Ass Rock. Most noteable for the nightly Laser Show and
the Big Ass Carving (even bigger than Mount Rushmore, in actual fact),
Stone Mountain is one of those must-visit kind of places for nearly every
tourist. While other attraction exist in the park (the railroad,
museum, tram to the top of the rock, etc.) the really big deal is the Laser
Show. Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket, and some folks to pass the
time with until sunset, and then enjoy the show.
Sweetwater Creek State Park
Douglas County
More green space than you though someone from Atlanta would have access
to, and a hell of a lot closer than you think. Fishing, picnics,
hiking, trail biking, and a Nature Conservation and Wildlife Area round
out a list of things to do here.
The Tabernacle
152 Luckie Street
Originally a Baptist church, and then ever so briefly a House of Blues
location, the Tabernacle has proven to be one of the best legacies Downtown
Atlanta got out of the Olympics. Run by a former HoB promoter and
executive, the Tabernacle manages to pull in an impressive array of musicians
and bands who otherwise would be stuck playing much smaller venues.
Turner Field
755 Hank Aaron Drive
Watching baseball on TV is fine and all, but nothing beats the experience
of being drunk off your ass at the game itself. Today (editors
note: 4/15/2000) the Bravos take on old-home-town rivals, the
Milwaukee Brewers, in an afternoon game. Unfortunately, this game
is being played in Milwaukee -- though we might give bonus points to a
team who can bring back a program and score card from the game.
Underground Atlanta
50 Upper Alabama Street
Ignore the street address above, just head downtown and you'll find
it, smack dab in the middle of Downtown near Peachtree, MLK Jr. Dr. and
Central Avenue. Or take Marta tot he Five Points station and then
just follow the signs. Underground is much improved in recent years,
though the above-ground portion still looks a little bit like a deserted
movie set. The stores actually sell things you might want to buy,
and while Kenny's Alley is still about half empty, it has finally stabilized
as far as the number (and quality) of restaurants is concerned. If
you do come to Underground, remember to bring a fair amount of cash (or
credit) as nothing is really all that cheap. Also try to work in
a visit to the nearby World of Coke, as long as you're in the neighborhood.
Variety Playhouse
1099 Euclid Avenue, in Little Five Points
The Variety is a 5000 seat theater situated in the heart of the colorful
Little Five Points district. True to its name, it features many different
acts in a variety of musical genres, from folk rock to acid jazz.
The Varsity
Conveniently located next to Georgia Tech, with other locations scattered
around town.
It's time to get your oil changed. I am sure that for at least
one person on your team, all I have to do to set off a craving for the
Varsity is to mention how good a Frosted Orange would taste right now.
Mmmm... Frosted Orange. Now that I have that out of the way, let
me just say that for some reason the Varsity is an internationally recognized
Atlanta landmark, and most out of town visitors will insist on eating here
at least once during their visit.
White Water
2250 Cobb Parkway; take exit 265 off I-75 north of town, and then follow
the signs.
I used to love going to this park as a kid, but that was before I found
out about things like skin cancer and e. coli. If you do come here,
definitely bring the sun screen, and stay away from anything that looks
like a kiddie pool. Also, be sure to check the weather, 'cause early
in the season you can really freeze your butt off.
Whole World Theater
Spring Street in Midtown, north of 14th.
You may have caught this act on cable TV as part of Turner South's
new program offerings, but if you haven't seen them live than you are missing
out on one of Atlanta's hidden treasures. Now that improvisational
comedy has taken off again (thanks to Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, and Wayne
Brady -- and Drew Carey, who does nothing but gets all the credit for "Whose
Line Is It Anyway?") tickets for other improv troups (including this one)
are in demand. With a little advance planning, you can still get
in here and see what all the laughing is about.
Woodruff Arts Center
1280 Peachtree Street
The Woodruff Arts Center is a campus taht includes the Alliance Theater,
the Atlanta College of Art, Symphony Hall, and the nearby High Museum and
14th Street Playhouse. This is it. While other organizations
keep the arts alive in their own way, none can match the scale, scope,
or funding that the Woodruff Arts Center has managed to draw together for
almost four decades.
World of Coke
55 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
While this is probably the single most blatant piece of commercial
propaganda ever disguised as a fun, educational family experience, it is
nonetheless a fairly neat place to visit. This Museum[sic] features
historic[sic] exhibits all about your favorite home town beverage, Coca-Cola,
and all the other fine products from our friends across North Avenue.
More importantly, there is a tasting room at the end of the tour, where
you can try to suck down an equivalent liquid volume to try and match the
price of admission. That's right, the World of Coke is not free,
so bring along some pocket money for the front gate.
Copyright 2000
Matthew Blind and
Team Blues: Get-a-Clue 2000 Game Control