Northwest Airlines Flights from Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to Atlanta (ATL)
As part of booking roundtrip flights which depart from US airports,
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Northwest Airlines, which operates a daily non-stop flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to Atlanta (ATL) regularly scheduled to depart at 10:20am and arrive at 1:55pm. Usually an Airbus A330-200 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Atlanta, GA is 9 hours and 35 minutes.
During your Atlanta vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Atlanta Botanical Garden
This delightful botanical garden, occupying 30 acres in Piedmont Park, saw the addition of the $4.8 million 25,000-square-foot Fuqua Orchid Center and the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory in 2002. This is part two of a three-part expansion project at the gardens: a children's garden opened in 1999 and the final phase -- a new education center -- is currently being constructed. In the Fuqua Orchid Center, a collection of rare high-elevation orchids, which flourish on cool, wet mountains in South America, are being grown in the warm Southeast. Typically, one would have to go to San Francisco or Seattle to see such plants.Equally exciting is the 16,000-square-foot, glass-walled Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory, housing rare and endangered tropical and desert plants -- and a fascinating exhibit of poison dart frogs (more about them later). With acres of irreplaceable rainforest being bulldozed every minute, the plant species in the conservatory seem all the more special. Approached via an arbored promenade and fronted by a water lily pond, the entrance to the conservatory has a revolving globe showing the many regions of the world where plant life is endangered.The focal point of the conservatory is the misty Tropical Rotunda, housing fern collections, cycads (the most primitive seed-bearing plants known), epiphytes (plants that don't require soil to grow), gorgeous orchids, carnivorous plants, a wide variety of begonias, and towering tropical palms. It's a lush and humid jungle, with brightly hued tropical birds warbling overhead, a splashing waterfall, and winding pathways lined with fragrant hibiscus, ginger, and flowering jasmine vines. Of special interest is a double coconut palm from the Seychelles, growing from the largest and heaviest seed in the plant kingdom. Its first 12-foot leaves have already begun to grow, but it will be 100 years before the tree reaches its full height.In the midst of all this is an intriguing exhibit of Central and South American poison dart frogs -- small, active ground dwellers in unbelievably bright colors (yellow, orange, lime green, cobalt blue) and vivid patterns. About 12 species are exhibited in three large terrariums filled with tropical rain-forest plants and designed to simulate the climates in the frogs' native lands. This exhibit is a big hit with visiting children.Another main section of the garden highlights plants that thrive in North Georgia's extended growing season. Displays in this area include a rock garden, a dwarf conifer garden, an English knot herb garden, a tranquil moon-gated Japanese garden, a rose garden, and annual and perennial displays. The delightful children's garden, with its wonderful climbing structures and whimsical sculptured fountains, has become a hot spot for young families. Lunch is served April through October, Tuesday to Sunday, on Lanier Terrace, overlooking the Rose Garden.Another section of the garden consists of two wooded areas. The 5-acre Upper Woodland features a paved path, a fern glade, camellia and hosta gardens, gurgling streams, beautiful statuary, and a habitat designed to show visitors how to attract wildlife to their own backyards. Still more rustic is Storza Woods, 15 acres of natural woodlands and one of the few remaining hardwood forests in the city. Even though its path is unpaved, it makes for an easy and interesting walk.The arid Desert House displays Madagascan succulents, such as a unique family of spiny plants called Didieriaceae. Here, too, are "living stones" (desert succulents that nature designed to look like pebbles to protect them from predators), tree aloes, caudici-forms (with swollen stems and roots for storing water), and conifers from Africa. Adjoining is an area for special exhibits.The building also houses an orangery of tropical mango, papaya, star fruit, lychee, coffee, and citrus trees. A 1996 addition was an "Olympic" olive tree presented by Greece in honor of the Centennial Olympic Games.There are flower shows throughout the year, along with lectures and other activities. Call to find out what's scheduled during your stay. A marvelous gift shop is on the premises; your purchases help support the garden.
Château Élan Winery & Resort
Surrounded by verdant countryside, Château Élan is a hilltop winery that replicates a 16th-century French estate. Though its first wines were produced in 1985, the winery has already garnered more than 200 awards.Guided tours are given daily between 11am and 4pm (call ahead for exact times). On view are the crushing and pressing machines, oak barrels used to age and flavor the wines, the cask room, and the bottling area. The tours conclude with a wine tasting. Grapes ripen in July/August, so if you're here during harvesting in August and September, you'll actually see the winemaking procedure. More than 300 tons of grapes are harvested and processed each year. The interior of the château, a stage-set version of a Paris street, has a quarry-stone floor, wrought-iron fences, and street lamps. The building houses an art gallery offering monthly exhibits by regional and national artists, displays of antique European winemaking equipment, and a wine market.There are also three on-premises restaurants, so plan to eat lunch or dinner here. Café Élan, open daily from 11am to 10pm, features sandwiches, salads, and light entrees. It's a charming setting, with seating under a green awning. Paddy's Irish Pub, open Saturday at noon, Sunday at 12:30pm, and the rest of the week at 2pm (closing hours vary), serves traditional Irish fare and spirits. The fancier Le Clos, with pale pink walls, lace-curtained French doors, and tables covered with crisp white linen, is open for dinner only Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with seatings from 6:30 to 9:30pm. A seven- or eight-course prix-fixe meal beginning at $78 or $88 features haute-cuisine entrees; appropriate Château Élan wines are served with each course. Reservations are imperative. Men are required to wear a coat and tie.You might also consider an overnight or longer stay at the 277-room Inn at Château Élan, a luxurious resort where facilities include three golf courses (two 18-hole and one par-3, 9-hole) and seven tennis courts (offering pro shops and instruction), an equestrian center, a full-service European-style health spa and salon ("days of pampering" are an option), an outdoor Olympic-size pool, an indoor heated pool, and a fitness center. Room rates begin at $180 double; call the numbers below for details and to inquire about golf, tennis, spa, and other packages. There are also four restaurants at the adjoining Château Élan resort. If the lovely grounds beckon, you can order a gourmet picnic basket from the kitchen at the hotel.
Imagine It! Chidren's Museum of Atlanta
Opened in 2003, Imagine It! is a 30,000-square-foot children's museum conveniently located across the street from Centennial Olympic Park, in an area undergoing some exciting urban renaissance. Based on Howard Gardiner's theory of multiple intelligences, Imagine It! features colorful hands-on exhibits and activities that allow children the opportunity to look, listen, touch, and explore in order to discover first-hand how things work. Fun is the priority in this high-energy environment (the learning just sneaks up). There are four major learning zones: Fundamentally Food, Let Your Creativity Flow, Tools for Solutions, and Leaping into Learning, the specialty zone for toddlers.The museum is recommended for children ages 2 to 8, but all are welcome. Due to high visitor volume, Imagine It! encourages visitors to purchase tickets online in advance to ensure entrance to the museum upon arrival. Make a day of it and visit Centennial Park across the street either before or after your museum visit.
Holiday Inn Atlanta Downtown
This 11-story property offers appealing rooms and one of the better locations for business accommodations, including full conference facilities and services, at a rate that won't break you or your expense account. The hotel is adjacent to the Gift, Apparel, and Merchandise Marts, and Centennial Olympic Park, and 2 blocks from the CNN Center, Philips Arena, and the Georgia World Congress Center. Bathrooms feature amenities by Bath and Body Works. Sixteen rooms are accessible to travelers with disabilities, eight of them with roll-in shower stalls.Facilities: Restaurant; sports bar; nice-size outdoor pool/sundeck; health club; Jacuzzi; concierge; courtesy car (reserve in advance); conference rooms; small business center w/secretarial services; limited room service (during restaurant hours); dry cleaning and laundry service.
Marriott Residence Inn Buckhead
Renovated in 2004, this home-away-from-home was designed to meet the needs of travelers making extended visits, but it's great even if you're spending a single night. Staying here is like having your own apartment, with a private entrance and a large, fully equipped kitchen. The location is good near several excellent restaurants and not far from shopping and nightlife. Accommodations include comfortable living-room areas, and about half the suites have working fireplaces (during the winter, logs are available from the front desk). The most luxurious accommodations are duplex penthouses with vaulted ceilings, full dining-room/office areas, two bathrooms, and living-room fireplaces. Two rooms have been modified for travelers with disabilities. Pets are allowed, with a $125 nonrefundable deposit in studio suites, and a $150 deposit in penthouse suites.The inn offers hot breakfast daily and cocktail-hour parties Monday through Thursday.Facilities: Outdoor pool; basketball/volleyball/paddle-tennis courts; complimentary use of a well-equipped health club nearby (w/every kind of workout equipment, Olympic indoor pool, an outdoor pool, jogging track, and tennis/racquetball/squash courts); Jacuzzi; free shuttle service within a 3-mile radius; coin-operated laundry.
W Atlanta
Pampering the modern business or leisure traveler is the goal of the helpful staff at this boutique hotel. Though it's 20 minutes away from the shopping, dining, and nightlife of the famed Buckhead area, the W Atlanta is a convenient location if your plans include a trip to the World of Coca Cola or the IMAX Theater. Minimalist, light, and very chic, W Atlanta draws Atlanta's discerning business traveler with many business-minded amenities and impeccable service. In fact, the service is tellingly named the Whatever/Whenever Service, and offers just what it says. Where to dine in Buckhead? Any Braves tickets left for the game tonight? Ask and you shall receive.Guest rooms stand well against the pricier Buckhead options and offer a minimalist, boutique hotel look, featuring sleek blond furniture and chrome accents. Whether you're in town for work or play, slow down long enough to enjoy the Rainforest shower and Aveda bath products in every bathroom, as well as the bedroom's pillow-top mattresses with goose down comforters and pillows. Those planning an extended stay might want to request a room with a full kitchen. Perhaps the staff was in a partying mood during our visit, but the elevators were dark and boomed with loud dance music. Corridors were also darkly lit.
