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During your Atlanta vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Six Flags Over Georgia
One of the state's major family attractions, Six Flags offers a great day's entertainment. Arrive early (at least 30 min. before opening), note where you've parked in the vast lot, and take 10 minutes or so to plan out your show and ride schedule.The park's 10 areas have themes centered around different regions, from Southern (Cotton States, Confederate, Georgia, Lickskillet, and Promenade), to European (France, Britain, Spain), to American (U.S.A.), to Gotham City (featuring Batman The Ride). Costumed Looney Tune characters (Sylvester, Daffy Duck, and others) roam the park greeting kids (hint: check out the gazebo in the Promenade section to meet that wascally wabbit Bugs Bunny).Thrill rides include several watery options, such as Splashwater Falls (plummet down a soaring 50-ft. waterfall), a log flume, and Thunder River (a simulated whitewater rafting adventure). White-knuckle coasters include the Georgia Scorcher (one of the Southeast's tallest and fastest stand-up roller coasters), the Viper (which goes from 0-60 mph in less than 6 sec. and has a 360-degree loop), Ninja (the "black belt" of roller coasters, turning riders upside down five times and offering thrilling loops, dives, and corkscrew turns), the Georgia Cyclone (a classic wooden roller coaster with 11 dramatic drops, patterned after Coney Island's famous thrill ride), the Great American Scream Machine (another classic wooden coaster), and Mind Bender (a triple-looper). Other highlights are Batman The Ride (a twisting roller coaster with ski-lift-like seats), Great Gasp (a 20-story parachute jump), Riverview Carousel (a merry-go-round from the early 1900s), and Free Fall (ever wonder what it would be like to fall off a 10-story building?). A less dizzying adventure is Monster Plantation, a Disneyesque boat ride through an antebellum mansion haunted by over 100 animated monsters. And there's much, much more.Shows vary from year to year, but they usually include a major musical revue, a country music show, a golden-oldies show, thrill cinema adventures on a 180-degree screen, and an animated character show. In addition, headliners such as SheDaisy and John Michael Montgomery play the 8,072-seat (with lawn seating for 4,000) Southern Star Amphitheatre.There are restaurants and snack bars throughout the park, though you might consider bringing a picnic.
The APEX (African-American Panoramic Experience) Museum
This museum chronicles the history of Sweet Auburn, once Atlanta's foremost black residential and business district, and serves as a national African-American museum and cultural center. The museum's Trolley Car Theater, a replica of a turn-of-the-century tram that ran on Auburn Avenue, presents a 12-minute multimedia presentation, Sweet Auburn: Street of Pride, that acquaints visitors with the area's history. Sweet Auburn history also comes to life in tableaux such as a replica of an Auburn Avenue barbershop and a re-creation of the 1920s-era Yates & Milton's Drugstore (Atlanta's first black pharmacy), featuring some original furnishings. There are interactive displays for children. The APEX recently added a tribute to the late Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr., Atlanta's first black mayor. Inquire about special events and workshops taking place during your visit to Atlanta.Across the street from the APEX Museum, at 100 Auburn Ave., is Herndon Plaza, where you can see a permanent exhibit on the Herndon family (former slave Alonzo F. Herndon founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company), and changing shows featuring the works of African-American artists.
White Water
Forty acres of wet, splashy fun await you at White Water, one of the largest water parks in the South. Its star attraction is the $1-million Tree House Island, a four-story fantasy treehouse with over 100 different activities -- curvy slides, net bridges, water cannons, chutes, and more. A 1,000-gallon bucket of water empties over the whole attraction every few minutes. Other park highlights include Cliffhanger, a 990-foot free fall (one of the tallest such attractions in the world); the 735-foot Run-A-Way River, an enclosed tunnel raft ride; the "Atlanta Ocean," a 750,000-gallon wave pool; and a host of different slide and splash experiences. There's much more, including a special section for children 48 inches and under called Little Squirt's Island, offering 25 tot-size water attractions. Adjacent Captain Kid's Cove has dozens of additional activities for kids age 12 and under. Restaurants and snack bars are on the premises, as are rental lockers and shower facilities. Swimsuits are essential.Next to White Water is American Adventures (tel. 770/424-9283), an indoor/outdoor family amusement park featuring children's rides in the Fun Forest (bumper cars, a small roller coaster, a tilt-a-whirl, and others); a classic carousel; a go-cart track; a penny arcade with over 130 games; Professor Plinker's Laboratory -- a large children's play area with ball crawls and nets to climb; 18-hole miniature golf; and the Foam Factory, a huge, multilevel interactive play area featuring scads of foam ball activities. It's all geared to children age 12 and under. A family-style restaurant is on the grounds. Admission to American Adventures is $15 plus tax for children 36 inches and up, $5 plus tax for adults and children age 3 and under. If you just want to visit the Foam Factory, admission is $3 for parents and children age 3 and under, $6 for children ages 4 to 17. The park is operated seasonally. Call for open dates and hours.
Super 8 Motel - Atlanta/Jonesboro Road
Welcome to the Super 8 Atlanta/ Jonesboro Rd. We are located only minutes from all of the best attractions Atlanta has to offer including the Atlanta Aquarium, CNN center and the World Congress center. Our staff can direct you to some of the best restaurants the area has to offer. Come and stay with us and our friendly team will assist you with all of your ...
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