Atlanta: a bustling Southern metropolis known for its peaches, sweet tea, and role in the Civil Rights Movement.
But beyond the iconic images lies a city of surprising tidbits and quirky secrets. Let’s explore!
- Burned and Reborn: Atlanta rose from the ashes after being burned down during the Civil War, earning its symbol – the Phoenix.
- So Many Peachtrees, Not So Many Peaches: Ironically, though Georgia is known for peaches, most “Peachtree” streets in Atlanta won’t have a peach tree in sight!
- Waffle House HQ: The beloved and iconic Waffle House chain calls Atlanta its home, and you’ll spot these 24-hour diners all over the city.
- World’s Busiest Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport consistently bests all others in passenger traffic, making it truly a hub of travel.
- Coca-Cola’s Secret Formula: The recipe for Coca-Cola, invented in Atlanta, is one of the world’s best-kept secrets, locked away in a high-security vault.
- Film Hub of the South: Thanks to generous tax incentives, Atlanta has become a major film and TV production center, nicknamed the “Hollywood of the South”.
- Home of the Drive-in: The world’s first drive-in movie theatre opened near Atlanta in 1933, changing how we enjoy films.
- Giant Stone Head: Far off the beaten path, you can find the mysterious Rock Hawk effigy, a giant stone face atop a mountain in Putnam County, just outside of Atlanta.
- MLK’s Birthplace: Atlanta was the birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and his childhood home is now a national historic site.
- Varsity Lingo: The Varsity is an Atlanta institution, but ordering can be tricky. Learn the lingo (“What’ll ya have?”) to fit in at this famous drive-in.
- World’s Largest Aquarium: The Georgia Aquarium is a marvel, holding more water than any other aquarium on the planet.
- Giant Chicken: It’s hard to miss the KFC Big Chicken in Marietta, a quirky roadside attraction with moving eyes and beak.
- Strip Club Capital (Surprising, Right?): Atlanta holds the somewhat dubious title of having the most strip clubs per capita in the US.
- Hip-Hop Hotbed: Atlanta is a major force in the hip-hop industry, producing iconic artists like Outkast, T.I., and Ludacris.
- Trees, Trees, and More Trees: Atlanta boasts the nickname “City in a Forest” due to its remarkably dense tree canopy for an urban center.