Atlanta, Georgia

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Summary: A mixed visit that included grand neighbourhoods, the CNN Centre, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and Centennial Olympic Park, with the memorial and the park standing out as the most memorable parts of the day.

We visited Atlanta as part of our Southern States tour in 2012. The city offered a real mixture of experiences, from elegant residential areas to important historical sites and modern attractions.

Exploring Atlanta

We spent time driving through neighbourhoods filled with large, impressive homes. It gave a good sense of the city’s character, which blends modern development with deep historical roots.

CNN Centre

I had been looking forward to seeing the CNN Centre, but it turned out to be a little disappointing. We were unable to visit any of the broadcasting or newsroom areas, which was what I had hoped to see. Instead, the only part open to us was a large food court filled with small restaurants offering many different types of food. Interesting enough, but not the behind‑the‑scenes experience I expected.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and Visitor Centre

This was the highlight of my time in Atlanta. I enjoyed walking around the Visitor Centre and learning more about Dr. King’s life and achievements. Growing up in the UK and being only one year old at the time of his assassination, I had not known much about him, so the exhibits were both informative and eye‑opening.

The most challenging part of the visit was explaining to some of the older people on the tour why I didn’t remember the events of the 1960s. Being one year old at the time makes it fairly obvious. The memorial garden was especially peaceful, with the eternal flame and Dr. King’s burial site providing a thoughtful and respectful tribute to his legacy.

Centennial Olympic Park

I loved Centennial Olympic Park. It must be a great place for a packed lunch if you work in downtown Atlanta. The park was built by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as part of the infrastructure for the 1996 Centennial Olympics, and it now attracts millions of visitors each year.

The park hosts concerts, festivals, and the annual Independence Day celebrations. Its most famous feature is the Fountain of Rings, an interactive fountain with computer‑controlled water jets and lights synchronised to music. Children play in it, joggers cool off in it, and visitors gather around it on hot summer days. There is also a bronze statue of Pierre de Coubertin, regarded as the father of the modern Olympic Games, which adds a nice historical touch to the park.