Landmarks in Atlanta include the The Varsity (the largest drive-in restaurant on earth), World of Coca Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, CNN, Centennial Olympic Park, the Oakland Cemetery (Atlanta’s oldest), and the golden-domed Georgia State Capitol.

Museums

A rich history, chic design industry and a thriving modern arts scene create quite the collection of museums in this southern peach. The Apex Museum, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and The King Center tell the tale of civil rights in Atlanta. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum hosts a library and a collection of archives, photographs, memorabilia, and occasionally, President Carter himself even makes an appearance. In the arts enclave of Midtown, the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), the High Museum of Art, the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia all have rotating exhibits and events as well.

Music

Live music in the ATL features everything from blues and bluegrass to punk, reggae, hardcore heavy metal and ethereal electronica. But the real claim to fame for this southern city is its hip-hop scene, where Atlanta rap and southern funk were born. Famous Atlanta natives include T.I., Toni Braxton, Lil Jon, Usher, Ciara, Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy, 2 Chainz, Killer Mike, and Andre 3000 from OutKast.

Ferris Wheel Rides

For inspiring big city views, take a ride 20 stories high on the SkyView Ferris wheel. You might not spot your new apartment from here, but the elevation may give a little optimism and fresh perspective.

Eats

With plated perfections like squash blossom grits, foie gras on French toast, and 60-day dry-aged ribeye with potato sauce, Atlanta can’t help but serve its high-brow fodder with a touch of southern-fried sass. The result will enlighten your taste buds. However, if you’re looking for some old-fashioned, mouth-watering soul food, then you can still get your fix at Ponce City Market or Krog Street Market.

Festivals

Atlanta has music, art, food, and marvels for every time of year. In the spring, there’s the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival, the Shaky Knees Festival, the Shaky Beats Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Summer brings the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest, the Tunes from the Tombs Festival (hosted in the historic Oakland Cemetery), and the Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival. Fall is all about Music Midtown, Elevate Art, JapanFest, and the A3C Hip Hop Festival. And in the winter, you have the Children’s Christmas Parade, the Callanwolde Arts Festival, the Atlanta Winter Beer Festival, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

Thanks to its sprawling communities, increasing population and constantly-changing tourist flow, there’s often quite a bit of congestion on Atlanta’s roads between 7am and 10am, or anytime after 4pm.

Public transportation is provided by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), which runs the city’s subway system through Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and Perimeter Center. This is a great option for those who both live and work in close proximity to a stop.

As for everyone else, there’s a new alternative to driving coming to work and it’s called the Atlanta BeltLine. Atlantans are resurrecting the old railroad that formerly encircled the city and turning it into a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, modern streetcars, parks and greenways that will connect 45 neighborhoods. Parts have already been completed around downtown, and you’ll want to keep an eye on what’s to come.

Atlanta sports fans have four major teams: the Braves (MLB), the Hawks (NBA), the Falcons (NFL), and the Atlanta United FC (MLS). Catch a game at SunTrust Park, Phillips Arena, the Mercedes Benz Stadium, or basically any sports bar in town.

Atlanta has pretty mild weather. The average temperature in July is 80 degrees, with a few heat waves sending temperatures up into the 90’s. Winter temperatures usually sit in the 30-degree to 50-degree range, with occasional ice and snow.

Atlanta is a hot southern juggernaut, hosting some of America’s best known companies. Coca-Cola, AT&T, Chick-Fil-A, Home Depot, UPS, Delta Air Lines, Turner Broadcasting, CNN, Cartoon Network and The Weather Channel all have headquarters here. In addition to claiming the country’s third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies, it is also where you’ll find 75% of America’s Fortune 1,000 companies, as well as over 1,250 multinational businesses.