City Guides GEORGIA AQUARIUM As the first-ever aquarium to be designated as autism certified, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta goes above and beyond for guests with disabilities. It offers Sensory Hours each morning that consist of lower guest capacity, reduced audio, sensory aids and quiet spaces. Sensory bags can be checked out anytime and contain noise-canceling headsets, fidget devices and “I need/I feel” cards to help nonverbal visitors communicate. Whether admiring the animals of the ocean or watching one of the shows, everyone can have an enjoyable visit at this aquarium. — shalese Heard & Cory Lee OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: TWISTED SOUL COOKHOUSE & POURS/ATLANTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU; BACCHANALIA, ATLANTA/ANDREW THOMAS LEE; CHAI PANI/MIA YAKEL. THIS PAGE: GEORGIA AQUARIUM, ATLANTA/GEORGIA AQUARIUM. Do A stroll or bike ride on the Atlanta BeltLine , the 22-mile redeveloped path of former rail tracks circling in-town Atlanta, will take you through some of the most storied communities. Explore Old Fourth Ward , home to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park . Don’t miss Ponce City Market , either, for hip shopping and towering views of Buckhead, Midtown and downtown all from the rooftop Skyline Park . Follow the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail north to Virginia-Highland, known for its quaint boutiques and lively restaurant and pub scene. Take the West End Trail to discover some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, including West End and Westview, where you’ll find the historic Morehouse and Spelman colleges. Then motor downtown to experience world-class attractions like the World of Coca-Cola where you can sip beverages from around the world, guess the ingredients by their scents and see the hypnotic bottling process. Experience for yourself what it was like to participate in a lunch-counter sit-in, where demonstrators sat at segregated lunch counters, via a thought-provoking simulation at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights . Or see all manner of sea creatures in vast underwater exhibits—from penguins and beluga whales to manta rays and seahorses— at Georgia Aquarium . Then get out in nature only miles from downtown Atlanta at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs . Trek a forest-rimmed trail to Civil War-era ruins, then climb the bluffs for views of white-capped river rapids below. EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 87
Official State Travel Guide 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 87
