Back in 1837 Atlanta was little more than a hamlet existing to serve as a railway terminus; then came the Civil War that saw the town burned to the ground. Undaunted, 135 years later Atlanta bustles with more than three million people, and has been chosen by numerous leading international companies as the home of their corporate or regional headquarters. The lively, thriving city styles itself as the capital of the 'New South', and its dramatic skyline is littered with gleaming skyscrapers.

Atlanta attracts visitors both for holidays and business, with its plethora of entertainment, shopping and cultural attractions as well as innumerable top class convention and accommodation venues. The downtown Peachtree Centre pedestrianised precinct covers 14 blocks of retail space, including three massive hotels, dozens of restaurants and imposing office towers. There are also plenty of museums, galleries and centres for performing arts, as well as the world's largest aquarium.

Atlanta has not lost its pioneering southern spirit or charm despite its modern guise, and the city's symbol of the phoenix serves as enduring reminder of its troubled past and bright future. The energy that was embodied in its famous sons, Martin Luther King, Jr and Ted Turner (founder of CNN) still crackles in the air and the genteel olde-world atmosphere still lingers in the residential neighbourhoods. Above all, Atlanta radiates a warm welcome in the true tradition of Southern hospitality.

Atlanta History Center

Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta

Admission: $16.50 (adults), $11 (children 4-12 years). Rates exclude tax. Other concessions are available Museum: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday 12pm to 5.30pm. Tullie Smith House and Swan House Tours: Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm

Telephone: (404) 814 4000

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site

Address: 450 Auburn Avenue Atlanta

Admission: Free Daily 9am to 5pm (until 6pm from mid-June to mid-August)

Telephone: (404) 331 5190 or 331 6922 for recorded information

World Of Coca-Cola

Address: 121 Baker Street, Pemberton Place Atlanta

Admission: $15 (adults), $10 (children 9-12); other concessions available Daily, generally 9am to 5pm, but hours vary on weekends and in season

Telephone: (404) 676 5151

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

Address: Atlanta

Admission: Free, but on weekends there is a fare of $2 (adults) and $1 (children) to ride the shuttle bus to the top of the mountain Daily 7.30am to 5pm (In winter, 8.30am)

Telephone: (770) 427 4686

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Address: 1345 Piedmont Ave Atlanta

Admission: $12 (adults), $9 (children 3-17 years), concessions available Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 7pm (April to October), 9am to 5pm (November to March)

Telephone: (404) 876 5859

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Address: 767 Clifton Road Atlanta

Admission: Museum: $15 (adults); $13 (children 3-12). IMAX: $13 (adults), $11 (children 3-12); discounted combination tickets are also available Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Telephone: (404) 929 6300

Stone Mountain Park

Address: Atlanta

Admission: Various packages available. A one-day, all-attraction pass costs $27 (adults), $21 (children 3-11). Vehicle entry to the park is $10. Daily from 10am; closing hours vary according to the season and attraction. Summit Skyride opens daily from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours in summer and on holidays

Telephone: For 24-hour Park information call (770) 498 5690 from within the metro Atlanta area; or 1-800-401-2407 from outside metro Atlanta

Jonesboro

Address: 104 N. Main Street Atlanta

Admission: Road to Tara Museum: $5 (adults); Stately Oaks: $8 (adults), $4 (children). Gone With the Wind Tour: $15 Road to Tara Museum: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm; Stately Oaks: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Gone With the Wind Tour: Monday to Saturday 1pm, or by appointment

Telephone: (770) 478 4800

The Mountains

Address: Atlanta

Georgia Aquarium

Address: 225 Baker Street, Pemberton Place Atlanta

Admission: $26 (adults), $19.50 (children 3-12 years). Free audio tours are available Sunday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm. Extended hours apply during holidays

Telephone: (404) 581 4000

High Museum of Art

Address: 1280 West Peachtree Street Atlanta

Admission: $18 (adults), $11 (child aged 6-17 years). Other concessions are available Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (open till 8pm on Thursday); Sunday 12pm to 5pm. Closed on Monday

Telephone: (404) 733 4444

The Flatiron Building

Address: 84 Peachtree Street Atlanta

The Woodruff Arts Center

Address: 1280 West Peachtree Street Atlanta

Admission: Ticket prices vary for different shows. General admission to the museum is $18 (adults) and $11 (children), with other concessions available Monday 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 12pm to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Telephone: (404) 733 5000

The Fox Theatre

Address: 660 Peachtree Street Atlanta

Admission: Box office is open: Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 3pm, closed on Sundays

Telephone: (404) 881 2100

Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta

Address: 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. NW Atlanta

Admission: $11 each. Children under 2 free Open Monday to Friday from 10am - 4p; Saturday and Sundays from 10am - 5pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Telephone: (404) 659 5437

Wren's Nest

Address: 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd Atlanta

Admission: $8 (adults); $5 (children) Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am – 2.30pm. Storytelling on Saturday at 1pm Admission: $8 (adults); $5 (children)

Telephone: (404) 753 7735

Zoo Atlanta

Address: 800 Cherokee Ave Atlanta

Admission: $18.99 (adult); $13.99 (children) Open Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 5.30pm; Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am – 6.30pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Telephone: (404) 624 9453

Six Flags Over Georgia

Address: 275 Riverside Pkwy. SW Atlanta

Admission: $43 (adults); #30 (children) Weekends only from March to mid-May and September to October; daily Memorial Day to Labour Day. Gates open 10am; closing hours vary

Telephone: (770) 948 9290

Fernbank Science Center

Address: 156 Heaton Park Dr. NE Atlanta

Admission: Tickets prices for IMAX shows vary, but general admission to the museum is $17.50 (adults) and $15.50 (children 3-12) The Museum and IMAX Theatre are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 12pm to 5pm

Telephone: (678) 874 7102

Monetary Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank

Address: 1000 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta Atlanta

Admission: All tours are free of charge Tours are offered from Monday to Friday, at 9:30am, 11am, and 1pm. Tours must be requested, by filling in a form on the Federal Reserve Bank website. Self-guided tours are possible from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Self-guided tours are limited to the Visitor's Centre and the Monetary Museum, and do not need to be scheduled in advance.

Telephone: (404) 498 8500

Inman Park Spring Festival

Where: Inman Park, Euclid Avenue,Atlanta

When: 30 April to 1 May 2011

Southeastern Flower Show

Where: Georgia World Congress Center, International Boulevard,Atlanta

When: February 2012 TBC

October Scarecrow Festival

Where: Atlanta Botanical Gardens,Atlanta

When: All of October (except Mondays) annually

Georgia Shakespeare Festival

Where: Conant Performing Arts Center,Atlanta

When: June to December, 2011

Atlanta Jazz Festival

Where: Woodruff Park,Atlanta

When: Throughout May 2011; Memorial Day Weekend Concert is 28-30 May

The US Masters

Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta,Atlanta

When: 4-10 April, 2011

Peach Drop

Where: Underground Atlanta,Atlanta

When: 31 December annually

The Animation Show

Where: Carter Center,Atlanta

When: April 2011, TBA

Sweet Auburn Springfest

Where: Sweet Auburn,Atlanta

When: May 7-8, 2011

Screen on the Green

Where: Centennial Olympic Park,Atlanta

When: Thursday evenings in June

Haven

Address: 1441 Dresden Drive, Suite 100 Atlanta

Food Type: American

Ann's Snack Bar

Address: 1615 Memorial Dr Atlanta

Food Type: American

Mary Mac's

Address: 224 Ponce de Leon Ave Atlanta

Food Type: American

Bone's

Address: 3130 Piedmont Road Atlanta

Food Type: American

Sotto Sotto

Address: 313 North Highland Ave Atlanta

Food Type: Italian

Murphy's

Address: 997 Virginia Ave Atlanta

Food Type: American

The Dining Room

Address: 3434 Peachtree Road Atlanta

Food Type: French

Nava

Address: 3060 Peachtree Road Atlanta

Food Type: Local

Veni Vidi Vici

Address: 41 14th Street Atlanta

Food Type: Italian

Floataway Café

Address: Suite 15, 1123 Zonolite Road Atlanta

Food Type: French