What's New

Atlanta is a city constantly reinventing itself, from reigning as the nation's conventions capital, to hosting the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, to emerging as one of the hottest new vacation spots in the South. Today, visitors to this fine city are greeted by a new landmark structure: the Millennium Gate. Though it didn't rise into the sky until several years after the turn of the new century, the city's 73-foot-tall Millennium Gate was constructed in honor of Atlanta's many philanthropic families. Unveiled July 4, 2008 near the popular Atlantic Station retail wonderland, the arch has been compared to the Washington Arch in New York, the Wellington Arch in London, the Carrousel Arch in Paris, and the Siegestor Arch in Munich. Perhaps it gives Atlanta a bit of cosmopolitan flavor, but you can decide for yourself.

Where to Stay & Dine -- Evidently, developers willing to take a gamble on Atlanta have learned that if they build it, the people will come. With more than 90,000 hotel rooms in the metro area, finding a place to rest your weary feet after a full day of fun and frolic is an easy task. In addition, Atlanta is home to 8,000-plus restaurants that continue to redefine the Southern palate, serving cuisine from every ethnic corner of the world.

Most recently, W Hotels have taken the city by storm, opening three new lodgings in the past year, including W Hotel Midtown, 188 14th St. NE (tel. 404/892-6000), where the former Sheraton Colony Square Hotel has been transformed into a sleek, ultra-modern, 466-room hotel with exclusive service. The property includes the first Bliss Spa in Georgia and Spice Market, the famous restaurant of that famous celebrity chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten. W Hotels are also open in Buckhead and Downtown, bringing the total number located here to four.

Not your mama's 1950s motor court hotel and with a much-anticipated debut, the Mansion on Peachtree, 3376 Peachtree Rd. (tel. 404/995-7500), has redefined luxury accommodations in Atlanta. This exclusive 127-room hotel features private butler service for each and every guest. If you can drag yourself away from your finely appointed guest room, make dinner reservations at either of the two on-site restaurants: NEO, a contemporary Italian dining experience, or the newest, Craft Atlanta, the latest foray of Tom Colicchio, which opened in December 2008. Contact the Mansion's concierge for reservations at either restaurant.

And this is just the beginning. By the end of 2009, Atlanta will have added a $100-million Palomar Hotel in Midtown and an ultra-luxurious 26-story St. Regis hotel in Buckhead. By 2010, visitors will also have the option of staying at a new Mandarin Oriental Hotel or the Loews Atlanta Hotel, both coming to Midtown.

Attractions -- If you get bored in the busy city of Hotlanta, well shame on you! The city has lauded the more than $6 billion spent since 2005 on new and expanded attractions and facilities, including the new World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, Atlantic Station, and the Woodruff Arts Center, as well as major improvements to the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. There's always something new to see, even if you've been here many times before.

Among the latest attractions is the Sky Hike at Stone Mountain Park, U.S. hwy. 78 E., Stone Mountain (tel. 800/317-2006). Adults and kids who dare can traverse the treetops on the family adventure course, featuring suspended bridges, high ropes, and vertical nets, some as high as 40 feet in the air. An overhead safety system keeps visitors safe while allowing them to see the park from a whole new angle.

Also new since 2008 is the relocation of the National Museum of Patriotism to the Lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 275-B Baker St. (tel. 877/276-1692). In addition to the museum's extensive World War II patriotic sweetheart jewelry and collectibles, as well as interactive, educational displays honoring the U.S. armed forces, the facility houses Georgia's only exhibit on the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

A 2010 expansion will double the size of the Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. (tel. 404/873-3391), making room for, among other things, the center's recent acquisition of more than 500 of the late Jim Henson's Muppets, as well as props, videos, and memorabilia from such classics as "The Muppet Show" and "Sesame Street." The collection will be housed in a Jim Henson Wing when the expansion is completed. Until then, a number of Henson puppets are currently on display.

Cheers to the New World of Coca-Cola

With downtown revitalization at the top of the list for Atlanta leaders and developers, the proposal for a new and improved World of Coca-Cola right next to the well-attended Georgia Aquarium was well received. The new cola museum further focuses on the timeless values of Coca-Cola, while also celebrating consumer connections with the brand in new and exciting ways. State-of-the-art technology and story-telling techniques make the guest experience interactive and engaging.

This completed project, along with the Georgia Aquarium, Imagine It! Children's Museum, the CNN Center, Philips Arena, and the Tabernacle -- the latter two being popular entertainment venues -- has proved to be a much-needed shot in the arm for the downtown residential and commercial markets. These developments no doubt make the downtown area the place to be in this city, for visitors, residents, and convention-goers alike.