Cheap Flights To Atlanta

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Cheap Flights To Atlanta

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
For a true taste of Southern living and hospitality, there's no better place to visit than Atlanta. As your flight lands, you'll be joining more than 23 million leisure travelers who visit and enjoy Southern hospitality in this historic city each year. There are many reasons why Atlanta is so popular. For starters, it's an inexpensive vacation destination. In metro Atlanta, the average nightly hotel room rate is around $100, plus you can always find cheap airfares on airlines which have major hubs in Atlanta such Delta Airlines and AirTran/Southwest.

From historical sites to cutting-edge and always-entertaining tourist attractions, Atlanta offers all kinds of activities for everyone - from more than 500 restaurants and 950 shopping centers, to over 60 public golf courses, 348 public parks, and 30 major cultural, educational and sports attractions and venues, Atlanta is a fun city to visit year-round.

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When to Go
As America's fourth largest and busiest city, there really isn't a peak or off-peak time to visit; Atlanta's activities, events and tourist attractions are open all year.

During spring and summer outdoor attractions like the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Zoo Atlanta, are always popular especially for family vacations. You can also play golf during the spring, summer and fall, or comfortably explore Atlanta throughout most of the year.

If you're an outdoors person, spring, summer and fall months are definitely the best seasons to visit Atlanta. December, January and February are the coldest months in the city, but there's still plenty to see and do. You'll find an abundance of fun indoor attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Inside CNN Atlanta, and the Ferbank Museum of Natural History.

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Airport Information

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Distance: Approximately 10 miles Drive Time: 10 to 15 minutes Travel Time via MARTA: Approximately 15 minutes

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is massive. Just getting from your airline's ticket counter, to the TSA security checkpoint and then taking the tram to your gate can take 20 to 30 minutes, so plan accordingly. Because of all the real estate you have to cover, arriving at the airport 90 minutes prior to a domestic flight is a must.

Affordable deals and cheap flights to Atlanta are easy to find online. Plan on spending between $200 and $400 for a round-trip ticket from any major U.S. city. Non-stop flights at Atlanta are readily available on Delta and AirTan/Southwest.

Atlanta encompasses more than 8,400-square miles and is comprised of 28 counties, all connected via mass transit rail and bus system, known as the MARTA. The downtown Atlanta area is referred to as "Metro Atlanta."

From the airport, taking the MARTA rail system to the downtown area is your least expensive option, although taxi service, shared van, town car, limo and Greyhound Bus service are available as well. You can also pick up a rental car right at The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport which is often more convenient if you're traveling in a group or with children.

Alternative Airports (Distance in miles)

• Athens Ben Epps (AHN) Airport, Athens, GA - (67 miles)
• Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN), Macom, GA - (79.5 miles)
• Columbus Metropolitan Airport (CSG), Columbus, GA - (82.5 miles)

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Weather
You'll find as with most places, the spring and summer months are typically warm and comfortable; the fall and winter are typically bring colder, but still experience comfortable temperatures.

Expect temperatures between 65 and 80-degrees in the spring; and higher temperatures between 80 and 95-degrees in the summer. As fall rolls around, temperatures range between 55 and 75-degrees; in the winter, temperature drop a bit to between 50 and 60 degrees.

Rain showers are pretty common throughout the year, although on average, March and July tend to bring the most precipitation. During the winter, ice storms can occur. It rarely snows, but when it does, it's typically very little (less than two inches) and it melts within a day.

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Things to Do

Golf
Atlanta is home to more than 60 public and semi-private golf courses that are open year-round. Depending on when you visit, booking a golf vacation on Atlanta's championship courses allows you to enjoy the city as well as the beautiful weather. Learn more about the courses and/or book tee times on Atlanta.net or GolfAtlanta.com.

Local Culture
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is one of the most accomplished and well-respected orchestras in The United States. Atlanta has enjoyed music from the Orchestra for more than 60 years and it continues to offer an exciting line-up of more than 200 concerts per year. Atlanta is also home to numerous museums. The Center For Puppetry Arts, for example, features the most extensive collection of puppets in the world. Puppet shows and the museum's exhibits are suitable for kids, teens and adults alike. Before you visit, check Atlanta.net for a complete listing of Atlanta's museums and the exhibits and events they host.

Stay
In Metro Atlanta, virtually every major hotel chain represented. Accommodations at a three-star chain hotel are extremely affordable at under $150 per night. However, you can also splurge and find extremely luxurious, four- and five-star accommodations that are priced at a premium. If you stay outside of Metro Atlanta, you'll find a nice selection of historic B&Bs and cozy inns, which are wonderful for romantic getaways or a quieter vacation.

The Shellmont Inn (404-872-9290) is an example of a small, award-winning, luxury B&B featuring just five cozy, yet extremely comfortable rooms. Atlanta.net offers comprehensive information on the city's hotels, motels, inns and B&Bs.

Where To Eat
Whether you're in the mood for fine-dining, fast food, or anything in between, Atlanta has it all! If you're a foodie, you can find almost any type of cuisine in the city, but the region is famous for its traditional Southern Soul Food. There are different interpretations of Soul Food but it usually features hearty home-style cooking that includes lots of farm-fresh vegetables, fried chicken and BBQ dishes.

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Local Attractions

Atlanta Botanical Gardens - This 30-acre outdoor complex features many uniquely themed landscaped areas and numerous flower gardens. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens a beautiful destination to explore when the weather is warm. The Gardens host a variety of special events and concerts throughout the year, so see what's happening during your visit. CNN Atlanta Studio Tour - Get an inside look at CNN by visiting the extremely popular Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour in downtown Atlanta. The 55-minute, guided walking tours run throughout the day and depart every 10 minutes. Reservations are not required.

Georgia Aquarium - A visit to this aquarium is a perfect way to entertain kids on your family vacation. The Georgia Aquarium is the world's largest aquarium, so you're guaranteed to see thousands of exotic aquatic creatures, plus sharks, whales, and sea otters. The Aquarium will introduce a new $110 million dolphin exhibit in November 2010. The attraction is so large, plan on enjoying at least a half-day here. ()

Legoland Discovery Centre - Slated to open in Spring 2011 in Metro Atlanta, this 35,000-square-foot attraction will include rides, play areas, a café, gift shop and a replica of the Atlanta skyline made entirely from 250,000 Lego pieces. The Legoland Discovery Center is ideal for kids, ages three to 12.

World of Coca-Cola - Not only can you taste 70 different varieties of Coca-Coca served around the world when you visit the World of Coca-Cola, you'll get a unique look at how this popular soft drink has become such an integral part of Americana. The World of Coca-Cola is fun for the whole family. One of the popular attractions here is a 3D movie shown within a theatre with moving seats, making it a 4D experience. The tour takes about 90 minutes; there are self-paced exhibits, a massive Coca-Cola themed gift shop and a café as well.

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Must See Sights

Braves Museum and Hall of Fame - Located at Turner Field, where the Atlanta Braves play, this interactive museum offers more than 600 Braves artifacts and historical photos, dating back to the origin of the team in 1871. You'll love this museum if you're a Brave fan but it's a popular attraction for baseball fans in general. ()

Centennial Olympic Park - Atlanta was the host city for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Take a tour of the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park sports complex and enjoy free concerts and events throughout the year. ()

Civil Rights Tour - From an historical standpoint, Atlanta has been in the very center of our country's Civil Rights movement. While visiting Atlanta, you can visit historic landmarks and museums related to the Civil Rights movement, including the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr. (). And don't miss The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, an inspirational, educational and thought-provoking attraction.

Underground Atlanta - Take a self-paced walking tour of Underground Atlanta. It's a six city block area that was built in the 1920s, but was reopened in 1989 after it was transformed into a lively shopping and entertainment district. Underground Atlanta features more than 100 specialty shops, restaurants and nightclubs. What's unique about this area is that it's located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, but it's entirely underground. ()

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Insider Tips

• The best free source for tourism information pertaining to Atlanta is the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (800-ATLANTA). Get trip planning recommendations, book hotels, learn about local tourist attractions, or seek advice about where to dine.

• If you're planning to visit Atlanta's top tourist attractions, like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, the Inside CNN Studio Tour, and/or the Ferbank Museum of Natural History, for example, you can save a fortune on admission charges by pre-purchasing an Atlanta CityPass for just $74 per person ($54 for kids). Once the CityPass is activated, you'll have up to nine consecutive days to visit seven "must-see" attractions. Call (800) 330-5008 or visit www.citypass.com/city/atlanta.html.

• Inexpensive, 90-minute walking tours of the Midtown Atlanta area are offered daily by The Atlanta Preservation Center. You'll explore historic buildings and landmarks as you learn about their history from the knowledgeable guides.

• You can purchase same-day, half-price tickets to shows, comedy clubs and concerts in Atlanta up until one hour before show time by visiting the AtlanTix website.

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Getting Around
With its 48 miles of rail track that criss-cross Atlanta and 130 bus routes, it's most convenient to use the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to get anywhere within Metro Atlanta or any of the city's outer lying communities.

As with any city, driving around Metro Atlanta is certainly possible, but most tourists prefer to avoid dealing with traffic and parking. If you'll be visiting the outskirts of Atlanta and spending time within any of the distinct neighborhoods, you'll definitely want and need access to a car or a taxi The MARTA will easily get you to, from and around Metro Atlanta, but won't really help you conveniently get around certain neighborhoods. Depending on where in Atlanta you'll be visiting, check MARTA route maps, schedules and travel information to make sure you won't need a rental car.

While you can walk around and get to many things in most of Atlanta, it's more convenient to take MARTA, a rental car, or a taxi to cover large areas of the city.

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