This is how we cool off in Atlanta and with temperatures in the 90s. you now know one reason why Atlanta is called Hotlanta. These children are participating in the traditional cool-off in the Olympic Rings fountain at Centennial Olympic Park. The water is synchronized and is programmed to spurt up or down. Centennial Olympic Park is a 21-acre, founded during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Synchronized water and music shows occur daily 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Music in Centennial Olympic Park
There’s also music, R&B, jazz, and/or reggae from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday until October.
Wednesday WindDown is another opportunity to catch a free live concert in the park. That takes place every Wednesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. until September.
Movies in the Park
Movies on the Lawn are every Thursday at sunset in the park. It’s like a drive-In movie without having a car. Bring a picnic, but bottles and grills are not allowed. Here is the movie schedule.
The landscaping is lovely in Centennial Park. It’s a good place to meet up with friends if you decide to split up and explore midtown. During the summer, concerts are often held in Centennial Park.
Getting to Centennial Olympic Park
Andrew Young International Blvd., Baker Street, Luckie Street, and Centennial Olympic Park Drive are adjacent to the park. Here is a map of downtown Atlanta and driving directions to the park.
Get an insider’s view of the Georgia Aquarium. Hey, the parking is easy at the aquarium, there is a parking garage on-site. Parking is $10 if you buy the ticket at the garage. You can save $1 and pay $9 by buying your parking ticket in advance here. However, I found $3 all day parking on Luckie Street.
That’s an awesome deal, and it’s an easy walk to the Aquarium, Centennial Park of the New World of Coca Cola.
Remember, you can buy a City Pass for one free entrance to the Georgia Aquarium and six other attractions in Atlanta. The City Pass for Atlanta is $69 for adults and $49 for children.
If you plan to go to the Aquarium, expect to spend at least two hours there, because there’s plenty to see and do. Children will love the slide and the touch pools (you can touch the animals with two fingers) like Bonnethead sharks in the children section.
The Georgia Aquarium will have a new exhibit, dolphins in 2010! They will be a welcomed addition.
The New World of Coca Cola is located right next door to the Georgia Aquarium in midtown Atlanta. I got more than I bargained for during my trip there. I especially enjoyed the 4D theater. A 4D Theater incorporates the 3D visuals with other senses. At the New World of Coca Cola, the chairs bucked and jerked during the movie; water splashed on the audience, and at one point, it felt like was poking me in the back of my seat. The short movie (about 15 minutes long) was about a quest to find the secret ingredient to Coca Cola.
The New World of Coca Cola is located in a two-story building, packed with Coca Cola artifacts and memorabilia. There are also a few interactive games that you can play. It’s like a Coke museum! There were no lines when I visited and it was easy to get good pictures with the Coca Cola artifacts, many of which are behind glass cases. The best part of the trip, though was tasting dozens of Coca Cola products. Basically, I took a plastic cup and was able to drink to my heart’s content. The fountain drinks were from different countries and the United States. There was one South African drink that I liked, although it was on the sweet side. I enjoyed the carbonated apple drinks and of course, the U.S. version of Fanta, grape and strawberry were some of my favorites.
Stay tuned for photos of the New World of Coca Cola
Want to Go?
121 Baker Street NW Atlanta, GA 30313-1807 (404) 676-5151 or 1-800-676-COKE (2653)
The Georgia Renaissance festival, held in Fairburn, Ga., ended on Sunday. The festival, which celebrates Medieval times, is held yearly in the spring. So, here’s a look at what you can expect to see if you decide to go.
The royal court was around various times during the day for photo opportunities. They were a very interactive court. I actually became a part of their act.
These three young ladies were selling flower garlands from a wagon.
This was a glass blowing demonstration. He was heating the chemicals to make glass.
I ate a giant roasted turkey leg. I had to try one.
This man, chosen from the audience at one of the shows, got the chance to drench a washer woman with water. He looks as though he is having too much fun.
I was tempted to buy a dress to wear as a costume for Halloween. There were many more shops at the festival. There were a couple of small rides for children, and a maze. I think that the costumed performers and shows were the main attraction.
I was just minding my own business on the last day of the Georgia Renaissance Festival on Sunday. The festival features costumed actors and actresses, food (I ate a giant turkey leg) demonstrations, and shopping. The festival lasts about a month, and I was surprised to see festival-goers wearing costumes. Anyway, I went to the festival alone, just to see what was going on and get some pictures for you all. I happened into one of the pavilions, and saw the royal court. I thought it would be neat to get pictures of them, so I started snapping away with my digital camera/video camera.
Anyway, I had just come from church, with no time to change. The queen noticed me and asked me why I was there all alone. I didn’t want to get into a long drawn out discussion about trifling men in Atlanta and often going dateless, so I just smiled nicely and shrugged or something.
She suggested that two men in her court woo me (which means that they try to date me). She suggested that we have a contest. A nice man in the pavilion took my fairy box (camera) and captured the moment.
The Georgia Renaissance was located in Fairburn, off I-85. Tickets were $19.95 for adults and $8.50 for children. The festival had demonstrations, like glass blowing, wool spinning, juggling and jousting. There were also tons of shops, selling medieval clothing, shoes, contemporary food, and gifts. The festival lasted from April to June 1.
Vilas MedSpa uses a combination of modern medicine and ancient Ayrvedic therapies to give clients a relaxing medical spa experience. The spa has customized treatments like a Visia Skin Analysis which measures your skin condition topically and under the surface to reveal sun damage, pores, wrinkles and pigmentation. This analysis allows helps pinpoint problem areas so that a custom treatments could then be used.
Unique to this med spa is a HydroCapsule, with a Vichy shower, steam heat, oxygen and light therapy. You don’t even have to stand up in the shower to wash off after your scrubs. You can lie down in the HydroCapsule and let the Vichy shower do its thing.
Blending innovative, modern medical expertise with ancient Ayurvedic therapies and spa luxury, Vilas MedSpa offers a medical spa experience that is relaxing, individualized and results-oriented. With customized treatments ranging from skin rejuvenation, cosmetic lasers and facial injectables to massage therapy, Ayurvedic treatments, body treatments and wellness programs, Vilas MedSpa is sure to fit your needs. A Hydrocapsule Body Exfoliation is $120.
I tried Abhyanga, $140, an oil massage, said to help separate impurities from cells. The Abhyanga massage was so relaxing that I fell asleep on the massage table. I’m not sure if it helped to remove impurities, but it did help me take a good nap. Because facials and massages are common spa treatments, I’ll tell you that the Vilas MedSpa Signature Facial is $125.
Spa Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturdays, the spa is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The spa is closed on Sundays.
I didn’t know anything about MedSpas until I visited Ageless Remedies. MedSpas are a little different from traditional spas because they usually have doctors who can prescribe medication. MedSpas have prescription-grade products available to sell to clients.
Ageless Remedies, founded in 1999, is a MedSpas that offers skin treatments like microdermabraision, Botox and injectables which used to only be available in a doctor’s office. There are 15 Ageless Remedies locations in the U.S. I visited the Alpharetta location.
Some MedSpas have more of clinical feel, but Ageless Remedies, with soft, soothing music piping in the treatment rooms and the comfortable blankets on the treatment table, felt pretty much like a traditional spa. The difference was that Ageless Remedies had medical-grade products. Although I was a little apprehensive about getting a microdermabraision treatment, I felt confident that my esthetician knew what she was doing. My skin had been dry and flaky and I was told that I needed to exfoliate weekly. I knew that I had not been exfoliating, and had not been drinking enough water.
The microdermabraision was not painful. It felt as if someone was gently and softly buffing my skin. Well, that probably sounds a lot worse than it felt. Take my word for it, the treatment didn’t hurt a bit. I noticed that my skin was softer and smoother after the treatment. I also experienced an oxygen treatment, which felt like someone blowing cool air on my face through a straw. Oxygen is supposed to help sooth the skin and have restorative ability.
Ageless Remedies also has laser hair removal. You can rid yourself of unwanted hair for $99 a month. Think about it. No more shaving!
Watch an 11th century-style tournament, complete with jousting at Medieval Times, a dinner and entertainment attraction in Lawrenceville, which is just outside of Atlanta. The four-course dinner features entertainment including, hand-to-hand combat, sword-fighting and horsemanship. For romantics like me, there’s also a bit of chivalry and romance.
So what are you eating while all of that fighting, jousting and romance is in progress? The banquet includes mashed potatoes, spare ribs, roasted chicken, tomato bisque soup, garlic bread, drinks, and pastry.
Yes. A vegetarian meal is available. All of you vegetarians out there will have a stuffed mushroom (stuffed with whole grain rice) a large skewer of roasted veggies, tomato bisque soup, garlic bread, pita chips and pastry.
Historically, members of royalty invited family and friends to a feast to watch their best knights compete on horseback. Medieval Times has been around for 25 years in North America. The founders first launched this unique dinner and entertainment venue in Majorca, a Spanish island, in 1973.
Nearly all of the horses used in Medieval Times are raised from birth on a ranch in Texas. There they learn how to jump, and lunge on cue, performing amazing feats for audiences.
The Castle is located at:
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043
For reservations call 1-888-Wejoust
Tickets $47.95 for adults and $35.95 for children 12 and under.
Note: Medieval Times has a summer special going on. For every show through July 6, 2008, one child can eat free with a paying adult.
Photo Credit: Medieval Times, used with permission
While driving along Cobb Parkway in Marietta, I happened along a bike show. Well, first I saw the bikers on the road, which isn’t out of the ordinary, especially when the weather is nice. Then I saw the bike show on the side of the road. Bikers are pretty common in metro Atlanta. There are many different cliques. I remember in one season of Bad Girls, a VH1 show, there was a girl biker who was from Atlanta. Here’s what I saw at the bike show. Which bikes do you think are hot? Hey, can anyone remember the name of the biker chick (she was also a stripper) from Bad Girls? I can’t remember for the life of me, and I think it’d be more fun to get responses than to do a Google search!
T is for tasty hot dogs! Eating hot dogs at the Varsity should be a mandatory experience, if you like hot dogs, that is. The Varsity is both a tourist attraction and a tradition in Atlanta. The hot dogs are said to be the best in the city. Yes. They are good, and addictive, so be careful. I think, however, that the car hops and servers make the Varsity what it is.
“What’d have? What’d you have,” they shout. “Everybody please step down so that we can get you out of here.”
They are funny, gritty, and no nonsense. It’s sort of like eating at your favorite greasy spoon, if you know what I mean. The Varsity is actually the World’s Largest Drive-In restaurant. The downtown location can accommodate 600 cars and 800 people inside the store. That location is at:
61 North Avenue
Atlanta GA 30308
You can get various types of hot dog-dog combinations with chili, slaw and cheese. Over two miles worth of hot dogs are sold every day at the Varsity. The hot dogs range from a plain hot dog to a chili-slaw hot dog. Of course the following hot dogs are also sold:
plain
chili
cheese dogs
chili-cheese dogs
You can go heavy on the chili if you want to. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, frosted drinks, chocolate shakes, sweet tea (gotta love it) and soft drinks are also sold at the Varsity.
One thing about it, unless you are going to sit in your car and let a car hop serve you, you can’t be shy at the Varsity. It’s loud, brassy, and fun. The original location opened in downtown Atlanta in 1928. There are now several locations to choose from.
Hours for the downtown location of the Varsity are:
Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-11:30pm
Friday-Saturday 10:00am-12:30am
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Christmas Eve hours 10:00am-9:00pm
Other metro Atlanta locations for the Varsity are:
Alpharetta
1000 West Broad Street
Athens GA 30606
Athens
11556 Rainwater Drive
Alpharetta GA 30004
Atlanta (This is a Varsity Junior, not the original)
Whether you are a veteran traveler looking for tips to make your life on the road easier, are dreaming of a far away vacation to get away from it all, or somewhere in between, the writers in the Travel & Culture Channel have information and ideas that will capture your heart, mind, and soul
Recent Comments