Atlanta

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Atlanta is an exciting dining destination and dining is one of Atlanta's favorite past times, with residents spending half of their annual food budget on eating away from home, according to Frommer's Guide. With more than 700 Zagat-rated restaurants, from upscale gourmet cuisine to New South fare to farm-to-table dining, it's no wonder Atlantans are letting the professionals do the cooking.

The competitive spirit of Atlanta's professional chefs has helped put the city on the dining map, with six former Top Chef and two Iron Chef contestants contributing to some of Atlanta's best eateries. 45 new restaurants have opened in the downtown area alone since 2008, contributing to the 3,000 restaurant choices in Metro Atlanta for residents and visitors.

Miller Union serves dinner Monday
through Saturday

The city's chefs are passionate about the eating local movement, sourcing meats and produce from local farms. Georgia Organics, a non-profit organization that works to promote locally grown food, offers a listing of sustainable and organic farms, farmer's markets and the businesses and restaurants that utilize their services. The guide includes a section dedicated to the Atlanta metropolitan area's 33 farms and 23 farmer's markets.

Atlanta's chefs incorporate local ingredients to serve up the best in New South cuisine with creative twists on grandma's traditional Southern meals. Chef Steven Satterfield puts his own spin on the region's meat-and-three meals, creating a menu based on the week's harvest at Miller Union – named one of the "10 Best New Restaurants in the Country" by Bon Appétit. Atlanta native Linton Hopkins brings regional southern flavor to Holeman and Finch Public House in Buckhead leveraging his relationships with local farmers when putting together menus for the restaurant.

In a city known for southern hospitality, restaurants and breweries provide welcoming settings for neighbors to gather for good food and drink, conversation, and fun. At Ormsby's in Westside Provisions, patrons enjoy the craft beer selection, classic cocktails, fresh pub menu and a wide range of traditional games including: backgammon, bocce, darts, pool, and shuffleboard.

Guests to the South often ask where to go for the best traditional down-home Southern cuisine. Established favorites among tourists and locals include institutions like Mary Mac's Tea Room, serving "classic Southern food in the heart of Atlanta" since 1945; and Pitty Pat's Porch, a downtown landmark named after Aunt Pittypat Hamilton from "Gone with the Wind." For upscale Southern fare, venture to Paschal's and try the Paschal brothers' secret fried chicken recipe. The Varsity, the world's largest drive-in, offering "naked dogs walking," will forever remain an Atlanta staple.

Things to do in Atlanta ...

• 
  ... try a "Coke and a smile."
  Born and raised in Atlanta, Coca-Cola is synonymous with the city. Visit the World of Coca-Cola to learn the story of the famous soft drink, now celebrating its 125th year. Go back to the early years of Coke's creation in Atlanta and follow the global brand through the decades. After you've refreshed yourself with more than 60 products from around the world, step out of the museum's front door and into the hub of the convention district.
• 
  ... find out why the greatest American novel was written in "The Dump."
  Atlanta is home to the Margaret Mitchell House, featuring the furnished apartment nicknamed "The Dump" by Mitchell and where she wrote "Gone with the Wind." The book is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year as one of the best-selling novels in the world, second only to the Bible.
• 
  ... be a weatherman and news anchor, all in the same day.
  Ride the world's longest freestanding escalator to go behind-the-scenes of the first global news network at the Inside CNN Studio Tour. Learn how to report the weather using a green screen, watch the newsroom floor as stories from around the world unfold and keep your eyes peeled for a Robin Meade or Sanjay Gupta sighting!
• 
  ... find out what it takes to earn a Nobel Peace Prize, or two.
  Atlanta is one of the only two cities in the world to lay claim to two Nobel Peace Prize winners -- Martin Luther King, Jr. and former President Jimmy Carter. See the medals on display and learn about their legacies at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and the Carter Library and Museum. Atlanta's history in the Civil Rights Movement will be punctuated in 2013 when the National Center for Civil and Human Rights opens, giving visitors a place to explore struggles for equality throughout history and engage in conversations about the future.
• 
  ... order a F.O. and a naked dog walking.
  Only the folks at the world's largest drive-in will know that you're really asking for a frosted orange drink and a plain hot dog to-go. The Varsity was established in Atlanta in 1928.
• 
  ... get lost on Peachtree Street and end up on Peachtree Street.
  Atlanta may have more than 100 streets named "Peachtree," but don't let those tricky trees confuse you: Peachtree Street runs through the heart of the city and will be the only guide you'll need during your visit. From trendy Buckhead through artsy Midtown to the convention and entertainment district Downtown, simply step off Peachtree Street's sidewalks to visit the must-sees.
• 
  ... take bird watching to a whole new level.
  Atlanta is home not only the NFL Falcons, NBA Hawks and NHL Thrashers, but also the MLB Braves, USL Silverbacks and WNBA Dream. Atlanta's sports teams play year-round in the heart of the city, so business travelers can walk out of a meeting in to a game virtually any day of the year.
• 
  ... hike the world's largest exposed mass of granite.
  Stone Mountain Park is Georgia's most visited attraction. Get your adventure on by making the 1.3-mile hike to the top of the mountain, complete with panoramic views of the entire city.