Cyclorama and other Atlanta, GA Things to Do Tips

When I first heard of the Cyclorama, I was somewhat skeptical.... "so you sit in a room that spins around a painting"?

Well, to say the least, I was pleasantly surprised. The Cyclorama was built in 1894, making it one of the oldest attractions of its kind in the country. It is a huge diorama built in a complete 360 degree circle. The background is comprised of a beautiful painting that also covers 360 degrees. The diorama and the background are brilliantly blended together to give the impression of a true 3-dimensional battlefield stretching into the distance. As a spectator, you are seated in stadium-style seating that allows you to view about 90 degrees of the circle at one time. Throughout the show, the seating area slowly rotates the entire way around the inside of the building as the story unfolds.

The theme of the Cyclorama is the Civil War, particularly the battle of Atlanta. As the seating area turns, you hear about the battle, as spotlights draw your attention to important areas of the battlefield. You will see infantry charges, men dying in the trenches, and farm houses on fire. The music and sound effects add to the event.

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Phone: (404) 624-1071
Address: 800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta
Directions: Next to Zoo Atlanta (see website for directions) in Grant Park

Stone Mountain is most famous for its "Confederate Mount Rushmore" with the world's largest relief carving featuring President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. It was originally begun in 1923 by Gutzon Borglum, one of the men who would later create the more famous Mount Rushmore. After a dispute, a new sculptor named Augustus Lukeman continued the project but quickly ran out of money in 1928 and the monument remained unfinished for years, featuring just the head of General Lee. Work finally resumed in 1964 under the direction of Walker Kirkland Hancock, and the sculpture was completed in 1972. Views of the monument from the lawn are free with a paid parking pass, or you can hike the mountain and even take a cable car across the face to the top.

The park also contains numerous other activities such as golf, tennis, dining, shopping, camping, laser light show, train rides, museums and more.

Parking and entrance to the park is $8 while an all-day pass for most activities is $22. Passes for individual attractions range from about $5 to $10.

During my visit, we spent just a few hours here in the "Crossroads" village and hiking up the mountain.

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Phone: (770) 498-5600
Directions: U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8, 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta
Website: http://www.stonemountainpark.com/
Other Contact: 1-800-401-2407

Once a run-down neighborhood, the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park was created for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The park cost about $75 million and was funded through private donations. The centerpiece Fountain of Rings features five interlocking Olympic rings with 251 water jets creating a great place for children and the Centennial Plaza features flags of the previous 23 Olympic host countries and eight 65-foot Greek towers surround the square. Also in the park you will find a playground, amphitheater, water gardens, quilt plaza, and other areas associated with the games.

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Phone: (404) 222-7275
Address: 265 Park Avenue West, Atlanta
Directions: See website for directions
Website: http://www.centennialpark.com/

Constructed from 1884 to 1889, the Georgia State Capitol building is one of Atlanta's most distinctive landmarks. It was designed following the Civil War as the capital of the New South and designed after the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The golden dome is topped by a statue of Freedom holding a lantern and sword.

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Phone: 404-656-2844
Address: 206 Washington St
Directions: at the intersection of I-20 and I-75/85, near Underground Atlanta
Website: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/geo.htm

We got tickets to see the Braves vs Nationals at Turner Field while in town. We sat in the outfield behind the right foul pole, and seats were $23 each, a little expensive considering the obstructed view ... the foul pole eliminated my view of the batter's box.

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Phone: (404) 522-7630
Address: 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta
Directions: Check website for directions
Website: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com