"Atlanta has....Location, Location, Location....." Atlanta by dlytle

If we turned the pages of history back a few years, what we’d find out about “Atlanta” is that it started out in the same place where the North American Indian village of "Standing Peachtree" existed at the junction of the Chattahoochee River and Peachtree Creek in 1782.

In those times this point was the borderline between the Creek Indian lands to the south and Cherokee territories to the north. In that spot there stood a large peach tree (or, depending on who you listen to, it may have been some sort of pine, or "pitch" tree.) The tree gave the name to the nearby creek, which in turn gave the name to the main North American Indian trail in the area, and from that, the street, and so on.

Since then, however, Atlanta has been thoroughly divided and subdivided into a complex network of districts and neighborhoods. In some areas, every other block or so seems to claim distinction as its own unique neighborhood with its own specific nickname, which can get rather confusing for visitor and native alike.

The nice thing about the neighborhoods in this town, however, is that despite the influences of time, gentrification, urban renewal and shifting demographics, most neighborhoods have managed to retain their charm and flavor. Another pleasant surprise is that unlike some cities, the attractions and amenities of Atlanta are fairly evenly distributed among the various neighborhoods.

Many of Atlanta's most prestigious business addresses, such as the world headquarters of Coca-Cola, are downtown. The Georgia World Congress Center, one of the world’s largest convention facilities, plays host to a never-ending string of trade shows and business expos. Nestled in the southern corner of downtown you'll find the golden-domed Georgia State Capitol Building. Built in 1889, its Corinthian columns are closely guarded by many court and government offices. Also peppered about this neighborhood are buildings housing various departments of Georgia State University.

Nearby, you can take a stroll through Underground Atlanta. Revived and re-opened in 1989, this enclosed mall of shops, restaurants, and attractions also houses the most comprehensive division of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, which offers information on activities and eventsthroughout the city. Standing near the entrance to Underground Atlanta is the World of Coca-Cola, the soft-drink giants popular interactive museum, where you can relive the history of the worlds favorite beverage and sample Coke products as they are prepared in the four corners of the globe.

A short cab ride to the south will bring you to Turner Field. Built as a multi-use facility for the 1996 Olympics, it is now home to the high-powered Atlanta Braves. If you're lucky enough to visit Atlanta during baseball season, stop by; a large allotment of standing-room tickets are made available for each home game at the low price of $1.

Baseballs not the only game in town, however. On the west side of downtown, you'll find the 71,000-seat Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons and host of the annual Southeast Conference Championship football game each fall. The Georgia Dome is also the site of the annual Peach Bowl, and was chosen in 1994 to host Super Bowl XXVIII. The much-anticipated Phillips Arena opened its doors in 1999, and now features Atlanta Hawks basketball and the National Hockey Leagues newest franchise, the Atlanta Thrashers.

Across the street from Phillips Arena, visit the massive CNN Center, home to cable televisions first 24-hour news network. Tours of the studios are conducted hourly, and free seating is always available for CNNs live current affairs program, "Talk-Back Live." And, just across the street, be sure to visit Centennial Olympic Park, a 21-acre expanse of green commemorating the 1996 Olympics.

Atlanta's downtown area is a bustling commercial district by day, with a wealth of restaurants, department stores and tourist attractions.

• Pros:Great weather, friendly people, low cost of living
• Cons:Traffic is pretty bad as we are a fast growing city
• In a nutshell:A great place to work and live