When you think about Atlanta, a few things may come to mind: a thriving hip hop scene, the birthplace of CNN, subtropical weather and of course, the best peach cobbler on the planet. There is so much more to love about The A! I had the opportunity to return back to the city I once called home to discover new fun things to do in Atlanta. With a booming economy, thriving arts and culture, diverse walkable neighborhoods and green space, the better question is, whatâs not love about Atlanta?
Although I’ve called Cleveland home for the last seven years, I lived in Atlanta before that. While I lived there, I got to meet so many amazing artists, designers, and musicians. The city just thrives on creativity and there’s such a rich cultural history.
Since I came out in my late 20s, I never got to enjoy Atlanta as an out queer woman. I was so excited when Discover Atlanta invited back to the city when they were hosting the This provided the perfect opportunity to explore the city alongside my fellow LGBTQ+ travelers.
Fun Things to Do in Atlanta – Museums
hooked us up with an and this is an amazing way to see the city’s most popular tourist destinations. Once you activate the CityPASS on your phone, you receive instant mobile tickets. Once you arrive at your destination, just scan the code and you’re in!
With an iPhone, I was able to add it to my Apple wallet for easy access and it even popped up as a notification when I was near an attraction where you can use CityPASS. I visited three of the included destinations.
Here’s where you can use Atlanta CityPass:
- Georgia Aquarium
- World of Coca-Cola
- Zoo Atlanta
- Fernbank Museum of Natural History*
- College Football Hall of Fame*
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights*
*Choose between two of out of these three attractions.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
In the 1960âs, Atlanta was a major organizing center for the Civil Rights Movement. Itâs only natural that the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is home in Atlanta. The museum is dedicated to the achievements of Civil Rights Movement and features a wide variety of exhibits from historical periodicals to interactive.
One of the most heartbreaking and harrowing exhibits was the lunch counter. This exhibit puts you right in the center for what it was like during the sit-in. You feel the counter shaking and hear people shouting. Itâs extremely intense. Itâs so important for folks to experience this as racial issues are still so prevalent.
The Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta is also home to the largest aquarium in the western hemisphere. The Georgia Aquarium is massive, home to thousands of animals living in over 11 million gallons of water. The crowning jewel of the aquarium is the Ocean Voyager exhibit, featuring four whale sharks.
While the aquarium has amazing exhibits with creatures from around the world, the best kept secret are the animal encounters. These encounters require pre-registering, but they are a must do when in Atlanta.
I got a behind the scenes tour of the facilities on the way to my encounter with sea lions. When I tell you it was the highlight of my trip, I kid you not. I met two sea lions, got to do a little dance with them, toss them a few fish, and ended our encounter with a kiss. If you get the chance to book an encounter, do it. You will not regret it.
The World of Coca-Cola
Atlanta is synonymous with Coca-Cola, being the soda giantâs hometown. The World of Coca-Cola is a must visit when in town. Delight your taste buds with Coca-Cola beverages from around the world while immersing yourself in the bubbly history of the brand.
The Delta Flight Museum
While in Atlanta for the IGLTA Conference, I got to attend their annual fundraiser called Voyage. Funds raised from the big event go towards bringing more diverse voices to the table when it comes to the LGBTQ+ travel experience.
This yearâs Voyage was hosted at The Delta Flight Museum. Delta Airlines is based in Atlanta and the museum gives a great historical overview of the airline from propeller planes all the way through the fashion of the stewardesses.
Atlantaâs weather is so beautiful, getting outside to enjoy it is a must. Being a walkable city, just pick a neighborhood and get walking. If youâre looking for a more air conditioned way (and let’s be honest, I always am looking for that) to see the city, head to the SkyView Ferris Wheel.
The SkyView Ferris Wheel gives you the best views in Atlanta. You can see the skyline, Centennial Olympic Park, the Aquarium, World of Coke, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and much more.
Fun Things to Do in Atlanta – Nightlife
After a fun day exploring, ending the night on a high note is easy in The A. If a club is your scene, is one of the few lesbian bars left in the United States. With a chill upstairs bar scene and a downstairs dance hall vibe, My Sister’s Room is a great place to let loose.
Atlanta is also home to the finest in drag dining, located in nearby Brookhaven. The queens at Lips are next level. Both servers and performers are all drag queens and do they work the room. Thereâs no bad seat in the house at Lips as the queens are all over the floor, steps, bannisters, you name it. Itâs seriously the best if you are looking for some drag fun. The cocktails are no joke either – I recommend trying the Blow Job shot to test your skills.
LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses to Support in Atlanta
The LGBTQ+ scene is thriving in Atlanta. From clubs to drag shows, thereâs a lot to do in the community and Discover Atlanta has the perfect list of that you should know. After reading the list, we knew we needed to try , a black and queer owned awesome bakery. Baker Dudeâs pastries are seriously outstanding and if you like banana pudding, this is the spot for you. We visited the location inside Chattahoochee Food Hall which is also home to a wide range of eats from a variety of locales.
The Museum of Design Atlanta and the Center for Puppetry Arts are both LGBTQ+ owned museums. is an expansive puppetry collection from marionnettes to Muppets – talk about a rainbow connection! You can catch a professional puppet show and even catch a glance of the iconic Miss Piggy puppet. They also have rotating exhibits feature other puppetry arts. During my visit, they had a selection of the puppet from the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
No matter what you like to do, thereâs plenty of fun things to do in Atlanta. The great food, weather, and beat of the city make it a must visit if you havenât had the opportunity to do so yet. What will you discover in Atlanta?