CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Atlanta © Michael Ntabaazi
8
Home to the busiest airport in the United States of America, as well as the Coca-Cola Company and CNN, Atlanta is the capital and most populous city
of the southeastern state
of Georgia. The city, also known as “Hotlanta”, hosted the Summer Olympics in 1996. Atlanta is also the proud headquarters of Delta Air Lines, the airline leader by revenue ($44.9 billion), asset value and market capitalization in the US as of 2020.
Atlanta is known for its central location in relation to the rest of the country, its diversity and its ability to attract talent in the music and entertainment industry. The city’s excellent air connections with local and international destinations make it a popular base for travelling in the region,
and as a stopover. It has a rich history and has shaped America and the world through beverages, music and news.
If you’ve never been to Atlanta, Hotlanta is a travel guide that I believe will
spark an interest to visit the city and see for yourselves the uniqueness and beauty of its tourist attractions.
Its outstanding exhibitions include the deeply moving memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Georgia Aquarium, which houses more than 500 different species. The Centennial Olympic Park, meanwhile, is the home of an imposing 20-storey Ferris wheel.
If you live in Georgia, this personal travel guide can be a tool to help you rediscover your homeland and take pride in the many visitor attractions that contribute to the welfare of your city and state.
As a first-time visitor to the city, I was overwhelmed by the sheer massiveness of Atlanta international airport, the artistic nature of the architectural designs of the different tourist sites, city buildings and skyscrapers and the well-maintained visitor sites.
I visited the city in May and immediately fell in love with the good weather. It was pleasantly warm and sunny at 70– 80 ̊F
HOTLANTA: A Personal Travel Guide
9
(21–27 ̊C) compared to my home state of Massachusetts, which was still experiencing temperatures of 50–60 ̊F (10– 15.6 ̊C)!
I did not know that Atlanta
was also called Hotlanta until
I started writing this guide.
The name originated from
local slang, meaning that it is
a happening place. The city provided so many opportunities
socially and culturally that the local people called it Hotlanta! This still holds true of the city, making Hotlanta a fitting title for this guide.
Atlanta is a beautiful city and
I would love to return. I hope that you will make it your next holiday destination or, if you are in the middle of planning where to visit, include it on your travel checklist.
Olympic logo © Michael Ntabaazi
Ferris Wheel © Michael Ntabaazi
