A special source of inspiration for African Americans, Atlanta has vaulted into the league of international travel destinations. Its world-class airport, freeway and transit infrastructure, numerous hotels, trend-setting restaurants, former UN Ambassador, CNN, plus a history of interracial partnership enabled Atlanta to attract the 1996 Summer Olympics. From those loins, Hotlanta is one of the top 3 destinations of Black travelers, and for good reason.

    Downtown Atlanta is blessed with a legacy of sports venues and general attractions typical for an Olympics host. Olympic Stadium morphed into Turner Field for Atlanta Braves baseball. The Georgia Dome became home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, and Morris Brown College collected major sports facilities in use by those colleges. Perhaps the best legacy is the inspiring water sculptures of Centennial Olympic Park, which sits at the epicenter of CNN Center Tours, Philips Arena, Georgia World Congress Center, IMAGINE IT Children’s Museum, Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca Cola Museum.  Other downtown attractions include the capital of Georgia, trend-setting restaurants and nightclubs. Underground Atlanta, a retail shopping center teens and adults covering six city blocks, is a requisite visit. Never more so than New Year's Eve, when 400,000 enthusiastic onlookers witness the Peach Drop Celebration in Underground Atlanta -- an electronic peach drops from a 138-foot light tower at midnight.

    Midtown attractions include the distinguished Woodruff Arts Center, High Museum of Art, 14th Street Playhouse, and the Fox Theatre, which is a opulent fully restored, early 20th century movie palace. Atlanta Botanical Garden in Piedmont Park is a plant-lovers treat. Families love the many attractions at Six Flags over Georgia, Zoo Atlanta, and a charming riverboat ride in Stone Mountain Park. Celebrity chefs and art galleries seem to camp at Peachtree Hills and Buckhead. When driving by the lovely estates on Paces Ferry Road drop by the Atlanta Historical Center for a surprisingly balanced and informative view of the city’s fabled past. Lenox Square is an unmitigated shoppers delight. East End is a funky and eclectic district of shops and nightlife. Even West End is on the comeback Trail.

    Sweet Auburn, has the largest concentration of national Black historic attractions in one district: Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. birth home, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, grave site, Center of Non-Violent Social Change, new Ebenezer Baptist Church, and a national visitor center.  Southern Christian Leadership Conference headquarters, Wheat Street Baptist Church, Big Bethel AME Church, APEX Museum, Auburn Avenue African American Research Library, 100 Black Men Headquarters all located on Auburn Ave.  The prominent monument to John Wesley Dobbs, “Godfather of Black Business” in Atlanta, testifies that "Sweet Auburn”, is also home to one of the nation's oldest Black business districts. The district is further anchored by the second largest Black life insurance company, one of the largest Black banks, one of the oldest Black newspapers and site of the nation’s oldest Black radio station.  In summary, no place celebrates Black humanity more than Sweet Auburn.

    No other city can claim Atlanta University Center (AUC), with its six historically Black colleges. Only Howard University rivals AUC at producing the Black post-graduates. Nearby is H.J. Russel Company, the nation's largest Black construction company, whose trophies include an eye-catching downtown skyscraper, major additions of the Georgia World Congress Center and the airport.  Several of the nation's largest Black auto dealerships are located here and Magic Johnson built his 2nd cineplex in Atlanta.  For a healthy dose of Black pride, few experiences rival the sprawling view of Evander Holyfield's Gone With The Wind-like estate.

    A visit during Sweet Auburn Festival, Atlanta Football Classic or the National Black Arts Festival keeps it real.  And every Black collegian knows that Freaknik and the Hip-Hop industry are in good hands here.  Usher, Ludacris, Babyface, LA Reid, Too Short, Peabo Bryson and Whitney Houston are often seen with other rump-shakers at local Justin’s. But don't lock-in on a particular restaurant or gallery in this highly competitive market. For every New Paschals Restaurant or Gallery Bistro that opens a once cherished restaurant closes. But this constant shifting of Black entrepreneurial activity bespeaks Atlanta’s vibrancy. Should you believe in the loose-fitting definition of a “Black Mecca”, Atlanta's resume may make the strongest claim. For African Americans no other city inspires you to achieve like Atlanta.

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