In Part 1 of Atlanta's FREE Attractions, I highlighted MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta), Underground Atlanta, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site! All three of these are worth an afternoon's visit. While Atlanta has numerous attractions that charge some amount of admission, the goal of this post is to highlight some of the FREE things to see in this great city. I hope you enjoy three more that I have highlighted below!
Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta is six acres of solace for those seeking a retreat, even if only for a lunch hour, from the hectic pace of the city! If you are taking a relaxing lunch break or having a working lunch, Woodruff Park with its FREEWi-Fi, thanks to atlanta city pass, might be the place for you! Or maybe you are simply wanting to admire the interplay of the various monuments and sculptures with the natural surroundings that Woodruff Park affords. Be sure to check out the spectacular International Peace Fountain that commemorates Atlanta's role in the Civil Rights Movement. If you happen to be in the park, around noon, on a Wednesday, during the mild months of April, May, September, or October, you will get to take in some wonderful FREE music thanks to the Wednesday's In Woodruff initiative! Woodruff Park is centrally located and easily accessed by pedestrians, car, or MARTA!
While the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta may not seem like a fun outing for the young, it can be quite enlightening for anyone interested in the history of money, the future of money, or the financial industry! Here is a LINK to the Visitor's Center Tour that can give you some insight into points of interest at the FED. Keep in mind that tours of the FED are generally self-guided and nonscheduled. Guided tours are available for groups of 10+ people and must be scheduled and are by appointment only; CLICK HERE for the Tour Request Form. Tours are FREE! The Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta is very easily accessed via public transportation (MARTA) or car or bus.
*One of 12 regional banks in the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta oversees Fed member banks and thrifts and their holding companies throughout the Southeast, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It conducts examinations and investigations of member institutions, distributes money, issues savings bonds and Treasury securities, and assists the Fed in setting monetary policy. The bank also processes checks and acts as a clearinghouse for payments between banks. Federal Reserve Banks are not-for-profit and return earnings (gleaned mostly from investments in government bonds) to the US Treasury. Source Citation. http://www.frbatlanta.org/
How about a visit to the Georgia Governor's Mansion. This beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture was built in 1967 on 18 acres in northeast Atlanta. FREE tours for groups of less than 10 are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10 and 11:30 a.m. If you have a group of 10+ people reservations are required. The Governor's Mansion is accessed easily by MARTA, car or bus. Click HERE for driving directions!
I would like to leave you with a quote from one of Atlanta's most prominent citizens, and one of baseball's truly greatest players, Hank Aaron:
I never doubted my ability,
but when you hear all your life you're inferior,
it makes you wonder if the other guys have something you've never seen before.
If they do, I'm still looking for it.
If you like these FREE Atlanta attractions, check back, as there will be more on the way!
About the Author
If you are in the market to purchase a home or even refinance an existing loan and you want a loanofficer that will walk with you every step of the way, then contact Danny or Rich of the Thornton Team at Home America Mortgage today. We can have you pre-approved in as little as 4 hours. You can visit our website or send an email to thorntonteam@homeamericamortgage.com or call us @ 770-998-1964.
WOW!! Hank Aaron's from Atlanta!!?? I love those words you've quoted of his - always with a touch of heart Rich. I loved Hank Aaron when I used to follow baseball - many years ago. My oldest son's name is Aaron.
Deborah - He is a very prominent citizen of Atlanta. He actually played with the Braves when they were the Milwaukee Braves and then when they became the Atlanta Braves. He was actually born in Alabama, but has lived here so long he seems like an actual native son! IMHO, words are so powerful that I want to make sure I put great thought and care into any I choose to quote. Thanks Deborah!
Thanks for the tips. I need to go downtown this weekend to catch the Spring blooms. The Governer's mansion is usually quite splendid this time of year!
There appears to be some interesting 'comments' on choices of 'carefully selected words' here on your post. I did notice and 'read' about the spectacular Georgia Guv'nah's mansion......
Rich, another wonderful post, you always put so much thought and effort into them and I appreciate learning more about Atlanta. I've been to Centennial Park - Woodruff Park sounds so appealing, a green oasis in the city, and music?, I would plan to be there on Wednesdays. I'm glad you added some baseball today!
Richard - Atlanta, as you are aware, is a great city! And this is the best time of year with all the trees, bushes, and flowers bursting open with all their glorious beauty.
Deborah - The Governor's mansion is a great example of greek revival architecture. I think you might be teasing us about our southern accents <<<smile>>> There is an amusing saying about southerners, that we talk slow and drive fast! <<<smile>>> BTW, I like the smile!
Debbie - I am glad you liked it! Centennial Park has always reminded me of a fantasy land or something from Alice In Wonderland! It was heavily damaged in the recent tornadoes and is currently closed for repairs; it survived the bombing during the Olympics, it will survive the recent storms. BTW, It was Opening Day, it seemed appropriate that I include something about one of the best players to ever play the game!
I just came back and ran your video!I expected baseball, but it's an odd ad in your otherwise well-behaved & prah~puh post! Or is that baseball Su~thh~un sta~hl?
Deborah - I hope you liked the video. Yesterday was baseball's opening day so I felt that the Hank Aaron quote and video of his record breaking homerun were appropriate! I wish that ESPN did not include those short advertisments, that are always changing so you never know what it will be, prior to the desired video; I gues they saw another way to make $$$ I just replayed the video to see what the random ad would be. It happened to be a Trojan condom ad with a pig, a beautiful woman, and a man at a bar...there could be a joke there, but unlike politicians, I will not try my hand at humor...LOL
hahaha!!! I watched it again! It went from a Trojan ad (1st) to a Disney ad - how crazy is that!!?? ...and you might be interested to know - no Hank Aaron - or baseball either time!
Deborah - Thanks for the info! I am going to delete what was supposed to be the ESPN Hank Aaron video and add a youtube one instead! Thanks for the info!
Now you're talkin! play ball! At first I thought you were maybe pulling a funny with that trojan ad! But it just didn't fit with the nature of the quote.
LOL! Just reading the last few entries...I am so tired, it's just making me laugh! Deborah, you are too funny! Rich, I got a package in the mail from my sister in NH today- lots of Patriots stuff but the best?
Boston Red Sox T-shirt- I'll be wearing that on April 11, our first Hillcats home game!!! Thanks for welcoming my friends, Kathy is such a hoot, she's going to love it here.
Christina - Glad you liked the post. You are right gotta love Hotlanta! Thanks for reading and commenting! Just sent you an e-mail, let me know if you have any questions!
Buble's a hot local BC boy Deb - yup uhuh. I had his initial release just before he shot to fame. What are you doing awake? It must be 2a.m. eastern? Rhumba is awesome - yeah, Rich, do you dance?
Here's FEVER avante garde Madonna style - cool... hot!
Debbie - I haven't heard the Buble version but I will seek it out on YouTube. His music, that I have heard, reminds me a lot of Harrick Connick, J. from when I was in college...Blue Light, Red Light (Someone's There)! Do I dance? Hmmm....Deborah - do I dance? Well here is a video to show my dancing prowess!
Deborah - Madonna is one of my all time favorites...I was like 13 when she released this back in January of 1984! (Yeah quick calculation of my age, go ahead, I'll wait...) Ok, got it...moving on...
Rich, there is a similar sound and feel to his music. Madonna is great, Kat burned me a couple of cd's and I blast them in the car when I'm alone. And I'm letting that age thing slip by, (I'm only as old as I feel, I'm only as old as I feel.......)
I loved your dancing video, but you may want to branch out a bit, so I'm sending you one of my favorite salsa clips, I'm practicing!!! (Who's the happy girl going to Mexico next month? Oh, that would be me!LOL!)
Deborah, I can't get the Tango footwork, awesome to watch though-that's a great clip! Rich, start out with the Salsa, it's the easiest dance to learn. I've had Celia Cruz blasting all day!
The one who has a social life- they dip her, they flip her. As long as they don't drop her.
Latonia! Now I'm sure we've hijacked Rich's blog!LOL! Rich, do you and Danny and Deb and Latonia want to come to Lynchburg for Salsa Nights at Macchu Picchu? Cool little Peruvian Restaurant and they have SALSA dances on Friday nights!
I think Rich is down in the galley rowing, so on with the hijacking ....
"Atlanta's Free Attractions. How's the dancin' down there?"
I understand that Atlanta's Havana Club has FREE SALSA LESSONS Wednesday and Thursday and there's some pretty seriously hot talent there! Maybe that's where Rich is - abandoned ship....?
Okay Ladies...I step away for a few hours and a full fledged Panic at the Disco erupts! Though we have some wonderful dance clubs in ATL, I want to stow away in Debbie's suitcase and learn at this resort you are going to in Mexico! I used to love dancing as it is so expressive. But nowadays I need a little liquid courage Did someone say Tequila and Dance...
Debbie - Playa Del Carmen...Senor Frogs right by the pier! I think I was their, wait maybe that was a dream...either way the Tequila was good and cheap and flowed freely...I just know there is a joke here somewhere...let me see......
Danny - Nice song, Neil Diamond is great! I want to see him do a collaboration with 50 Cent that could be choreographed by Paula Abdul; could be great!
As for me, I will happily take either Playa Del Carmen or St Croix...I just would like a getaway, you know a holiday!
Rich, I believe the senor frogs is in walking distance. Our resort is 200 feet from the ferry (remember, I suck at math, but it's close) that takes you over to Cozumel. This is the all-inclusive place, they have good tequila, my husband will be plying me with alcohol, I'm in trouble!LOL! We can take the tour down to Tulum or up to Isla Mujeres. This is one of my favorite places to go in Mexico.
Danny, I've never been to St Croix or any of the islands. I like Neil Diamond though!LOL!
Rich, my mom has been on two cruises to Cozumel, don't think she went over to Playa Del Carmen. We'll take the ferry over for the day. The water is so beautiful; very different from Puerto Vallarta.
Rod - Thanks for reading and leaving positive comments. I definitely plan on doing more as they are great as many people already know about the pay attractions because of their advertising budgets.
OK, Mr. Popularity, I mean, Rich! Wow, not only are your blogs pretty darn entertaining, but your audience here is quite a hoot! I am now a regular. I just became one today! Thank you for putting a smile on my face!
My favorite place to vist in Atlanta is in Buckhead. It's Jellyrolls. There is nothing like it here in DC. Good clean entertainment at a bar. Check it out.
Mirela - Thank you for subscribing! I know Debbie Malone and Kathleen Elim post regularly in the Traveling Rainers Group and I am huge fans of theirs! There definitely are some great people here in the Rain! If I could suggest a group for you to check out that is related to travel and localism, aside from Traveling Rainers, it is the Wine Lovers of Active Rain!
Chris - I have both heard and read some great reviews of Jellyrolls but have yet to make it there! I have only been back (from south Florida) in Atlanta for about 1.5 years. We have some nice piano, martini, and cigar (I do not smoke) bars in the metro area!
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WOW...I liked that home with the columns all around it. Looks like an old antebellum home.
Sean Allen