Atlanta

Geographically and culturally, Atlanta is rooted squarely in the heart of Georgia and the American South. But it has an increasingly cosmopolitan flavor, and its position as a hub for the southern seacoast extends its influence beyond the already far-reaching suburbs. Georgia’s largest city mixes the elegant homes and tree-lined streets of an older America with the modern-day flash and buzz of music-industry moguls, sports celebrities and cutting-edge media. News giant CNN is anchored here, and the World of Coca-Cola celebrates the Georgia-born company’s history at its 20-acre complex. Atlanta has also long been an important center of African-American culture and politics. The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site showcases his childhood home and displays moving civil rights exhibits. Centennial Olympic Park, host of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, is now a center for tourism and home to the world’s largest aquarium. The Buckhead district anchors the city’s nightlife.