Atlanta, Georgia has great historical interest. Not only does it have many classic buildings, museums and lovely parks, but it is also the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. People may visit the city merely to gaze upon the home in which King was born or visit the many of museums and sites that were graced by his presence. There are plenty of other things you can do for free in Atlanta to create a visit where you can be delighted, entertained and awed by this lovely city.
If you are visiting primarily to see sites of value in the history of Dr. King, you will find that most of these can be visited for free in Atlanta. A few wonderful places to visit include free tours of Dr. King’s birth home. There is heavy traffic to this home and you do need to have a ticket to get in. The tickets are free, but are available on a first come first serve basis only, so plan to get there early in the day.
Next to Dr. King’s former home is the King Center, another activity available for free in Atlanta. As with his birth home, you do need tickets, which you obtain at the visitor’s office. Also visit the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King served as pastor.
Reflecting another part of Georgia’s history is the Georgia Capitol Museum, which you can visit for free in Atlanta in the downtown section. You’ll find unique artifacts, interesting tidbits about the history of the capitol, the building and a variety of other points of interest. If you happen to be visiting with children, consider First Thursday at the Fernbank Science Center. This is a fantastic facility, which offers educational programs for free in Atlanta for all members of the family at 4 and 5 PM every first Thursday of the month. At other times, the center is still worth a visit, with low admission prices.
Atlanta played host to the 1996 Summer Olympics, and it’s always worthwhile to investigate special facilities built for this purpose. Consider visiting Centennial Olympic Park, which features beautiful fountains, and a variety of musical entertainment that you can enjoy for free in Atlanta. In winter Centennial Park has an ice skating rink, for which there is a charge, but you can certainly watch skaters for free. One of the best things to do in Centennial Park is watch the Fountain of Rings show, offering free performances several times a day year-round. This is a spectacular show featuring lights, music, and of course impressive water action.
During the summer, one of the most exciting programs for free in Atlanta is the Coca Cola on the Bricks Centennial Park Music shows. Top performers in many different music styles offer free concerts to the enjoyment of music lovers. Check ahead for schedules to these events, and consider showing up early for seats if the performers are very popular.
The High Museum of Art is sadly not for free in Atlanta to tourists. If you’re a resident of Fulton County, you can visit the Museum for free on the first Saturday of each month. Still if you’re planning to spend some money in Atlanta, this might just be the place to do it. The High Museum is considered to have the finest collection of art in the Southeastern States. So though admission price is slightly under $20 US dollars (USD) for adults, the art you’re likely to see can be well worth the price.
