- States:
- Georgia
- South Carolina
History, culture and excellent food scenes are highlights in Atlanta and Charleston, two standout Southeastern U.S. cities.
Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is a high-energy host, with interactive museums and upscale shopping malls added to the mix. South Carolina’s Charleston offers a more personal experience, revealing its charms on carriage rides and strolls down cobblestone streets. Combine the two cities on a road trip that shows off both the region’s historic and modern attractions.
Start Your Trip in Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta sits about 20 kilometers north of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Pick up a rental car and drive north on Interstate Highway 85. The top destinations are clustered in three areas in the heart of the city: downtown, Midtown and the Sweet Auburn Historic District. Take two to three days to explore them.
Start by celebrating local icons, from Coca-Cola and CNN to Martin Luther King Jr. and Jimmy Carter. Sample Coke products from around the globe at the World of Coca-Cola downtown. Next door, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights spotlights freedom and equality movements in the USA and abroad. The sites are across from Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Olympic Games.
The CNN Studio Tour explores the headquarters of the first 24-hour cable news channel, while fans of the television show "The Walking Dead" can visit set locations with Atlanta Movie Tours. For local and international art, pop into the galleries dotting Castleberry Hill, which is southwest of downtown, or wander gallery-packed Midtown.
Touring the World of Coca-Cola, an iconic Atlanta attraction
Where to Eat in Atlanta
The dining scene is bold and global in its reach, but the Georgia city never forgets its Southern roots. In Midtown, Mary Mac’s Tea Room serves up Southern favorites like pimento cheese, fried chicken and peach cobbler. Barbecue and live blues music draw crowds to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.
For Southern classics with gourmet flair, try South City Kitchen, also in Midtown, while cocktails, small plates and lofty views are the draw at the revolving Polaris atop the Hyatt Regency Atlanta downtown.
Getting to Charleston
From Atlanta, drive east on Interstate Highway 20. Take a quick detour to the State House in Columbia, South Carolina. Bronze stars mark the six spots where cannonballs hit the building during the Civil War. Continue east on Interstate Highway 26 to Charleston.
Where to Start in Charleston
Perched where the Ashley and Cooper rivers meet to form Charleston Harbor, Charleston has been a busy seaport and trade center since the 1700s. With its narrow streets and high-spired churches, the compact historic district looks much as it did before the Civil War. Museums and guided tours delve into the city’s colonial, antebellum and Civil War history. Learn about pirates and the Revolutionary War at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. The Old Slave Mart Museum examines the city’s role as a slave-trading hub.
In the walkable historic district, horse-drawn carriages await passengers beside the Charleston City Market. An easy loop takes in the colorful houses of Rainbow Row, the Battery walkway and White Point Gardens. From downtown, tour boats travel across Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter. Confederate forces shelled the federal island fort on April 12, 1861, sparking the Civil War.
Boutiques, gift shops and antique stores line King Street. Look for art galleries on Broad, Queen and Church streets.
Historic buildings in the section of the city known as the French Quarter
Where to Eat in Charleston
Charleston has an innovative and high-profile dining scene, with restaurants jostling for attention up and down King and East Bay streets. Southern coastal specialties like she-crab soup and shrimp and grits are found on menus across the city.
A splash of sherry adds kick to the she-crab soup at Fleet Landing, a local favorite for its seafood and views of Charleston Harbor. Locally sourced fare fills the menu at Fig, an upscale eatery that favors the bounty of the Lowcountry. Savor shrimp and cheesy grits at Slightly North of Broad, a delicious spot for brunch.
