Tourist traps The triumvirate of Atlanta tourist traps resides in the heart of downtown, each establishment in close proximity to one another. The CNN’s news nerve centre (404 827 2300, 1 CNN Centre), the World of Coca-Cola (404 676 5152, 55 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SE) and subterranean former train terminal shopping mall Underground Atlanta (404 523 2311, 50 Upper Alabama St) all mix a little entertainment and information about the development of the city – too bad the places themselves haven’t developed. They all have guided and interactive elements, but really are quite cheesy. You’ll find yourself surrounded by school-age children and the elderly. Though the chance to sample Coke products from around the world is rather rewarding.
Tipping etiquette For dining, 15% is considered average when tipping. Exemplary service can be rewarded with up to 20%. When drinking, it’s customary to lay down $1 per cocktail for the bartender; more if standout service is rendered. Aggressive tipping can often result in preferential service – being tended to first, or being assured a stiffer drink. Traditional taxi tip is 15% of the total fare. Airport/hotel baggage handlers often receive $1 per bag.
Internet cafes While sites offering wireless Internet access are becoming more common, the most convenient locations for logging in remain branches of Starbucks (provided you have your own laptop/wireless networking card) and Kinko’s Copies (four downtown locations and one Midtown feature full workstations as well as laptop access).
Gifts to buy In Georgia, everything is peachy; well, at least in terms of the fruit. Peach cobbler, peach salsa, baskets of peaches. If customs will look the other way, eat a peach. But since they probably won’t, pick up merchandise with the Atlanta Braves baseball team on it. You’ll look like a Southerner and a rapper.
The other (literal) trademark of the city is Coca-Cola. Yes, that juggernaut was launched onto the world from Atlanta. Though there’s no longer cocaine in the original formula, it’s still a perfect pick-meup for those traveling through.
And what goes better with an ice cold Coca-Cola than soul food. Comfort food is another hallmark, and the best way to take it back with you without a means of refrigeration is by picking up Edna Lewis and Chef Scott Peacock’s The Gift of Southern Cooking, a cookbook available at Watershed (404 659 1665, 209 Edgewood Ave SE). The ingredients for most Southern cuisine can be found at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.