Atlanta also attracts visitors with its performing arts venues, museums and historic sites, parks, cuisine and its many festivals and events. As one of the fastest-growing high-tech urban centers in the country, the Atlanta metropolitan area is home to nearly 13,000 technology companies that are leading the design, implementation and innovation of technology. In recent years, Atlanta has become one of the world's elite tech cities, and Forbes magazine named it one of the three major cities in the country that will soon become a tech mecca. Atlanta is a true educational hub, with more than 60 colleges and universities located in the metropolitan area, including Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Morehouse and Emory.
And not only are recent graduates of those schools staying in the Atlanta metropolitan area, but others from across the country are coming here as well. According to NerdWallet, the city's low cost of living and high salaries are why Atlanta is on the list of the top 10 candidates for recent graduates. Atlanta was recently ranked number one by Business Facilities magazine as the city with the lowest cost of doing business. And that's just one of the factors that has encouraged many major companies to locate their corporate headquarters somewhere in the metropolitan area. In fact, Atlanta is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies and 11 Fortune 1000 companies, including Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, and The Home Depot, all of which were founded right here in Atlanta.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, considered the “busiest airport in the world” for 20 consecutive years, is a two-hour flight away from 80 percent of the U.S. population and serves 150 domestic and more than 75 international destinations in 50 countries. Atlanta's main airport as well has an average of 275,000 passengers per day. Experience a lush urban oasis at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Enjoy strolling around the Orchid Display House or crossing the Canopy Walk, a 600-foot suspension bridge. Keep an eye out for special events taking place, such as Cocktails in the Garden, the summer musical series, or one of Atlanta's most famous holiday lighting shows. Atlanta's history dates back to the early 19th century and includes extraordinary people and important events that have impacted not only Georgia, but also the country and the world. The lush and bustling southern city of Atlanta has attracted everyone, from families to filmmakers to young entrepreneurs, so it's easy to fall in love with the city's abundant green spaces, award-winning restaurants and decades of rich history.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) predicts that the 10-county metropolitan area will have 2.5 million people by 2040. WSBTV, a television station that documents the increase in population, estimated that 65,000 people moved to the region in the year ending in July. These must-see Atlanta attractions are fun for the whole family and will make your itinerary perfect be full of memorable stops.
