The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) is a hotspot for large and international conferences and exhibitions across all industries. Thanks to its prime location near downtown Atlanta, exhibitors and attendees can enjoy a long list of historical sites and modern amenities. To help you decide where to spend your free time away from the convention center, here are a few downtown spots you can check out while you’re in town for an Atlanta trade show.
Historic Sites
Atlanta has been a bustling transportation hub since it was founded in 1837. While originally known as a railroad town, its Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport now holds the title of the world’s busiest airport. Throughout the centuries, this gem of the American South has hosted and borne witness to a long list of historical events. You can easily check them out when you have some time away from your Atlanta trade show since many of them are within minutes of the GWCC.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Less than a mile walk from Atlanta’s premier convention center, you can immerse yourself in history at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Here, you’ll learn about the history and key figures of the American Civil Rights Movement. The facility features special exhibits and tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as other activists who pushed the needle toward equality, including Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Combining feelings of hope with the tragedy that unfortunately accompanied the fight for human rights, this facility should be at the top of your must-see list when you’re in town for an Atlanta trade show.
Atlanta History Center
The Capital of Georgia has so much history that it requires the 33-acre Atlanta History Center to even begin explaining its richness. However, this isn’t your run of the mill museum. It’s an entire campus dedicated to educating visitors on the city’s founding, its role in the United States Civil War, the part it played in the American Civil Rights Movement, and its current status as a bustling metropolis.
Here are a few attractions you can enjoy while you’re there:
- A museum dedicated to Atlanta’s history
- A 19th Century wood cabin
- Smith Farm, which includes the city’s oldest farmhouse
- Lee Playhouse, a mini home built in the 1940s
- Several stunning gardens featuring a huge variety of flora and fauna
Because the Atlanta History Center is so massive, try to spend at least a few hours there. It’ll take you less than 20 minutes to drive over from the Georgia World Congress Center, and you’ll be happy you dedicated at least half a day to visit this site.
Modern Attractions
Once you’ve explored all of Atlanta’s history, check out what the city has done more recently. There are some awesome attractions in the immediate vicinity of the convention center, so you can pay them a visit even if you just have a little free time away from the show floor.
Georgia Aquarium
When you’re at the Georgia World Congress Center for an Atlanta trade show, you’re less than a mile away from one of the most renowned aquatic museums in the entire world. The Georgia Aquarium is just a few minutes from the GWCC—and it’s truly worth a visit.
This facility boasts some awesome statistics. Its 11 million gallons of water make it the biggest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, and it needs plenty of space to house the over 500 species that reside there. Gaze at the massive whale shark, giggle at the playful sea otters, and let yourself be mesmerized in the 100-foot-long underwater gallery called the Ocean Voyager. The Georgia Aquarium is open every single day, which makes it easy to fit into any trade show coordinator’s busy schedule.
Centennial Olympic Park
Remember when Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1996? Even if you’re too young to have watched the competitions, you can enjoy the memories at Centennial Olympic Park. Here are a few things to do throughout the 22-acre area, which is less than a mile away from the Georgia World Congress Center:
- Visit the Fountain of Rings Plaza
- Walk through the Gateway of Dreams
- Gaze upward at the eight 65’-tall Hermes Towers
- Learn about the 1996 Paralympic Games
If you have a little more time to kill during your Atlanta trade show, here’s a bonus attraction for you: the World of Coca-Cola is at the northern end of Centennial Olympic Park. Take a selfie with the iconic polar bear, learn the history of one of the country’s favorite beverages, and play around with interactive exhibits like the Virtual Taste Maker. This museum is a fun reprieve that you’ll be talking about for ages after your visit.
We’ll Handle Your Atlanta Trade Show so You Can Enjoy the City
As a historic city with plenty of modern amenities, Atlanta is brimming with awesome attractions. Some are centuries old, some have only been around for a few decades—and many of them are within walking distance or a short drive of the GWCC! So go ahead: enjoy your time in this great town. We’ll take care of your rental trade show exhibit and all of your show services.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you have a successful Atlanta trade show!
