Atlanta: Southern Hospitality & Soccer

🏟️ Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Location: Downtown Atlanta

Capacity: 71,000

Pro Tip: This is one of the most accessible stadiums. It's right in the city center. You can walk from many hotels or take the MARTA train to the GWCC/CNN Center station.

🏨 Where to Stay

• Downtown / Centennial Park: The best location. You can walk to the stadium, the Aquarium, and World of Coke.
• Midtown: A short train ride north. More trendy, better nightlife, and near Piedmont Park.
• Buckhead: Upscale shopping and luxury hotels, but requires a longer train or car ride to the game.

🍗 Where to Eat

• The Varsity: "What'll ya have?" The world's largest drive-in restaurant. Greasy, classic fast food (chili dogs and frosted orange drinks).
• Ponce City Market: A massive food hall in a converted historic building. Tons of local options.
• Southern Food: Mary Mac's Tea Room for authentic fried chicken, collard greens, and cornbread.

🎢 Things to Do

• Georgia Aquarium: One of the largest in the world. See whale sharks!
• World of Coca-Cola: Taste 100+ sodas from around the world (beware the Beverly).
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights: A powerful and moving museum downtown.
• College Football Hall of Fame: Interactive museum for sports fans.

💎 Hidden Gem

The BeltLine: A former railway corridor transformed into a multi-use trail. It's lined with art, restaurants, and breweries. Walk the Eastside Trail for the best vibe.

🤓 5 Fun Facts

1. Atlanta is the only city in North America to have been destroyed by fire as an act of war (Civil War).
2. There are over 70 streets in Atlanta with "Peachtree" in their name.
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is consistently the busiest in the world.
4. The stadium has a retractable roof that opens like a camera aperture (8 petals).
5. Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics.