Hotel at a Glance: Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead

Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead sits adjacent to the Lenox Square Mall, where guests can shop at Pottery Barn, Urban Outfitters, and Neiman Marcus or grab a bite to eat at restaurants including California Pizza Kitchen. Walk two blocks and hop on the train at MARTA’s Buckhead rail station—you’ll be in downtown Atlanta in just 20 minutes.

• Pub food including wings, tomato-mozzarella flatbread, and a burger topped with Wisconsin cheddar at The Bistro
• Starbucks coffee and breakfast entrees are available each morning.
• Guest rooms are equipped with coffee and tea, mini fridges, iPod docking stations, flat-screen TVs, and complimentary WiFi.
• Go for a swim in the indoor pool.

Atlanta, Georgia: Urban Parks and Renowned Aquarium in Capital of the South

Named 1 of 50 Places of a Lifetime by National Geographic, Atlanta lies near the Chattahoochee River in Georgia’s northwest region known for its famed trees: magnolias, pines, and dogwoods. Despite a metropolitan population of more than five million and what is considered the world’s busiest airport by passenger count, Atlanta seems to always offer a relaxing escape. Stroll through the 185 acres of botanical gardens, hiking trails, and oaks at Piedmont Park, or study one of the country’s largest Civil War exhibitions at the Atlanta History Center.

Anchored by historical Peachtree Street, the city’s midtown area boasts a thriving arts-and-culture scene. Opened in 1929, the Fox Theatre features imposing Egyptian architecture and a custom-made organ with a network of 3,622 pipes. Tours take place on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The High Museum of Art spotlights more than 12,000 pieces of contemporary and folk art, ranging from Renaissance paintings to photographs from the civil-rights era. Kids might better enjoy the Georgia Aquarium, located downtown at Centennial Olympic Park. One of the world’s largest aquariums with more than 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water and more than 100,000 animals, the aquarium is home to beluga whales, lionfish, whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and more.

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