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Atlas of Atlanta (Part 2)

Your tour guide to the city during Clean 2015

ATLANTA — After 28 years, the Clean Show returns to Atlanta this month. For those of you planning to attend, when you aren’t eyeing the new products or attending educational sessions, exploring the city will keep you entertained.

Pack your walking shoes and comfortable clothing, because Atlanta has an  abundance of attractions.

In downtown is the Georgia World Congress Center, the exhibit space for the Clean Show.

Adjacent to the Centennial Olympic Park and conveniently located near major shopping centers, dining and transportation hubs, this spot makes for convenient Atlanta sight-seeing.

Historically, the average high temperature in Atlanta in mid-April has been in the low 70s, with the average low in the low 50s, according to U.S. Climate Data.

That mild spring weather sounds like an ideal vacation, right? When not on the show floor, get out and about to explore the city the Clean Show is calling home April 16-19.

FANTASTIC FOOD

After the Clean Show wraps for the day, venture out into the city to sample great meals and big entertainment.

Get your food fix at the many classic Atlanta eateries. After indulging in rich, Southern fare, walk it off on a tour or at an outdoor space, such as Atlanta’s Botanical Gardens.

According to Urbanspoon, some of the top-rated restaurants in the downtown area include Arepa Mia, a Latin American vegetarian spot; Aviva by Kameel, a Mediterranean breakfast joint; and Reuben’s Deli, an American sandwich and soup destination.

For a soul food fix, Thrillist recommends Paschal’s Restaurant for fried chicken and shrimp; Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint crafts crawfish tails; and Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles carries BBQ turkey wings and fish and grits.

NEAT NIGHTLIFE

While Atlanta is a great spot for food, it also has a lively and diverse nightlife scene.

According to TripAdvisor, Midtown is host to a few dance bars, such as Opera and Sutra Lounge. For a similar, trendy feel but without the dancing, Halo Lounge is a safe bet. The bar also serves s’mores, so it has to be good, right?

For those visiting Old Fourth Ward, Frommer’s recommends Joystick Gamebar, which features a Dolly Parton pinball machine, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man and more. Food is served by Junk Food (which is exactly how it sounds), and a variety of cocktails are available for $5 and up.

Krog Bar is cozy with its wood walls and communal tables. Reviewers love its tapas and wine, earning it an 89% rating on Urbanspoon.

The Improv in Buckhead serves food and drink along with its comedy.

TripAdvisor also says that Fado, an Irish pub, and Hole in the Wall, a dance club, are also popular Buckhead bars.

In Phipp’s Plaza is Twist, a sushi and tapas treat with “high-energy drinks,” according to TripAdvisor.

MANY MUSEUMS

With multiple universities, including Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and John Marshall Law School, and nearly a dozen other colleges, this town is full of intelligence and research.

Museums also contribute to this culture. Atlanta is home to a museum of paper, design, contemporary art, the Jimmy Carter Library and more.

There are many great museums to see, and for tourists hoping to see it all, the Atlanta CityPASS can help save some money.

The CityPASS is a booklet of admission tickets to five attractions, saving tourists 43% compared to regular box office prices, according to its website.

The pass allows entry to sites like Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Inside CNN Tour, Zoo Atlanta (or Center for Civil and Human Rights) and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History (or the College Football Hall of Fame). For more information, visit www.citypass.com/atlanta.

Missed Part 1 of this story? You can read it now HERE.

Check back Tuesday for the conclusion!

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Venture outside the halls of the Georgia World Congress Center to see all that Atlanta has to offer. Its unique neighborhoods, famed eateries and local points of interest will give Clean Show attendees plenty to see and do during the exhibition’s four-day schedule. (Photo: Gene Phillips/Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau)

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Purchasing an Atlanta CityPASS will grant tourists access to various points of interests, including the Georgia Aquarium. (Photo: Kevin C. Rose/Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].