12:30 P.M.
UNDERGROUND ATLANTA AND JOHNNY ROCKET'S
A few doors down from the hotel, we hopped on a clean and bright MARTA subway car for a quick ride to Underground Atlanta. This historic six-block stretch of shops and restaurants, once the heart of the city, now lies buried beneath newer streets. (Get off at the Five Points stop; $1.75 per token; 404-523-2311.) Before exploring, we stopped for grilled cheese and burgers at Johnny Rocket's, where a sign reads "Elvis Eats Here," and, according to Heather, the french fries are "perfect." The tabletop jukebox--also a big hit--offered old favorites, such as the Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" and "My Boyfriend's Back" by the Angels, all for a nickel a song (50 Upper Alabama Street; 404-525-7117).3 P.M.
WORLD OF COCA-COLA, ATLANTA
Next, it was on to the World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, which boasts an impressive collection of memorabilia. Still, it was the bright-blue Powerade at the futuristic self-serve soda fountain that captured Sam's attention. Heather gave her endorsement to Lychee Mellow, a nut drink from Thailand, but said the Fanta Exotique (a pineapple-passion fruit concoction sold in France) was too "sizzling" for her taste (55 Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive; 404-676-5151; adults, $9; kids ages four to 11, $5; and free for kids under age six).4 P.M.
CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK
A short walk brought us to the now infamous 21-acre park that served as the social hub of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Heather, who aspires to be an athlete or a singer or an actress, danced around the Fountain of Rings--jets of water that form the Olympic logo (between Techwood Drive and Marietta Street, across from the CNN Center).
4:30 P.M.
CNN CENTER
We skipped the tour at the CNN studio (it's geared more for adults), but found plenty of fun in the Turner Store, where we splurged on a custom-made videotape. Heather donned a CNN blazer and read the day's news from a TelePrompTer while Sam sat beside her as coanchor. A CNN studio manager caught it all on tape, adding a lead-in by Larry King (1 CNN Center; 404-827-2100).
5:30 P.M.
PEACHTREE CENTER
We walked a few blocks to Peachtree Center to visit the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, a cylindrical tower of glass and one of the world's tallest hotels. As we shot up to the 72nd-floor observation deck in a glass-enclosed outdoor elevator, Sam asked if we were in an airplane. Once at the top, Heather was quick to spot the Fountain of Rings below, but kept her eyes shut tight during the entire ride back down (210 Peachtree Street; 404-659-1400; adults, $5; kids ages 12 and under, $3).
6 P.M.
>PLANET HOLLYWOOD
Ready for dinner, we went to Planet Hollywood. Heather immediately identified the bike that Macaulay Culkin rode in the movie THE PAGEMASTER hanging from the ceiling. After finishing a thin-crust pizza, we took the MARTA (across the street) back to our hotel for a microwave popcorn party (218 Peachtree Street).
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
