IPAC 2015
ATLANTA

Hot Topics & Cool Solutions! July 19-22, 2015

Welcome to Atlanta

In a city with so much to see and do, Atlanta’s Buckhead community is an area flush with must-see attractions and things to do, including art galleries, museums, theater, music venues, nightlife, and parks.  Below are some ideas that will make you want to arrive early and stay longer!

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Around Buckhead

Atlanta History Center                      (http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/)

Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center located in Buckhead is an all-inclusive 32-acre destination featuring the Atlanta History Museum, one of the Southeast's largest history museums; two historic houses, the 1928 Swan House and the Smith Family Farm; the Centennial Olympic Games Museum; the Kenan Research Center; the Grand Overlook event space; the Coca-Cola Cafe, a museum gift shop, and acres of historic gardens and woodland trails.

5 Reasons to Visit Atlanta History Center

1. The Atlanta History Center features 32 acres of gardens, wildlife trails and woodland areas.

2. Throughout the year, the museum brings history to life through living history programs, lectures with award-winning authors, toddler programs, homeschool days, school tours, summer camps, music series, annual festivals such as Sheep to Shawl, and much more.

3. The Swan House at the Atlanta History Center was one of many Georgia set locations used during the filming of the movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The Capitol Tour experience includes a guided tour through Swan House showcasing the rooms that were used during filming.

4. The Atlanta History Center offers exhibitions on the Civil War, African-American heritage, and Southern folk art, with a wing dedicated to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.

5. Atlanta History Center also operates the Margaret Mitchell House. Located in Midtown, the two-acre campus features tours of the apartment where Margaret Mitchell wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Gone With the Wind, an exhibit highlighting the life and times of Margaret Mitchell, a Gone with the Wind movie exhibit, and a gift shop.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center                         (https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/atlanta/)

Stack, create and imagine at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center built on the top floor of Phipps Plaza in Buckhead (walking distance from JW Marriott Hotel).  

Let your imaginations run free at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta at Phipps Plaza! Kids between the ages of 3 and 10 will enjoy hours of building creativity and curiosity with interactive, hand-on attractions, 4-D cinema, and classes with a LEGO® Master Model Builder. You and your family can also star in your own knight’s tale abroad the Kingdom Quest LEGO ride - an immersive adventure to vanquish mythical monsters and rescue the Princess.

See iconic Atlanta landmarks at the MINILAND exhibit or plan a celebration in one of the special party rooms. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta has something for every member of the family and dozens of things to enjoy together!

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Last admission is at 5 p.m.)

Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Last admission is at 7 p.m.)

Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Last admission is at 3:30 p.m.)

BOBBY JONES GOLF COURSE              (http://www.bobbyjonesgc.com)

Once you’ve checked out the permanent exhibit on one of golf’s most significant figures, Bobby Jones, also at the Atlanta History Center, head a couple miles south to the golf course named in his honor.  The lush 18-hole Bobby Jones Golf Course lies on some of the same grounds that hosted the Civil War’s Battle of Peachtree Creek.

384 Woodward Way Northwest

Atlanta, GA 30305

Chastain Memorial Park                   (www.chastainpark.org)

At 268 acres, Chastain Memorial Park is Atlanta’s largest city park.  This park is favorite amongst joggers and walkers.  In addition to playgrounds and a swimming pool, its most alluring aspect is arguably its amphitheater.  Fans can grab a seat close to the stage or lounge on a blanket in the grass as a who’s who of national acts graces the stage each summer. 

Chastain Memorial Park is a short drive from the JW Marriott Hotel at 135 West Wieuca Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30342.

Bars & Nightlife                                 (http://www.havanaclubatl.com &http://www.johnnyshideaway.com)

The epicenter of glamour in Atlanta are nightclubs in Buckhead, and the place to go for a night in the city’s glitziest nightspots.  If a night on the dance floor is your aim, Buckhead has a multitude of possibilities.

Havana Club has been a fixture on the scene for over 15 years and is noted for its humidor stocked with rare and exotic cigars.  Buckhead Bottle Bar & Bistro serves up carefully crafted cocktails and a delicious menu for lunch and dinner before the city’s hottest DJs spin the tunes that keep the dance floor packed through the night.

For a change of pace, check out  Johnny’s Hideaway, a well-known historic spot that plays everything from Sinatra to Madonna, attracting a crowd of all ages for more than 30 years. 

Lenox Mall                                          (http://www.simon.com/mall/lenox-square)

Lenox Square is an upscale enclosed super regional shopping mall located in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia. Lenox Square comprises more than 1,545,000 square feet of retail space with 250 stores on four levels, including a large food court. The mall is home to three anchor stores: Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Neiman Marcus. The mall is owned by Simon Property Group and has been owned by the Indianapolis-based developer since 1998, along with the neighboring Phipps Plaza shopping center.

There is a Lenox Mall is next door and has an entrance from the JW Marriott Hotel.

Phipps Plaza                                      (http://www.simon.com/mall/phipps-plaza)

Phipps Plaza is an upscale shopping mall located in the affluent Buckhead district of Atlanta. Owned by Simon Property Group, the retail center is located at the intersection of Peachtree Road (Georgia SR 141) & Lenox Road (Georgia SR 141 Connector) and sits adjacent to its sister-mall Lenox Square in the heart of Buckhead's commercial center.

Phipps is renowned for its exquisite interior decor, which consists of mahogany walls, marble floors, glass elevators, chandeliers, and a massive, carpeted grand staircase.  Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Belk, the mall boasts a variety of luxury retailers within its tenant roster, which include Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Bally, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, Omega, Rebecca Taylor, Giuseppe Zanotti, Trina Turk, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Valentino, Elie Tahari, L.K. Bennett, Vince, Agent Provocateur, Hublot, Tory Burch, and Bottega Veneta.  There is also an AMC movie theater in the mall.

Phipps Plaza is within walking distance of the JW Marriott Hotel.

Around Atlanta

Overview
Atlanta, Georgia, the unofficial capital of the South and the most popular destination in the Southeastern United States, will host the 2015 IPAC Conference. Atlanta is a city where fine dining, shopping, and a rich history combine with inspiration-inducing attractions to create a city with Southern charm and world-class sophistication. Join us at the conference in July and experience the diverse, rich, culture that Atlanta has to offer.

Points of Interest
Atlanta offers tons of fun for families, business professionals and everyone in between. There are so many things to do in Atlanta - from family friendly attractions and history, to outdoor adventures and award-winning culture.

Here are a few of the top attractions or points of interest. Click HERE for a full list of attractions, events, points of interest, and fun things to do.

  • World of Coca-Cola: The World of Coca-Cola is a permanent exhibition featuring the history of The Coca-Cola Company. The attraction features a multi-sensory 4-D theater, an extraordinary 1880s soda fountain, live-action bottling line, and the opportunity to sample nearly 60 different beverages from around the world.
  • Georgia Aquarium: Housing more than 100,000 animals, representing 500 species, the Georgia Aquarium is the world's most inspiring aquarium with over 10 million gallons of water.
  • Centennial Olympic Park: Built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, Centennial Olympic Park is a 21-acre public park located in downtown Atlanta.
  • High Museum of Art: With its renowned collection of classic and contemporary art and award-winning architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the High Museum of Art has grown from its origins in a stately home on Peachtree Street to become the leading art museum in the southeastern United States.
  • The Fox Theatre: The historic Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s premiere venues for live entertainment. The Fox’s 4,678-seat theatre is booked more than 300 performances a year ranging from Broadway to rock to comedy to movies.
  • Atlantic Station: Pack a spare suitcase for all of the goodies you will bring back from Atlantic Station! Whether it’s a major retailer or a local boutique look you want, this walkable, outdoor shopping mecca will treat you to serious retail therapy.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: Encompassing nearly 35 acres, the fun, family-friendly and free Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site is comprised of landmarks as well as modern-day monuments and facilities. Take a journey through the underlying historical struggles of the South as well as the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • The CNN Center: Watch the news unfold. Get behind the scenes of Cable News Network (CNN), which is based right here in Atlanta, GA.
  • Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum: The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum houses U.S. President Jimmy Carter's papers and other material relating to the Carter administration and the Carter family's life.
  • Underground Atlanta: Located in the heart of the downtown, Underground Atlanta is one of the city’s favorite attractions and a cultural hub. Opened in 1969 as a “city beneath the streets,” Underground Atlanta still exhibits many of the significant architectural features from its original structure.
Atlanta Visitor’s Guide and Info
For visitors who want to learn more about the city and various events to plan ahead, access the Atlanta Now visitors guide. Atlanta Now magazine is the official visitors guide of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. Produced bi-monthly, this magazine offers a comprehensive look at What's Hot in Atlanta, Calendar of Events, attractions, dining, shopping, sports, special events and accommodations.

Atlanta Neighborhoods
Explore Atlanta’s neighborhoods to discover hidden gems around every corner. From a diverse dining scene to incredible arts and culture, Atlanta has it all. Discover neighborhood specific information HERE.

Top 12 Fun and Interesting Facts
Here are just a few fun, quick facts about Atlanta.
  • Atlanta proper maintains a population just under 450,000; however, the Atlanta metropolitan area is home to more than 5.5 million citizens.
  • Atlanta is home to the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Hartsfield-Jackson has held this ranking since 1998.
  • During the civil war, Atlanta was burned to the ground, with the exception of churches and hospitals, making Atlanta the only city in North America burned as an act of war. Later, the city was gradually rebuilt as a city of the “New South.”
  • Atlanta played host to the 1996 Summer Olympics.
  • Atlanta is home to five major sports teams: Falcons – NFL; Braves – MLB; Hawks – NBA, Dream – WNBA, Thrashers – NHL; a new MLS team coming in 2017!
  • Atlanta is host to more than 30 colleges and universities and is considered a center for higher education.
  • Atlanta is in the process of building a new $1.2 Billion stadium, which will host the Falcons and the new MLS team.
  • Your GPS might get confused if you use “Peachtree” as your destination. There are over 65 streets with the name.
  • The Georgia State Capitol building is gilded with 43 ounces of locally mined gold.
  • Stone Mountain outside Atlanta is one of the largest blocks of exposed granite in the world.
  • Atlanta is one of two cities in the world to be home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Martin Luther King Jr. & President Jimmy Carter.
  • Atlanta is home to the world's largest 10K race known as “Peachtree Road Race” that sees 45,000 runners annually!

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