Atlanta's tunes

Atlanta's music scene is as hot as its its temperatures on a July afternoon, with an eclectic collection of sounds from blues and country to classical and jazz to hop hop and R&B. Nationally successful acts REM, Outkast, the Indigo Girls, the B52s and John Mayer are from Atlanta and nearby Athens, as are many other famous musicians. Atlanta's local music scene thrives in the city's myriad lounges, bars and concert halls where local, regional and national acts entertain nightly. Also, DJs and dance music are cranked up in local nightclubs for revelers who want to dance all night. For budding and serious musicians, check out the plethora of open mic nights at local bars and clubs, or give your favorite song your best rendition at a karaoke night. The biggest problem is deciding what show to see first!The Internet is a great place to score show tickets and also cheap flights to Atlanta.

Top places to eat in Atlanta

It isn't a surprise that a major city like Atlanta would have a plethora of dining opportunities. Atlanta has plenty of thatfrom eclectic international fare to mouth-watering Southern home cooking. If shrimp-n-grits, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, collard greens and po' boy sandwiches sound delicious or at least intriguing, don't miss restaurants like Watershed, a Decatur restaurant that has received accolades for its exquisite Southern cooking. One of Decatur's best eateries, Watershed has won awards for its unique take on traditional Southern dishes; Dogwood in Midtown is another Southern favorite, as is Home Restaurant and Bar, which only serves the freshest ingredients straight from local farms. After you've drunk more sweet tea than you can handle, visit Midtown or Downtown for some fantastic international fare. And for something more familiar, enjoy familiar food from a restaurant with a well-respected national name, such as Ruth's Chris Steak House. Whatever your tastes, dining out is one of the best parts of a great vacation and can easily be worked into even the tightest of budgets by saving money on affordable Atlanta airfare and accommodation.

Gay Atlanta

Atlanta's Pride Festival is just one example of how gay-friendly Atlanta is. The annual Pride Festival is held each October and is celebrating its 40th year this year. The festival is purposefully being held during National Coming Out Day, which is held each year on October 11. This year's festival will kick off with a celebration will be at the Georgia Aquarium on October 8. In addition, hotel discounts are available for the festival. If you're not coming for the Pride Festival, there are still plenty of restaurants, hotspots, hotels and shops that are popular within the gay community. Also, great hotel deals are being offered for festival time. For those who can't make the festival, but are visiting Atlanta another time of year, the city has no shortage of eateries, nightclubs, hotels and stores that cater to the GLBT community; several Atlanta neighborhoods are particularly gay-friendly, including Piedmont Park and Midtown, as well as Candler Park, Decatur and Virginia-Highlands. The best way to learn more about Atlanta's gay-friendly places and activities is to go online and do some research; also, a great way to save cash is to check out travel sites that can assist you in locating the cheapest deals on Atlanta budget plane tickets, hotel rooms and rental cars. So whether you're coming for the Pride Festival or simply to enjoy Atlanta any time of the year, don't wait to book your Atlanta cheap tickets!

Atlanta's fantastic festivals

As one of the South's premier cities, Atlanta naturally has much to offer in the way of cultural events and festivals. Whichever season you visit Atlanta, there are plenty of festivals to choose from. Summer is probably the most popular season for festivals. A few of the most popular summer festivals and festival activities are the Laser show Spectacular at Stone Mountain, the Georgia Renaissance Festival and the Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days at Centennial Olympic Park. For those who come to Atlanta in the Autumn, check out the Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain and the Taste of Atlanta. Winter time is never to cold for festivals in Atlanta, The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in January and February has the Southeastern Flower Show. With so many to choose from, the toughest part of attending an Atlanta festival is making the decision of which one or ones to see and which ones to plan on for the next trip. One way to see as many festivals as you can is to save money by booking your budget flights, hotels and rental cars together as part of a vacation bundle.