For years, Atlanta was known as a great city to do business in, but not much for its attractions.
In the past few years, that has all changed.
Not only has the city landed the world's biggest fish tank in the Georgia Aquarium, it also has attracted world-class exhibits like "The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army" and "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" and debuted traveling shows like "Dialog in the Dark."
The new challenge in these financially tough times will be the cost of visiting attractions.
"We have to look at the way travel is changing in this economy," said Lauren Jarrell, a spokeswoman for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city's main tourism organization. "You have to look at what the consumer wants."
Already, Six Flags Over Georgia, has reduced its annual pass to just $10 more than the entry fee for a daily visit.
Other attractions are looking at ways to strengthen partnerships, Jarrell said, the give visitors more bang for their buck.
Some partnerships already exists. CityPass offers six attractions — including Zoo Atlanta and Inside CNN — for $69 while the Pemberton Place pass gets visitors in to see the aquarium and its next door neighbor, the World of Coca-Cola, for $36.50.
Most deals have time limits for when tickets can be used, but the MVP pass lets visitors enjoy five attractions —including an Atlanta Braves game — on any day of their choosing.
"That's what makes MVP so great," Jarrell said. "For $89, you can get into five of the top attractions in the city. That's a 35 percent savings. That puts us in the same league as a Disney vacation, especially at a time when people are looking to stay a little closer."
Most prices, however, have caveats. Because Atlanta attractions want to pull in visitors, many offer specials and discounts to lure as many visitors as possible.
"Atlanta has always been a great value and so right now its in our favor," she said.
Heavy hitters in the pocket: ($20 and up)
Six Flags Over Georgia - $39.99; $49.99 season pass
"Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" and the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center - $32.50 (specials available, including family four-pack for $11.50 per person)
Georgia Aquarium - $26
Stone Mountain Park - $26 (one day adventure pass ticket)
Bodies ... The Exhibition - $25.92 (Dialog in the Dark - Dialog in the Dark - $25.92
Not much more than a meal: ($10 to $19)
Zoo Atlanta - $18.99
High Museum of Art ("The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army" - $18
World of Coca-Cola - $15
Atlanta History Center - $15
Fernbank Museum of Natural History - $15
Inside CNN - $13
Margaret Mitchell House - $12
Atlanta Botanical Garden - $12
Imagine It, Children's Museum of Atlanta - $11
Economical: (Under $10)
Stone Mountain Park - $9 (for an individual attraction ticket)
Jimmy Carter Library and Museum - $8
Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum - $8
Who says nothing in life is free
Underground Atlanta
Martin Luther King National Historic Center
Sweet Auburn District
Centennial Olympic Park
Georgia State Capitol
Historic Oakland Cemetery
Packages
Most Valuable Package (MVP): $89, Atlanta Braves game, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Six Flags Over Georgia, Stone Mountain
CityPass: $69, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Inside CNN and your choice of Fernbank Museum of Natural History or Atlanta Botanical Garden and High Museum of Art or Atlanta History Center
Pemberton Place Pass: $36.50, World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Aquarium
Treasures fits for Kings: $39-$41, King Tut and China's Terracotta Army
*Pricing is based on one adult ticket and does not include sales tax
Source: attraction Web sites, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
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