Atlanta attractions and civil rights history

The short answer

Everything here is in Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia. Choose Atlanta CityPASS if you will use most of its six attractions within nine days; buy single tickets if you want one or two. CityPASS covers five attractions chosen from six, each once, within nine consecutive days.[2][1] The single tickets are the Georgia Aquarium: Fast Track Ticket, the Zoo Atlanta Entry Ticket and the College Football Hall of Fame Ticket.[7][5][3]

For civil rights history, the guided Martin Luther King Jr Historic District Walking Tour, Atlanta is the product on its own.[9] CityPASS reaches the subject only if you choose the National Center for Civil and Human Rights as one of your five.[2]

Atlanta CityPASS: five of six

CityPASS lists its six attractions as Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and you choose five.[2] No attraction is fixed: SkyGate's single option describes a curated list to select from.[1] CityPASS says tickets are valid for nine days starting on the first day you visit an attraction.[2] SkyGate's listing adds that attractions can be visited in any order and that some may need advance reservations. Ticket types are adult (13 and over), child (3 to 12) and infant (0 to 2), and the page says children under 3 go free.[1]

The pass is an entitlement, not a plan to see all six; it covers only the five you use. XTOUR's reading is that it fits a stay of several days with the aquarium, the zoo and at least two museums on the list.

Georgia Aquarium: Fast Track Ticket

The aquarium is named for the US state and stands at 225 Baker Street Northwest, Atlanta.[4] SkyGate sells two options, General Admission: Fast Track Entry (Standard Dates) and General Admission: Fast Track Entry (Peak Dates). Both include admission, the Dolphin Presentation, the Sea Lion Presentation and any special temporary exhibitions during your visit.[3] SkyGate does not say which dates count as peak, so pick the option the booking calendar offers for your date.

The aquarium's own site says the sea lion and dolphin presentations require reservations on the day of your visit, so plan to reserve a presentation time once you arrive. It also says the aquarium is open 365 days a year, with daily entry ending half an hour before closing.[4] Ticket types are a person ticket for ages 3 and over and an infant ticket for ages 0 to 2.[3] See the Georgia Aquarium page on XTOUR.

Zoo Atlanta Entry Ticket

Two options, Admission (Monday-Thursday) and Admission (Friday-Sunday), with the same general admission. Ticket types are adult (12 and over) and child (3 to 11); SkyGate's page says children under 3 go free and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.[5] The zoo gives its address as 800 Cherokee Avenue SE and listed weekday hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekend hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., when XTOUR read its site. It says it is closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.[6] See the Zoo Atlanta page on XTOUR.

College Football Hall of Fame Ticket

One option, general admission to self-guided galleries and hands-on activities. Ticket types are adult (13 and over) and child (3 to 12), and the page says children under 3 go free.[7] The hall gives its address as 250 Marietta St. NW and listed itself as open Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last ticket at 4:30 p.m. It adds that select spaces may close for private events.[8] SkyGate's listing says bags and visitors are security-checked at entry.[7] See the College Football Hall of Fame page on XTOUR.

Martin Luther King Jr Historic District Walking Tour

This guided walk explores Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward and sites connected with Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and Coretta Scott King, according to SkyGate. The page names Ebenezer Baptist Church and Freedom Hall at the King Center among the places visited.[9] These are stops on a guided walk; SkyGate does not say whether the group goes inside either building, and XTOUR has not verified it.

The single option includes an expert local guide and a hand-drawn brochure, and a minimum of two tickets is required per booking. Only an adult ticket, for ages 9 to 99, is sold, and the page recommends the tour for ages 9 and older. You meet the guide across the street from the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and show your smartphone ticket; SkyGate asks you to arrive 15 minutes before the start.[9]

The church is part of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, run by the National Park Service.[10] The NPS says the Heritage Sanctuary is the historic Ebenezer church where Dr. King, his father and his grandfather preached, and that the newer Horizon Sanctuary is not open for tours.[11] The NPS park also includes the Birth Home of Martin Luther King, Jr., Fire Station No. 6 and the tomb of Dr. and Mrs. King.[10] Birth Home tour registration is at Fire Station No. 6, according to the NPS; the walking tour's option does not name the Birth Home tour. The NPS says its ranger-led activities are free and gives free visitor parking at 423 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE, the same address SkyGate gives for parking.[9][10] See the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church page on XTOUR.

How to choose

• Four or five of the six CityPASS attractions within nine days: Atlanta CityPASS.
• The aquarium and its dolphin and sea lion shows: the Georgia Aquarium: Fast Track Ticket.
• A day at the zoo: the Zoo Atlanta Entry Ticket, choosing the weekday or weekend option.
• College football: the College Football Hall of Fame Ticket.
• Dr. King's neighbourhood with a guide: the Martin Luther King Jr Historic District Walking Tour.

Before you book

• Reserve the aquarium's dolphin or sea lion presentation on the day of your visit.[4]
• The College Football Hall of Fame listed itself as closed on Tuesdays (open Wednesday to Monday).[8]
• Zoo Atlanta options are split by day of the week.[5]
• The walking tour needs at least two tickets per booking.[9]