Affectionately called the “City in a Forest,” the ever-growing Atlanta serves as a gateway to the new South, meshing old-school charm with cosmopolitan flavor. A design for business, a temperate climate, world-class restaurants and new attractions keep travelers coming to Atlanta.

More people call Atlanta home than ever, as the city added more than a million residents since 2000. But rapid growth doesn’t necessarily mean a smooth transition. The city faces an infrastructure backlog of more than $900 million and is proposing an infrastructure bond referendum, hoping to bring much-needed updates to roads, sidewalks, bridges and public buildings.

Anyone who has spent a day in Atlanta knows traffic and roadways present problems. A Georgia Department of Transportation study showed average peak travel speed during morning rush hour decreased by 17 percent since 2008. Infrastructure and traffic issues make it difficult for Atlanta’s businesspeople to get around, not to mention visitors.

With a nod to the city’s infrastructure issues, Downtown Atlanta boosted an “Imagine Downtown 2.0” vision to promote more options for transit, better sidewalks and more enjoyable open space. The electric Atlanta Streetcar includes a 2.7-mile loop connecting The King Center to the Centennial Olympic Park area with long-term plans for an ambitious north-south route from Brookhaven to Fort McPherson. The initiative aims to produce fewer emissions while alleviating dependence on cars and improving traffic conditions.

Fortunately, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport makes it easy to fly in and out, even with the title of “Busiest Airport in the World.” Although its sheer size, sprawling concourse and airport trams intimidate first-time visitors, it’s a breeze for experienced travelers. A local Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority station connects to the airport, ideal for those staying in the Downtown, Midtown or Buckhead areas. Grabbing a taxi or using the ride-sharing app Uber is simple and gets you going in minutes to any of the 90,000 hotel rooms in the metropolitan area.

Each neighborhood boasts its own vibe, from upscale Buckhead to Midtown’s magnet for young professionals. Meanwhile, Downtown Atlanta is positioned as a rapidly growing hub for attractions, business and residential activity. The neighborhood saw nearly $3 billion in investments since 2007, plus an additional $142 million toward infrastructure. Multibillion-dollar proposals are currently on the table.

Downtown Atlanta offers endless options for businesses small and large. Conventions boast an annual attendance hovering at nearly 2 million. The Georgia World Congress Center ranks among the top five largest in the country, encompassing the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park and 71,250-seat Georgia Dome. For optimal convenience, the nearby Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart connects to The Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel and offers 100,000 square feet of contiguous space for intimate to oversized meetings. At The Westin, the revolving Sun Dial Restaurant serves up a dramatic 360-degree view of the neighborhood. The Hyatt Regency is also a popular choice for business travelers attending conventions.

Downtown Atlanta isn’t just a good place to do business; it’s also a great place to unwind and have fun. The area witnessed a renaissance with additions like the new World of Coca-Cola museum and, at the time of its opening in 2005, the largest aquarium in the world. This year saw new attractions breathing life into an area of Atlanta often neglected for more upscale areas like Midtown and Buckhead.

Visitors get a bird’s-eye view of Atlanta from the new 200-foot-tall SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel located next to Centennial Olympic Park. Each of the 42 climate-controlled gondolas holds six people. The 15-minute ride completes four revolutions as guests sink into leather seats and gaze out a glass door. The nearby SkyLounge at the Glenn Hotel offers another aerial view of the city without leaving the ground or the cocktails behind.

Downtown Atlanta welcomed the College Football Hall of Fame and Fan Experience in August, relocated to its new home after nearly 20 years in South Bend, Ind. The museum stops visitors in its tracks with a wall of 700 helmets showcasing every Division I, II and III and NAIA program. The 94,000-square-foot facility houses interactive exhibits; in one, visitors become guests on ESPN’s College GameDay as they’re superimposed on a screen between the broadcasters.

In June, the new National Center for Civil and Human Rights opened its doors to a 42,000-square-foot building containing the personal papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including hundreds of handwritten notes and 1,100 books from his personal library. Exhibits feature a lunch-counter protest of the civil rights movement in which African-American students staged a sit-in and demanded service alongside white patrons. The facility is conveniently located within a few minutes’ walk of the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.

Whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium © Ahmed Aboul-seoud | Dreamstime.com

Since1836, when the state decided to build a railroad to the Midwest and chose Atlanta as its terminus, the city’s legacy has been tied to innovation. Today the city honors its legacy of pushing forward with an eye on the future while retaining its Southern roots. That mentality is evident in its fusion of antebellum architecture with skyscrapers, sleek flats and new developments.

Travelers who require more convincing need only head to one of Downtown Atlanta’s Southern fusion restaurants like Poor Calvin’s. The Thai-Southern mash-up features grilled rack of lamb over kale mashed potatoes and fried chicken with lobster macaroni and cheese. After a great Southern-inspired meal, walk it off with a First Thursday Downtown Atlanta Art Walk to see some of the neighborhood’s galleries and exhibits.

SCENIC DRIVES

Take a drive on the Monticello Crossroads Scenic Byway to explore the Oconee National Forest along Georgia State Route 11. The 29-mile route ventures through old Cherokee encampments, Civil War battlefields and historical sites of Sherman’s March to the Sea. Part of the Georgia Scenic Byways Program, the community-driven effort strives to preserve the legacy of the area’s diverse scenic heritage while still enhancing economic development. In all, the Georgia Department of Transportation put together a dozen byway driving tours.

Head to the Appalachian Foothills Parkway, where Interstate 575 ends in Canton. From here you’ll travel alongside the North Georgia Mountains through Amicalola Falls, the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The latter option also offers a scenic railway with a central depot surrounded by restaurants and mountain shops.

Head down to Jonesboro on US 41 to meander through quaint main streets and small towns nestled at the foot of rolling hills. Make a stop at the Road to Tara Museum to brush up on your Georgia history. Visitors see a progression of the Civil War’s Atlanta Campaign, the 1864 Battle of Jonesboro and, of course, the book penned by Atlanta local Margaret Mitchell.