Atlanta

The Capital of the South is a booming tourist destination thanks to its sense of history and a wide array of 21st century attractions.

Five million people call Atlanta home and unlike many American cities, migration there is booming as people flock to this modern and friendly city. The impressive number of skyscrapers downtown are home to many huge multinational companies, such as Coca-Cola, and with one of the busiest airports in the country, it's easy to do business and get here. Historically, the city might be on the new side compared to its counterparts on the east coast – it was founded in 1837 as the end of a railroad line – but there have been plenty of major historical events here since then. The city was burned to the ground during the Civil War, and the Atlanta History Center is an excellent resource for learning more about that period. The burning of the city was commemorated by Margaret Mitchell in her great American novel Gone with the Wind, and you can visit the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum to learn about her life. The city's most famous son though is civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. who was born and raised in Atlanta, and his birthplace has been turned into a museum, the Martin Luther King Junior National Historic Site.

The weather here is seasonal and temperate so make the most of Atlanta's hot summers and mild winters in its city parks and surrounding forests. The 73 hectare Piedmont Park is situated next to bustling midtown, while just a short drive from the city, Stone Mountain Park has plenty of walking trails – perfect for working up a sweat.

If you're travelling with children, they will have a ball in Atlanta. The Georgia Aquarium is one of the biggest of its kind in the world and is very popular with all ages. The Fernbank Science Center next door has a planetarium and observatory. And at Zoo Atlantayou can the States' largest population of orang-utans in action.

Just outside town, head to Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water, two theme parks that will provide plenty of amusement for the whole family.

As evening falls, Atlanta's justifiably famous live music scene centres around midtown and the outer suburb of Buckhead, where its bars, clubs and restaurants are packed with ready to party locals. Or for something less raucous, you could relax and enjoy a Broadway musical at midtown's legendary Fox Theatre.