Atlanta, Georgia

Made plans for a vacation getaway yet? If your answer is, “No, I’m on dialysis,” you’re in for some happy news. Traveling for people on dialysis is completely possible with a little advance planning. Atlanta, Georgia has twenty DaVita dialysis facilities throughout the city, so your treatments can be scheduled before you leave home, alongside the fun stuff. With this kind of convenience, isn’t it time you got away to Atlanta?

Take a trip to a popular business and vacation locale:  Atlanta, Georgia. This capital city of the Peach State is teeming with historic landmarks, and yet, is thoroughly modern. Atlanta is considered the Capital of the New South due to the rapid growth and development of the city in the past decades.

Historically, Atlanta was an important city during the Civil War. The invasion of the city by the Union army in 1864 was immortalized in the 1939 film classic Gone with the Wind, which was adapted from Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel. The home where she wrote her American masterpiece is now The Margaret Mitchell House and Museum featuring recognizable movie props and photographs from the movie’s premiere in Atlanta. 

Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta

Nearly a century after the Civil War the city was at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement. Atlanta was the birthplace of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His boyhood home in the Sweet Auburn district along with the nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church, where both he and his father, Martin Luther King Sr., were pastors, encompasses the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

Sometimes referred to as “Hotlanta,” due to the humid, subtropical climate in the summer; winter can bring frost and about 2” of snow each year to the city. Atlanta sits about 1,000 feet above sea level and rests on a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River. Peachtree Street is a main thoroughfare running north and south through the center of the city. Even over one hundred years ago it was a bustling main street with street cars, pedestrians and automobiles.

Atlanta attractions

To get the best overview of the city, the Atlanta Tourist Loop is a bus line on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) that travels to:  the Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, CNN Center, Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Underground Atlanta, Georgia State Capitol, Fox Theatre, Piedmont Park, World of Coca-Cola and other major attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops. One-way fare on MARTA is $1.75 (exact change, transfers are free and kids under 6-years old ride free). MARTA has a rail station inside the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which travels to downtown, Fulton County and Dekalb County hotels.

Here are some highlights on the best Atlanta has to offer:

Georgia Aquarium

Billed as the world’s largest aquarium with 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water, the aquarium houses 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe. The newest residents are Trixie and Alice, two whale sharks. The museum also has a new Giant Pacific Octopus exhibit.

The High Museum of Art

Founded in 1905 and is considered the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States, the museum is located in Atlanta's Midtown arts and business district, and over 11,000 works of art reside in its permanent collection.

CNN Center

Take a tour inside CNN studios and see where news is reported to one billion people worldwide. A guide will fill you in on the history of the cable news network and give you a behind-the-scenes look at the state-of-the-art control room theater, interactive exhibit area, special effects demonstrations and more.

Georgia Dome

Visit the home of the Atlanta Falcons and watch them play other NFL teams during football season. The Georgia Dome hosted Super Bowl XXVII in 1994 and Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. Built in 1992, it is the largest cable supported dome stadium in the world. The Dome features a basketball court and hosts concerts and other events.

Philips Arena

The Atlanta Hawks’ NBA team calls Philips Arena home during basketball season. The NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers play hockey in the Arena during their season and the Atlanta Force has their turn during Arena football season. When a team isn’t using the Arena, special events including wrestling and concerts with popular performers such as Mariah Carey, Kenny Chesney and Barbra Streisand fill the venue with excitement.

Turner Field

Join over 50,000 fans in the “Home of the Braves” and cheer the Atlanta Braves on to victory during baseball season. Completed in 1997, you can tour Turner Field, located on Hank Aaron Drive, and get a history of the past venues and of the Atlanta Braves.

Martin Luther King Jr. Center

Coretta Scott King established the King Center in 1968 to promote the teachings and advance the legacy of her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. Over 650,000 visitors each year visit the King Center to pay homage to the Civil Rights’ leader.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Depending on your interest and energy level there are a range of guided tours and self-guided tours to choose from at the Atlantic Botanical Garden including the Children’s Garden and a variety of family fun activities. Sculptures, water features, plant collections, exhibits and events are fully detailed on the website.

Underground Atlanta

Head to Peachtree and Lower Alabama Streets and you’ll find Underground Atlanta. Historic relics and architecture still exist lending charm to this modern entertainment mecca of shops, restaurants and nightclubs located in the viaducts in downtown Atlanta.

Georgia State Capitol

The stately gilded dome atop the Georgia State Capitol is reminiscent of the United States Capitol building. It is the center of Georgia’s state government and is open to the public. Visitors are welcome to learn more about the state’s government by taking a guided tour.

Fox Theatre

The historic Fox Theatre was designed to represent the excesses and extravagances of the pre-crash 1920s. Originally the Yaarab Temple Shrine Mosque, the Shriners offset cost overruns by working a deal with movie-mogul William Fox to make this location his Southeast movie palace. Picturesque minarets and onion domes on the outside housed an indoor Arabian courtyard with a simulated night sky with twinkling stars, floating clouds and an exquisite collection of ornate furnishings. After a cycle of bankruptcies, prosperity and tough times, the opulence of the theatre has been restored and offers tours, movies, concerts and during certain events, the sounds of the Fox Theatre’s crown jewel, “Mighty Mo,” the pipe organ.

Piedmont Park

More than 2.5 million visitors a year walk the grounds of Piedmont Park. The Battle of Peachtree Creek occurred at the park in the mid-1800s, now you’ll find a host of activities including:  fishing, picnicking, walking and jogging paths, swimming, tennis, and other recreational endeavors. There are also playgrounds and dog parks. Community activities include historic walking tours of the park, bird walks, green market featuring fresh, Georgia-grown produce, baked goods and more.

World of Coca-Cola

Learn about the history of this world-famous beverage that’s was first served in a drug store in Atlanta and is now served over one billion times a day in over 200 countries. You’ll revisit many memorable Coca-Cola advertisements through the years and check out some of the memorabilia.

Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum

Billed as the longest running show in the country since 1893, the museum is home to the historic Civil War locomotive, "Texas," hero of the "Great Train Race." Through spectacular music, art and sound effects, history comes alive as you step back to July 22, 1864 and become part of the battle. Also featured is the world's largest painting, “The Battle of Atlanta.”

Atlanta History Center

In 1990, the Historical Society became known as the Atlanta History Center. Located on 33 acres in the heart of the Buckhead district, it includes historic houses illustrating over a century of Atlanta’s history; the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum, a series of unique gardens and a complete research facility and archives. 

APEX Museum: the African American Panoramic Experience

The APEX Museum was founded to accurately interpret and present history from an African American perspective. Everyone is welcome to visit exhibitions include artwork and photographs, videos, history and events highlighting achievements of African Americans. The APEX slogan:  Where Every Month is Black History Month®.

Pace yourself

Under most circumstances, visitor DaVita and non-DaVita patients are all welcome to dialyze at the twenty DaVita centers in Atlanta. It is recommended to let your social worker know about your plans to travel as he or she can provide information and assist in making dialysis arrangements for your trip. In-center hemodialysis patients should make arrangements at an Atlanta dialysis center at least two weeks in advance of their visit. Planning ahead improves chances that there will be availability at the DaVita center that is most convenient for you. Also be sure to bring all relevant medical documents with you. Call 1-800-244-0680 and DaVita will help with your dialysis plans. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are advised to call an Atlanta-based PD center ahead of time to guard against running out of supplies or to have a back up if your supplies are lost. 

A city with such a rich history and so much to see requires creating an itinerary ahead of time to make sure you hit everything on your list. You’ll want to make sure you plan activities around your dialysis schedule depending on how you usually feel after treatments. Whether you want to spend time sightseeing or cheering on the Atlanta Braves, there’s enough to do in Atlanta to keep going back for more.

Get a list of Atlanta centers on DialysisFinder.com »
This site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a physician. Please check with a physician if you need a diagnosis and/or for treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition. If you are experiencing urgent medical conditions, call 9-1-1.