Downtown Attraction is the Real Thing
by Tommy Ford

The New World of Coca Cola, located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia is a treat, and not just for Coke fans. There is a huge collection of Coke artifacts from around the world, including an original Norman Rockwell oil painting, "Barefoot Boy," and artwork by Andy Warhol.

Our kids loved the "Perfect Pauses Theater," which features Coca-Cola advertising from the past and from around the world. Another favorite was the working robotic bottling plant. When I was a kid it was a treat to go to the local Coke plant and watch the glass bottles being filled. This nostalgia comes alive at the plant which can produce up to 20 bottles per minute.

The hands down favorite of everyone in our party, young and old, was "Taste It." Here you can sample over 70 Coca-Cola beverages from around the world. There were several we wished we could buy in the USA, and, yes, a couple which must have required an acquired taste. No matter, it was great fun.

Think they no longer put Coke in glass bottles? If you do then you're wrong! Upon leaving "Taste It," you can pick up a commemorative bottle of Coca-Cola. I kept mine unopened to put on a shelf at home. The kids had drank theirs' by the time we got to the car. What better way to honor an irresistible American institution?

Omni Hotel at CNN Center
1-866-940-1794 
Tip: Reserve the "Sip and Splash" Package, which includes tickets to the New World of Coca Cola
and the Georgia Aquarium