Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / July 27, 1989, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
ENTERTAINMENT Page 7A, Going On Vacation? Here's Travel Ideas For Summer ATLANTA ATLANTA - Of the nine U.S. geographic regions, the South Atlantic draws more domestic travelers - up to 30 percent — as a primary destination than emy other area, as reported by the Simmons Market Research Bu reau. The same report also con cluded that about half of the U.S. population will take at least one trip of 100 miles or more, citing the primary reason for the trip to be vacation. Given these results, Charlotte residents may find this year's obvious vacation choice Is At lanta. According to the U.S. Travel Data Center, 59 percent of Atlanta's visitors from other parts of the South come for per sonal reasons. Including out door recreation, entertainment and sight-seeing, "When vacationers from Char lotte think of Atlanta, the city's slgrllne of businesses and hotels often comes to mind. However, the metropolitan area Is In creasingly becoming popular among pleasure travelers with what's beyond the skyscrapers," said Ted G. Sprague, president of Atlanta Convention and Visi tors Bureau. The vast choices of attractions In metro Atlanta, coupled with the fact that the travelers can drive to the city In less than a day, make It the perfect getaway destination. "As capital of the South, Atlan ta Is taking new measures to at tract leisure travelers, especial ly from other parts of the region," said W.B. Baldwin, vice president for Advertising and Public Relations for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bu reau. "No matter how many times you've been here, or your age, there are plenty of surpris es awaiting you this trip," he added. 'Together with the established favorites, the new attractions, including Underground Atlanta, promise to make Atlanta the place to be this summer," said Baldwin. Underground Atlanta, a festi val marketplace featuring spe cialty restaurants, shops and entertainment, highlights the recent openings of Atlanta at tractions. New sights and sounds in metro Atlanta also In clude the SclTrek Museum, Fu qua Conservatory and the Day Butterfly Center. SclTrek, a Science and Technology Mu seum, houses "hands-on" dis plays and hosts traveling exhib its. The Dorothy B. Fuqua Conser vatory at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, America's newest con servatory, features more than 100 exotic plants Including en dangered species, carnivorous plants and an outstanding col lection of rare palms. Callaway Gardens' Day Butter fly Center encompasses 4.5 acres with a 7,000-square-foot conservatory filled with 800 to 1,000 tropical butterflies and more than 50 species of tropical plants. Alongside the new attractions are regional and national favor ites, Including Georgia's Stone Mountain Park, Six Flags Over Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. Center, CNN Center Studios, the Atlanta Braves, The Carter Pres idential Center, White Water Park, Lake Lanier Islands, Cha teau Elan, Road Atlanta, Zoo At lanta and the New Georgia Rail road. The Atlanta Convention & Vis itors Bureau's "Summerspree '89" program Invites families to take advantage of special Atlan ta mini-vacations and weekend getaways. The program features exclusive discounts for a variety of metro Atlanta entertainment, attractions and hotels. With more than 1,100,000 visitors ex pected in Atlanta this summer, accommodations from budget to luxury are available with ap proximately 50,000 hotel rooms. Area resorts also are partici pating In the campaign. For more Information, contact: Lisa Murray, Senior Account Executive, Public Relations Counsel for The Atlanta Con vention & Visitors Bureau 225 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-688-5900. UNDERGROUND ATLANTA ATLANTA - Graced with south ern tum-of-the-century charm, Atlanta's new festival market place, Underground Atlanta, opened on June 15. An estimat ed 1.25 million residents, con ventioneers and tourists have visited Underground Atlanta since It opened. Many of the Underground At lanta retailers report^ that dal ly sales quotas had been reached within two hours of the opening. The Metrollna Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MAR TA), enjoyed record rail rlder- shlp during the four-day open ing period. The number of weekend riders Increased by 152 percent. Underground At lanta developer, The Rouse Company, declared the opening a success and deemed the crowd Its largest. The retail and entertainment complex was developed through a joint partnership by Under- groimd Atlanta Joint Venture and Rouse-Atlanta, Inc., an affil iate of the Rouse Company, which has opened other suc cessful festival marketplaces In. New Orleans, Miami, Boston and other cities. The $142 million complex will create 3,000 jobs and wlU gener ate more than $5 million In new sales and property taxes each year. Underground Atlanta Is the catalyst expected to boost At lanta's popularity as a tourism destination and to provide con vention delegates with addition al nighttime, shopping and din ing alternatives. Atlanta Is already one of the nation's top five convention cities. Conven tion marketers hope that Under ground Atlanta will help to In crease spouse attendance to the more than 1,600 major conven tions the city holds annually. "We are thrilled with the suc cess of Underground atlanta," said president of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) Ted G. Sprague. "Underground Atlanta comple ments Atlanta's existing exem plary attractions, wonderful ho tels and world-class convention facilities. Combined, these fac-' tors add an unparalleled dimen sion to tourism in Atlanta," Sprague added. Popular In the 1970s, the origi nal Underground Atlanta was primarily an entertainment cen ter. The new Underground At lanta has an added element — shopping. With nearly 100 spe cialty retail shops, 22 restau rants and nightclubs and 20 food court vendors. Under ground Atlanta is a place "where all people can come at any time of the day," says Sprague. Rouse-Atlemta, Inc., city officials and other business leaders also want Underground Atlanta to be the city's town center for com munity activities. Unlike the 70s' complex, to day's Underground Atlanta Is evenly lit and open. "Elveiy nook and cranny Is weU-llt and a sub station of the Atlanta Police De partment has op>ened inside the complex. Underground Atlanta Is very safe and secure," says ACVB Vice President of Tourism and Public Relations John E. Jackson, Jr. Underground Atlanta Is com prised of seven sections, each with a distinctive flavor. Herald ed by a 138-foot tall light tower and three cascading fountains, the Peachtree Fountains Plaza Is the beacon of Underground Atlanta. Overlooking the ter raced plaza Is Upper Alabama Street, a shopper's paradise. De signer clothing, art and other Items are available In the reno vated buildings along Upper Al abama Street. Enclosed and cll- mate-controlled. Lower Alabama Street features addi tional shopping opportunities and the quaintness of pushcart vendors, clowns and other activ ities In Humbug Square. Pack inghouse Row, located on east ern Lower Alabama Street, features produce, wine and tasty confections. With a 600-seat food court, the Old Alabama Eatery offers a wide variety 6f delicacies from ethnic fare to dell sandwlchefe. The upbeat Kenny's Alley, houses a melange of restaurants from fondue to seafood and Italian to Cajun and top-flight entertainment, from country-western to jazz and comedy to Irish folk music. Located In the historic heart of the city. Underground Atlanta Is easily accessible. Two parking garages with a combined total of 1,250 spaces are adjacent to the complex. MARTA also brings passengers to the portals of Un derground Atlanta on the state- of-the-art rail system. Begin ning in September, shoppers and diners wlU be able to take early 1900's-style trolley buses to Underground. Taxis, cars and buses can drop off Underground visitors at the terraced Depot Plaza. The plaza can be set up for banquets and meetings. Following a function, participants can disperse and enjoy Underground Atlanta at their own pace. Currently, about 75 percent of the retail, dining and entertain ment establishments are open. By September 1989, Rouse an ticipates a full house. Two addi tions will enhance the complex. Visitors and residents alike will feel a sense of Atlemta history through the special exhibits fea tured at Atlanta Heritage row. A multi-media presentation shown In a 100-seat theater, along with the exhibits, will trace Atlanta's history from the CMl War to the reconstruction period. Celebrating the history of Coca-Cola, "The World of Coca- Cola" pavilion wlU also open in 1990. The 45,000 square foot pa vilion will feature erdilblts. Inter active displays and the world's largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia. Atlanta Is the birthplace of the beloved soft drink. To keep Underground At lanta fresh and exciting, other additions are under construc tion Including an apartment complex. The HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA — Peachtree Center, 37 meeting rooms, 1279 Guest Rooms and 56 suites. 0$- 265 Peachtree Street. The hotel features the Hyatt Corpo- signed by Atlanta architect John Portman Jr., the hotel vise ration’s first open atrium lobby (23 stories), two ballrooms, built in 1967. Experience Low Rates During Summer Better Than Others Program CHARLESTON, SC - In Charleston, summer family fun Is better than anywhere else, thanks to The Omni Hotel at Charleston Places’ "Summer Better Than Others" program. 'With the Summer Better Than Others program, room rates drop to a low $89 a night, but that's only the beginning," Dean Andrews, vice president and general manager of The Omni Hotel at Charleston Place said. "The other amenities Included In CHARLESTON the package will add so much value, your family escape will be better than you ever Imagined." The Omni Hotel's Summer Bet ter benefits Include: • Discount coupons worth $100's off area golf, tennis. shopping, carriage rides, histor ic tours and more. • Stay Sunday night and get a free harbor cruise for the whole family. • Children imder 17 stay free (In room with adults). • ChUdren under 12 eat free (from children's menu with pay ing adult). * A free six-pack cooler load ed with Coca-Cola ready In the room u{x>n arrival. "When families need a break from the summer heat and dol drums, The Omni Hotel at Charleston Place Is the place to come," Andrews said. 'We offer something for everyone. Plus, you can save time and money by letting us plan the family out ings and activities. Just relax with us and enjoy the beauty of the city and the Lowcountry." The Omni Hotel at Charleston Place Is a world-class 443-room hotel/conference and retail complex located In the heart of historic downtown Charleston. The hotel Is the centerpiece of Charleston Place, which In cludes 26 world-famous shops, including Polo/Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Victoria's Secret and Go- dlva Chocolatler. The complex also Includes an hidoor/outdoor pool, fitness center, two restau rants and two lounges, one with Uve jazz nightly. Special Summer rates are available now through Septem ber 3, 1989. For reservations or more Information about Sum mer Better Than Others, call 1- 803-722-4900 or 1-800-THE.- OMNI.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 27, 1989, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75