Atlanta, GA

Keep your eye on the schedule at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood. This venue can accommodate up to 19,000 people and consistently brings some of the hottest names in entertainment to its stage. Past performances have included bands like Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, John Mayer, Depeche Mode, and Mary J. Blige.

Address: 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta,GA 30315 - MAP
Phone: (404) 443-5090
Web: www.livenation.com/Aarons-Amphitheatre

If you're a fan of Broadway productions, you'll want to check out the calendar at the Atlanta Civic Center. The theater has boasted having the largest performance stage in the Southeast since it opened in 1967, and been the host of performances of productions like Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, and The Wizard of Oz. The Atlanta Civic Center also plays host to concerts and other shows like Sesame Street Live and Def Comedy Jam. This venue is definitely one of the top destinations for entertainment in Atlanta.

Address: 395 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 - MAP
Phone: (404) 523-6275
Web: www.atlantaciviccenter.com

Satisfy your need for speed with a visit to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. This southern speedway is host to NASCAR's famous Sprint Cup race, held every year on Labor Day weekend. If you're not one to watch laps and laps of a NASCAR race, the track hosts "Friday Night Drags" from spring until fall. The cars competing in the drag races hit top speeds, flying down a 1/8 mile stretch.

Address: 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, GA 30228 - MAP
Phone: (770) 946-4211
Web: www.atlantamotorspeedway.com

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is Atlanta's premier entertainment destination for Broadway shows, ballet performances, concerts, opera and more. Randy Travis, Bill Maher, Styx, Melissa Etheridge, and Jon Sewart have all taken the stage here. Seize the opportunity to see a production in this 2,750 seat venue.

Address: 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339 - MAP
Phone: (770) 916-2800
Web: www.cobbenergycentre.com

Head to the Delta Classic Chastain Park Amphitheater to catch a performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The ASO is in its 66th season and is considered to be one of America's premiere orchestra assemblies - you won't want to miss hearing live music from this talented group of performers. The amphitheater also hosts other performances by artists like Darius Rucker, Steve Miller Band, and Steely Dan.

Address: 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta, GA 30327 - MAP
Phone: (404) 733-4900
Web: www.classicchastain.com

Enjoy a performance at one of Atlanta's most historic venues, the Fox Theatre. The theater originally opened as a movie palace in 1929 and has been providing audiences with entertainment ever since. Presently, the venue books more than 300 performances annually, including productions from the Atlanta Ballet, Broadway touring companies, film series and various cultural events, and concerts by world-famous artists.

Address: 660 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 - MAP
Phone: (404) 881-2100
Web: www.foxtheatre.org

Attend an event at the Gwinnett Center, one of Atlanta's premier event venues. The Gwinnett complex is home to an arena, a performing arts center, and a convention center - meaning it offers a wide variety of entertainment options. Check the calendar at Gwinnett Center to catch hockey or basketball games, art exhibitions and craft shows, and a broad spectrum of performances from ballet, to opera, and major concerts.

Address: 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097 - MAP
Phone: (770) 813-7500
Web: www.gwinnettcenter.com

Get in the game at the Philips Arena and watch the NBA's Atlanta Hawks or the WNBA's Atlanta Dream dominate the basketball court. If you're not a sports fan, keep your eye on the concert schedule and catch performers like Rod Stewart, Britney Spears, John Legend, Bon Jovi, Bob Seger, and Tom Petty take the stage.

Address: 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303 - MAP
Phone: (404) 878-3000
Web: www.philipsarena.com

Live music fans will enjoy seeing an event at the Variety Playhouse. This Atlanta music venue hosts performances by bands hailing from all genres, including rock, country, folk, jazz, blues, and bluegrass. The venue offers an intimate setting, meaning you can be up-close and personal to the music. Kate Nash, Rilo Kiley, Colbie Caillat, Gnarls Barkley, and Tim & Eric are just a few performers that have graced the stage at Variety Playhouse.

Address: 1099 Euclid Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 - MAP
Phone: (404) 524-7354
Web: www.variety-playhouse.com

Take the time to appreciate design at the Museum of Design. The MODA offers a closer look at architecture, industrial design, interiors, furniture, and graphics, just to name a few. Through interesting exhibits and displays, this museum will show how design affects our world, and ultimately, our lives.

Address: 1315 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 - MAP
Phone: (404) 979-6455
Web: www.museumofdesign.org

For theatrical entertainment that pushes the envelope, check out a performance at the Actor's Express Theatre Company. The theater produces new plays that span a variety of universal, and sometimes controversial themes. If you're looking for a theater experience that ventures away from the classics, come see something new at the Actor's Express. You will soon find out why it is considered "one of the most remarkable and daring theatre companies in the Southeast."

Address: 887 West Marietta Street, Suite J-107, Atlanta, GA 30318 - MAP
Phone: (404) 607-SHOW (7469)
Web: www.actors-express.com

See a show at the Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff, a Tony Award-winning theater company in Atlanta. Since opening in 1968, the theater has hosted a number of productions, including The Color Purple, Aida, Beauty and the Beast, Treasure Island, Hamlet, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and many more.

Address: 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 - MAP
Phone: (404) 733-4650
Web: www.alliancetheatre.org

Experience some of the greatest stories ever told at Shakespeare Tavern. This theater company hosts productions of William Shakespeare's best works, and a few other classics in between. If you're a fan of classic literature, you can't miss a performance of stories like Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, or Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

Address: 499 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta GA 30308 - MAP
Phone: (404) 874-5299
Web: www.shakespearetavern.com

If you're looking for laughs in Atlanta, check out the talent at Uptown Comedy Corner. This venue is one of the city's top destinations for entertainment, and guarantees performances by comedians that will make you laugh out loud. Past performers like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Mike Epps, Steve Harvey, and Damon Wayans, are just some of the comedic geniuses that have shared their musings with the crowd at Uptown.

Address: 800 Marietta Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 - MAP
Phone: (404) 881-0200
Web: www.uptowncomedy.net

Take a look at the schedules for the venues at Center Stage. This performance complex is home to three stages: Center Stage Theater, The Loft, and Vinyl. All three entertainment areas are equipped with full service bars, and host shows nightly. Center Stage is definitely one of the top places for live music in Atlanta.

Address: 1374 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30309 - MAP
Phone: (404) 885-1365
Web: www.centerstage-atlanta.com

Be part of the crowd that makes the High Museum of Art one of the most-visited museums in the world. When you stroll through this museum, you'll see over 11,000 pieces of art, including works by Claude Monet, Dorothea Lange, and Chuck Close. The arts showcased in the museum span the 19th and 20th centuries and feature American and European art, decorative arts, modern and contemporary art, photography, and media arts. The museum also spotlights the works of Southern self-taught artists, and classic, foreign, and independent films. The High Museum of Art offers a complete art experience for any appreciator of the arts.

Address: 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 - MAP
Phone: (404) 733-4400
Web: www.high.org