Children and parents are dwarfed by a whale shark as it passes by inside a tank March 6, 2012, at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Ga. The whale shark is the largest living fish species. — Photo by Don Emmert

While you’re in town enjoying the great speakers and activities at Life@50+, try to make time to see some of Atlanta’s popular attractions. Here’s a list of many of the area’s well-known tourist spots.

See also: The vibrant neighborhoods of Atlanta.

Georgia Aquarium: Home of the new AT&T Dolphin Tales show, the Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, with 10 million gallons of galleries, exhibits and aquatic animals, including beluga whales. Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium outside of Asia to house the whale shark, the world’s largest fish. Visitors can even get up close and personal with these gentle giants in Georgia Aquarium’s swim and dive program.

The High Museum of Art: Many consider this the premier art museum in the South. The museum is in the midst of a multiyear partnership with The Museum of Modern Art. Through 2013, the partnership will bring many international exhibitions to Atlanta, and past exhibitions have included masterpieces by Claude Monet and Leonardo de Vinci.

World of Coca-Cola: Born and raised there, Coca-Cola is synonymous with Atlanta. You can visit the World of Coca-Cola to learn the story of the famous soft drink. Go back to the early years of Coke’s creation in Atlanta and follow the global brand through the decades. After you’ve refreshed yourself with more than 60 products from around the world, step out of the museum’s front door and into the hub of the convention district.

Margaret Mitchell House: Atlanta is home to the furnished apartment, nicknamed “The Dump” by Margaret Mitchell, where she wrote “Gone with the Wind.” The novel is American’s second favorite book after the Bible, according to a 2008 Harris poll.

Centennial Olympic Park: As host of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta continues to commemorate the Olympic legacy. Centennial Olympic Park was the world’s gathering place during the Games and includes the Fountain of Rings, the world’s largest fountain utilizing the Olympic Symbol of five interconnecting rings. The Atlanta History Center’s Centennial Olympic Games Museum includes interactive exhibits allowing visitors to compete against Olympic legends such as Michael Johnson and his gold track shoes.

Next: Ride the world’s longest freestanding escalator. »