Lake at the 2011 Dogwood Festival, Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia

Capital and largest city in Georgia, Atlanta is known the world over for its parks, professional sports teams, shopping, museums, and entertainment. One of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Atlanta has been commended by the Environmental Protection Agency for its determination to implement ecologically friendly policies. Unlike many other Southern cities, Atlanta broke with its historic Old South architectural characteristics and opted for a progressive modern style led by native Atlantan John Portman, who created the atrium hotel in 1967 when he designed the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.