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Plan ahead in over-sized ATL and the whole family can enjoy a variety of free and low-cost cultural and historical sights.

Atlanta has long been known as a fast-growing convention city, but it never really had a must-see family-style attraction until last November when the Georgia Aquarium (404/581-4000) opened its doors. Predictions were the world's largest collection of fish would hook two million visitors the first year. It took less than four months, however, to welcome its first million guests. A tip if you're considering a weekend visit: order your tickets online to avoid waiting in the lines, which often snake around the building.

Atlanta is a great destination for a budget family getaway, and a city with a surprising variety of things to do and see. Unlike, say, somewhere such as Orlando, famous for its family-friendly theme parks, Atlanta has traditionally not been known for its tourist attractions. But as befits its size, there's a lot to do here.

Everything about Atlanta is BIG. The city is almost 132-square-miles with a population in the 28-county Atlanta metro area approaching five million people. Plan ahead, and you can enjoy the best of it in a long weekend with the kids.

The Perfect Three Days

A perfect place to begin a weekend visit is at one of the same-day, half-price AtlanTIX booths. Located at Underground Atlanta and the Lenox Square mall, the booths allow visitors to buy half-price tickets to hundreds of attractions and more than a dozen cultural attractions including Zoo Atlanta.

During the baseball season, you can buy two tickets to the Atlanta Braves for just $10. If you want to stand, it will cost you just $1 each. There's also a team Hall of Fame.

It's easy to get around without a car. Try MARTA, Atlanta's rapid rail system. Even if you are arriving by plane, you can catch the train in the baggage claim at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The rail line stops in the major business and tourist areas of Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead. From the airport to downtown, it's just 20 minutes. You can see a lot of Atlanta during the ride.

For mobile families, there's a walking tour that covers the history of the city offered by the Atlanta Preservation Center (404/688-3353). Guides will take you through the Sweet Auburn/Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District and show you the Druid Hills neighborhood featured in the movie "Driving Miss Daisy." Adult tickets are $10, or $5 for children.