A view of the Visitors Center at Centennial Olympic Park RELATED LINKS Return to Atlanta City Guide

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau maintains an online directory of lodging discounts, weekend getaways and other special hotel packages. Before finalizing your travel plans, go to www.atlanta.net, click the "Special Offers" link and browse the current offerings to see if any of the available discounts will suit your needs.

Another way to save money is to take advantage of Atlanta's many free attractions, among them the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/malu), the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (www.thekingcenter.com) and the Georgia State Capitol (featuring free guided tours and a free history museum, www.sos.state.ga.us).

The 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park (www.centennialpark.co) serves both as a memorial to the 1996 Summer Olympics and as a festive venue for outdoor concerts and other free entertainment.

Though it may sound macabre, the Oakland Cemetery east of downtown is certainly one of Atlanta's most appealing free attractions. The historic 88-acre burial ground is the final resting place for a cross-section of Atlanta society since the 1850s, and it contains an impressive display of Victorian funerary architecture. Numerous Civil War soldiers (both Union and Confederate) are buried here, as are Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell and golfing legend Robert T. Jones. Aside from the historical interest, the expansive lawns, winding pathways and mature trees make Oakland Cemetery a popular spot for strolling, jogging, even picnicking. Admission is free, but for a more in-depth visit, consider paying for one of the fascinating guided weekend tours operated by the Historic Oakland Foundation (www.oaklandcemetery.com).