Outside of GlassBuild

If you were hoping to catch a sporting event while in Atlanta for GlassBuild, the schedule did not work in your favor.

If you arrive early, the Braves are home Sept. 8-9 against the Washington Nationals. The Falcons are on the road the first two Sundays of the NFL season.

Even if you can’t catch a ballgame, the attractions listed below are open for visitors.

Atlantic Station
This downtown area features boutiques, sidewalk cafes and hip restaurants in a streetscape-style setting with brick paved streets and a Central Park. It also includes Twelve Hotel, a Regal Cinemas 16 and hosts festivals and concerts. A free shuttle is available from the Arts Center MARTA Station. Visit www.atlanticstation.com.

Stone Mountain Park
This fun destination features 3,200 acres of entertainment and recreation. Visit Crossroads and see what life may have been like in an 1870s Southern town. Enjoy a 4-D theater, Great Barn, Treehouse Challenge, riverboat, Skylift to the top of the world’s largest piece of exposed granite, Scenic Railroad, Antebellum Plantation and the world’s largest Lasershow Spectacular. Visit www.StoneMountainPark.com for more information.

Virginia-Highland
This neighborhood east of Midtown is best known for its restaurants, pubs, galleries and boutiques. Local favorites include Murphy’s, La Tavola Trattoria, Noche, Blind Willie’s blues bar, and 20th Century Antiques. Visit www.virginiahighland.com.

Underground Atlanta
Six city blocks in the heart of downtown Atlanta have been transformed into a spirited marketplace that offers historic guided tours and features Kenny’s Alley with 12 restaurants, specialty stores, street-cart merchants, and AeroBalloon, an adventure ride that rises up to 350 feet above Atlanta’s downtown streets. Segway Tours offer a unique tour of the city. Visit www.underground-atlanta.com.

The Georgia Aquarium
The world’s largest indoor aquarium contains 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water and more than 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe. Attendees can get a discount coupon at www.georgiaaquarium.org/glass.aspx.

Inside CNN Studio Tour
Get in on all the action of TV news making at the headquarters of CNN and Headline News. The tour includes the Control Room Theater, a look at CNN Español, the workings of the Special Effects Studio and the Main Newsroom. Visit www.cnn.com/tour/atlanta.

Coca-Cola
The World of Coca-Cola is adjacent to the Georgia Aquarium. The world’s favorite beverage was developed in Atlanta. Try a variety of soda formulas in the tasting room. Visit http://www.woccatlanta.com/

Centennial Olympic Park
This 21-acre site was one of the most popular spots in the city during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Year-round programming features concerts, family activities and artists’ markets. The park features the world’s largest Olympic Ring fountain. Visit www.centennialpark.com.

Fish market
And For something out of the ordinary, check out the Great Fish, which is 65 feet long from tail to top. It appears to be leaping from a fountain next to the Atlanta Fish Market, a popular seafood restaurant in the Buckhead section of Atlanta.

Atlanta favorites
AOL’s City Guide named winners for its City’s Best 2007, as voted upon by AOL members.

Top five restaurants

• Woodfire Grill
  1782 Cheshire Bridge Road
• Rathburn’s
  112 Krog St
• Sotto Sotto
  313 N Highland Ave.
• Bacchanalia
  1198 Howell Mill Road
• Restaurant Eugene
  2277 Peachtree Road NE.

Top five bars

• Fado Irish Pub
  3035 Peachtree Road NE
• The Tavern at Phipps
  3500 Peachtree Road
• Highland Tap
  1026 N Highland Ave. NE
• Manuel’s Tavern
  602 N Highland Ave. NE
• Twist
  3500 Peachtree Rd NE