* For many of my travels, I create complete travel guides or lists of the best things to do in that area. Since I only spent a few days in Atlanta, GA moving R. into his apartment for the summer, I’m creating a segmented guide to the area, with detailed reviews on the things that we did while here (like this article on the Coca Cola museum in Downtown Atlanta). I hope you enjoy, and don’t forget to check out the other posts once they’re live! *
Coca Cola. It’s inarguably one of the most recognizable and well known brands in the world. Therefore, it probably comes as no surprise that visiting the Coca Cola museum, also known as the World of Coca Cola, was at the very top of my list of things to do in Atlanta, GA.
As a former marketing student, I’ve studied the Coca Cola brand on a number of occasions. It’s incredible what they’ve been able to do, turning a simple beverage into a symbol of something much larger — happiness.
Even if Coca Cola isn’t your go-to drink, I think we can all appreciate this iconic American brand, which has survived so many years. All it takes is a quick trip to Downtown Atlanta + $17 for a ticket, and the World of Coca Cola is at your fingertips (and tastebuds).
Here are a few things you can expect to find at the Coca Cola museum, which will hopefully help you determine if this is something you to include in your next trip to Atlanta, GA.
5 Things to Expect at the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, GA
1. Free Coca Cola!
What would the World of Coca Cola be without actually getting to enjoy a Coke? I was surprised that there was a Coca Cola bar right when we walked into the lobby, where we could choose from a few different varieties of the soda to sip on while waiting to enter the museum.
There’s also plenty more opportunities to drink Coca Cola inside the attraction. There’s even a whole room dedicated to taste testing upstairs, where you can try different Coca Cola brand sodas from around world. My personal favorite was Country Club, from the Dominican Republic. It tasted just like a creamsicle, but even better!
Warning: There’s SO many sodas to try, and they really fill you up. You might want to start here, and then come back later to finish sampling in case you get too full to finish (like I did!).
2. Crowds (Sometimes)
Any big city attraction is bound to draw some crowds. Surprise! The Coca Cola museum is no different. We went here on a Friday afternoon, when a middle school just so happened to be there on a field trip. It really wasn’t a big deal, since the museum is large enough to accommodate it, but you may want to time your trip a bit better than we did if you have the option.
3. Lots of History
Something that I really enjoyed about the World of Coca Cola was the old advertisements and historical information about the Coca Cola brand that were on display. You can really learn a lot at this museum and start to understand how Coca Cola became such a recognized, household name. It’s also fun to learn about the brand’s modest roots. In fact, three entrepreneurs purchased the exclusive rights to bottle Coca Cola in 1899 for just $1.
There were also many imitations of the drink in the early days, with imposters hoping to gain fame and fortune by making false claims that they had discovered the Coca Cola secret formula.
4. The Secret Vault
Most of us have heard about Coca Cola’s secret formula. There are tons of rumors revolving around it, one being that only two given people in the entire world are allowed to know it at one time. AND, those two people aren’t ever allowed to be near each other, in case something happens to one of them.
While I don’t know that I necessarily buy the hype, it’s pretty cool that the Coca Cola secret formula is actually housed at the Coca Cola museum in Atlanta. There’s a neat exhibit called “The Vault”, which allows you to learn more about the theories behind the secret formula and even go right up to the vault where the formula supposedly lives.
5. An International Experience
One of my favorite things about the World of Coca Cola was that it was truly an international experience. Though Coca Cola was first produced in the United States, it’s now an international phenomenon. There’s a theater in the Coca Cola museum where you can watch some of the most popular Coca Cola commercials from around the world. I loved looking at the variety of international print advertisements you can view around the museum, too.
It’s so interesting to see how Coca Cola has grown over the years and become a part of so many people’s lives, no matter how different or far apart in the world they may be.
Visiting the World of Coca Cola was one of our favorite things to do in Atlanta. It was moderately priced, and it was a fun, relaxed way to spend the afternoon. I would definitely recommend it if you’re in the area and enjoy museums!
Have you ever been to the World of Coca Cola? What’s your favorite Coke drink?
