Coca-Cola and Atlanta- The Perfect Pair

Some things in life just go together, like Peanut Butter and Jelly, Mickey and Minnie, and Coca-Cola and Atlanta.  The World Of Coca-Cola is a museum located in Atlanta, Georgia.  Calling it a Coca-Cola Museum doesn’t sound like it’s as much fun as it actually is.  There are exhibits, lots of Coke artifacts and history, including decorated coke bottles, the opportunity to visit with the Coca-Cola Bear as well as my favorite part- the tasting.

What is the World of Coca Cola?

The World of Coca-Cola is located right across (literally walking across a lawn area) from the Georgia Aquarium. The tickets are $13 for kids (ages 3-12), $17 for Adults (ages 13-64) and $15 for Seniors (ages 65+).  Children under 2-years-old are free.  There are special ticket offers through Atlanta CityPass and Military Appreciation.

We were going to go after our visit to the Georgia Aquarium, but the kids were done with walking so we decided to wait and go back the next morning.  I liked going first thing in the morning because it wasn’t crowded so it made it easy to enjoy.

When you first enter you get to try a coke of your choice.  This could be Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, or the reduced-calorie Coca-Cola Life.  Next, you’ll walk into the “Loft” where you are surrounded by various coke artifacts and they do a little coke trivia. Then, you go into “Coca Cola Theater” where you watch a presentation, “Moments of Happiness,” before exploring the museum. The presentation is sort of like an extended commercial, but one that pulls on your heartstrings and makes you smile. The thing that makes this work is that Coca-Cola is more than just a drink brand.  They’ve positioned themselves as a part of our society and life.  The presentation you watch further sets you up for this as you see Coca-Cola intertwined with milestone moments in people’s lives.

As you leave the theater you walk into a bigger area where you’ll have the option of getting a picture with the Coca-Cola Bear and can see the various areas that there are to explore.

I love the Coca-Cola branding and that it is more than just a soft drink.  This quote above regarding the bottle says so much about the power of branding.

The Vault- The Secret Formula

Here you’ll get as close as you can to the secret Coke formula.  You’ll also see how competitors tried to copy the Coca-Cola success, how the formula has been kept secret as well as have some fun with a virtual tastemaker and bubble-izer!

Milestones of Refreshment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This takes you through some fun Coke history.  There’s an 1880’s soda fountain, a 1939 Deliver Truck and more.  You can see how coke used to be mixed, as well as other milestones such as sponsorship of the Olympic Games. There are over 1,000 original coke artifacts in this exhibit!

Bottle Works

This area showcases what it is like in the bottling plant.  It uses some of the same equipment but runs much slower so that it is easier for you to see the process that they go through.

Pop Culture Gallery

Here, you can write letters about a special memory that involved coke.  There’s the option to write it out on paper or do it electronically as well.  You can create your own virtual coke bottle wall art that you can send to your email. The kids had a blast with this.  Also in the Pop Culture Gallery, you’ll be able to see the original American Idol Red Couch.   I’m a big Kelly Clarkson and Carrie underwood fan, so this was pretty exciting to me.

Perfect Pauses Theater

Take a break and watch some the best of Coca-Cola advertising throughout the years.  It shows how Coca-Cola has been expressed in different languages and cultures through various tv commercials around the world.

4-D Theater

Here, you take a journey around the world looking for the secret formula.  There are 3D glasses, moving seats and other special effects. There is an option of non-moving seats in the rear of the theater as well.

Taste it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can taste Coca-Cola products from around the world.  This is where I personally am convinced they have the best tasting Coke in the world.   I’m the kind of person that likes lots of ice with my Coke.  Here though, you don’t need it.  It’s so good just right out of the fountain.

Coca Cola Store

As you leave, you walk through the Coca-Cola store.  There is a ton of adorable things here to check out.  Even if you don’t buy it, it’s still fun to look at the offerings.  The kids and I did leave with matching Coca-Cola Bear shirts.

 

The World of Coca-Cola is less like a museum and more like a Disney of Coca-Cola lovers.  There’s so much to see and interactive things to do it’s fun for kids and adults alike.  Coke and Atlanta just seem to go together, and it’s the perfect time to share some moments of happiness with the family.