Since moving to Atlanta last summer, I haven’t been around long enough to really get a chance to explore the city and learn my way around. Right now, the furthest I can drive away from my house without a GPS is exactly 3.3 miles to my siblings’ high school, and that’s because it only involves two turns. However, as a poor college student, I got creative and discovered places around the city that are either cheap or free. So far this is what I came up with:

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

Here are 35 acres of land full of landmarks, monuments, and facilities that are dedicated to Dr. King and the historical struggle of racism in the South. There is the opportunity to pay your respects to Dr. King at his gravesite, take a tour of his boyhood home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Fire Station No. 6. On the property there is also the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, which has footprints of former civil rights activists imprinted in it. Free to the public, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is a must-see attraction unique to Atlanta.

Stone Mountain Park.

With over 3,200 acres to explore, there’s no chance you’d get bored. There are countless hiking trails, live shows, shopping, dancing, and a fantastic laser show that puts them all to shame. Take a climb up Stone Mountain to get a breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline. Learn a bit about southern history by learning about the three men carved into the mountain, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. With tickets starting at $15, it’s affordable and a short drive to the east side of Atlanta.

Centennial Olympic Park.

Celebrating the 1996 Centennial Olympics that came to Atlanta, this park is full of history, entertainment, and vendors. There are fountains and statues throughout the park that tell the story of how the Olympics were organized in Atlanta. In the middle of the Coca-Cola Factory, CNN headquarters, Georgia Aquarium, Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum, and college football hall of fame, it’s a perfect place to relax and decide what site to explore next.

World of Coca Cola.

Located right on Centennial Olympic Park’s grounds, the World of Coca Cola is the headquarters for the Coca Cola Company. For only 16 dollars, you can explore the factory, learning how the soft drinks are actually made, see the actual bottling plant, and taste as much Coca Cola from around the world as you want. There’s even a 4-D theater that plays a short film about crazy scientists and Coca Cola. On your way out, you receive a free glass retro bottle of Coke, which we all know makes it taste better than it being in a can.

High Museum of Art.

Located right across the street from the Arts Center MARTA stop, the High Museum houses 11,000 pieces of art. Ranging from American to European to African art comprising of decorative and folk art, photography, and other contemporary art pieces, there’s something that everybody will enjoy. The museum also has several traveling exhibits come each year. With a student discount price and half price on admission Fridays after 4, this museum is not only affordable but easily accessible to the poor college student.

As a poor college student, it’s often difficult to discover a new city. Yet, I managed to come up with a few cheap ideas on how to explore Atlanta and it’s culture without breaking the bank or getting hopelessly lost. Time to explore!