Cabbagetown

The childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the center of this NPS site in Atlanta. While most of what you see here will be on a self-guided basis, there are ranger-led tours offered through the actual house. You sign up for a tour the day-of at the info desk located inside the visitor center—be sure to check for updates before you go, but generally tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and your safest bet is earlier in the day. After signing up, you can visit the other surrounding historic sites: Ebenezer Baptist Church (where Dr. King was baptized and served as a pastor), Dr. and Mrs. King's gravesite, and more.

This is one of those places that immediately transports you somewhere else: in the case, Austin, Texas. In addition to the endless patio outside, there's a stage for live music inside, and the décor is wonderfully Texan, with a big star behind the bar and a classic longhorn mount. If you're there for drinks, get the guacamole, queso, and a Vampire Weekend, their house horchata cocktail. They also have a location in Buckhead.