Photo by Chuck Koehler

In 2013, IEEE VIS comes to the city of Atlanta, the heart and high-tech center of Georgia and the American south. Atlanta was founded in 1837 as the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line. It was first named Marthasville in honor of the then-governor's daughter, nicknamed Terminus for its rail location, and then changed soon after to Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic (as in the railroad). Today the fast-growing city remains a transportation hub; its Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest in the world.

Photo by Mark Masterson

Atlanta is a dynamic destination for tourism -- Visitors can discover the city's history from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement and experience a thriving cultural scene at the city's many theatres, museums, galleries, and family attractions. Centennial Olympic Park, the heart of downtown's tourist hub, is marked by playful fountains that draw visitors to its core. Nearby is the world's largest indoor aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, host to whale sharks, wave pools, and dolphin tales. Just a few steps away, the World of Coca-Cola reminisces about the history of the soft drink and showcases its world-famous advertising. Don't miss the free samples!

The city also contains a notable number of historical museums and sites, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, featuring his boyhood home and final resting place; the Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, which houses a massive painting and diorama in-the-round, depicting the Battle of Atlanta in the Civil War; the Carter Center and Presidential Library; and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum, site of the writing of the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel Gone With the Wind.

Atlanta is one of few United States cities with permanent, professional, resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines: opera (Atlanta Opera), ballet (Atlanta Ballet), music (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra), and theater (the Alliance Theatre). Sports fans have an opportunity to take in a game of the MLB Braves, NFL Falcons, and NBA Hawks. For outdoor activities, visitors flock to the 189-acre Piedmont Park and the neighboring Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Photo by Mike Schinkel

Dining out is essential to Atlanta's social scene, where chef-run indie restaurants dish up modern American cuisine in strikingly beautiful dining rooms. A variety of specialties can be found, ranging from ethnic restaurants serving cuisine from every corner of the world to traditional eateries specializing in Southern dining.

Visit the Atlanta Visitors Bureau or atlanta-tourism.org for more information about the city of Atlanta.

The conference will be located at the downtown Marriott Marquis Hotel. The Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 3rd largest Marriott in the world, rises 50 stories and contains 1,569 rooms and 94 suites. Its massive atrium spans the entire interior of the building and was the largest in the world at completion. Exposed elevators provide an exciting ride up through the center of the hotel. The Marriott Marquis, which was completely renovated in 2008, is 12 miles north of Atlanta's international airport and the MARTA subway connects the hotel conveniently to the airport.