Georgia and Alabama will face off for the SEC championship on Dec. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will kick off at 4 p.m., but if you find yourself in downtown Atlanta before and after the game, there’s plenty to do and see just a short walk away.

The World of Coke museum opened at Underground Atlanta in 1990 and became an instant hit. In 2007, Coca-Cola moved the museum next to Centennial Olympic Park two years after the neighboring Georgia Aquarium debuted. Those two tourist attractions were followed by the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Here are a few nearby options:

080221 Atlanta: A visitor to Centennial Olympic Park snaps a photo of the renovated Olympic rings on Monday, August 2, 2021, in Atlanta. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”

Centennial Olympic Park

If you don’t mind braving the weather, head to Centennial Olympic Park for a stroll or just to enjoy some people-watching. Because it’s surrounded by many of the local attractions, it also makes a good meeting place for friends and family. It’s a great way to start your downtown adventure.

Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W. NW, Atlanta. 404-223-4000m gwcca.org.

The beluga whales at the Georgia Aquarium.

Georgia Aquarium

The largest aquarium in the country is in downtown Atlanta. It contains approximately 10 million gallons of fresh and salt water and a vast array of aquatic animals, including the largest fish in the work, the whale shark.

The aquarium is open daily and hours vary, but this weekend it opens at 9 a.m. and single tickets are $47.99.

225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. georgiaaquarium.org.

Atlanta's World of Coca-Cola is one of the attractions to visit in downtown Atlanta.

The World of Coca-Cola Museum

The newest addition to the museum is an interactive feature dubbed the Beverage Lab, where the worldwide beverage company provides a look at how drinks are created and allows visitors to create their own drink via an interactive screen (and later sample those creations).

The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Adult prices starting at $21.

121 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. worldofcoca-cola.com.

The Center for Human and Civil Rights. 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. in downtown Atlanta. The center looks at the intersection of the local story of the civil rights movement and the ongoing national story of the evolution of human rights. (REANN HUBER/REANN.HUBER@AJC.COM)

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights

You’ll find papers and artifacts of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the history of the U.S. civil rights movement and stories of worldwide human rights struggles at this institution, which opened in 2014. Next year the center plans to mark its 10th anniversary with a major expansion. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is open noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and tickets are $15.99-$19.99. Guided tours are available on weekends.

100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. NW, Atlanta. 678-999-8990, civilandhumanrights.org.

The College Football Hall of Fame presented a temporary locker exhibit that pays tribute to the 22 individuals inducted into the 2023 class. This exceptional class comprises renowned players like Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, and Eric Berry, alongside distinguished coaches Mark Richt and Paul Johnson, who have left an indelible mark on the sport in the State of Georgia. Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame was founded in 1951 and was originally located in Kings Mill, Ohio, before it moved to South Bend, Indiana. In 2014, the CFHF opened in Atlanta, bringing a fun, highly interactive experience for die-hard and quasi-fans alike. It includes 50,000 square feet of exhibit space and a 45-yard indoor football field.

The CFHF is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except closed Tuesday (and closing at 4 p.m. Dec. 1 and 6, 2023). Tickets are $21-$30.25.

250 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. 404-880-4800, cfbhall.com.