The Top 10 Places to Take the Kids in Atlanta
When our family first moved to metro Atlanta three years ago, I never imagined I would visit so many amazing places during those few short years. The city of Atlanta took me by surprise and I immediately fell in love. I have only scratched the surface when it comes to discovering the many family attractions both in and around the city and I love visiting new places. I have put together a list of the top ten places to take the kids to in Atlanta, to both inspire and encourage you to encounter these places with your family!
Georgia Aquarium
One of the first places we ever visited when we first moved here was the Georgia Aquarium, which is rated one of the top best in the country. This is a stunning facility with plenty of hands on learning and many beautiful exhibits to view. There is a parking garage adjacent the aquarium so you don’t have to walk far with the kids. They suggest you plan to be there 3-4 hours in order to view the entire Aquarium, including the sea lion and dolphin presentations (which I highly recommend you see, great show!) No outside food or beverages are permitted in the aquarium, but there is a food court inside with plenty of seating. The weekends are very busy so make sure you arrive early if you plan on making it through the whole aquarium. I also highly suggest you purchase your tickets online and print them at home, you will save time and money by doing this (you save $3 per ticket and you get to skip the lines at the entrance.) They offer daily military discounts of 10% with a valid military ID, and free admission for active military through their Military Mondays program.
Zoo Atlanta
Experience a day of visiting beautiful and exotic animals at Zoo Atlanta! During your visit you will experience interactive wildlife shows, meet free-flying birds and animal ambassadors from around the globe, watch keeper talks and training demos, meet a Keeper or watch training in action. Through your journey you can participate in Zoo’s clues by helping detective Clue Spotter the Otter crack the case with monthly mysteries. There is also a hands on experience at the petting Zoo where you can make new buddies in Outback Station, featuring friendly goats and sheep. If the kids need to burn off some energy, the activity-packed KIDZone playground and naked mole rat-inspired tunnel zone is the perfect place to stop.
World of Coca-Cola
We brought our in-laws here a few years ago when they came to visit and everyone walked out of there very happy! This was very better than I had anticipated and was so glad for the opportunity to see the vast history behind the famous company. The World of Coca‑Cola is home to the 125-year-old secret formula for Coca‑Cola and features more than 1,200 artifacts from around the world. Such attractions include interactive exhibits such as a multi-sensory 4-D movie (3-D glasses with moving seats) and get an inside look at the bottling process. You can also view more than 1,200 artifacts from around the world or give the 7-foot Coca‑Cola Polar Bear a big hug! The most popular locating at World of Coca-Cola is the tasting experience where you are given the opportunity to sample over 100 flavors from around the world!
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
LEGOLAND® contains 15 attractions to explore which include LEGO® rides, soft play area, 4D cinema and more, all ideal for children aged 3-10 years. You will learn how LEGO bricks are made as Professor Brick-a-Brack takes you on a tour through each stage of the creation process. Other attration and ammenaties include LEGO® 4D Cinema, the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, MINILAND®, LEGO® Racers: Build & Test, Merlin’s Apprentice Ride, LEGO® Fire Academy, LEGO® Construction Site, LEGO® Master Builder Academy, The LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Shop, DUPLO® Village, Earthquake Tables and LEGO® Friends Olivia’s House. The family is sure to stay happy and busy during your visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Center!
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is an ideal place for your child to explore and become little scientist. This is a great place for hands on kids that want to learn in a fun and engaging environment. “The Children’s Museum of Atlanta supports all types of creative play, from role-playing in the grocery store to becoming the driver of our crane. Through this play, children are learning and growing. They are becoming early scientists and ask questions like, “If I do this, then what happens next?” and as mathematicians, they ask, “How many apples can I put in this basket?”
Six Flags Over Georgia
Our family has visited Six Flags Over Georgia several times and it is one of our favorite attractions in the Atlanta area! This is a very large, very clean and very fun park for the entire family. Children of all ages can enjoy a day at the park with rides for those thrill seekers, and a water park for those looking to cool off. There are plenty of shops and great places to eat within the park, the kids really enjoying looking around all of the different shops. Six Flags Over Georgia is constantly hosting fun events, adding new and exciting rides… this is a place our family highly recommend you visit. For more details and pictures, makes sure to take a look at visit me made during the summer, or our visits during Fright Fest and Holiday In The Park.
Stone Mountain Park
We finally make a visit to Stone Mountain Park about a year ago and it was absolutely amazing! This is Georgia’s most popular attraction and features a wide variety of family activities. Located on 3,200 acres of natural beauty, adventure awaits as you discover interactive family friendly attractions and many natural and historical sights. Plus you won’t want to miss dozens of fun annual events such as Spring FUN Break, Summer at the Rock, Yellow Daisy Festival, Indian Festival and Pow-Wow, Stone Mountain Christmas and Snow Mountain. We had so much fun riding the skyride to the top of the mountain and then enjoying the long hike back down. Now if you have little ones… I would not suggest hiking down with them, just explore the top of the mountain and hike back down to the bottom where there are more events and attractions. It is a very long walk down the mountain with many tricky areas! I was able to hike down baby-wearing my toddler on my back while guiding my 5 and 9 year old down the mountain, however they are experienced hikers. Then once you are down the mountain, you have to hike, i believe a mile or two back to the parking lot.
Piedmont Park
This is another place to visit that is both beautiful and a free day of adventures! Piedmont Park is the premier green space and central gathering place of Atlanta with postcard views of the Midtown Atlanta skyline. The picturesque park features a walking/jogging paths, picnic facilities, playgrounds, tennis courts, public swimming pool, two ponds and dog park. Piedmont Park is home to many of Atlanta’s largest annual events including the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Gay Pride Festival, and Screen on the Green. Adjacent to Piedmont Park is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Bring along a picnic or dine next to the park at Park Tavern and Willy’s Mexicana Grill. A number of pubs, cafes and restaurants can also be found within a very short walk along its bordering corridors of Piedmont Ave, 10th Street and Monroe Drive.
Centennial Olympic Park
This is one of the most gorgeous attractions in Atlanta and absolutely free to visit! The Centennial Olympic Park sponsors community-wide free events, including the Fourth of July Celebration, Music@Noon, the Wednesday WindDown concert series, and Park Market. The Park also hosts festivals, fundraisers and private events. There is always plenty to do around the park, but make sure to look out for specific events that your family would enjoy.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a 30 acres botanical garden. The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation and enjoyment. Spend the day with your kids visiting the outdoor gardens, exploring the Venus flytraps in the Soggy Bog, and learning about honeybees in the observation hive. Stop in the Fuqua Conservatory Lobby to see the amphibian displays. Explore the diversity of orchids in the Fuqua Orchid Center. Walk through the treetops on the 600 ft long Kendeda Canopy Walk and get an aerial view of Storza Woods, one the few remaining mature hardwood forests in the City of Atlanta. Find their favorite fruit and vegetables growing in the Edible Garden. Don’t forget to smell the herbs on the Herb Wall! Stop and smell the roses in the colorful Rose Garden.
I hope you enjoyed this post about all of the amazing places to visit in Atlanta! I have loved living in this area and fully take advantage of all the great places our family can enjoy. If you are thinking about moving to this part of the country, make sure to check out these houses for sale in Atlanta!