Atlanta Attractions
 | Centennial Olympic Park 265 Luckie Street Atlanta, GA • 404-223-4636 The home of many Olympic gatherings, the park remains one of the city's most popular parks for events. Most kids flock to the Fountain Rings, a jumping fountain of 251 jets that form the Olympic five rings, but recently, the park also features a Children's Garden and Playground with slides and climbing equipment. During the winter, an ice skating rink is installed. Centrally located across the street from the World of Coca-Cola, Imagine It! and the Georgia Aquarium, the park also makes a perfect place to picnic between attractions. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9) |
 | Chattahoochee Nature Center 9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA • 770-992-2055 With the Chattahoochee River winding from the North Georgia Mountains through the city, a number of nature centers provide access to the river for hiking trails, fishing and river floating adventures. At the center is the Nature Center, just up the road in Roswell, where kids can enjoy outdoor and classroom adventures. Early childhood programs are offered for the little ones, such as story time by the river and animal encounters, while kids and their parents can take part in hikes and naturalist-guided events. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Fernbank Museum of Natural History 767 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA • 404-929-6300 Kids can sink their teeth into the world of dinosaurs at this educational museum. Dinosaurs await upon entrance, including the remains of the towering Giganotosaurus, the world's largest meat-eating dinosaurs. Giants of the Mesozoic may be the most popular permanent exhibit, but kids will also love exploring "A Walk Through Georgia Time's" realistic dioramas illustrating Georgiaâs various distinctive regions. Young kids, ages three to five, will enjoy "Fantasy Forest" while kids six to nine will like Coca-Cola's "Georgia Adventure." Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12) |
 | Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street Atlanta, GA • 404-581-4000 When the world's largest aquarium opened in 2005, people from all around the world were not disappointed after entering this gorgeous aquarium. More than 60 exhibits examine sealife from across the globe, including Beluga whales, the stars of the aquarium. While they may be the stars, the best place to watch the action is before the before the 23-foot tall and 61-foot wide viewing window in Ocean Voyager, where manta rays, whale sharks and sea turtles swim. What's even better is passing through the 100-foot-long underwater tunnel to get there, watching the rays "float" above. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive Atlanta, GA • 404-659-5437 An interactive, hands-on play museum for young children, Imagine It! features a creative area with sand tables and paint-on-the-wall fun, crawl spaces for wee ones, a water area where kids can get wet (don't worry, raingear is provided!), and more. Children two and under are free. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9) |
 | Stone Mountain Park Highway 78 East Exit 8 Stone Mountain, GA • 800-401-2407 About 20 minutes east of the city stands Stone Mountain, a 3,200-acre park surrounding a granite mountain know for its relief carving of the great men who led the Confederate Army. Hiking trails and a gondola can take you to the top, where views of the city skyline await. On the ground, attractions like a scenic railroad, the Great Barn play area (ages five to 12), Sky Hike's quarter-mile treetop rope course, and antebellum plantation tours will fill the day. Or, head to the lakefront beach for a day of rest and relaxation. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Turner Field 755 Hank Aaron Drive Atlanta, GA • 404-552-7630 Even those who are not Atlanta Braves fans should make a stop for a ballgame at Turner Field, which was constructed in 1996 as the home of the Summer Olympic Games, then retrofitted in 1997 to resemble an old-fashioned ballpark. The 29x38-foot BravesVision video board in center field and 17x22-foot PlazaVision board in the plaza ensure no one misses a beat during the game, as fans do the "tomahawk chop" from three levels and four concourses. Special "run-the-bases" days give kids a pre-game op to take the bases like the pros. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | World of Coca-Cola 121 Baker Street Atlanta, GA • 404-676-5151 Coca Cola was introduced to the world from Atlanta and today it remains of the city's largest employers. (Good luck finding a can of Pepsi in Atlanta!) The World of Coca-Cola recently relocated into a larger, grander museum near Centennial Olympic Park and focuses on -- what else? -- cola. Most popular is the international soda area, where you can sample over 60 different flavors from around the world, but I really love the collection of Coke memorabilia, the largest in the world and featuring past ad campaigns that make me smile. Kids can watch the soda being bottled, as well as give the seven-foot-tall Polar Bear a hug. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Zoo Atlanta 800 Cherokee Avenue Atlanta, GA • 404-624-9453 One of my children's favorite places, the zoo was one of mine as well, with wide paths for safely running and exploring with tots. The most popular exhibits are pandas, where mom Lun Lun welcomed babies Mei Lan and Xi Lan, two of the few giant pandas born into U.S. captivity. Three-year-old Mei Lan returned to China this year, but Xi Lan remains, rolling in the bamboo fields. The Gorillas are also a must-visit, and don't forget to pay tribute to Atlanta's beloved Willie B. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12) |
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