Atlanta - Pitstops for Kids

Fernbank Museum, Atlanta GA

April 18, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Whether your travel destinations for summer take you to Atlanta or simply through Atlanta, The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a wonderful place to stop with kids. With six extensive permanent exhibits and several visiting exhibits (including one on geckos through the summer!), an IMAX theater, a museum store and cafe, you could easily spend a day here. (At very least, you’ll want to plan on an entire afternoon or morning to get your money’s worth!)

The Fernbank has an entire section geared to young kids: there’s a great hands-on section for kids called NatureQuest. NatureQuest lets kids interactively connect with nature as if they were outside and is great for those younger kids who aren’t too comfortable being outside just yet. For all kids, a permanent exhibit worth noting is called A Walk Through Time in Georgia, which lets visitors explore the natural history of Georgia and the story of our planet as they journey through lifelike geographic regions and historic re-creations. Highlights include a dinosaur gallery, a giant sloth, a cave, and the sights and sounds of the Okefenokee Swamp.

Seasonal Tip! Fernbank’s holiday-inspired exhibition features trees and other displays decorated by local cultural partners that recognize celebrations including Christmas, Hanukkah and the Festival of Lights, as well as traditions and practices like origami, indigenous art and national symbols.

Coming in 2016! Plan your visit around the opening of Fernbank’s new outdoor space, coming soon. Check on its status at the exhibits page. This is one element the Fernbank has been missing, so we’re excited to see this expansion take place. Included will be interactive outdoor elements, space for children to play and climb, and gardens to enhance the overall experience for those spending a full day at the museum…after all, fresh air is a must!

Distance off the interstate: Just a few minutes!

Hours: Open 7 days a week, but hours vary between the museum, IMAX, cafe, and museum store. See this comprehensive chart for current hours.

Admission Prices:

Adults: $18
Students and seniors (62+) with ID: $17
Children 3-12: $16
Children 2 and under (ticket required): FREE

IMAX admission is separate, but ‘Value Passes’, which include admission to both for a discounted price, are available.

Food Services: The Fernbank Cafe, located inside the museum, offers sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Fernbank Museum

Directions: From I-75/I-85/GA400 head toward downtown Atlanta. Take exit 248C Freedom Parkway (GA 10 East). Go 1.7 miles to Ponce de Leon Avenue and turn right. Go 1.7 miles to Clifton Road and turn left. Go 1/10 mile to the Museum entrance and turn right.
View Larger Map

Photo credit: Peter C

Visiting Atlanta with kids: Children’s Museum of Atlanta

February 19, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Downtown Atlanta is a quintessential “pit stop,” boasting an array of attractions to break up a long road trip, from the Coca Cola museum to Centennial Olympic Park to CNN’s headquarters. In the center of this thriving metro sits the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Newly renovated with a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math education) programming, the CMA offers families, especially those with children up to age 9, a chance to stretch their legs and have fun while sneaking in some stealth learning.

Our family visited CMA during their grand re-opening event. It was busy, but the open layout prevented it from feeling crowded. On the main floor you will find a large area sectioned off for the “farm to table” exhibit, which includes a tractor, milking a cow, a delivery truck, a forklift with a platform that raises and lowers, a grocery store and a diner with the most fabulous kid-sized commercial kitchen any child could imagine. This was the favorite area for my four- and six-year-olds.

CMA has also taken the ubiquitous ball run and re-envisioned it as a series of interlocking mechanisms. Kids can force the balls up into the matrix by air, water, auger, and pulley, and the balls move between areas.

The centerpiece of the main level is the globe, which kids can climb up inside and set in motion. At the base of the globe are a collection of train tables, one for each continent, and moon sand tables. There is also a building area and a section for little ones with fishing (raincoats provided) and a fabulous chicken coop play structure. Here you’ll also find a nursing room.

The “mezzanine” level is aimed at older children. At the “science bar,” a scientist walks kids through experiments. Nearby, interactive stations let kids build a robot, use a touch-screen app to see how food goes through the body, or use their brain waves to move a ball. The museum also offers daily take-home activities (a sailboat, the day we visited) and a presentation at 4p.m. A rotating feature exhibit opens soon.

One of the most striking and wonderful things about this place was the diversity of its visitors. We heard half a dozen languages and saw at least that many skin colors during our short visit. Signage is bilingual, and the staff is courteous and helpful, keeping an eye on each section and making sure items find their way back where they belong for the next child to enjoy. (I spent half an hour watching one young lady in the “farm to table” section patiently picking up all the pieces of toy food and putting them away on the grocery store shelves, only to do it all again five minutes later.) Although the museum caters to age 9 and under, my 10-year-old enjoyed the visit as well.

Shopping/Food:

CMA has a gift shop and vending machines, but no in-house dining. However, there are many dining options within walking distance, and same-day museum re-entry is permitted, providing maximum crowd capacity has not been reached. The best option, though, is to bring lunch along or order from one of a number of nearby establishments that deliver. The museum has set aside a sizable section of the mezzanine level for lunchroom-style tables.

Accessibility

The vast majority of the attractions are stroller/wheelchair accessible–even part of the chicken coop play structure in the little ones’ area. A large open section at the rear of the first floor is set aside for stroller parking.

Hours/Admission:

Plan to spend at least an hour and a half at CMA, and if you have longer, the kids will thank you. Admission is $14.95 for everyone over age one. Discounts are outlined at “ways to save.” If you live within a couple hours of Atlanta, a family membership may be a good option. Tickets are issued for specific time slots in order to help alleviate crowding at peak times. CMA is open from 10-5 seven days a week except on certain holidays.

Parking/Directions:

Children’s Museum of Atlanta is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, at the corner of Baker Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive. It has no dedicated parking space of its own; however, parking options are plentiful within a block of the museum.

Our family received complimentary admission to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta in exchange for an impartial review.

Atlanta with kids: Stone Mountain Park and Atlanta Botanical Garden

March 28, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

After touring the city of Atlanta with kids, get into nature and spend a day out of doors! Visitors don’t have to venture far to experience the Atlanta Botanical Garden (it’s minutes from the city center), and Stone Mountain Park is only a short drive outside of Atlanta.

Stone Mountain Park:

What is Stone Mountain? It’s not quite a theme park, and not quite a state park, but a hybrid of both. Home to the world’s largest single piece of exposed granite, Stone Mountain is now a destination for families seeking nature and thrills. Kids can try 4-D rides and carnival-type attractions, but the big draw for most is the SkyHike multi-story ropes and agility course and Geyser Towers, a water play structure intense enough for older school-aged kids.

Families can catch a Stone Mountain laser show and other nature and history-themed entertainment, hike on nature trails, and even indulge in a round of golf (or mini golf).

Atlanta Botanical Garden:

There are few cities that bloom as beautifully as Atlanta, and at the botanical garden, families are in the center of this action…and worlds away from everything else. Located in Piedmont Park, the garden serves as an oasis where kids can play, adults can decompress after sight-seeing, and everyone can learn about the flora and fauna of Georgia. With multiple garden areas, including a rose garden, edible garden, and aquatic plant pond, and indoor spaces (including a Garden House and Day Hall), you could certainly spend the better part of an afternoon.

Save up to 43% on Atlanta’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

The highlight of the garden for kids is definitely the Children’s Garden, which includes two acres of themed gardens, play spaces, and educational exhibits on plants and flowers. Food is available on-site, or bring snacks to enjoy in the garden. We suggest allowing for at least 2-3 hours in the garden; more if you visit while they’re showcasing a temporary exhibit, or if you plan to eat on-site.

Photo Credit.

Atlanta History Center with kids

March 8, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

During a family vacation to Atlanta, absolutely do not overlook the Atlanta History Center, located well out of downtown in the neighborhood of Buckhead. This sprawling museum on 33 wooded acres is tucked into the heart of a beautiful Atlanta neighborhood and is both peaceful and thought-provoking. For families visiting from outside the South, it’s especially fascinating to learn about local Civil War and Olympic Games history.

The Atlanta History Center is absolutely a full-scale, serious museum that will satisfy grown-ups, but it’s still very accessible to kids. To the side of the main lobby is a children’s play area that’s seen better days, but don’t let that fool you. The Civil War Turning Point gallery includes multimedia presentations for each section, as well as interactive exhibits that ask kids questions and pose ethical dilemmas. In the Olympic Games gallery, kids can take part in a multi-step quiz game that takes them throughout the exhibit.

The current traveling exhibit, Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello is geared toward older school-aged kids, but is absolutely fascinating. Adults will learn right along with kids about the families of slaves, and their fates, of Monticello, and information is presented in a way that engages kids into the story behind the history.

Families with younger kids and toddlers will still find much to do outdoors, where wooded trails and a garden of native Georgian plants adorn an old rock quarry. Families can take a guided tour through the Smith Family Farm, or look through the outbuildings, barn, and slave cabin on their own. Guided tours of the adjacent Swan House is also not to be missed, as it tours families through a Southern mansion from the 1920s-30s era complete with original furnishings. Our guide did an excellent job describing the day-to-day life of the family who called it home, and kids will enjoy seeing children’s bedrooms from that period.

It’s worth checking the Atlanta History Center website for events and seasonal activities, as they offer monthly events (many of which are ideal for kids). Plan on 3-4 hours to tour the museum and grounds, including time to eat a meal at one of two restaurants.

Date last visited:

February 10, 2013

Distance from the interstate:

Several minutes from I-75.

Admission:

Tickets are $16.50 for adults and $11 for kids (3-12), but you can save $2 by buying online, and admission includes the guided tours of the historical houses as well as the Margaret Mitchell House downtown. Atlanta History Center is also included in Atlanta CityPASS (recommended).

Save up to 43% on Atlanta’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Hours of operation:

Monday-Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pm, Sundays noon-5:30 pm. Of note: museum restaurants are not open on Sundays.

Parking:

Free garage parking

Directions:

The museum is located at 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Buckhead area. Due to its distance from main streets, public transit is not recommended (by us). Taxis are approximately $20 from downtown.

As we disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the center as guests of Atlanta tourism, for the purpose of review. This hospitality came with no expectation of positive review.

Atlanta with kids: visiting the CNN Center

March 6, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

The CNN Center is an impressive family attraction in Atlanta, and because it’s located conveniently adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park attractions, it’s definitely worth a visit.

If you have young kids, it will be enough to walk into this vast building, take in all the international flags and large globe, and stop by the fun stores, such as a Cartoon Network store and Atlanta Braves store. You can grab a bite to eat at any number of food court offerings, and find spacious and clean bathrooms. If you have school-aged kids, you’ll want to take the time for a Inside CNN Studio Tour.

The tour takes about 50 minutes, and takes visitors up the world’s longest freestanding escalator (eight floors) to the CNN news rooms, ‘Situation Room’, and other TV studios. Our tour guide spoke a bit fast, but was overall a good source of information. We learned about the various equipment used in typical CNN news rooms, from tele-prompters to green screens, then saw some broadcasts in action. Perhaps the most interesting part of the tour was at the beginning, when we were shown–as it played out live–how the various feeds are fed into the on-air broadcast. We were there while Storm Nemo battered the Boston area, and saw a weather reporter nearly hit by a truck pulling out from a gas station! All was well that ended well, but it made me wonder whether CNN tours continue was very dire news hits.

Preschoolers and toddlers will not find the tour interesting, but kids approximately 8 and up will really enjoy it, and learn a lot as well, such as what the anchors do during commercials (chat with each other and wait) and what happens when you wear green against a green screen (you disappear like Harry Potter in his invisibility cloak).

Note: there is no food or drink on the tour, nor any bathrooms. Plan accordingly! You will also go through security, and your bags will be searched. You’ll notice a heavy security presence everywhere in CNN Center. Sadly, I’m sure it’s warranted.

Date last visited:

February 9, 2013

Distance from the interstate:

Several minutes off of I-75/85.

Tour Admission:

$15 for adults, $14 for teens (13-17), and $12 for kids 4-12. This attraction is included in Atlanta CityPASS and you’ll get the best value this way or through Go Select packages (see below).

Save up to 43% on Atlanta’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Hours:

9 am- 5 pm Monday through Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. Tours are best on Mondays through Fridays, when the newsrooms are most active.

Dining:

There’s a decent cafeteria on site, though be advised that it’s as costly as all museum and aquarium cafes. The line moves fast, however, and there’s plenty of seating.

Directions:

The CNN Center is located at Marietta and Centennial Park Drive. A parking garage is located nearby at 178 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. Park there in the morning and stay in the park area all day, visiting other Centennial Olympic Park attractions.

Learn what else there is to do in the Centennial Olympic Park area of Atlanta!

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the CNN Insider Tour as guests, for the purpose of review. While appreciated, this hospitality did not come with expectation of a positive review.

Family attractions in Atlanta: Georgia Aquarium with kids

March 4, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

We visit a lot of aquariums, so I say this on pretty good authority: the Georgia Aquarium is one of the best we’ve experienced in the country. What makes it so great? Fully immersive exhibits and an easy-to-navigate layout.

The Georgia Aquarium is designed in a way to resemble a hub and spokes. Instead of cavernous rooms that link together, making it hard for families to make sure they tour everything, each of the Georgia Aquarium exhibits take you in a generalized loop, bringing you back every time to the hub. The main atrium is spacious and light, which helps with the ‘I’m trapped underground for hours’ feeling of some aquariums, and the cafe seating and dolphin show are upstairs (along with the turtle exhibit), allowing kids to look down on all the possibilities while taking a break for lunch or a snack.

But that’s just the practical stuff. On the fun side, the exhibits are unique compared to the usual aquarium fodder. I loved the River Scout section with its setting that transports you to a river bayou/swamp environment with clear tubes for kids to climb through to see sea life better, overhead tanks, and peep holes of fish.

The Tropical Diver section is similar in that the tanks and their inhabitants surround you on three sides: left, right, and above. Glance up at any given moment, and you might see a giant string ray gliding gracefully past, or a shark crossing overhead. Most interesting for small children are the divers in the exhibit (be sure to catch the many shows where they talk to visitors from underwater, educating on the sea life.

There’s an Ocean Voyager gallery and a Cold Water Quest, where you can watch beluga whales swim playfully. I could have sat and watched them all day. Nearby are the California sea otters and other kelp forest dwellers. When young kids get restless (or you simply tire of keeping them on task as they tour, visitors can step into a large play space with a boat to climb, tube and ball pits, and the like. My only complaint is that this play area is located right near the entrance, enticing kids then they first arrive. I imagine many parents must talk their kids into continuing into the rest of the aquarium. Better if it were located near the back of the hub.

There are animal interactions and shows throughout each day, and scheduled Dolphin Tale shows will wow…and be a great way to restore some energy after walking through the galleries for some time.

Date last visited:

February 9, 2013

Distance from the interstate:

Several minutes off of I-75/85.

Admission:

$23.95 for kids ($29.95 weekends). $28.95 for adults ($34.95 weekends). This attraction is included in Atlanta CityPASS and you’ll get the best value this way or in a Smart Destinations Atlanta card (see below).

Visit Atlanta’s “Georgia Aquarium” and 4 other attractions at a savings of up to 43% with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Hours:

10 am- 5 pm Sunday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm Saturdays.

Dining:

There’s a decent cafeteria on site, though be advised that it’s as costly as all museum and aquarium cafes. The line moves fast, however, and there’s plenty of seating.

Directions:

From I-75/85, take Exit 249C Williams Street. Turn right onto Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd, to 121 Baker Street NW. A parking garage is located nearby at 178 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. Park there in the morning and stay in the park area all day, visiting other Centennial Olympic Park attractions.

Find other things to do around Centennial Olympic Park with kids!

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Georgia Aquarium as guests, for the purpose of review. While appreciated, this hospitality did not come with expectation of a positive review.

Touring Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola

February 28, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Stepping into Atlanta’s famous World of Coca-Cola, I didn’t know what to expect. Was this popular attraction a factory tour, a museum, or just one big ad for Coke? Turns out, it’s a little bit of all three. While it won’t be the most meaningful stop on your Atlanta intinerary with kids, it will be fun…don’t skip it!

Visitors are first led into a large room filled with Coca-Cola advertising and products from the past century (think of a menorabealia wall at Hard Rock Cafe), where a tour guide gives an overview of the company’s founder and the invention of Coke. You’re then led through to a large theater, where you watch an odd (but somewhat endearing) six minute film that’s basically one big Coke commercial (but Coke commercials aren’t the worst, right?).

You’re then let loose to explore the remaining exhibits at your own pace. You can see the vault where the secret formula for Coke is supposedly located, which includes a well-done exhibit detailing the history of Coke, and you can get a good overview of Coke marketing and programs over the years. Kids can meet the Coca-Cola polar bear, though be prepared for a line.

The best part of the World of Coke is, in our opinion, the upstairs tasting room. Filled with soda fountains offering Coke products from around the world, the tasting room allows kids (and parents) to sample over 100 types of Coke (yes, a sugar rush is involved). I really enjoyed samples from countries in Africa and Asia for their novelty.

Upon exiting World of Coke (though a large gift shop, of course), everyone is offered a free bottle of Coca-Cola, which you can take to go.

Date last visited:

February 9, 2013

Distance from the interstate:

Several minutes off of I-75/85.

Admission:

$16 for adults, $12 for kids ages 3-12. Discounts can be found using Atlanta CityPASS or a Go Select card (see below).

Visit Atlanta’s “World of Coca-Cola” and 4 more Atlanta attractions at a savings of up to 43% with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Hours:

Hours vary with season. Check website for deals, but general hours are 10 am-6:30 pm.

Directions:

Find other things to do with kids in and around Centennial Olympic Park!

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced World of Coke as guests, for the purpose of review. While appreciated, this hospitality did not come with expectation of a positive review.

What to do with kids around Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta

February 25, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

What used to be an area tourists rarely had reason to visit transformed into an epicenter of Atlanta family fun upon the creation of Centennial Olympic Park for the 1996 Olympic Games. Now, kids have their pick of nearby attractions and outdoor play areas, as well as restaurants and lodging. What to do in Centennial Olympic Park with kids:

Enjoy playgrounds and fountains:

When the weather is warm, enjoy the park’s two playgrounds (one is full accessible for all abilities) and many splash fountains and reflecting ponds. Near the CNN Center, find plenty of outdoor seating, and throughout the park, find wide lawns and open spaces, as well as unique sculptures.

Explore the CNN Center:

Atlanta’s CNN Center is the CNN network’s world headquarters. Take a tour of the studios with older kids, or simply stop in to check out the Cartoon Network Store or Atlanta Braves store with kids of all ages.

Spend a few hours (at least) at Pemberton Place:

Home to both the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola, this square also houses outdoor seating, street performers, and dining. The Georgia Aquarium is one of the best we’ve experienced in the country (allow for at least three hours), and the World of Coke is an Atlanta institution, offering fun museum-quality exhibits and a huge cola tasting room (just be prepared for plenty of advertising)!

Grab lunch almost anywhere, including:

Inside the CNN Center
In the park (burger and sandwich shop)
At Pemberton Place (indoor/outdoor hot dog and salad location)
Inside the Georgia Aquarium (family-friendly cafeteria)

Where to stay near Centennial Olympic Park with kids: The Omni Atlanta is located right in the CNN Center. Very impressive! If you want to be steps away from the center and the park, this is where to be. If you don’t mind a five block walk and want lower rates and a better pool, opt for the Sheraton Atlanta.