I-75 - Pitstops for Kids

Georgia road trip: Five pit stops from the mountains to the coast

May 27, 2020 By Amy Hagstrom

The following is a guest post by Sue Rodman, managing editor of 365 Atlanta Family.

Why rush to get to your destination when there is so much to see and do along the way? For those who like to enjoy the journey, we’ve put together a Georgia road trip that will take you on winding mountain roads, zipping along the highways, and cruising toward the sunshine coast. Yes, Georgia does have a coast, and we promise you’re going to love it.

North Georgia Route 76

Our journey begins in the North Georgia Mountains along the east-west Route 76, which is easy to get to from the north-south I-75 or I-85. This winding trail takes you through the friendly mountain towns of Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, Hiawassee and Clayton. Here are some places you’ll want to get out and stretch your legs along this mountain highway.

Ellijay, Ga. This is the apple capital of the state. In fall, pull over at Red Barn Apple House for a peck and some apple cider. Note, Georgia’s apple season begins in late August and runs through the beginning of October.

Blue Ridge, Ga. About 15 minutes off Route 76 down Rock Creek Road is the Fall Branch Falls. This is a great family-friendly hike, and even young kids can make it to the lower falls section. The seclusion here is a nice break from the road.

Blairsville, Ga. Along Route 76 (also called Young Harris Hwy or Route 515) is a quick stop at Sleepy Hollow Enterprises. Explore the whimsical “fairy houses” made by this former Disney Imagineer, and then tour the store. The colorful creations will delight your soul.

Hiawassee, Ga. Along Route 76 in Hiawassee is the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds is open for year round camping along Lake Chatuge, but what it’s best known for are the big events it hosts every year, including the Georgia Mountain Fair, the Superstar Concert Series in the Anderson Music Hall, the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival and Georgia’s State Fiddler’s Convention. If you aren’t visiting during any of these events, check the website, they offer lots of smaller events too.

Clayton, Ga. As you make the turn to get on Route 23 toward I-85, take a break at the Clayton Pharmacy. Tucked inside this pharmacy is an old-fashioned soda shop with milkshakes, hot dogs, and more. I also read their egg salad sandwiches are awesome for packing on a hike.

Atlanta Georgia I-75/I-85

Whether you take I-75 or I-85 south, they’ll merge together for a bit between Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. If you hit things during rush hour (could be anytime, depending on what’s going on in the city that day), grab a bite from the car hops at the Varsity. You’ll see the sign from the highway on the North Avenue exit. And if you want to spend more time in the city, choose from these 140+ Things to do in Atlanta.

In Atlanta you have two choices, stay on the highway or continue to follow the road less traveled and head east on I-20 toward Augusta where you’ll take Route 25 to Savannah. Along this route you’ll pass the antebellum towns of Social Circle, Madison and Rutledge. Stretch your legs with some shopping at Rutledge Hardware. My favorite things, like a 1940’s ledger, peanut warmer and letter from the 1800’s aren’t for sale, but you can get any number of other essentials. Do yourself a favor and go next door for a piece of buttermilk pie from Yesterdays before hitting the road again.

Middle Georgia I-16

If you’d rather take the shortest route possible to the beach, stay on I-75, but plan to make a pit stop in Macon to learn a bit about the city’s musical roots on a Rock Candy Walking Tour. Macon was once home to Little Richard, James Brown, and Otis Redding — and let’s not forget the Allman Brothers Band! — so there is plenty to see and learn from these local tour guides.

In Macon, you’ll veer off I-75 onto I-16 toward Savannah where you’ll pick up I-95 South. It’s worth a slight detour to Savannah to walk among the live oaks dripping with Spanish moss in the city’s many squares. If you only have a little time, combine a ghost tour with a history lesson and a meal at the Pirates House. Some say it’s a bit touristy, but we love the stories of drunken locals carried off to sea, and they have delicious fried chicken, plus pirate hats for the kids.

Georgia Coast Route 17

From Savannah you can take Route 17 for a back road path through the towns of Richmond Hill, Milton and Darien, or go straight down I-95 to the coast. Follow the signs to St. Simons or Jekyll Islands. On St. Simons look for tree spirits on a very unusual scavenger hunt. These spirits are carved into the live oaks around the island. Be sure to look for the lovely full-sized mermaid!

For a more structured outing, we love the Tidelands Nature Center on Jekyll Island. It’s a bit less flashy than it’s better known cousin the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (which is also excellent). Be sure to check out the special programs like guided kayak tours and dock studies.

Photo credit: Sue Rodman

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.
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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.

Children’s Discovery Garden at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark

May 18, 2012 By Sharlene Earnshaw

The following pit stop is submitted by guest reviewer Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.

The Children’s Discovery Garden at Wegerzyn Gardens, in Dayton, Ohio is a treat! It’s a free metro park, dedicated to teaching kids about the different natural habitats of the Miami Valley, and encouraging discovery and play. The Children’s Discovery Gardens was founded in 2006, and is staffed by volunteers.

The Discovery Garden is split into different habitats, including woods, prairie, wetlands, a limestone cave featuring local fossils, a sensory garden, a wildlife garden, a skeeter’s garden, a musical garden, a sandbox, waterfalls and ponds, and for the next few years, an outdoor sculpture woven from willow branches, called A Wiggle in Its Walk.

There are a few small picnic benches for families, a large (and clean) family bathroom, and plenty of places to sit along the meandering path.

Date last visited:

April 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Just off I-75.

Hours of operation:

Spring and Fall (April/May and Sept/Oct): 10:00am-6:00pm
Summer (June/July/August): 10:00am – 8:00pm, water play area open (View Summer Activity Schedule.)
Winter (March/Nov/Dec):10:00am-4:00pm (Closed Jan and Feb.)
Closed for pathway maintenance Sep 4-7, 2012

Admission cost:

Free!

Dining options:

None on site; picnic areas available.

Directions:

Wegerzyn Gardens is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue , Dayton, Ohio.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton Ohio

September 3, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop is submitted by reader Erica Smith.

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, located outside of Dayton, Ohio, includes exhibits on anthropology, astronomy, geology, robotics, and even a zoo! Erica and her family stopped on a recent road trip, and recommends it because it had spaces designed for multiple age groups (she has a one-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son), and exhibits that engage kids physically and intellectually. An added bonus is that the museum is located in a lovely park and wooded area, perfect for a picnic after the museum visit!

Tip: If time permits, consider a visit to Boonshoft’s sister site, SunWatch Indian Village, also located in Dayton. A national historic landmark, kids can learn about Ohio’s first residents at SunWatch, tour an American Indian village, and even observe archeological digs.

Date last visited: Summer 2011

Distance from the interstate: Just off I-75

Hours of operation: Monday–Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday noon-5:00 pm.

Admission cost: Adults $8.50; children 2–12 and seniors $7.50; children under 2 are free.

Dining options: None on site; picnic areas available.

Directions: The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is located just north of downtown Dayton at 2600 DeWeese Parkway. From north of Dayton, take 75 South and take the Wagner Ford exit (exit 57 B). Make a right (north) on N. Dixie, turn left onto Siebenthaler. Then take a left on Ridge Ave., and a right on DeWeese Pkwy. The SunWatch Indian Village is located at 2301 West River Road, Dayton. Take I-75 to exit 51. Go west onto Edwin C. Moses Blvd., which then turns into Nicholas Rd. Cross Dryden Rd./South Broadway St., then turn left onto West River Rd. for 1 mile, dead-ends at SunWatch.

Agrirama: Georgia’s Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village

December 30, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

1392 Whiddon Mill Road
Tifton, Georgia

Photo courtesy of Brown’s Guide to GA

Always one to love living history exhibits, I knew Id found the perfect pitstop in Tifton, Georgia’s Agrirama, Georgia’s Museum of Agriculture and Living History Museum. Touted as where the present meets the past’, Agrirama is a 95-acre complex featuring an historic village with over 35 structures which have been relocated to the site and faithfully restored or preserved. Included is a museum, a main street, farmsteads, homesteads, a schoolhouse, community buildings, and more, all replicating the 1870-1890’s era. And it’s located on I-75, which makes it a very convenient pitstop for families heading down the interstate toward Florida! Sherri Smith Brown of Brown’s Guide to Georgia reviewed it recently, writing:

Costumed interpreters perform the daily activities of life¦you’ll see people working in the fields, the sawmill, the turpentine still, the blacksmith’s shop and the gristmill. On Main Street, you can visit the drug store, the print shop and the train depot. A 1.3-mile railroad system circles the site; but due to state budget cuts, the steam locomotive only runs during special events. You can walk through farmsteads of different eras as well as a mid-1890s one-room schoolhouse.â€

Distance off the interstate: Less than a few minutes!

Hours and Admission Prices: Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am until 4:30 pm
Closed for Labor Day, Thanksgiving Holidays (Thursday & Friday) and
Christmas Break (December 20 – Jan 5).

Admission is as follows: Adults – $7.00, Seniors – (age 55+) $6.00, Children – (5 – 16) $4.00, Children 4 and under FREE. (Group rates are available.)

Food Services: The Sandwich Shop is on premises. For a good price, you can find hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, or get it to go with one of their sack lunch options!

Website: http://agrirama.com/main/index.php

Directions: Easy to find right off I-75 at Exit 63B. Turn right at 8th St, then continue onto Whiddon Mill Rd.
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Red Top Mountain State Park

September 24, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

50 Lodge Road SE
Cartersville, GA

Autumn is officially upon us here in the northern hemisphere, and I’m very excited to kick off a new series of pit stops centered around fall festivals and events with Red Top Mountain State Park’s Fall at the Homestead! Located just one mile off I-75 on beautiful Lake Allatoona, there’s no better time to visit Red Top Mountain State Park than this weekend (September 26-27). Not only will you have the opportunity to take part in their autumn festival, but you’ll park for free! This Saturday only, all Georgia state parks are waving their parking/vehicle fee.

A hiking trail in Red Top Mountain State Park in autumn.

More on Fall at the Homestead (Sept. 26-27):

From the official website of Georgia state parks: Step back to the early 1800s with a visit to Vaughn Cabin to learn about pioneer life. Try your hand at candle dipping and woodworking, or play a few games. On Saturday night, we will fire up a large furnace for the always popular iron pour. Come early to buy scratch blocks to design your own keepsake. We’ll fill it with molten iron, and once it cools late that evening, you can take it home. ($7 scratch blocks for iron pour.)

While you’re visiting, be sure to take advantage of the many hiking trails and the swimming beach Red Top Mountain State Park has to offer!

Distance off the interstate: 1.5 miles from I-75 exit 285.

Hours and Admission Prices: Free parking on Saturday, September 26th. $5 parking on Sunday.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: Many picnic shelters are located along the lake shore as well as a restaurant located within the lodge. The Mountain Cove Restaurant is open year-round and serves buffet and a la carte meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Website: www.GaStateParks.org/redtopmountain

Directions: From Atlanta, take GA-401 N/I-75 N for 37 miles, then take Exit 285 for Red Top Mountain Road. Follow for .3 mile, the keep right at the fork to merge onto Red Top Mountain Rd SE.

Thank you to Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites for providing the information on this event!
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Native Americans of the Southeast

September 7, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

Etowah Historic site Effigies (courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

Guest Review by Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.

Multiple sites along I-75 through GA

Driving I-75 between Atlanta and Chattanooga can become a fun-filled history lesson on Native Americans of the Southeast. At Etowah Indian Mounds (813 Indian Mounds Rd., S.W. Cartersville), kids can burn off energy climbing the 63-foot earthen mound where they can look over the valley and imagine life 1,000 years ago. Look for a fish trap in the Etowah River — this is a V-shaped rock pile that channeled fish into baskets. Look for songbirds, flowers and big trees on the riverside nature trail. The museum has real artifacts found at the site.
(effigies that were discovered at Etowah, now in the museum).

At New Echota Cherokee Capitol (1211 Chatsworth Hwy NE
Calhoun), kids can see a real printing press that was used to create a bi-lingual newspaper. This is a good place to teach about language and how Sequoyah invented the first written Cherokee alphabet. The museum has life-size “people” in traditional dress. This is also where the infamous Trail of Tears had its beginnings when the U.S. government wanted to take over Cherokee land in order to search for gold. A nature trail leads to a beaver pond.

Also nearby is Chief Vann House Historic Site (82 Ga. Highway 225 N
Chatsworth). Kids will enjoy seeing the children’s bedroom with toys.

New Echota Print Shop (courtesy of Georgia State Parks)

Distance off the interstate: each site 1-5 miles off I-75

Hours and Admission Prices: $3.50-$5 each. Georgia State Parks are currently open only Thursday-Saturday, due to budget cuts.

Website: Find these sites are more at http://gastateparks.org/

Directions: From I-75, the Etowah Indian Mounds are located 5 miles southwest of I-75 exit #288. The New Echota Cherokee Capitol is located one mile east of I-75 exit #317 on Ga. Hwy. 225, and the Chief Vann House Historic Site is located 3 miles west of Chatsworth at the intersection of Ga. Hwys. 225 and 52-A.

Look for more segments on Georgia State Parks in the coming months.

Reed Bingham State Park

August 25, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

542 Reed Bingham Road
Adel , GA

Not quite ready to let go of summer? Reed Bingham State Park â€œis about three and a half hours from Atlantaâ€¦if camping isn’t your thing, it’s also a good place to just get off the road for a bit to stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic or even squeeze in a game of mini-golf. In addition to mini-golf, Reed Bingham has a nice playground, beach and boat docks. They also rent bicycles and canoes and offer pontoon boat tours. It’s an excellent place for bird watching or learning more about the resident gopher tortoises. The park staff rehabilitates various animals that are orphaned or left on the property. We were lucky enough to see a hummingbird, bluebird, red-headed woodpecker and even a bobcat kitten!â€

Review courtesy of Sue from Field Trips with Sue.

Date last visited: August 2009

Distance off the interstate: Less than 6 miles off I-75.

Hours and Admission Prices: $5 park entrance fee per car (camping fees start at $23)

Website: Reed Bingham State Park

Directions: 6 miles west of Adel on Ga. Hwy. 37 via I-75 exit #39, and 14 miles east of Moultrie from U.S. Hwy. 319.

Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center

May 3, 2009 By Amy Hagstrom

2211 Dug Gap Battle Road
Dalton, Georgia

If you miss the Georgia Welcome Center a few miles north, or it’s too cold or wet to let the kids run around outside it, consider a pit stop at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, locally called the Dalton Trade Center.

There is room to stretch, but small enough to not get lost. The bathrooms are spectacularly clean. And of course, there are vending machines. I admit it seems wierd at first to crash a trade center, but wait, there’s more……read more»