Atlanta with Kids: 13 Fun Family-Friendly Activities

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at sschlichter@smartertravel.com.

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Traveling to Atlanta with kids? You’ll never lack for things to do.

Atlanta with Kids: Fun Family-Friendly Activities

Family fun in Atlanta ranges from classic favorites like aquariums and zoos to more unique offerings—like an entire museum devoted to Coca-Cola. Read on to see more things for kids to do in Atlanta.

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Georgia Aquarium

At the Georgia Aquarium, you’ll be mesmerized by giant whale sharks and manta rays as they glide by on all sides in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Other crowd pleasers include beluga whales, penguins, and otters. Kids also love the vibrant tropical reef display with mock waves crashing overhead.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is a must-do if you’ve got little ones in tow. The exhibits are designed for kids 8 or younger, but all ages are welcome to try out hands-on activities like painting on a giant wall, learning to build a house, or playing in a stream full of fish.

Zoo Atlanta

Families won’t want to miss Zoo Atlanta, home to pandas, tigers, giraffes, elephants, gorillas, and many more! There’s a petting zoo where kids can get up close and personal with goats and sheep, as well as live shows and daily feedings.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Kids will love the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, where they can crane their necks to take in huge dinosaur skeletons, discover clothing and jewelry from cultures around the world, and explore a stunning array of colorful seashells. The IMAX theater offers a rotating slate of programs such as “Journey to the South Pacific” and “Incredible Predators.”

CNN Studio Tour

Older kids will enjoy going behind the scenes with a CNN Studio Tour at the network’s global headquarters in Atlanta. Listen in on real-time decisions being made in the Control Room about what goes on the air when; see how teleprompters, green screens, and other technology work in a mock studio; and take a peek into the CNN newsroom, where stories are researched before they go live on TV.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

You’ll find vibrant blooms and serene green spaces all year long at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, from winter orchid exhibits in the greenhouses to the profusion of summer blossoms in the Rose Garden. Don’t miss the Kendeda Canopy Walk, which takes visitors through the treetops to look down on colorful woodland gardens below.

Piedmont Park

Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s answer to Central Park in New York. This wide, grassy green space is the city’s gathering space, featuring two playgrounds as well as outdoor concerts, picnic facilities, bocce courts, a dog park, and much more.

Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park was developed to serve as a central gathering space for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Kids can cool off in the Fountain of Rings, where musical shows are held four times daily.

World of Coca-Cola

Yes, it’s more or less a big commercial in museum form, but World of Coca-Cola provides an intriguing look at a global phenomenon. The best part is the “Taste It!” room, where you can sample Coca-Cola beverages from different countries around the world. (I take no responsibility for the sugar high your children will get if they try all 100+ flavors!) There’s also a working bottling line on site. You can take a step back in time in the Milestones of Refreshments gallery, featuring retro Coke ads and memorabilia from bygone decades, and in the Perfect Pauses theater, where you can watch classic Coke commercials.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

If you’re visiting Atlanta with kids in search of a history lesson, consider a trip to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Here you can tour the house where King was born (in an upstairs bedroom) and visit Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King served as co-pastor with his father for eight years. Also part of the site is the King Center, the final resting place of King and his wife, Coretta. Inside the Center are informative exhibits on the Kings and Mahatma Gandhi. Outside are a rose garden, a fountain, and the BEHOLD monument—a bronze statue celebrating King’s courage.

Smith Family Farm

Smith Family Farm, Atlanta’s oldest surviving farmhouse, dates back to the 1840s. Kids can experience what it was like to live on a farm with hands-on activities such as weaving, gardening, and taking care of animals.

Red Top Mountain State Park

Take a day trip to Red Top Mountain State Park. You can go swimming, boating, or fishing on Lake Allatoona, go mountain biking on the Iron Hill Trail, explore a reconstructed 1860s log cabin, or sample some 15 miles of hiking trails.

Six Flags Over Georgia

Another fun day trip from Atlanta with kids is Six Flags Over Georgia, which includes a wide range of roller coasters and other rides as well as a water park for those muggy summer days.

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