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With Decatur and DeKalb schools on Spring Break next week, many families are heading to the coast or the mountains for some R&R (not necessarily “rest & relaxation”, but “running & restlessness”).
However, others will stick around Atlanta and do something resembling a “staycation” in the city. As such, it seems like a pretty good time to revisit this question – what are your favorite sights around Atlanta? With or without kids.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
When people from out of town ask me this question, I always have trouble answering. If kids were involved, I’d likely recommend the Center for Puppetry Arts. Curious as to what other people say.
Agree. I’m sorta in a rut at the moment and could certainly use some new/different options on this front. Someone mentioned Callaway Gardens to us recently. I’ve actually never been, because I just assume its a larger version of the Botanical Gardens much further away.
Yes re Callaway being a larger version of Botanical Gardens, but it also has the Butterfly Garden and paths for walking and cycling/scootering. In summer, it also has a lake and beach for swimming although neither appeal to me. It’s a worthwhile getaway for families of young children. Choices of lodging range from a reasonably priced motel-like lodge (with old-fashioned giant pool in warm weather), fancy pants lodge with spa, and extremely expensive cottages.
In my experience the cottages are not at all ‘very expensive’. Callaway is a good weekend jaunt, and butterfly gardens and Birds of Prey show are cool.
If you want to see it in all its glory, plan a visit to the Christmas season and go do the tour of lights — it is crazy crowded, but pretty darned impressive.
Your comment made me wonder why I found cottages so pricey in the past so I went over to the Callaway Gardens Resort website. You are right that one bedrooms aren’t bad. My guess is that they weren’t available when I’ve looked before. (BTW, they are available tonight and for the next two nights if anyone is interested.) Two bedrooms and up are pretty pricey IMHO compared to say cottages/cabins at state parks. More like the pricing on beach condos and I don’t find Callaway Gardens to be beach-caliber.
The tween and teen no longer are interested in the zoo, aquarium, center for puppetry arts … both have approved parent plans for a day at Six Flags and an over night glamping trip including a 3 hour zip-lining tour in north Georgia…
“I’m sorta in a rut at the moment and could certainly use some new/different options on this front. ”
I’m interested in checking out the new Civil Rights Museum (and riding the Streetcar to get there), but I haven’t heard much about it. And I’ve always assumed the same thing about Callaway Gardens, that it’s just another botanical garden. For a trip out of the city, I’ve heard the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville is interesting, though I wonder if it’s too similar to Fernbank. There is Red Top Mountain State Park nearby though.
+1 streetcar – thinking the teen’s APUSH class already has plans for the Clivil Rights Museum this week so will need to think of another reason to take the street car – thanks for the idea!
“will need to think of another reason to take the street car ”
Does Bell Street Burritos (inside the Sweet Auburn Curb Market) count as a “sight”?
yes! – I can get them anywhere when it involves food! ty!
World of Coca-Cola was another idea that the spouse suggested but did not make the final cut for our ATL stay-cation.
Tellus is about one million times better than Fernbank, which has always struck me as a great building housing a mediocre museum (though the IMAX theatre is nice). We’ve made the drive several times with our space-crazed nine-year-old, and he still loves it. Easy to stop at the Etowah Indian Mounds on the way up or down, to throw some history into the mix.
+one million on Tellus. You can dig for fossils and pan for gems there, which is really fun for kids (and, uh, me) and the exhibits are fantastic. Well worth the drive. And if you’re in Cartersville, you can also check out the Booth Western Art Museum, which is also really interesting.
Great tip! I’ve never heard of Tellus and am definitely going to check it out.
In full agreement of the mediocrity of Fernbank…
I think of the Botanical Gardens as the crown jewel of Atlanta. With kids … without kids … doesn’t matter. Beautiful, peaceful, creative; there’s a lot for everyone. Currently there is a wonderful orchid exhibit and there are about 1,000,000,000 tulips in bloom. Bring a book. Enjoy the sun.
Callaway Garden is well worth a trip. Not just a botanical garden but many planted acres covered with azaleas, a vegetable demo garden, a butterfly house, golf course, and fine dining.
In the same area is FDR’s Little White House and Warm Springs and its polio treatment center. In the area is a state park with trails and horseback riding. This area is a great area for a trip of 2 to 3 days to see all the beautiful and historical attractions.
We just had a “grown ups only” group visit around New Years, and we took the streetcar and rode the whole loop just to see where it went (and at the time it was free because it was the first week it was running). It was a cold rainy day so we didn’t get off anywhere. Next time I’ll take a swing into Sweet Auburn Market. After that we rode the ferris wheel. Kinda pricey but fun and sometimes you can find a groupon (or some similar deal) for it. After that, we went up to Polaris and had some fantastic cocktails and appetizers and watched the city rotate by us.
Other visits have included the Botanical Gardens, High Museum, the zoo, a hike up Stone Mountain… mostly my guests like to eat to we do things to kill time between hitting up restaurants. I did enjoy walking a bit of the Beltline, then stopping at Apres Diem for lunch (and of course cocktails) on the patio. They make a delicious “mule.”
I’ve gone ziplining at Banning Mills. It’s a beautiful environment. It feels like you’re in the mountains. We may revisit that with some guests soon.
I love sitting on the patio of 57th Fighter Group and having lunch (or beverages) and watching the planes take off and land. I would like to do the biplane tour that takes off from there.
There are also lots of breweries popping up which offer tours. That is fun for beer loving guests.
“(and at the time it was free because it was the first week it was running).”
Just announced today that it’s free for the remainder of the year.
We visited Polaris last fall and really enjoyed it. It’s a good way to combine an iconic Atlanta sight with drinking and eating. Not a good place for kids.
If you don’t mind spending a little time in the car, and you’re a dude, there is a truly spectacular aircraft museum at Warner-Robins AFB, just south of Macon. They’ve got a B-29, an SR-71 (it’s just crazy that people designed and flew that thing) and lots of other neato airplanes.
Also super cool, and relatively close, are the museums in Columbus, which also has a nice long riverwalk along the Chattahoochee, which goes all the way to Fort Benning. There’s a Civil War naval history museum, which is far more interesting than it sounds, and of course the infantry museum at Fort Benning. It’s huge and engrossing and provides as much or as little detail as you like. In my experience, however, females find it substantially less fascinating.
Columbus also has a terrific little downtown with a college campus and coffee shops and interesting restaurants. And you can get dinner for two with appetizers and martinis for way less than $100.
Agree — Museum at Robins AFB is fantastic, especially if you have kids that like planes. Bonus, it’s free (although they have a donation jar at the front entrance).
The train museum in Duluth is fun, too.
We always enjoy going to the Atlanta History Center. They have nice outdoor areas for walking and exploring – especially good if you have small kids. Animals, period housing (with interpreters), miniature playhouse. They offer free admission on certain weekends. For the older set, the inside exhibits (civil war, olympics) are very good.
Stone Mountain.
+1 – also a great destination for low-priced yet scenic golf.
Without kids, the wineries up around Dahlonega are quite impressive both because of some of the wines being produced as well as some stellar facilities. Wolf Mountain is our favorite to visit and it’s especially fun to take out-of-towners. People are usually very surprised at what they see and taste.
+1 on Wolf Mountain. Reservations are an absolute must for a meal, but it is worth it. Highly highly recommend this place.
With older kids it’s a nice day trip to go to Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens in Summerville combined with the Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville. There’s a North Georgia Folk Pottery Trail map at the website for the Folk Pottery Museum in Sautee Nacoochee with a trail in the Cleveland area and another in the Gillsville area.
Years ago, I met Mr. Finster at Paradise Gardens. I tried to get him to sign my Talking Heads album cover (Speaking in Tongues, which he designed). He declined, but did sing a song for my wife.
Correction: After looking to see if I still had the Talking Heads vinyl (nope), I remembered it was Little Creatures that Finster did the cover for, not Speaking in Tongues.
Maybe that’s why he was really confused and declined when you asked him to sign it!
Ha! I think I had the right one at the time. He also designed a cover for R.E.M. Maybe he was a bigger fan of them.
The Carter Library is interesting for older kids. Mine were fascinated by the exhibit about guinea worm and water purification. A day trip through Athens for lunch to the Georgia Guidestones makes for a diverting outing. The Guidestones are worth a visit just for the weirdness. Otherwise, the Botanical Gardens are our favorite. And we second the Duluth train museum!
The Delta Museum is a great place for young and young at heart. An old hanger was converted and now it actually houses “The Spirit of Delta” jet. Plenty to see and do.
These are more activities than sights, but here is what we love to take guests to do (and do ourselves):
Daytime is great time to visit Krog Street market for lunch, then walk on the Beltline towards Piedmont Park, stopping at the skate park to watch the skaters, then back for Jake’s at Irwin Street Market (across the street from Krog.) If you’ve spent the whole afternoon walking have dinner at O4W pizza. Amazing pizza!!
The Atlanta Preservation Center has incredible neighborhood walking tours. I won’t link but easy to find on google. The Fox also has a great tour, especially for a rainy day.
The Center for Puppetry Arts is fabulous. I noticed the Breman Center next door has a Maurice Sendak exhibit — if it is the same one I saw in NYC a few years ago, it is definitely worth a visit.
The Arc de Triomphe in Atlantic Station is actually a museum, and sometimes has incredibly interesting exhibits. Recently, it was some of Churchill’s paintings. There is also a view from the top!
Emory’s Carlos museum is great.
I’ve spent the night in Americus at the Windsor Hotel and done the Jimmy Carter sights in Plains on a weekend that Jimmy Carter is teaching Sunday school– his church has all the details on the website and it is truly an incredible experience to visit his class– and he meets everyone afterwards.
In addition to lunch or brunch at Wolf Mountain (can’t miss!!), I’ve been meaning to go to the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery.
The Starlight drive-in!
Shopping in Little 5. Shopping at Richard’s Variety.
It isn’t quite warm enough yet, but we love to drive up 400 (about an hour) to rent kayaks from Appalachian Outfitters for a float down the river. We’ve taken a 5 year old visitor — easy breezy.
9 holes at Charlie Yates.
We used to take visitors to see the kangaroos in north Georgia, but sadly that place has closed. New favorite is Hindu Temple in Lilburn. Google “BAPS” and “Lilburn” and read website carefully about visits.
The Korean spa — Jeju!!
Eddie’s Attic.
Visit one of Atlanta’s fabulous foot massage places — Jiao at Ansley is usually 2-for-1 on Wednesday, Heavenly Foot Massage on Ponce is more spa like. Reservations a must.
Reserve a room and have a party at Karaoke Melody on Buford Hwy! Bonus that one of the best sushi places in Atlanta is next door! Amazing foot massage place across the street!
Atlanta Movie Tours is up and running in Castleberry– haven’t been yet, but it is on my list.
Take a stand up paddling (SUP) lesson.
Ride bikes on the Silver Comet Trail (they rent), and while in Cobb County, eat at the all-time best Indian restaurant — Swapna.
Atlanta Rollergirls!
Drive around looking for street art and take photos.
Go to a trivia night at a local restaurant– it isn’t as big in other cities and guests love it.
Georgia’s state parks — Sweetwater is close and good.
Film series at Emory — most are free.
Indoor trampoline park like Sky Zone that you would never drive to if it wasn’t spring break! An hour of bouncing and everyone will be ready for a nap!
Cooking class at Cook’s Warehouse.
Fernbank. IMAX. Martinis & IMAX.
Visit as many playgrounds as possible and rank them.
Phew!
Nice list. I’ve been meaning to do the Fox Theater tour for years but haven’t gotten around to it.
You are awesome
Callaway Gardens is great. If you’re with kids, especially, you must take a little detour and visit the Wild Animal Safari, just down the road. Drive your own car through, and keep a close eye on the level of your windows open/closed. My grands and I laughed till our bellies hurt.
Serenbe
For some out-of-towners, Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market is a sight to see. It was one of my mother-in-law’s favorite places the first time she visited here.
re the Fox Tour: are there a lot of stairs to climb? Knees don’t handle a lot of stairs any more.
There are a lot of stairs at The Fox but I bet they have an accommodation plan involving elevators– I’d call and ask.
Noah’s Ark near Locust Grove (Tanger Outlet Exit) is great for animal lovers and also Dauset Trails Nature Center has animals and Mt Bike Trails.
Noah’s Ark is awesome! We have gone there for a few special events but it’s also a great place to just walk around and see the animals on a nice day. And it’s FREE for a regular visit (though you SHOULD donate something, even if it’s just a few bucks).
http://www.noahs-ark.org/
Great bike/hike trails at Dauset. We even got married there. Indian Springs state park is right next to Dauset and they have a connector trail. It’s a peaceful park and there are 2 dog friendly cabins if you’re like me and like to travel with the whole family.
If you’re in the Jackson/Flovilla neighborhood on a weekend, there’s a barbecue joint near Lake Jackson that is really good – Blind Pig BBQ, only open Wed-Sunday and they run out of ribs by Saturday night. I know most folks go to Fresh Air, but this is also good (and I personally like it better than FA particularly their smoked turkey). Their homemade desserts are really delicious too.
We did the Atlanta citypass for a february break one time. The kids had done some of the venues before, but enjoyed going back for their favorite parts. Would recommend that if you have 4 days here. You could probably combine it with the streetcar and ferris wheel to have the total atlanta tourist experience.
If you’ve got teens or visitors that love vintage stuff, Atlanta is a great town for junking. The Scott Antique Market at the Atlanta Expo Center opens Thursday or stay closer to home and hit the United Methodist Children’s Home Flea Market on April 10-11. Earlier in the week you can do the local thrifting circuit: Shop the Edge, Finders Keepers, Salvation Army, and Second Life in Avondale Estates, hit Last Chance over by the UberKroger, then a short drive down Lawrenceville to Decatur Estates. Oh, and Value Village on Memorial.
The Old Chamblee antique/junk district is fun to visit, too. And then it’s a short trip to the Buford Hwy Farmers Market and/or the 99 Ranch Market.
I love the term “UberKroger”! No more “Big Kroger” for me! The newly expanded, still being renovated, ever shifting aisled Kroger is Uber Kroger!
Bass Pro Shop up 85 apparently has some cool stuff, huge aquarium, etc. haven’t been but heard good things. Also, area Home Depot and lowes stores have kid “build it” classes on weekend mornings. Need to sign up online in advance for those but it’s free.
If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family during spring break, check out the Atlanta History Center. They have a working farm with cute sheep, playhouses, and the Swan House. Teenagers might like Swan House–it was used as President Snow’s mansion in the Hunger Games movies–there are special tours just about the movie.