Atlanta with Kids

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers hours and hours of educational play for children of just about all ages. Your children will have the time of their lives learning about where their food comes from at the Fundamentally Food exhibit and learn all about the great big world around them at the Gateway to the World exhibit. Younger children (0 – 5 years) will love the Leaping into Learning play area and the sand tables while slightly older children can get crafty in the Arts Studio and the Paint Wall. The museum offers several daily programs to get kids moving, learn about music and dance and have some fun dressing up.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, Phone: 404-659-5437, Map

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is one of Atlanta’s most popular attractions and your visit to the city would be incomplete without bringing your children to the park to learn about this legendary man and the history surrounding his life and times. A good place to start is the Visitor Center where you can watch an introductory video and the children can see the Children of Courage exhibit, which tells the story of the children who were involved in the Civil Rights Movement. You can book a tour of the Birth House where Dr. King was born and where he spent his childhood. Other things to see include the World Peace Rose Garden and The King Center where Dr. King was laid to rest.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, 450 Auburn Ave, NE Atlanta, GA 30312, Phone: 404-331-5190, Map

If you have a few hours to spare on a nice Atlanta day, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a great destination to take the children for some outdoor fun. Besides having a walk through the various beautiful themed gardens you can take the children to the Lou Glenn Children’s Garden where they can enjoy exploring a number of hands-on activities under the guidance of a full-time Horticulturalist who will teach them all about nature and gardening. There is an amphitheater where regular garden programs are held (check the website for schedules), a cooling splash pad for hot days and a wonderful tree house area with climbing nets, slides and bridges.

Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave, NE Atlanta, GA 30309, Phone: 404-591-1543, Map

You need to set aside a full day to fully do justice to the remarkable Georgia Aquarium, one of the largest sea-life centers in the world. In an effort to save paper the aquarium no longer prints maps and you will need to download their Mobile App before you arrive - children can have fun doing an in-app scavenger hunt as you tour the aquarium. A few of the must-see exhibits include the AT&T Dolphin Presentation, the Boardwalk sea lion presentation and the Ocean Voyager exhibit where you can walk through an underwater tunnel to get up close and personal with whale sharks, manta rays and thousands of fish. The aquarium also offer several amazing animal encounters suitable for children over seven years of age and there is a touch tank for young visitors.

Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, Phone: 404-581-4000, Map

You can enjoy a brilliant overview of the city when you and the family step aboard one of the gondolas of the SkyView Ferris Wheel in Centennial Park in downtown Atlanta. The giant Ferris wheel towers over twenty stories above the park offering unsurpassed views of downtown Atlanta and beyond. Each of the climate-controlled gondolas at Sky View Atlanta are large enough for two adults and two children and your ride lasts for about 15 minutes, giving you plenty of time for photos. If you have a toddler in tow you can leave your stroller at a parking area at the base of the ride. If your kids are old enough to stay up after dark they will love a night ride to see all the twinkling lights of the city.

Sky View Atlanta, 168 Luckie Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, Phone: 678-949-9023

Why not spend a few hours exploring some of the completed segments of the Atlanta Beltline project, which aims to eventually (2030) transform former railroad wastelands into dozens of parks, trails and a 22-mile modern streetcar to link the various neighborhoods of the city. Currently there are four open trails and seven parks where you can bring the family to enjoy some outdoor recreation. If you have skateboard enthusiasts in the family you should head to the Arthur J. Langford Jr. Park and the Historic Fourth Ward Park, while the D.H. Stanton Park offers a covered trail for runners and a great splash pad for the children.

Atlanta Beltline , Atlanta GA

A visit to the sprawling Atlanta History Center is a fun way to teach your children about the history and culture of their country. The center covers 33 acres of historic houses, amazing exhibitions and fairy-tale gardens, as well as many interactive activities for the children. In addition, the center offers year-round family and kids programs – check the website to see their schedule. Children will learn about diverse aspects of American history, ranging from the Civil War and the influence of Native Americans in Georgia to the American obsession with barbecue. There are plenty of places to stop for a rest and a snack when little visitors get tired.

Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, Phone: 404-814-4000

Visiting the 22-acre Centennial Olympic Park is a must-do activity for any visitor to Atlanta. At the heart of the Park you will find the amazing Fountain of Rings where your children can watch one of the brilliant fountain shows which are presented four times a day – you can check their schedule to see what music and fountain extravaganza is planned on the day of your visit. The fountain is also great splash pad on hot days. The Visitor’s Center will give you a good overview of the significance of the park and is the starting point for a one-hour walking tour – you can download a walking tour audio guide for your mobile phone from their website.

Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, Phone: 404-223-4412

A visit to the Delta Flight Museum is a thrilling experience for children of all ages. The museum is located at Delta’s Atlanta headquarters, moments away from the busiest airport in the world. There are non-stop exciting activities to be explored as you make your way around the remarkable collection of rare and vintage aircraft, some of which date back to the 1920’s. Children can step aboard the vintage Boeing 767, tour the first-ever Boeing 747-400 (and even walk on the wing) and then have a chance to step into the cockpit of a genuine 737 flight simulator and experience flying a commercial aircraft. The museum offers various guided tours – check on-line to see which tour your family would prefer.

Delta Flight Museum , 1060 Delta Blvd, Bldg. B, Dept 014, Atlanta, GA 30354-1989, Phone: 404-715-7886

There is something for every member to the family to enjoy at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History . Imagine finding forests and woods in the heart of the city – this is exactly what you will encounter when you explore the museum’s 75-acre Wild Woods and Fernbank Forest exhibits which feature hiking/walking trails, towering canopy walks and activities for all ages. Inside the museum some of the most popular exhibits include Dinosaur Plaza and Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit and the amazing Sensing Nature exhibit which uses lasers, mirrors and water to demonstrate how we use our senses. You can watch brilliant nature movies in the giant-screen 3-D theater and the museum offers regular educational workshops and programs for children.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, Phone: 404-929-6300