My cousins are driving out here from CA with their 3 kids and spending a few days with us in Atlanta. I have a list of things we could do, but I want to show them the best of Atlanta and surrounding area. What are your favorite things to do when you have visitors? The kid age range is 6 - 10. I would love some ideas of "free or not to expensive" things to do as well as things that may not be inexpensive, but are really worth the money. We are just north of the city. Thanks for your help! :)
My BIL's family lives in Atlanta, GA =) Last time we were visiting we went to Stone Mountain and had a great time (both adults and kids)!
We were in Atlanta for a few days 2 years ago when my kids were 7 & 10. They loved the coke museum and the aquarium. Another place they loved was Medieval Times. I'm sure most won't count it as the best of Atlanta, but we had never been to one. While it was kind of corny, they had a blast and the food was good. (Where else are you encouraged to boo your opponents and eat with your hands.) And they have coupons on their website.
I would also like to add that there is a great childrens museum ( I don't recall the name) downtown, across the street from the Coca Cola museum. We spent time there after the Aquarium and walking around Olympic Park. My then 7 year old loved it.
Coca Cola tour and Stone Mountain.
Coca Cola tour is fun and interesting.
I've climbed Stone Mountain 2x...(tired just thinking of it) it was fun and cool.
You can all get hyped up on soda and go climb Stone Mountain LOL!
We were there for a family renuion last 4th of July. I don't even remember exactly where we stayed, but I know the one "touristy" thing we did was tour the Coca Cola factory. It was GREAT. The kids are 5, 7, and 9 last summer and they loved it. We went with my husband's aunts (who are the ages of my grandparents) and they loved it as well.
The aquarium is also right there and had there been more time, we would have gone there. That could take a whole day doing those two.
We spent a day at Exchange Park as well. That was fun because everyone was there. It was a catered event with music - so that probably made all the difference.
The BEST steak I've ever had was from a place called Smokey Bones. Not sure if you know where that is, it was maybe 2 minutes from our hotel. SO good and a fun atmosphere. (I'd venture to say I liked my steak better there than from Ruth's Chris!!).
I just returned from a tour of the Fourth Ward Beltline park. It is a really cool park with quite unusual playground equipment. It also has a Slashpad that even the 10 year old will love. If the 10 year old is into skateboarding, there is a free skate park nearby.
The new Piedmont Park expansion is also great.
http://beltline.org/parks/historic-fourth-ward-park/
http://beltline.org/parks/historic-fourth-ward-skate-park/
You could combine this trip with a visit to the King Center and Centennial Olympic Park for a really full day!
The aquarium would be a great start. I'm from California and when I first came here to Atlanta, the whole downtown area was amazing to me. Scary a bit but amazing. A neat little eatery is R. Thomas on Peachtree(towards Lenox) it's this great organic type place, cover/tented patio..well you have to see it for your self to see what I'm talking about..the food is great.
Piedmont park has a little restaurant on the corner of Monroe and 10th there..great buffalo burgers. And also are you cousins younger?? Little five points would be great..lots of neat place to get a bit to eat there and do people watching too.
And if you want to do this history thing... Take them to the MLK memorial on Jackson and Auburn. It's a site to definitely see. The street has alot of construction going on because of the trolley they are installing but it would it's still is awesome to be able to stand by and pay respects to Martin Luther King's memorial. Stone Mountain is nice too. Take them up the mountain..a little fun hike. But you get to sit up there..the view is breath taking.
We took our kids to the coca cola museum. They loved it. Both as children when they are like 4, 5 and 10 and again later when they were in and again later we went when the youngest was about 9 and the older boys were in highschool and daughter was in her 20's. everyone loved the old commercials in the little theater, learning how coke came about and of course the best part in their eyes was the tasting room. I have a great photo of them at the museum the boys are in highschool and the youngest much smaller and they are with the big coca cola bear.
You should definitely do Zoo Atlanta and the Cyclorama for a bit of Civil War history. Underground Atlanta is also pretty cool...
About 25 min south of the city is an animal sanctuary, Noah's Ark. It's free, they only ask for donations to help with costs of feeding animals. you can see a lion, tiger and bear all living together. There is also a nice playground and picnic area. Same exit as tanger outlet so you can do some shopping, too!
Stone Mountain laser show in the evening is awesome. It is included in the admission price into the park. Climb the mountain then enjoy the show afterward.
