Of all the cities we’ve been to when traveling as a family, Atlanta takes the cake for family travel There are many things to do in Atlanta with kids and most are perfectly suited for adults too. As an avid traveler who’s been around the world, I knew I wanted to share my love of travel with my son. Plus, it doesn’t hurt when destinations have a kids-centric museum to visit or large parks for our little guy to burn energy in.
Things to do in Atlanta with Kids
“I wish we could travel more, but having the kid(s) makes it impossible.” Hearing this, as often as I do, from friends and family drives me absolutely crazy. With a little effort, it’s easy to travel with kids. It may take a bit more planning, but traveling with family creates memories that you can cherish together for years to come. Once you see how easy it is to visit Atlanta as a family, you’ll want to book a trip of your own right now!
- Update Sept 2021: Things are constantly changing keep up to date on restrictions and closures at Georgia.gov.
- Some Atlanta activities have been added from the original article written in 2017.
For me, the most fun in Atlanta was at the College Football Hall of Fame (which recently moved to Atlanta from South Bend, Indiana in 2014). Beyond the Hall itself which was located on the top floor and gave insight into each of the inductees’ careers, the Hall of Fame and fan experience was really amazing.
It begins with an impressive display – the helmet wall – featuring a helmet from every college football team in the United States. Once you select your favorite team on the computers provided, you watch your team’s helmet illuminate.
Interactive Things to do with Kids in Atlanta
The entire experience was 100% interactive. Given your badge is RFID enabled, many of the exhibits customize themselves to your school of choice – talk about a 21st-century museum! But it wasn’t just the high-tech innovations, touch screens, and trophy displays that got my attention. Rather, it was their fully interactive Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Skill Zone. This personal playground is unlike anything I (or my son, obviously,) had ever experienced.
This is a 45-yard football field with a regulation-sized end zone and goal post filled with a variety of skills tests for all ages. From throwing accuracy to running speed, and from diving catches to field goal attempts, this was a football fan’s wonderland. My little guy and I spent at least an hour in there just running up and down the sidelines tacking each other. I was also quite impressed with my 50% (2/4) PAT conversion rate.
2. Center for Puppetry Arts
Kids will love visiting the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. This interactive museum immerses the whole family in the land of Jim Henson. Parents will love revisiting their childhood seeing your favorite Jim Henson puppets from the Muppets. (I had to make a rhyme) from Kermit the Frog to Miss Piggy. This self-guided tour will take you through the World’s of Puppetry Museum where you’ll learn of the history of puppetry around the world and to see recreations of Jim Henson’s office and studio.
3. World of Coco-Cola
Next up was the World of Coca-Cola. Here, you start with a free bottle of Coca-Cola and venture through an interactive museum reliving some of Coke’s storied history. They go through many of their world-famous ads in an upstairs theatre (polar bears included!), explain the history of the company, the bottling methods and the bottle designs themselves.
They also recently moved the top-secret original recipe to the headquarters for the first time, since it had been stored in a nearby bank’s safety deposit box; visitors get to stare at the enormous steel vault but are warned to not come too close.
With lots of statues, fun sounds, and bright colors all around, families of all ages can enjoy a tour of the World of Coca-Cola – even if the kiddos can’t drink the stuff yet.
Coca Cola Tasting Room
Speaking of drinking… My favorite part was the tasting room. Broken up by continent, visitors could taste some of Coca-Cola’s more (and less) well-known drinks; some more delicious than expected, while others, Ummm, not. *Hint* – the sodas from Djibouti and Peru were far from our favorites.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
4. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
One of the best things to see with kids in Atlanta is the Museum of Natural History. What kid doesn’t love seeing dinosaurs? As Atlanta’s answer to New York’s Museum of Natural history, you’re family will have its own Night at the Museum experience. Take a walk through time in Georgia as you learn about natural history and make sure not to miss Fernbank NatureQuest, an interactive children’s exhibit that turns kids into adventurers and explorers. You just may have a little scientist on your hands in the future.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
5. High Museum of Art
Atlanta Museum of High Art has many activities geared toward kids and teens. If you are in Atlanta on a Thursday, Atlanta’s Museum of High Art has toddler Thursdays. Every Saturday between 2-4 teens get in free for Teen Art Afternoon where they have art classes and are offered tours. And the second Sunday of each month is free with family-friendly programs. Check their website for family activities at the High Museum of Art.
- Address: 1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309
6. The Georgia Aquarium
Without a doubt, my son’s and wife’s favorite part of the trip was our amazing visit to the Georgia Aquarium – considered by most to be the best aquarium in North America. From the time it opened in 2005 it was the world’s largest aquarium as well; that is until Singapore’s Marine Life Park opened in 2012.
The aquarium is broken up into five main sections, the largest of which is the Ocean Voyager “built by Home Depot” section. Here visitors can walk around (and even under) parts of this 6.3 million gallon tank, featuring four whale sharks and several manta rays!
The highlight of the exhibit is the theatre-style observation room with a larger-than-life acrylic viewing window measuring a whopping 61 feet across and 23 feet high. While my wife and I were awestruck by the sheer size and beauty of some of these creatures, nothing could compare to the amazement our son had in his eyes as he pressed his hands and face against the glass.
Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA.
7. Zoo Atlanta
Another place for animal encounters in Atlanta is Zoo Atlanta. It offers many activities specifically for children including stage shows, mystery hunts, goat feeding opportunities, and a petting zoo. Zoo Atlanta is involved in conservation around the world and are committed to saving species and habitats.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
8. Children’s Museum of Atlanta
No trip to Atlanta with kids would be complete without visiting the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. They have their very own museum! This museum is an interactive exhibit where children learn through play. Little travelers will love the continent tables where kids can learn about geography, animals and countries of the world. They can even feel what an earthquake is like and test the temperature of a glacier.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
9. National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The final excursion of the trip was to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which opened in the summer of 2014. While it was one of the smaller of the museums we visited, it was by far the most powerful. A quick note about traveling with children: Clearly, the contents of this museum are heavy and not to be taken lightly.
Kids under five however are not yet able to understand the significance of their surroundings but are able to keep occupied thanks to the design of the different exhibits – namely, large interactive touch-screens only a few feet off the ground, phone-styled headsets playing beautiful old spiritual music on the wall and a large multi-colored world map (which is great for kids to stare at).
The upper portion of the museum is dedicated to international human rights, with focuses on slave labor, human trafficking, violent dictators (past and present), and genocide. On the main floor is a very powerful and well-designed exhibit outlining the history of the American civil rights movements; it begins with segregation and goes all the way up to modern times with the election of President Obama. All in all, the experience was eye-opening and gut-wrenching but worth every second.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
10. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park
A good complement to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park. It is one of Atlanta’s top tourist attractions. One of the best things to do in the park is to visit the home where Dr. King was born and lived the first twelve years of his life. Make sure you stop at the visitors center for an orientation where you can see exhibits such as Courage To Lead and a display of the marchers on their journey along “Freedom Road”. Currently, the buildings of Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park are closed due to restrictions, but you can still visit the park outdoors. Visit the National Park Service for updates.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
11. Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park is one of the best outdoor family attractions in Atlanta. An entire day can be spent enjoying the 3200 acres of parkland, attractions, and rides. There’s a scenic railway, a gondola summit skyride, the Stone Mountain Museum, Dinotaurium and so much more. Check out the website for details.
You can even stay at the on-site accommodation with camping or at the Stone Mountain Inn or Evergreen Marriott Resort.
- Address: 225 Baker Street, Northwest Atlanta GA
Getting Around Atlanta with CityPass
The Atlanta Conventions and Visitors Bureau made us feel right at home by offering us the Atlanta CityPASS to use during our stay. Thanks to our CityPASS we were able to enjoy the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN World Headquarters, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The city is full of excitement and offers so much to do and see!
Of the attractions we visited – the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN World Headquarters, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights – all were completely appropriate (if not geared towards) young visitors and they were all easy to get to.
Note: Certain attractions are still closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Places like the Centennial Olympic Park fountain show is closed indefinitely, but portions of the Centennial Olympic Park playground and greenspace is open. Check all attractions before booking tickets.
Family friendly hotel in Atlanta
During our time in Atlanta, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Midtown. Despite not being in the heart of downtown this “mid-town” property has the perfect location. The Crowne Plaza was also just three blocks from the nearby MARTA (subway) station. And while taking the subway to the heart of the city may have been more convenient, the walk to nearly all major attractions was only 15-20 minutes…with a stroller!
Our particular room was a full one-bedroom suite on the 10th floor. It was absolutely perfect for traveling with a young kid. The staff arranged for a crib in the room, which we decided to put next to the bed. This allowed us to keep the living room kid-free for the duration of the stay, which meant we could relax, work or watch TV while our son was sleeping without worrying about waking him up.
Sure, sneaking in late at night and crawling into bed became an Olympic-style sport, but the trade-off was well worth it. The living room portion of the room featured a nice couch and a round, four-person dining table – great for getting work done. Connected to the bedroom was a comfortable bathroom, which included a tub/shower combo (essential for bath time).
An amazing meal in Atlanta
The last, but certainly not least, “must see” place in Atlanta is a restaurant. Herban Fix is a completely vegan establishment but provided us with one of the greatest meals I’ve ever eaten. Its menu is Asian-inspired with plenty of western flair and its ability to use exclusively vegan ingredients while keeping each dish so unique and flavorful was quite impressive. Best of all, it was voted Georgia’s best restaurant in a recent USA Today poll of 50 places to eat in 50 states.
Expect at least $50/person (with alcohol), but every bite makes you realize just how worthwhile the bill is. And, if you’re staying at the Crowne Plaza Midtown, where we spent our time, you’re only a five-minute walk away!
Overall, when it comes to traveling in North America, few cities can compete with all the things to do with kids in Atlanta. Between the parks, museums, hotel and restaurant options, this is absolutely the city for you. If you haven’t been yet, what are you waiting for?
