Traveling is one of my favorite things to do as a family. I love researching and looking for fun places to explore. As a family of three, with a toddler, I find that planning is a crucial part of the trip. It’s so important to me to find family-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy, and our Atlanta trip was no exception. Below are my top tips, and places to go as a family in the greater Atlanta Area.

Activities to Do with Children in Atlanta

Georgia Aquarium

225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

If you love aquariums as much as I do, this has to be the #1 place to add to your list of activities. The aquarium is vast and is home to beluga whales, whale sharks, penguins, dolphins and so much more! These animals were breathtaking to watch and see up close!

This aquarium was extremely easy to navigate with a toddler. There was a large lobby that was central to all of the exhibits, so you could easily make your way through each one, and exit quickly if you needed to.

Tips for Going to the Aquarium

Arrive before 11 am or after 4 pm and purchase your tickets online. By doing this, you’ll save around $10 a ticket. And by arriving early, you’ll beat the crowds!

Atlanta Botanical Garden 

1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

The Botanical Gardens in Atlanta are breathtaking. You can easily spend an entire day here walking through and enjoyed many of their expansive and beautiful gardens. Their gardens include themes such as the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, Skyline and don’t forget the kid zone! Cool off in the summer with their splash pad, or explore the many learning activities or playground.

Zoo Atlanta

800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Anytime we travel, I look to see if there is a zoo nearby. Not only do we love going to zoos, but as a member of our local zoo, there are over 150 zoos/aquariums that participate in a discount admission program nationwide. So as a member, you can receive up to 50% off per ticket, which helps to make the activity very affordable!

The zoo in Atlanta is famous for their two Giant Pandas + 2 baby Pandas and is also one of the oldest zoos in the country! With over 1,300 animals at this zoo, there is something for everyone to see! Throughout the zoo, there are educational signs to help visitors learn more about each animal and how the local zoo helps with conservation.

Finally, don’t miss going to the kid zone, which includes a train ride, playground, carousel, rock climbing wall, and splash pad.

Additional Money Saving Tip: Purchase an all-day pass for the rides.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

275 Centennial Olympic Park D.r NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

We love going to children’s museums. They are such a fun place that includes several activities that encourage learning and play. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go to the one in Atlanta, but it’s on our list for our next visit.

Money Saving Tip: before you plan your trip, visit their website. Throughout the week, they have value days, which will help save on the total cost of tickets. There is also a price break for buying tickets online.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta

3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

LEGOLAND is a great place for older kids to play and explore. Encourage their inner architect by allowing them to build and play at LEGOLAND. Learn more about the discovery center here.

Parks and Outdoor Activities in Atlanta

Centennial Olympic Park

265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Right in downtown Atlanta (across the street from the Aquarium and the Coca-Cola Museum), sits the Centennial Olympic Park. This park is filled with landmarks and reminders of the Centennial Olympic games and is a must see when visiting the city. This park includes walking, an Olympic ring statue, the Foundation of Rings, SkyView Atlanta, numerous water features and a playground.

Atlanta Beltline

The Atlanta Beltline expands 22 miles of parks, paths, urban greenways, shops, playgrounds, and beautiful public art. During our visit, we enjoyed going to different places on the Beltline. Visiting the Beltline is a great way to experience the culture and artwork of Atlanta. Plan your visit by viewing their interactive map online.

Piedmont Park

400 Park Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Spend hours walking through this scenic park in Atlanta. This park also includes a playground that is open year round and a pool that is open during the summer months. View their map to help you plan out your park trip.

Shopping in Atlanta

Ponce Market + The Rooftop Arcade

675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

We didn’t spend much time shopping on our trip, but we did make a stop to visit the Ponce Market and Rooftop Arcade. This market is inside of an old Sears building and has a fun industrial feel. Spend the day visiting unique shops and eating great food!

When you’re done shopping, take your trip to new heights by visiting the rooftop arcade. Not only will you get to experience breathtaking views of the city, but have fun playing old-school carnival games, put-put golf and more!

Fabric Shops in Atlanta

Finding and going to local fabric stores in new cities has quickly become one of my favorite parts of my recent trips. If you’re a sewer, here are two you should check out!

• Topstitch Studio And Lounge (Located in Ponce Market!)
  • 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Suite 225, Atlanta, GA 30308
• Fine Fabrics Atlanta – Fabric Warehouse (I could spend HOURS there!)
  • 6218 Dawson Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093

Food in Atlanta

There are so many great options for food in the city! I recommend downloading Yelp on your trip and do a quick search for top food spots near your location.
While we were there, we loved going to Krog Street Market. We had the BEST Mexican food at Superica and experienced the 2nd best ice cream in Atlanta at Butter & Cream.

I hope this guide helps you on your next trip to Atlanta! We had so much fun in this city and would definitely go back. Even though we were able to see a lot of the city during our short trip, there is still so much to see. Here are some of the things on my list to go to next time:

• Jackson Street Bridge
• Krog Street Tunnel
• Southeastern Railway Museum
• Stone Mountain Park
• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
• High Museum of Art
• World of Coca-Cola

Do you have any tips for traveling to ALT? If so, let me know in the comments below.