With the variety of things to do in Atlanta, it can be overwhelming to choose the best attractions for you and your family. If you have a day to spend in the city, and you plan to bring along the kids, there is a diverse number of attractions featuring, animals, hands-on museums, and shows. Because most Atlanta locals use their own private vehicles to get around the city, you should consider renting a car, if you took a flight or a train into the city. Hiring a cab or taking public transport can also be viable options for seeing some of the tourist attractions.
Georgia Aquarium — Photo courtesy of Claudine Williams
10 a.m.: Get an early start by visiting the Georgia Aquarium first thing in the morning. The largest aquarium in the world has a tunnel and various areas where children can be delighted by huge sharks and other sea animals. Visiting the aquarium first, allows you to exert the energy that you will probably need to see all of the animals with your children. Located at 225 Baker Street NW, the aquarium opens at 10 a.m. You can reach the aquarium at 404-581-4000. General admission is $24.95 for adults, $18.95 for children 3-12, and $20.95 for people who are 65 and older. Tax will be added when you buy your ticket.
Noon: After about two hours of interacting with the fish, you and your crowd will probably be hungry. Head over to Stats an All-American restaurant with burgers, sandwiches, ribs, steaks, and desserts. If you are so inclined, you can try the spicy fish tacos, and the Big Boy Platter, a combination dish of steak tips, ribs, wings, fries, and slaw, feeding a family of four. Stats is located at 300 Marietta Street NW. Call them at 404-885-1472.
1 p.m.: Walk off your meal at Zoo Atlanta. Visit hundreds of animals at the zoo, and when you get tired, rest on the Georgia Natural Gas Blue Flame Express Train. Older kids or adults can try the rock climbing at the zoo, and if you need a snack, you’ll find ice-cream cones, hot dogs, or all natural foods there. The zoo is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $20.99 for people 12 and over. Entrance is $15.99 for children 3 to 11, and it's free for children under 2. The zoo is located at 800 Cherokee Ave. For more information, you can call guest services at 404-624-5936.
3 p.m.: Go indoors and let the children interact with the exhibits at the Imagine It children’s museum. Children can create seasonal souvenirs in the Art Studio or on Tuesdays, they can listen to a story and create their own artwork from the tale. The museum closes at 5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $12.75 for guests over 2 years old. The museum is closed on Mondays.
As an alternative, you can take the children to the Center for Puppetry Arts. There, they can watch puppet shows and tour the puppet museum. The Center, is located at 18th Street and Spring Street. Ticket prices range from $8.25 to $25 for the general public.
5:30 p.m.: Have a grown-up dinner at Ted’s Montana Grill. Menu options include Bison meatloaf, salmon, ribeye steaks, and other filling favorites. There’s also a kid’s menu with tiny cheeseburgers, meatloaf and macaroni and cheese. Ted’s is located at 133 Luckie Street, and it is open daily, until 10 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The phone number is 404-521-9796.
