Families searching for children's attractions fall in love with Zoo Atlanta. This celebrated wildlife haven houses natural habitats for 40-plus mammal species, from African lions and giant pandas to otters and clouded leopards. The facility also features a reptile house, an aviary and several small animal exhibits. The children's playground, train and carousal offer added entertainment for kids, while the 24-foot climbing wall and gorgeous public gardens appeal to the older crowd.
Feel the excitement and spirit of college football fanfare from the moment you step inside the football-shaped building. Your ticket includes high-tech RFID credentials. This microchip-enabled ticket personalizes your museum experience. You see stats, photos and intel about your favorite college football team displayed on walls and kiosks as you wind your way through the exhibits. It also allows you to show off your football experience with friends. Once home, log onto the website to retrieve photos and videos from your visit, such as your ESPN call of the game or your fight-song karaoke tune. The big draw for many visitors is the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Skill Zone. Kick a field goal, run through a training course, or take the quarterback challenge. After that, make your way to the Game Day Theater, where the energy of college football comes to life.
Baseball fans can find great family entertainment year-round at Turner Field. Originally built for the 1996 Olympic Games, the brick and limestone ballpark is now the tromping grounds for the Braves and features interactive games and restaurants throughout its facility. Fans can take guided tours, even during the off-season. Each informative excursion begins in the beloved Braves Museum & Hall of Fame, which houses Hank Aaron memorabilia and various historical exhibits.
Home to the famous Fountain of Rings, Centennial Olympic Park is one of the best places in town for kids. The fountain features synchronized water dances to familiar tunes, complete with sound and lighting effects, and kids especially love jumping through the water on sticky summer days. Created for the 1996 Olympics, this urban retreat also features grassy picnic spots, live music, family events and the city's only outdoor ice skating rink during the winter.
Located just outside the city, Stone Mountain Park is a genuine family favorite. Activities include an adventure course, the Lasershow Spectacular and Journey to the Center of the Earth, a 4D Movie. The 3,200-acre park surrounds the world's largest granite monolith, and you can reach the top via foot or the Summit Skyride. This high-speed Swiss cable car provides a stunning view of the Confederate Memorial Carving, as well as the Atlanta skyline.
There are countless attractions for kids in town, but Imagine It! is the city's only children's museum. Here, engaging hands-on exhibits let little ones learn and play at the same time. The permanent collection includes Fundamentally Food, where kids can experience life on a farm first-hand, and Leaping Into Learning, an interactive forest with a waterfall. There's even a specific toddler zone, and special traveling exhibits are hosted throughout the year.
With more than 100 rides catering to kids of all ages, Six Flags Over Georgia has plenty of adventures to offer the entire family. Experience looping thrills on the Mind Bender coaster, or climb aboard Georgia Cyclone, one of the most popular wooden coasters. Looney Tunes USA has great options for little ones, and you can even snap a picture with your favorite characters like Bugs Bunny.
Families come from all over to explore the Georgia Aquarium, which is actually the world's largest. Its 10 million gallons of water are home to thousands of flitting fish and fascinating marine animals, including gargantuan whale sharks, beluga whales and playful otters. The Georgia Aquarium is also the only one in the country to house manta rays; you'll find these creatures patrolling the waters of the exciting Ocean Voyager exhibit.
While not specifically designed for children, the Atlanta Botanical Garden's themed gardens are great for kids. Combining plant education and interactive fun, the Atlanta Botanical Garden's two-acre Children's Garden features exhibits like the Soggy Bog, where kids can learn about carnivorous plants, a Dinosaur Garden and a three-story tree house. Adults enjoy the rest of the plant collections, as well, which include the Desert House, Orchid Display House, Japanese Garden and Rose Garden.
