Atlanta for Families

Give your kids a big-city experience in this destination that is easy to reach and downright fun. By Derick Belden

This city has long been a hot spot for shopping, dining, and nightlife. Now more than ever, it's also a great place for the kids, especially during this month of many spring breaks. Atlanta has so much going on. If you can't break away for the entire week, try to stay for at least three days.

Plan It Start by researching attractions online. You can get the hours, admission prices, and a good look at the venue before going. We found the Atlanta CityPass at www.citypass.com. For a flat fee that was about half the price of buying tickets separately, you gain access to many major sights. Also, the pass helps you circumvent lines. Simply sign up and pay online, and then pick up the pass at your first stop.

Visit www.mapquest.com or another Internet mapping service to plan routes using as many surface streets as possible to avoid busy interstates, and check out our editorscityguide.com for more tips.

Georgia Aquarium This must-see is the world's largest aquarium, and it's filled with interest at every corner. The penguins in the Cold Water Quest exhibit are really fun. They waddle around and glide through the water to the delight of children packed up against the glass. Adults and kids alike are in awe of the tunnel that runs through the Ocean Voyager area. You'll feel as if you are immersed in the ocean surrounded by whale sharks and other deep-sea creatures.

VISIT TIPS:

* If you get there when the doors open, you'll see more of the exhibits without jockeying for position.

* Set boundaries for souvenir shopping so that you don't blow your budget at the great gift shop.

New World of Coca-Cola The New World of Coca-Cola stands across the lawn from the aquarium, so try to take in both on the same day. You view a short movie to start, and then walk through exhibit spaces featuring the history and making of Coke, its impact on pop culture, and finally the tasting room and store. This is probably more fun for adults as you see lots of old ads, merchandise, and memorabilia.

The tasting room is the hit of any visit. Here, you can sample Coca-Cola products from all over the world. Some are-well, interesting.

VISIT TIPS:

* Get your free commemorative bottle of Coke when you walk out of the tasting room into the store.

* Teens will love to have their pictures taken on the Coca-Cola sofa from the American Idol TV show.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History If your family is into dinosaurs, Fernbank is for you. Situated a little east of downtown near Decatur, Fernbank has some of the largest dinosaurs ever found in the world. The IMAX theater shows films about the natural world, both past and present.

VISIT TIPS:

* Don't miss the exhibit "A Walk Through Time in Georgia." The kids will really enjoy seeing all the animal models in their natural habitats.

* Look for fossils in the floors. At the front entrance you can get a handout describing the different fossils found in the limestone floor tiles.

Atlanta Botanical Garden Get outside at the Children's Garden in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The themed spaces linked by a series of paths will let your children run, jump, play, and explore some of the most fantastical plants, insects, and characters. They can crawl through the Rocky Pointe, get inside a wetland at Soggy Bog, and learn about the importance of critters at Beehive Meadow.

VISIT TIP:

* Bring a change of clothes or a swimsuit for the Sunflower Fountain-if the weather is warm, of course.

Zoo Atlanta You'll need to travel to the south side of the city to get to Zoo Atlanta. The zoo is designed as a series of naturalistic habitats based on different parts of the world. The Kid Zone offers a playground, a petting zoo, and more intimate exhibits for youngsters to enjoy. Be sure to schedule your visit when the giant pandas are on view to say hello to Mei Lan, who was born at the zoo in September 2006.

VISIT TIPS:

* The grounds are somewhat hilly, so renting a push cart for the children may make things easier.

* Park on the Cherokee Avenue side. The larger parking lot on the Boulevard side has a big hill to walk up when you're going home.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mar 2008
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