Everyone knows that Atlanta stands as a top business and convention city, but how many people know that the city offers a fun-filled time for a family vacation? As probably one of its best-kept secrets, Atlanta hosts activities and attractions that the whole family can enjoy. Most people know about Stone Mountain Park, Six Flags over Georgia, and Turner Field, yet there are quite a few places that offer family fun that do not show up on many tourists' radarscope. With the new Georgia Aquarium, CNN center, The World of Coca-Cola, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, The Atlanta Cyclorama at Zoo Atlanta, and Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta; it might just be worth it to take the whole family on the next business conference in the city.
As one of Atlanta's newest attractions, the Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest, provides a day filled with awe and fascination, offering five different types of aquariums. Cold Water Quests will allow visitors to see the fish and mammals that are found in the colder areas of the world's oceans. Guests can see octopus, beluga whales, and sea lions among others. For the hands on learners, Georgia Explorer lets you play in the water and touch the animals in this interactive area that is designed to teach about the Georgia coast. Next, Ocean Voyager allows anyone to go under the sea and become a part of the underwater world, and guests can even see the aquariums prize exhibit of two whale sharks in this section. For those that are afraid of the ocean, there is a chance to explore some of the world's most famous rivers in the River Scout section. Here, guests will find examples of fish from the Amazon, the Nile, and even American rivers. Finally, Tropical Diver takes its guests into a tropical reef. Even with all of these attractions, the aquarium offers a 4-D theater and a children's play area, gift shops, and a café; they even offer a behind the scenes tour. A typical day costs $23 for adults and $17 for children. The Georgia Aquarium is located on the edge of Centennial Park.
Built as an entertainment area and memorial for the 1996 Olympic games, Centennial Park offers its own sort of relaxing entertainment. For those hot days, cool off in the fountain that is shaped like the Olympic rings, and this fountain also provides a music and water show at certain times. The park also offers lots of grassy areas to sit and rest before going to some of the other attractions that border the park. CNN Center sits at one end the park. Here, guests can take a backstage tour and see the inner workings of the major cable news organization, and it costs $9 for children and $12 for adults. Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta also sits on the edge of the park. Made for children ages 2-8, the museum allows for an interactive experience that will explore the imagination. Soon the World of Coca-Cola, a museum that is dedicated to the history of the drink and even allows one to sample Coke products from around the world, will be moving to this area, but right now it sits outside of one of Atlanta's night life spots, Underground Atlanta.
If the family is into sports, Atlanta offers the chance to see collegiate and professional teams in action. Professional teams the Falcons (NFL), Thrashers (NHL), Braves (MLB), and the Hawks (NBA) all play in Atlanta. The Braves' Turner Field, however, offers more than just the opportunity to see a game; it provides much family fun. Cartoon Network's Tooner Field gives kids and parents alike an interactive baseball experience with your favorite cartoon characters, and Scout's Alley lets anyone be a scout as it teaches the ins and outs of scouting in major league baseball today. Even more this area even gives the guest a chance to see their batting or pitching prowess. With several restaurants and a Braves museum, the whole family can enjoy a evening together starting at just a dollar for the sky line seats.
Sports not in family picture? Atlanta also offers the chance for history to come alive with several historical attractions. The Martin Luther King Jr. historical site not only hosts the memorial site for the civil rights leader, but it also houses a museum of information dedicated to the civil rights movement. While here, guest can visit the birthplaces of the movement on Sweet Auburn Avenue where Ebenezer Baptist church sits amongst other places where the movement found its roots and strength. Just a short distance from this site sits another place dedicated to finding peace and giving hope to the world. Carter Center houses the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
Atlanta also hosts other historical places such as the Atlanta History museum, where guests can view a nineteenth century plantation home as well as a home built in the era of America's famed regal society. For the civil war buffs, Atlanta holds two great treasures as well as a handful of smaller areas. One of the first is a National Battlefield just north of the city. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield holds a museum, but it is on the nature trails where the history can come alive. Still visible are the earthen mounds dug to help fortify the area as well as cannons and other items that show the scars of the fierce battle for Atlanta. It is that battle that is depicted in The Cyclorama. This panoramic painting (the world's largest) and diorama provides a 360-degree depiction of the battle of Atlanta, costing $5 for children and $7 for adults. It can be found in Grant Park.
Grant Park is also host to Zoo Atlanta. The park has more than just the chance to see animals living in open and native habitats; it has a carousel, rock climbing wall, and a train. The train and carousel cost a few bucks extra. Take a trip through the African plains to see giraffes or lions before watching gorillas in the African Rain forest. The zoo also hosts an exhibit housing giant pandas in the Asian forest. A day at Zoo Atlanta will cost about $12-$18.
There are other attraction such as the High Museum of Art, a contemporary art gallery, which is also next to the Center for Puppetry arts, and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens that entertain and inform the family. The Fernbank Museum of Natural History lets its guest walks through time. See dinosaur skeletons from the Mesozoic era as well as take an interactive and visual tour through the natural history of Georgia. The Sensing Nature exhibit also offers an interactive experience as guest learns about how senses help humans to interpret the natural world. Along with several other permanent exhibits, the museum offers special temporary exhibits and an IMAX theater. A day trip here will cost $10-$12 with the IMAX ticket almost doubling the price, but be careful, this attraction closes at 5 P.M.
Of course there are the well-known tourist spots that hold much entertainment and thrills for the whole family. For just over $30 a ticket, Six Flags over Georgia, home of the tallest coaster in the South- Goliath, will thrill the family on its ten roller coasters and multiple family rides and shows. If it is a more relaxing time that the family is looking for Stone Mountain park provides a look at historical life, a train ride around the mountain, a 4-D theater, playground, restraints, river boat, sky lift, nature trails, and a nightly laser show on the front lawn. The parking fee covers most of the attractions here, but some of the attractions have a nominal charge.
Long known as a convention city, Atlanta is quickly positioning itself as a premier destination for a family vacation. With gas prices making the drive to beach a little more expensive, perhaps turning business convention into a family weekend would be a little more budget friendly as well as memory filled.
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