Budget Friendly Kid Activities in Atlanta?

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We are going to Atlanta to the American Girl store. We are looking for some other ideas that will be budget friendly to fill up some time while we are there. Any ideas?

 

[sdoll]

We were in Atlanta earlier this year for a quick visit. We took our boys to Stone Mountain. They loved it. They are probably younger than your kids if you are hitting American Girl. They had a train ride, a barn that you could climb around in, nice walking areas. I think maybe because we are from Ohio and it was still chilly up by us and our boys had been cooped up for a while they loved it there.

 

[Purseval]

The American Girl store isn't in Atlanta it's in Alpharetta so what you want to do depends on where you intend to stay and when you intend to go. For instance you could go to the Zoo and see the Pandas but it isn't close to the store it's a good 30-40 minutes away. You could also go in the opposite direction and head towards Dahlonega or Lake Lanier Islands. Stone Mountain is southeast. If you are more specific in your plans we could point you toward some local websites that will have a calendar of events for your time period.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We will be staying in Alpharetta.

After spending $100+ at the AG Place (Food, shopping, doll hair do, gas for 300 mile trip, hotel) etc....), Im looking for some VERY budget friendly ideas....we dont mind to drive over to the ATL area though...any thoughts?

 

[Wildflowerz]

The Zoo's pretty reasonable. As is Stone Mountain. The Aquarium's expensive but worth it for a one-time visit IMHO. There's a Imagine It! Children's Museum and World of Coke very near to the Aquarium too. We haven't made it there so I'm not sure what the prices are, but Google can help with that. If there's a Braves game, those can be pretty cheap if you don't buy anything there. Fernbank's an excellent science museum. The Jimmy Carter Library's good for some education stuff. The Atlanta Preservation Society has some neat walking tour's that aren't too expensive. That's all I can think of, but there are lots of neat shopping areas that you can walk around for free like Atlantic Station and Little five Points.

 

[MomofSixinSC]

I took my dd to the AG stoore a few years to buy her doll (with her own money!). We stayed at La Quinta which turned out to be perfectly located near the mall. It was clean and had a nice pool that we enjoyed. One plus we didn't know was that Abigail Breslin was at the AG store signing autographs to promote her AG movie! That was cool!

The mall was very nice and we had fun just wandering around there. Oh, and the best meal we ate on that trip was at Bahama Breezes. Yumm-O!

We enjoyed just wanderingg around in the Olympic Park. We also went to the Coke museum, which was fun, and the Zoo which was more fun.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Swimalie]

If your daughter is old enough to stay up later, I highly recommend the Stone Mountain laser show. It's a really unique show at night against the mountain. During the day you can also climb the mountain (3 miles, I believe) or take a gondola to the top. http://stonemountainpark.com/

Lake Lanier is really a nice lake but unless you want to rent a boat ($$) or swim, I don't know what to recommend. I grew up on our boat there.

Touring the Olympic park is really neat. Off the Olympic Park is World of Coke, Children's Museum and Aquarium but all of those cost money. There is also the Fernbank Museum in downtown http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/. And for the older ones, the High Museum of Art http://www.high.org/.

And of course, once you are downtown, if you want to eat at a tradition, go to The Varsity

 

[skhermsmeyer]

AAA is selling tickets to the aquarium for $15 if you're a member. Might be worth checking into if you have a membership.

Monkey Joe's is another alternative. I think it's $8/kid, but you can stay as long as you like, get a hand stamp and then come back to. It's a huge building with inflatable jump houses. Parents get in for free and there are benches, tvs, etc that you can watch while the kids play ( l love taking my kids and getting a break! It really wears them out!)
http://www.monkeyjoes.com/

HTH!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The GA Aquarium is a greeat place to go and you can get a combo ticket for them as well as World of Coke. DH and I just went last weekend and had a blast.

If you have My Coke Rewards, you can get free tickets, I was able to get 2 free adult tickets for 600 points for a savings of $30. I was also able to get discounted tickets to the Aquarium thru my employer, but check their website for specials.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

If your daughter is old enough to stay up later, I highly recommend the Stone Mountain laser show. It's a really unique show at night against the mountain. During the day you can also climb the mountain (3 miles, I believe) or take a gondola to the top. http://stonemountainpark.com/

Lake Lanier is really a nice lake but unless you want to rent a boat ($$) or swim, I don't know what to recommend. I grew up on our boat there.

Touring the Olympic park is really neat. Off the Olympic Park is World of Coke, Children's Museum and Aquarium but all of those cost money. There is also the Fernbank Museum in downtown http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/. And for the older ones, the High Museum of Art http://www.high.org/.

And of course, once you are downtown, if you want to eat at a tradition, go to The Varsity

Could you please tell me what it is about the Varsity that everyone boasts about, I have been twice and just don't get it. to me, it was just nasty, greesy food.

Suzanne

 

[TandLMommy28]

Lake Lanier is fun at Christmas, I've been there for the lights...

On our drive home from Disney, we are meeting friends in Atlanta to go to to the Coke museum. I think it's pretty cheap (I THINK, I haven't looked up prices recently, and my hubby's a coke employee so we get a discount anyway so it may be more than I am thinking). I'm excited to go since he works for Coke and most of my family works for Coke.

A few times when I have been in the Atlanta area we have gone up in the mountains to Helen. That's kind of a long drive from where you are but it's a pretty drive and I've had so much fun up there.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Lake Lanier is fun at Christmas, I've been there for the lights...

On our drive home from Disney, we are meeting friends in Atlanta to go to to the Coke museum. I think it's pretty cheap (I THINK, I haven't looked up prices recently, and my hubby's a coke employee so we get a discount anyway so it may be more than I am thinking). I'm excited to go since he works for Coke and most of my family works for Coke.

A few times when I have been in the Atlanta area we have gone up in the mountains to Helen. That's kind of a long drive from where you are but it's a pretty drive and I've had so much fun up there.

Helen is a beautiful area, full of fun little shops. It is a small Alpnie town and looks like something out of Germany. Just south of Helen is Cleveland, home of Babyland General Hospital and admission is free.

 

[terrier72]

The aquarium is definitely a must do, dont even waste your money on the zoo it was one of the worst not to mention the dirtiest ones I have ever been to.

 

[mary0305]

Check out the Citypass for Atlanta. It gives you admission to several attractions (including the zoo, Coca-Cola, Aquarium, CNN, etc) for a discounted price. We did it when we went to Atlanta for Spring Break and saved lots over buying each admission.

 

[Swimalie]

Could you please tell me what it is about the Varsity that everyone boasts about, I have been twice and just don't get it. to me, it was just nasty, greesy food.

Suzanne

Oh it's nasty greasy food, I agree. But it's an Atlanta landmark. It's like going to Disney and not seeing the Castle

 

[Purseval]

Oh it's nasty greasy food, I agree. But it's an Atlanta landmark. It's like going to Disney and not seeing the Castle

The only thing I like from the Varsity is their large chocolate shake. It's so thick it takes most of the day to finish. There is a Varsity on Haynes Bridge Road, the road you take to get to the AG store. If you are staying in one of those perimeter hotels it is less than 5 minutes away. There is also a Sweet Tomatoes even closer if you want a good, inexpensive semihealthy buffet.

If you are a gadget freak there is also a Frys less than 10 minutes away from the AG store, massive and loaded with electronics.

Helen is a beautiful area, full of fun little shops. It is a small Alpnie town and looks like something out of Germany. Just south of Helen is Cleveland, home of Babyland General Hospital and admission is free.

Helen is a pretty good drive from Alpharetta. If you wanted to go up in the mountains and walk around, Dahlonega, site of the first American Gold rush, is a lot closer.

Oh, and in case people didn't get the reference to Babyland, that is where Cabbage Patch kids are born.

 

[palavra]

Check out the Citypass for Atlanta. It gives you admission to several attractions (including the zoo, Coca-Cola, Aquarium, CNN, etc) for a discounted price. We did it when we went to Atlanta for Spring Break and saved lots over buying each admission.

This! We were in Atlanta for a day trip last weekend and thought this was a great deal. My 8 year old also liked Centennial Olympic Park near the Aquarium. There is a really nice playground area there.

 

[Purseval]

http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/

When you are getting ready to go check that site and see if there is anything that interests you, then check back here to see how far it is from where you will be staying.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Oh it's nasty greasy food, I agree. But it's an Atlanta landmark. It's like going to Disney and not seeing the Castle

The only thing I like from the Varsity is their large chocolate shake. It's so thick it takes most of the day to finish. There is a Varsity on Haynes Bridge Road, the road you take to get to the AG store. If you are staying in one of those perimeter hotels it is less than 5 minutes away. There is also a Sweet Tomatoes even closer if you want a good, inexpensive semihealthy buffet.

If you are a gadget freak there is also a Frys less than 10 minutes away from the AG store, massive and loaded with electronics.


Helen is a pretty good drive from Alpharetta. If you wanted to go up in the mountains and walk around, Dahlonega, site of the first American Gold rush, is a lot closer.

Oh, and in case people didn't get the reference to Babyland, that is where Cabbage Patch kids are born.

Varsity is definitely off my to do list from now on. I didn't realize there was a Johnny Rockets so close to the Aquarium or we would have gone there, much better food.

Sunday when we went to the Aquarium, we just ate at their cafe and it was a bit over priced, next time we might try the Pemberton Cafe.

I wasn't sure the proximity of Alpharetta to Cleveland. Also didn't think anyone wouldn't know Babyland General, guess I thought eveyone would, since I grew up in that generation. I want to go the the new location.

Suzanne

 

[Purseval]

I wasn't sure the proximity of Alpharetta to Cleveland. Also didn't think anyone wouldn't know Babyland General, guess I thought eveyone would, since I grew up in that generation. I want to go the the new location.

It is about 55 miles away from the AG store. The good thing is it is virtually a straight line, just get on 400 North and look for the sign to Cleveland (1 turn) then when you get to Cleveland you will see signs for Babyland. Very easy drive. Either on the way up or the way back you can also stop at the Dawsonville Prime Outlet Mall.