Stone Mountain Atlanta

[Chilehead Too]

Anyone been here? Is it fun for a few hours? We have about 5 or 6 hours to kill in Atlanta and this place looks doable?

Any other suggestions are appreciated. We are doing the Zoo and the Cnn tour. Need one more activity for the kids.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

We went a couple of years ago and spent about half a day. It is fun for a few hours, and I would recommend it. However, I went with my now DH, and we were in that madly in love stage, so that may have colored it a little. If you do go, be sure and go to the top of the mountain, it is gorgeous up there.

If your kiddos like waterparks, check out whitewater.....it is really a cool park. There is also a Six Flags, but the last time I went there, we were severly underwhelmed.

 

[perdidobay]

In my opinion 5 or 6 hours is not enough time to drive out to Stone Mountain and do all there is to do.... I would recommend the Georgia Aquarium
http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/

I went two weeks ago and it was awesome. Kids will love it, lots of hands on things to do and a great place to eat inside also. Centennial Park is right across the street.
http://www.centennialpark.com/

 

[Chilehead Too]

However, I went with my now DH, and we were in that madly in love stage, so that may have colored it a little. .

Yep that would certainly color it.

 

[elizke]

Definitely a worthwhile place to go. Optimally you'd be there all day, and end with the laser show at night, but it's also good for any amount of shorter time.

The train ride around the base is interesting in that you hear much trivia about the carving.

Ride the tram up to the top for sure. It's an amazing sight.

The amusement park is not bad. Pleasant place to walk around. Not really much in the way of rides, but nice. Tends to be better for younger kids.

There's also a boat ride, which is so so, and just beautiful places to walk everywhere.

To me it's the best place to go in Atlanta. Went when I was a kid and again a few times more recently.

As for other things, the aquarium is very good. The children's museum is not good. Have fun!

E.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Anyone been here? Is it fun for a few hours? We have about 5 or 6 hours to kill in Atlanta and this place looks doable?

Any other suggestions are appreciated. We are doing the Zoo and the Cnn tour. Need one more activity for the kids.

Look at my siggie and you tell me is it fun for a few hours??!! YOU BET! Buy yourselves the armbands ($22 for adults, not sure for children) and save yourself some money. Each ride and/or attraction is $7 a piece, so you figure you ride 4 rides you, yourself paid $28 when the armband will save you $6 bucks! If you're going to be at the Mountain for at least 3 hours then do the armbands, it's quite easy to get 4 attractions in. First year DH and I went, we did the skylift, the riverboat, and the train. Then, armbands were $20 so we saved a couple of dollars. Think we did the plantation exhibit too. DH wasn't happy with it, so we didn't stay long. Still save a little bit though. This year we did the train, the skylift, the 4-D movie (EXCELLENT) and the antique car museum! You CANNOT do the 4-D show unless you have the armbands, so consider this with your little ones.

Need another place to go, I'll keep you in the same area. It's called THE YELLOW RIVER GAME RANCH It's one huge petting zoo, but so worth the $7 we paid a peice to get in. Feeding the bears was amazing! Having the deers walk right up to you was too cool! The Ranch is only about 5 minutes from Stone Mountain on East Highway 78.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I am the Stone Mountain expert!

Blessings,

Denise

I just reread your post and see that you're doing the zoo. Don't go to the zoo and the game ranch, pick one or the other. My apologies. If your kids want interaction and a lot of it, then go the Ranch if they just want to look at animals then do the zoo. If you choose the zoo, then I recommend doing the aquarium as your other activity along with stone mountain, however, DH and I spent almost 4 hours there and you only have 6 hours to kill. Whatever you choose, HAVE A BLAST and I hope I've helped.

 

[CarolG]

If you only have 5-6 hours, don't forget travel time to and from Stone Mountain. Just a thought...

 

[CheshireVal]

I think Stone Mountain is fun. You could easily spend all day there, but 5-6 hours might be okay if all you want to do is maybe the train and the trolley to the top of the mountain.

 

[Golf4food]

The lazer show would be the big draw for me, but just going to the top and walking around is very interesting. It isn't everywhere in the world you find a giant honkin chunk of granite that big just sitting out randomly in the middle of nowhere (geographically speaking)!

 

[Figment22]

We were at SM three years ago and my kids spent about two hours in the barn alone!! (That's the interactive kids area.) Absolutely get the armbands which will get you into all the attractions. The mountain alone is good for a couple of hours. We LOVED Stone Mountain and can't wait to go back. We got there about 9:30 a.m. and didn't leave until after 10:00 p.m. and the laser show was over! It's an all-day affair in my book. Go--you'll love it and so will your kids!

 

[Pin Wizard]

I loved Stone Mountain and want to get back there some day. It was our first trip "post" honeymoon when we were first married. Beautiful sights from there. Have to check out the 7 states! My favorite spot! I also bought a leather wallet there that lasted over 10 years. Some day I'll get back there!

Have fun!!

 

[tiggerlover]

Just a quick question, what is the weather like the end of August? Because it is a mountain is it cooler?

 

[CheshireVal]

It's HOT in August. The mountain itself is just a huge hunk of granite. You can get to the top via incline or trail, but there's not a whole lot to do at the top other than just look at everything down below.

The other activities (part of Stone Mountain Park) like the train, riverboat, mini-golf, village, movie, etc, are all at the base of the mountain.

 

[clarabelle]

Back in the 50's my mom went to stone mountain after her prom -in her prom gown! It wasn't a park then -just kind of a "hang out" type place that people went to.

I just wanted to mention that it is a Civil War memorial (at least partly) -so if that kind of thing turns you off you might want to be forewarned.

I find the Atlanta Zoo dissapointing. I want to like it -but I don't.

 

[Robinrs]

I bought my first house in Stone Mountain, Ga!

Stone Mountain park is a fun place to go and I agree it's HOT in August. The first time I found out it can be cool in the mountains was in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!

Have a great time!