Surprise GA trip!

[thespouseandi]

DH told me last night about a trip he has planned this weekend (for my bday) to Augusta GA....with a day over to Six Flags. We have never been and I only have a few hours to plan and NO idea where to start....anyone been? (DD5 (49") and DS4 (43") and I see they are both tall enough to ride some coasters)
Any good tips for those areas? Or codes for enterprise or Doubletree? TIA!

 

[thespouseandi]

Forgot to add that we are pretty set on Augusta...I had never thought of it before as a vaca destination, so it may too seem odd to others. BUt my sister is currently stationed there and her orders (that are not set in stone) are for her to go to Korea next month...so we do want to see her and stay close by.

 

[DaddyDon]

Cant really say to much postive about 6 flags...the last time we were there it was the pit's...and we had free tickets..But there is alott to do in Atlanta...Good luck...you could check hotwire ,priceline,and travelzoo fror hotels.

 

[boakl]

I'd honestly save the $$ on the Six Flags trip. I live about 10 miles from the park, and only go because my kids will get free coupons as reading incentives. It's very dirty, run down and sometimes downright scary! If you still want to go, they are running a $29.99 promo right now

Instead of Six Flags, I'd take the kids the the Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coke Fernbank or the children's museum Imagine It. All much better (and less scary) choices.

Atlanta does have a City Pass program that allows you to get into 5 different attractions for $69 ($49 for kids) that is a terrific deal. All the attractions are amongst the best in the area and the savings are awesome. I bought one for me and my kids for the summer and we are having fun being tourists in our own city. Here is a link:

http://www.citypass.com/city/atlanta.html

 

[clarabelle]

I sent you a PM

 

[Shmily1]

There's not a lot to do around Augusta and it is a couple hours away from Atlanta, but it's doable.

We use to go to Six Flags when I was much younger, but when I took DD18 and DD19 about 10 years ago, it just wasn't the same. They've never been back since then! There are a lot of awesome things to do in ATL though! I agree about the aquarium and the World of Coke, and would do a Braves game too. Wet N Wild is there too, but I haven't been there in a while too.

Have fun and please tell your sister thank you for her service

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I live near I-20 in GA. Augusta is 100 miles away from me, and Six Flags is on the other side of Atlanta, which would be 60-70 miles in addition to the 100. Also, Atlanta traffic is horrible, and something you will need to plan around. That seems like a long way to go for a day trip.

I agree with the others also, Six Flags is really rundown. And a little scary with all the kids/teenagers running around without supervision.

ETA: My kids go to Augusta for a field trip, so I know there's something to do there - something like a hands on museum or something interactive, I think. I'll try to find out more info.

 

[stczt]

6 flags is not Disney and that is something I had to realize and stop compairing the two. 6 Flags is not that bad. We have had season passes for years. When I go by myself with the kids I am no more guarded than when I go to the mall. Kids run loose everywhere, I know there are a few unruly kids but over all you need to worry about rude parents who stand there and don't say anything while their kids cut line. I know I let my boys loose with friends and they behave themselves (they are good kids but kids will be kids) But they never know when they will run into us.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I found it! It's Fort Discovery. All my kids really liked it.

http://www.nscdiscovery.org/

 

[thespouseandi]

Wow...SF doesn't sound all that nice, but the kids already know about and are excited, so we'll stick with the plans...We are ok with the drive to Atlanta...we're coming from near the OBX, so what's another couple hours
Some of the other places look super cool...we may have to come back to Atlanta later for a trip....everything but the Coke place (I work for Pepsi)
Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Praise2Him]

My sister lives in Augusta, so I've been there a few times. I know they have a great Children's Museum somewhere around the Riverwalk. If you like golf (I don't really, but I still enjoyed this) the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's Botanical Gardens are also at Riverwalk. Here's a link I found with other things to do in Augusta. Have fun!
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-there-to-do-in-augusta-georgia.htm

 

[flyingcat2003]

Just wanted to let you know it's not to late to cancel that six flags trip. Last year a boy was beat up by a local gang and almost died. He has permanet brain damage. I used to go to Six Flags Atlanta at least once a year as a child. It has changed so much. I took my son and was shocked. Trash everywhere, unruly kids , line cutting constantly and if you dare say something to them they will cuss you out. Lack of security, teenage kids working the rides and letting there buddies cut in line all day. They do have a fastpass system put you have to pay for that. I think it's $10.00 dollars per person. Please save your money and find a better option in Atlanta. Not trying to scare you but just trying to warn you.

 

[honicakes]

I was just in Augusta last weekend and really enjoyed walking along the river (I think it is called Riverwalk or Riverfront). Theres also a discovery center that is kinda fun for kids... The area is pretty and has lots of photo-ops

 

[Priorityonecb]

I'd have to agree with the Six Flags advice...but OMG the Georgia Aquarium!! It is fabulous!! The World of Coke is fun too and right next door!

 

[jt'smom]

first, i have to add as a disclaimer--we are huge disney fans and have been numerous times, but i have to disagree with the six flags thing. my dh and i took our ds13 and his friend day before yesterday and found it to be not that bad. we used the valet parking ($25) which had us literally at the front gate, and paid $26.42 for each ticket online using a discount code. there were so few people there the entire day, we were actually shocked! the kids walked right on almost all the coasters, even goliath, and the most they had to wait was about 20 minutes. we stayed from park opening to 6:30 and they got in 25 coaster rides !

we didn't see the roving gangs of thugs that we expected and while the park employees are teens for the most part, we didn't find any rude or obnoxious. we even had quite a few who were very helpful with directions and pretty much everyone smiled and said have a great day. i will be the first to say it's not disney, and i don't think it is fair to compare the 2, but we didn't have any problems letting the kids run ahead to get to rides and we met up with them at the ride exits... i'm disabled and can't walk fast. they had their cell phones so we could get them/or viceversa and they said that they didn't have any problems with thugs or bullies.

and as for the distance from augusta, we live in loganville, ga which is about an hour from augusta, and it only took us an hour to and from the park, using I20 if that helps judge travel time.

again, it is NOT disney and i think it is probably geared for teens who can ride roller coasters since that is pretty much all that is there. also it is EXTREMELY hilly and if you have any walking issues, be prepared for that. one more thing about the reports of it being super-ghetto like, we struck up conversations with a lot of parents who come and bring books and sit in the nice shaded areas while their kids do their thing for the day (and they were just nice, normal looking suburban moms and dads not drug lords or pimps)!