From A-Z, AlpharettaMoms.Org keeps you updated weekly on fun family things to do! Bunches of information in one place to make our lives a little easier! This article looks much different than in the past with many places not open yet or re-opening with social distancing measures in place. I have updated the venues with the information I have and will continue to make changes to the article as more detail is publicized. Thanks!
**This article is being updated as venues re-open to the public. Please visit our COVID-19 resources article in the meantime: https://alpharettamoms.org/covid-19-resources-around-and-about-alpharetta/
Alpharetta Events
Alpharetta Open For You is a compilation of restaurants and stores that are open by Awesome Alpharetta.
For those planning a sporting event, family reunion, wedding or other special events, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau can be a great help with its free event planning resources that include securing group hotel rates, complimentary welcome bags for guests and insider tips on facilities and vendors. For more information about these services, visit www.awesomealpharetta.com.
The Alpharetta Welcome Center is located at 178 South Main Street, Suite 200 and is the best source for information on Alpharetta and all that it offers in the way of shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation, for visitors and residents alike. Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is open. Timed tickets and member reservations are available now.
ALL guests and members must have a timed ticket or make a timed reservation for admission.
Safety Guidelines
- Masks or face coverings are strongly recommended for everyone over age 2 and are REQUIRED inside restrooms.
- Guests are expected to follow health guidelines on social distancing, maintaining at least 6 feet apart at all times. Many pathways will be designated one-way traffic.
- All Garden staff and volunteers will be wearing masks, and hand sanitation stations are located throughout the Garden.
- The Garden will not offer wheelchairs or motorized scooters to guests at this time.
Atlanta History Center
Reopen. Our 33-acre experience features award-winning exhibitions, historic houses, and gardens. 9 a.m. – 4pm Tuesday through Sunday with safety precautions.
What remains closed:
- Atlanta History Center Midtown: Margaret Mitchell House
- McElreath Hall
- Swan House exhibitions
EXHIBITIONS
The Atlanta History Center’s cornerstone exhibition Gatheround: Stories of Atlanta remains open. Through artifacts, ephemera, interactive media, recording booths, immersive experiences, and Meet the Past museum theatre performances, this 7,700-square-foot exhibition shares the stories of individuals of many different backgrounds and perspectives who helped create the Atlanta we know today.
Conveniently located off of I-75, the Atlanta History Center is a unique 33-acre oasis nestled among one of Atlanta’s most historic neighborhoods. Award-winning exhibitions, historic houses, enchanting gardens, interactive experiences, and a variety of 
year-round adult and family programs truly offer something for everyone looking to explore our region’s past. Admission tickets are all-inclusive of all History Center attractions, and guests enjoy free parking.
Veterans Park at the Atlanta History Center is dedicated to all of the men and women who have served – and continue to serve – the United States of America. The Park was designed not as a traditional veterans’ memorial, but as a unique gathering place encouraging reflection, personal connections to veterans, and a celebration of the lives of those who have sacrificed to secure our freedom.
Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center
The public has cost-free access to Autrey Mill’s grounds for hiking, nature study, strolling the pathways of the Heritage Village, and visiting with our animals. Entrance to the grounds is free and is open 8:00am to dusk 365 days of the year! The preserve has grown under the 30-year leadership and vision of our nonprofit. Today we welcome 14,000 annual visitors to over 3 miles of nature trails, animal exhibits, gardens, and a Heritage Village of restored historic buildings.
Center for Puppetry Arts
Open virtually. The Center for Puppetry Arts @Home program offerings continue to expand, as well as the platforms on which they will be presented.
On Demand Viewing: Each rental includes a behind-the-scenes bonus feature. Rent for only $5.00!
After you watch Beauty & the Beast, create your very own Burly Beast Rod Puppet with their Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ puppet kits. These kits are custom-designed to accompany our on-demand puppet shows and are available in their Etsy shop. Click here to see our entire digital library!
Chattahoochee Nature Center
MEMBERS: RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO SECURE A DATE AND TIMED ENTRANCE FOR YOUR GROUP. VISITORS: ADMISSION TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE, WHICH INCLUDE A DATE AND TIME TO VISIT. They WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE WALK UPS.
Their limited, timed admission system will not only provide for an intimate experience on the property, but also allow us to reduce person to person contact and better maintain social distancing throughout the admissions process.
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo
469 Old Dahlonega Hwy, Dahlonega, GA 30533
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve is home to over 100 exotic and native animals. These animals are rescued due to being orphaned, abused, illegally purchased or just in need of a forever home. You can help them feed the animals by donating fresh produce, canned fruits, vegetables and meats!
Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Reopen. Children’s Museum of Atlanta has implemented new procedures to promote an enjoyable and safe visit:
- Limited capacity in each session to encourage social distancing
- Deep cleaning will occur between each session and high touchpoints throughout the Museum will be cleaned during sessions
- Museum staff will wear masks on the floor at all times
- Face masks are required for everyone 5 years and older; masks will be available for purchase
- Open air space on the patio will be designated for guests to take PPE breaks
- Art Studio and Build It! Lab projects will take place in open spaces
- Additional hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the Museum
- No food will be allowed inside the Museum
- No cash will be accepted at the Museum Store or during Membership purchases
- Sneeze-guards will be in place at store check-out, member desk, and security with credit card machines and ticket scanners facing guests
Children’s Museum of Atlanta is the only educational venue of its kind in Atlanta, presenting educational programs and exhibits designed for young children ages 0-9. The mission of Children’s Museum of Atlanta is to change the world by sparking every child’s imagination, sense of discovery and learning through the power of play. With six permanent learning zones consisting of bright, creative and hands-on exhibits, the Museum supports inventive play-based exploration and experiential learning focused on the whole child. Core competencies for literacy, math and science are promoted throughout all exhibits and programming in alignment with the state and national Core Performance Standards. Children’s Museum of Atlanta also offers parties, memberships, field trips, summer camp and private events.
Consolidated Gold Mine Dahlonega
Open Wednesday – Sunday. Re-opened to the public. Welcome back to Underground Gold Mine Tours, Gold Panning and Gemstone Mining!
Safety measures for guests and Miners are in place. The Miners will have masks, face shields and clear dividers, where applicable.
We will limit our tour sizes and spread out to the best of our ability.
Guests will be spread out in our gold panning and gem mining areas with ample room between visitors.
Our shop and ticket lines have one way aisles and we have floor markings to encourage distance while in the ticket lines.
Feel free to wear a mask while visiting with us! Limited supply of masks are available for sale in our shop, however, we encourage you to bring your own if you want. We encourage you to stay away if you are sick or have been around someone that is sick.
Largest gold mine east of the Mississippi. Travel 200 feet underground and hear tales of miner’s struggles to uncover gold deep within large quartz veins. Your tour guide welcomes interaction from the group as you experience life as a miner at the turn-of-the-century. They also offer gemstone mining – find colorful gems in every bucket!
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Reopened: In addition to the “World of Wow” guests have come to expect, they also will find a number of new health and safety procedures.
Highlighted by 75-acres of vast outdoor experiences in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest and a three-story natural history museum, Fernbank offers both indoor and outdoor experiences that intuitively favor physical distancing, including 2 miles of nature trails, a tree-lined canopy walk, a creek-lined pollinator sanctuary, and a variety of trees, native plants and blooming wildflowers.
Guests can search for wildlife—including reptiles, mammals, birds and insects—as well as appreciate the natural beauty of a rare old-growth forest in the middle of the city. Most museum exhibits will also be open to explore, with some hands-on exhibits, outdoor children’s exhibits and some interactives temporarily unavailable.
Guests should be aware of several new operational updates for the safety of guests and staff:
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Fernbank is only offering online ticket purchases and timed tickets to allow for contactless check-in, and capacity limits will be in place to support physical distancing. Entry times available for reservation are 9 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. or 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
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All guests and members must reserve tickets in advance, as walk-up tickets will not be available at the box office. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and online fees have been eliminated. Re-entry and outside food or drink will not be permitted.
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Enhanced Health and Safety Protocols have been developed, including regular disinfection of hard surfaces, deep cleanings taking place throughout the day and before and after museum hours, one-way paths where appropriate, 19 new hand sanitation stations throughout the campus, grab-and-go concessions from the cafe, contactless store purchases and much more. Transactions within the museum will be cashless as well, so guests are asked to bring a credit or debit card if they anticipate making purchases within the museum.
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Fernbank staff will take part in daily health checks and will be required to wear face coverings. Guests ages two and older should wear face coverings throughout their visit as well. Guests are also asked to leave strollers at home to ensure the elevator is available for guests with physical needs.
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The special exhibit Our Senses: An Immersive Experience has been extended through August 9, 2020.
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Fernbank recently announced its new virtual summer camp, taking place throughout the summer, which is available for new registrations.
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Some large events have been cancelled, including Fernbank After Dark. Fernbank’s Calendar of Events provides other updates.
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Fernbank will continue to provide Museum at Home experiences, at no cost, in an effort to continue offering guided programs during physical distancing.
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Fernbank is excited to introduce its new Summer Science Fest, a science-themed programming series that will take place at the museum, beginning Saturday, August 1, 2020. Daily programs will be offered throughout each week, with additional themed programming taking place on select Saturdays through September 7.
With themes changing each weekend, guests will find themselves exploring different scientific subjects through educational, fun and immersive experiences beyond the 75 acres of nature adventures and three spacious floors of exhibits the museum offers every day.
On August 8, guests can take Shark Week beyond the television screen and learn more about these mighty creatures at Fernbank Museum with Sharks & Friends. With a line-up of shark and ocean-based activities set up, these misunderstood creatures will have the spotlight. Test your shark smarts in a trivia game, meet live alligators and terrapins, explore biofacts with real artifacts such as a megalodon tooth and walk the plank as “sharks” circle around you.
Dinosaur Day on Saturday, August 15 will celebrate the largest and most fearsome animals to roam the earth. With Jeeps that look straight out of Jurassic Park, dino-talks, live-animal demonstrations and dino-themed activities, Dinosaur Day will have something for visitors of all ages. Known as Atlanta’s home to dinosaurs, Fernbank offers visitors the chance to explore Giants of the Mesozoic, the Dinosaur Plaza and A Walk Through Time in Georgia, to experience all of Fernbank’s dinosaur exhibitions.
Guests will explore Weather and Space on August 22. Blast-off and explore the atmosphere and beyond with Fernbank’s education team as they bring the world 30,000 feet above us, down to our level with unique experiments, immersive demonstrations and other themed experiences.
Additional Saturday themes will be announced soon.
For grown-up fun, Fernbank After Dark on August 14 delivers an adult science night for ages 21+ that explores the theme of Booze and Botanicals with full museum access, outdoor adventures in WildWoods, craft beer and cocktails, and science activities and demonstrations. Tickets are $15 for Members and $20 for non-members.
Daily programming includes story times with Fernbank educators, drop-in animal encounters that allow for guests to get a quick introduction with one of Fernbank’s animals, further dino–talks and excellent experiments. More programming will continue to be added.
For more information on daily programming or themed, weekend experiences visit Fernbank’s Summer Science Fest page. Daily programs, including Dinosaur Day, Bugs and Insects, Sharks and Friends, and Weather and Science are all free for members and included with admission. Tickets for members and general admission must be purchased online at FernbankMuseum.org.
Fox Theatre
While the historic venue remains temporarily closed in light of COVID-19 concerns, The Fox Theatre is opening its doors virtually to fans through a new digital Behind the Scenes series, set to debut by the end of June. The biweekly series will explore areas of the not often seen by guests – from the Hospital Room and backstage to its Archives and Projector Room. Fans can look forward to a peek at some rarely seen parts of the 90-year old Atlanta landmark.
Sneak peeks at the Hospital Room, Archives, Projector Room, Celebrity Dressing Rooms and more!
Fox Theatre website at foxtheatre.org/tours
Georgia Aquarium
What better way to continue your education and keep kids’ curiosity piqued than to adventure with Georgia Aquarium from afar? Deep Sea learning videos, web cams and more!
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- Join us daily and weekly for live streaming events
- Get regular updates on our animals
- Download lesson plans and resources
- Learn about all the animals in our facility
- And much, much more
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High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art remains closed. Check out their streaming videos and creative art projects to do from home.
Home Depot Free Kid Clinics
First Saturday of Each Month between 9 a.m. – 12:00 pm. FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 – 12 at all Home Depot stores. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment. All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.
Legoland Discovery Center
Reopened. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta is reopen! With Bricktastic Safety, the attraction has introduced enhanced cleaning measures throughout the day and before each playtime to clean and sanitize the attraction including high-frequency touchpoints, play areas, and LEGO bricks.
As part of the reopening, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta will also honor the tireless work of local medical professionals by providing complimentary tickets to healthcare heroes. For every guest who tags the attraction in a social media post during their visit, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta will donate one ticket to a local healthcare worker from a health care partner to be announced soon. Families are encouraged to visit https://Atlanta.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/ to purchase both adult and child ‘First to Play’ tickets now for a limited time sale price of only $17.95 (normally $24.95) and check out LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta’s visit safety tips.
Families are still invited to enjoy at-home entertainment through an initiative called Making Magic with Merlin. By following LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta’s social channels, fans can view creative, inspirational and just-plain-fun learning content including educational videos, behind-the-scenes clips and live Q&As. Content is posted regularly, with new magical moments coming to life each week.
Library Events
Click HERE for AMO’s article on local library events that are FREE. Events range from infant to teenagers and adult!
Forsyth Public Libraries: Contact-Free Curbside Pickup of books available. Outdoor book drops at all four Forsyth County Public Library locations have reopened.
Members of Forsyth Youth Services staff posted a video at https://youtu.be/oqY_a_fZ_WM? to unveil this Summer’s Reading theme, Imagine Your Story, and to explain how kids, teens, and adults can register online to track their reading and earn points to redeem for prizes. Staff will share more videos like this in the coming weeks to inspire local readers to imagine their own stories and keep reading all summer long.
Summer programs are some of the most popular and well-attended events the library hosts, but this summer all programs will be presented online. Blog post with additional information.
Lowes Build & Grow
Free Kids Clinics offered 1-2x per month on Saturdays year round from 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m
Margaritaville Lanier Islands
REOPENING NOTICE: Margaritaville® at Lanier Islands and Legacy Lodge Rock Their Reopening
Lakeside Georgia Resort Reopens Two Popular Amenities to Happy Guests and New Staff Members with Social Distancing and Sanitation at the Forefront
Reopened: Both the award-winning Legacy Lodge and the waterslides and attractions inside Margaritaville® at Lanier Islands. Following strict guidelines set by Governor Brian Kemp’s executive order, Legacy Lodge welcomed its first guests after nearly three months of being closed due to COVID-19, and excited fans lined up to brave the waterslides at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands – which typically opens on or before Memorial Day Weekend each year. With a goal of serving as “a different world… close to home,” it was all smiles all weekend long for staff members and patrons alike.
At Legacy Lodge, only rooms on the first and third floors of the hotel are open – which means there’s no need for guests to use the elevator. Special measures are being taken to sanitize and there will be limitations at the hotel pool to ensure social distancing.
With operations back underway at Legacy Lodge and Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, fans of the lakeside resort can once again take advantage of money-saving Summer Chill Season Passes and special accommodation packages – like the Family Fun Package which includes admission to the beach and waterpark for one, two or four riders.
To stay on top of the latest specials and changes at Lanier Islands, prospective guests are encouraged to follow the resort on Facebook and Instagram. Accommodations and golf tee times can be booked online at www.lanierislands.com. Additional questions can be directed to the Lanier Islands hotline at (770) 945-8787.
Medieval Times
Medieval Times is excited to welcome you back to their Castle! They created an extensive reopening plan with direction from health experts and government officials. their focus remains on the health and safety of our guests and Team Members, to ensure we exceed standards and your expectations.
Medieval Times is a thrilling, family-friendly dinner attraction inspired by an 11th-century feast and tournament. Guests are served a four-course banquet and cheer for one of six Knights competing in the joust and other tests of skill. See AMO’s post here with more detail on this fun entertainment for the family.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is open. Advance reservations must be made prior to your visit. The reservation process only takes 5-7 minutes. Have your online order number, ticket number or Membership/Season Pass number handy and visit sixflags.com/reserve.
Southeastern Railway Museum
Reopened. This was also the opening for the first phase of refreshing the “Superb”, President Warren G. Harding’s private car that is at the front of building 1. This car has had a multi-year effort to spruce up the interior. There will be more information on this project coming soon.
SRM has about 90 different cars, including Pullman cars, classic steam locomotives, and antique diesel-electric trains. Ride in restored cabooses and learn about the famous trains that made history! Special admission price of $7 and free train rides for home-schooled kids and their families! Learn about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad through arts and crafts, special exhibits, and scavenger hunts. 3595 Buford Hwy Duluth
Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History
Reopened. To ensure the health and safety of our visitors and staff, all guests will be screened and evaluated upon entrance and gallery components will be cleaned continuously throughout the day. Temporary hours of operation are Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Public programs continue to be postponed.
Southern Museum offers a Mommy & ME preschool program every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 am. Designed for preschool age children ages three to five-years-old and their caregivers, the Museum’s history, themes and exhibits provide a fun and exciting starting point for educational activities. Free with museum admission. No reservations required.
The Southern Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, is a premier metro Atlanta museum, featuring exhibits on Civil War and locomotive history. The Southern Museum is home to the General locomotive, stolen during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase; a reproduction of the locomotive assembly line from the Glover Machine Works; weapons, uniforms and every day items of Civil War soldiers; and the Jolley Education Center that features train history, hands-on activities for children and Georgia’s French Gratitude Train. Kennesaw
Stone Mountain Park
Book your visit. In order to provide safe outdoor entertainment and maintain social distancing guidelines, we are reducing and managing our daily capacity. All Mountain Members and Daily Attractions Guests are encouraged to make a reservation prior to visiting.
To provide an opportunity for all of our Mountain Members to visit, certain reservation restrictions may apply.
Treetop Quest
Dunwoody and Gwinnett location are now open.
Are you looking for something adventurous AND nature-oriented? Treetop Quest is an aerial adventure park which means ziplines and obstacles in the trees! 2 locations in Gwinnett and Dunwoody. Great family fun for ages 4 and up! Come swing in our 
trees with us!
Treetop Quest is a self-guided activity comprised of treetop obstacles and zip-lines. Our courses range in difficulty from easy to very challenging, so the entire family will have a blast! Once you are equipped, we will teach you how to operate your equipment and you will be good to swing through each course as many times as you want, for 2.5 hours (according to age limit as indicated below).
Waterfalls/Hiking
Georgia and the Atlanta area are full of hiking trails for all skill levels. See our article with suggestions for hikes and visiting waterfalls in the Atlanta area and beyond!
Yellow River Wildlife Sancturay
Yellow River Game Ranch is a popular destination to encounter, feed and pet animals. Located 2 1/2 miles east of Stone Mtn on Hwy 78, it offers a chance to meet wildlife on a close and personal basis. Stroll along a mile-long trail on 24 wooded acres and encounter white-tailed deer, bunnies, buffalo, sheep, kid goats, black bears and more!
If you’re looking for a fun and interesting way to spend a morning, or the afternoon, look no further! The Yellow River Game Ranch is under new management and has undergone extensive renovations to providethe animals here with the best possible environment, care and quality of life. Come visit the NEW YELLOW RIVERWILDLIFE SANCTUARY in central Gwinnett alongside the Yellow River, just minutes from Stone Mountain Park.
Woodruff Arts Center
Reopen. Choose day and time to visit and check out online.
Every Sunday from 1:00–4:00 p.m., visit the Woodruff Arts Center for FREE family activities, including art-making workshops, ASO backstage tours and more! The Woodruff Arts Center Atlanta, Georgia is one of the only arts venues in the United States to offer both visual and performing arts on a single campus. The Woodruff produces outstanding theatre, music and exhibitions for over 800,000 patrons each year.
The Woodruff Arts Center serves over 200,000 students annually and is proud to be recognized as Georgia’s largest arts educator. Whether it’s summer camps for middle school students or theatre made for the youngest audiences, families with children of all ages will be able to explore, play, learn and create art in an interactive environment.
World of Coca-Cola
Reopen. Advance ticket purchase required.
An integral part of downtown Atlanta’s fabric for more than 25 years, World of Coca‑Cola has welcomed guests from six continents, more than 100 countries, all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Join over 25 million people who have visited the Atlanta attraction and experience the history of the world’s most famous beverage brand at the dynamic, multimedia home of the 132-year-old secret formula for Coca‑Cola. Get closer than ever before to the vault containing the secret recipe, view more than 1,200 historic artifacts and get a behind-the-scenes look at the bottling process. Take a trip around the world in a thrilling 4-D movie experience, take a photo with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear and tempt your taste buds with more than 100 beverages from around the globe.
World of Coca-Cola offers more than 100 drinks from around the world in its one-of-a-kind Taste It! Beverage Lounge. From delicious classics to your new favorite that you probably didn’t even know existed, you can sample and savor them all. Plus, sip on some of the latest and greatest Coke products at the lounge’s Sampling Bar.
Zoo Atlanta
Reopen. Purchase timed tickets in advance. Survival Safari, Family Zoo Yoga, Wild on the Rocks and more!
Survival Safari on select dates: Grab your family and friends and come to the Zoo for an evening of team challenges, scavenger hunts, and interactive activities that will engage and excite. See if you have what it takes to survive and thrive as an Animal Care Specialist. Compete against other teams as you and your group work together to solve team challenges that explore how animal care teams feed, maintain the environments of, and enrich the lives of Zoo Atlanta’s animal ambassadors. Participants will explore the Zoo after hours with a Zoo educator and learn about animal care and conservation efforts.
Article updated weekly. Information provided by the specific venue. Enjoy!
Just wanted to mention, designing a miniature dream bedroom is a great activity to do when the kids are home from school. Check out our website http://www.myroomrocks.com for details or see our fb site for some amazing pictures!