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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! Starting with happenings in Alpharetta and the Atlanta Botanical Garden to the World of Coca-Cola, you can keep up to date with events through this article!
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta History Center
The 33-acre experience features award-winning exhibitions, historic houses, and gardens. 9 a.m. – 4pm Tuesday through Sunday with safety precautions.
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. 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
The Center of Puppetry Arts is open with restrictions. Visit the World of Puppetry Museum.
Special Exhibit – Very Merry Puppetry: Puppets of Holidays Past, Present, and Future
They’re waiting for you. Your favorite characters from Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas and the Center’s production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ and more. This special exhibit is included with your Worlds of Puppetry Museum admission.
The Worlds of Puppetry Museum includes two galleries: the Global Collection Gallery and the Jim Henson Gallery. The Global Collection Gallery begins in North America and winds its way through Europe, Africa, and Asia. Learn the five main types of puppets; learn about some of the world’s most important puppetry traditions.
Chattahoochee Nature Center
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
Families are encouraged to experience MLK Day and Three Kings’ Day celebrations as well as the new The Pigeon Comes to Atlanta! A Mo Willems Exhibit
Children’s Museum of Atlanta will kick off the new year with various fun-filled festivities and entertaining, educational programming throughout January! Little ones can uncover a special kind of royalty as they celebrate Three Kings’ Day, commemorate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and more. Plus, the Museum will welcome its first exhibit of the new year as The Pigeon Come to Atlanta! A Mo Willems Exhibit opens on Jan. 16. Children’s Museum of Atlanta prioritizes the safety of its visitors as it kicks off 2021 with enhanced health and safety procedures that will put guests at ease.
January Special Programming:
CMA On Stage:
Three Kings’ Day Scavenger Hunt + Storytime
Session A: Scavenger Hunt at 10 a.m. and Storytime at 11 a.m. / Session B: Scavenger Hunt at 1 p.m. and Storytime at 2 p.m. / Session C: Scavenger Hunt at 4 p.m. and Storytime at 5 p.m.
Science Bar:
Kids will explore baking science, astronomy and candle combustion.
Session A: 10 a.m. / Session B: 1 p.m. / Session C: 4 p.m.
Creativity Café:
Little ones will decorate crowns and create their own constellation crafts.
Session A: 10 a.m. / Session B: 1 p.m. / Session C: 4 p.m.
CMA On Stage:
“I Have a Dream” Collaborative Mural + Storytime: “My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart” by Angela Farris Watkins
Session A: Collaborative Mural at 10 a.m. and Storytime at 11 a.m. / Session B: Collaborative Mural at 1 p.m. and Storytime at 2 p.m. / Session C: Collaborative Mural at 4 p.m. and Storytime at 5 p.m.
Science Bar:
Kids will be building bridges and using scales to discuss equality.
Session A: 10 a.m. / Session B: 1 p.m. / Session C: 4 p.m.
Creativity Café:
Little ones will be learning to walk in Dr. King’s footsteps while envisioning their own hopes and plans for a better world. Guests will learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s World Peace Rose Garden, make a dream mobile and remind themselves to “let freedom ring.”
Session A: 10 a.m. / Session B: 1 p.m. / Session C: 4 p.m.
An all-new feature exhibit…
The Pigeon Comes to Atlanta! A Mo Willems Exhibit
Saturday, Jan. 16 – Saturday, Jan. 30 (excluding Jan. 18)
Families are invited into the whimsical world of best-selling children’s book author Mo Willems and his lovable characters including best friend duo Elephant Gerald and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny and the wily city bird, The Pigeon, best known for his antics in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! On stage, kids can dive into some of Willems’ engaging Elephant & Piggie books. Learning never ceases at the Science Bar and Creativity Café, where kids will discover animal science and create Mo Willems-related arts and crafts.
CMA On Stage:
Storytime: “Elephants Cannot Dance!” by Mo Willems + Dance Party / “I Broke My Trunk!” by Mo Willems
Session A: “Elephants Cannot Dance!” + Dance Party at 10 a.m. and “I Broke My Trunk!” at 11 a.m.
/ Session B: “Elephants Cannot Dance!” + Dance Party at 1 p.m. and “I Broke My Trunk!” at 2 p.m.
/ Session C: “Elephants Cannot Dance!” + Dance Party at 4 p.m. and “I Broke My Trunk!” at 5 p.m.
Science Bar:
Ordering up an exciting menu of options! Kids will learn about elephant trunks, pig snouts and bird beaks.
Session A: 10 a.m. / Session B: 1 p.m. / Session C: 4 p.m.
Creativity Café:
Families are invited to Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s newest programming space for some fun art and maker activities! Little ones will illustrate their own books, make paper bag animal puppets and build clothespin cars.
Session A: 10 a.m. / Session B: 1 p.m. / Session C: 4 p.m.
For more information about all of these events, please visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org/program-schedule/
Consolidated Gold Mine Dahlonega
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.
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
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.
Fernbank Museum announced its newest special exhibit, Amazing Animals: Built to Survive. The exhibit takes guests into the natural world, explores the traits of plants and animals, and reveals the marvels of natural engineering to showcase that evolution is Earth’s greatest inventor.
Amazing Animals: Built to Survive is presented in both English and Spanish. This bilingual exhibition was developed by The Field Museum in partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and is funded by a grant from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust and ITW foundation. Amazing Animals is sponsored locally by the Isdell Family Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and UPS. Amazing Animals: Built to Survive will be on exhibit until January 3, 2021. Admission is included with the purchase of a museum ticket and is free for members. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors and $18 for children. To purchase tickets or view pre-visit information, frequently asked questions, safety protocols and more, please visit FernbankMuseum.org.
Fernbank is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta and is open daily from 10 a.m.-5p.m. Fernbank will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit FernbankMuseum.org or call 404.929.6400. All tickets must be reserved online in advance.
Fox Theatre
WHAT: Fox Theatre Digital Behind the Scenes Series
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!
- Join 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
High Museum of Art
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.
Lanier Islands
The forecast calls for SNOW to hit the Southern shores of Georgia’s Lake Lanier! What has consistently served as a popular destination for teens, couples and families throughout the South during the summer months extends the fun into the holiday season and winter months with the return of License to Chill Snow Island. Showcasing Blizzard Mountain Snow Tubing – with an eight-story, 575-foot snow slide at center stage, along with Frosty’s Ice Rink, Snowball Alley play zone, Snow Island Amusement Rides and more, License to Chill Snow Island is proud to introduce a new addition that will literally light up the night. The Lakeside Lights Spectacular invites guests to take a magical stroll through a state-of-the-art interactive lighting extravaganza set to festive seasonal music.
Legoland Discovery Center
- Atlanta’s Only Ultimate LEGO Experience
- Explore Miniland – Atlanta LEGO Replica Made of 1.5 Million LEGO Bricks!
- Create and Race Your Own LEGO Car Down a Giant Speed Ramp
- Exclusive Rides & Attractions only at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
- Enjoy a BRICKTASTIC Snack Break at the LEGO Cafe
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.
Lowes Build & Grow
Free Kids Clinics offered 1-2x per month on Saturdays year round from 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m
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 AlpharettaMoms.Org’s post here with more detail on this fun entertainment for the family.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday today through Friday, January 22. With COVID-19 still top of mind, we’ve scaled back our usual festivities, but our galleries remain open today through Monday with several immersive activities for adults and families, and spaces for visitors to reflect after an overwhelming few weeks and months.
Safety protocols, bolstered by new filtration and temperature tech are in effect. The Center is one of the first cultural institutions in the U.S. to incorporate this technology. You can see a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHA49W2bXeQ
New digital offerings launched: a new virtual version of our exhibit of Dr. King’s papers and speeches, We Share the Dream: King’s Beloved Community, an extension of our longstanding partnership with Morehouse College.
You’re welcome to preview the site: https://www.wesharethedream.org/. The digital exhibition will run through April 9, 2021. Full virtual and in-person lineup details can be found in the release linked below.
January 22 – We’re hosting our We Share the Dream King scholar panel a year after our collection debuted for their thoughts on how King’s Beloved Community ideals apply to modern social justice movements in the upheavals of 2020. We’d be happy to put you on the guest list or arrange a panelist interview.
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights believes in justice and dignity for all – and the power of people to make this real. We inspire visitors and our other audiences with immersive exhibitions, dynamic events and conversations, and engagement and education/training programs.
Temporary Exhibition: Entitlements
As violence and inequality cause scarcity and displace populations, impacted groups are frequently discussed as data and given impersonal categorizations such as refugee and asylum seeker. Entitlements humanizes conflict and insecurity around the world through compelling images of children at play and at rest. Featuring the photography of Authority Collective photographers Diana Cervantes, Jasmine Clarke, Meghan Dhaliwal, Stephanie Eley, Alexis Hunley, and Danielle Villasana, Entitlements is a global survey of childhood experiences. It celebrates the resilience of children denied the just and secure environments to which they are entitled. The children embody hope and inspire an urgency to uphold rights and protections detailed in documents such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
Experience the virtual tour! The National Center for Civil and Human Rights invites you to enjoy the rich history and contemporary relevance of our exhibits.
Visit The Center to view our permanent installation, Fragments – a metal structure featuring King’s ideas as they developed on paper, in his actual handwriting.
You can also experience Fragments on our interactive new website.
Open: Th, Fr, Sun. 12–5pm | Sat. 10–5pm (Last entry at 4pm daily)
100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30313-1807
Parking is available at the World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Aquarium garages on the left at the 2nd traffic light.
Southeastern Railway Museum
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
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.
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
In order to provide safe outdoor entertainment, Stone Mountain Park is reducing and managing its daily attractions capacity. The park is implementing a number of new safety measures based on the guidance of health officials including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and appropriate government agencies. Guests are encouraged to review important health and safety procedures at the following link before visiting park attractions: https://www.stonemountainpark.com/PlaySafe
Nestled in 3200 acres of natural beauty, Stone Mountain Park features family-friendly attractions, outdoor recreational activities and a variety of on-site lodging options so you can stay where you play! You also don’t want to miss exciting seasonal events and entertainment sure to delight every member of the family.
Dinosaur Explore – An All-New Experience, climb aboard the Scenic Railroad for a trip around the mountain, putter around at the Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf, take the Skyride to the mountaintop for breathtaking views of the Atlanta skyline, and more. Visit www.stonemountainpark.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more about the park.
Treetop Quest
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 Sanctuary
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
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
The health and safety of employees and guests are World of Coca-Cola’s top priorities, and the attraction has adjusted its operations in compliance with guidelines from health and government authorities. Face coverings are required for all employees and guests over the age of 2, and capacity has been reduced via time-stamped admission tickets to promote social distancing. Thermal temperature scans are conducted for employees and guests upon entry, and cleaning routines have been enhanced throughout the attraction. More information is available online.
Inside the exhibit, guests learn about the science behind humans’ sense of smell and how it works with the brain to identify foods and recall memories. World of Coca-Cola Ambassadors lead small groups of guests through a tour of aromas — from sweet to fruity to spicy. Guests individually smell the scents one by one, share what each reminds them of and attempt to identify the fragrances. Following the guided experience, guests are invited to explore other mystery scents, grouped by flavor profile, along the outside wall of the room. As they learn each aroma’s origin, guests will also uncover related beverage recommendations. Guests leave the exhibit knowing more about why they choose the beverages they prefer and which Coca-Cola drinks to sample next.
Zoo Atlanta
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!