A-Z Things to Do Around and About Alpharetta

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.

The Atlanta History Center offers a behind the scenes tour of the Swan House with displays of props and photo opportunities with recreated scenes from the movie The Hunger Games.  Admission also includes all History Center exhibitions, interactive experiences, explorations at Smith Family Farm and Swan House, and twenty-two acres of gardens and trails.  The History Center includes one of the Southeast’s largest history museums.

Aurora Theatre

Aurora Children’s Playhouse
Select Saturdays in April at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Aurora Theatre assembles the best children’s performers in the region, bringing them to Gwinnett County for a family-friendly series filled with an array of extraordinary performances. Playhouse tickets are $7; PlayhouseTix punch cards are $50 and good for 10 admissions to any Children’s Playhouse show. For more information, visit bit.ly/AuroraChildrensPlayhouse

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center

Check out their Children’s Classes and Workshops, Cooking and Crafts, After School Explorer and more!
Preserve Hours: Mon-Sun, 8a-Dusk
Visitor Center Hours: Tue-Sat, 10a-4p, Sun, 12p-4p & Mon closed
Preschool Adventure Tuesdays
This season of Preschool Adventures features class topics that all relate to On the Farm. Join Autrey Mill Nature Preserve for an exciting program about the natural and historical environment at Autrey Mill. The Preschool Adventure series is based on a nationally recognized curriculum in life and physical sciences. Each adventure is different and has a theme chosen to spark a preschooler’s imagination. Included is a brief nature hike and a hands-on activity or craft.
Start Date        Themes/Topics
4/24/2018      Farm Fresh
* 5/1/2018       Stick in the Mud *
5/15/2018      Sleepy Sheepy

• 10:00am – 11:30am  
• Programs with an * are from 1:00pm – 2:00 pm
• Selected Tuesdays, and Fridays
• Ages 3-6 (A parent or guardian must accompany their child)
• Programs are rain or shine – other activities will replace the hike in case of inclement weather.
• $7 for members, $10 for non-members.
• Parents are free but are required to stay for the program. No charge for non-participating siblings.

Cooking and Crafts
This creative program is a fun way to experience history through simple recipes and heritage crafts enjoyed in the past. Each class includes a cooking activity and a craft!. Taught by Ms. Alison.
Start Date                    Theme/Topics
4/12/2018                  Rock Candy
5/10/2018                 Georgia Peach
Each class stands on its own, so attend one, all, or several.

• 4:30pm – 6:00pm
• Ages 6-11, Grades 1-5
• $7 for members, $10 for non-members. Your Family Discount will be applied automatically in the cart.

Center for Puppetry Arts

Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat  March 20-May 13   Audiences of all ages can chase away the rainy day blues this spring with the Center for Puppetry Arts’ production of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. Sally, Nick and their pet fish will take audiences on an unexpected adventure with the famous cat in the tall red and white striped hat and his mischievous companions – Thing 1 and Thing 2. This puppet-filled adventure explores curiosity, literacy and creativity and includes a gentle reminder about the challenge of responsibility. With plenty of rhymes, tricks and wit, the faithful adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s classic tale will transport audiences from the page to the stage, as the performance brings the iconic illustrations from the book to life.

Recommended for ages four and up.
The Center for Puppetry Arts will continue its dedication to programming for patrons with ASD on Sunday, April 8 with sensory-friendly modifications to the performance as well as in the Museum and in the Create-A-Puppet Workshops™.  The Center will also provide a quiet room, social stories, noise-reducing headphones and fidget toys for guests who need those resources. For details, visit puppet.org/asd.

All-inclusive tickets are $12.50 (Members) and $25 (nonmembers) and include entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make, decorate and perform with their own Cat in the Hat Shadow Puppet, as well as admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, featuring the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the world.  Tickets can be purchased online at puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.

Chattahoochee Nature Center

Sundays on the River returns! Sunday concerts at CNC May 13 (Blair Crimmons and the Hookers), June 10 (River Whyless), July 8 (Adron), August 12 (Electromatics), September 9 (Ben Sollee and Kentucky Native)

• Doors open at 6pm each evening (CNC Grounds are available to enjoy until the show starts)
• Cash Bar Available (no outside alcoholic beverages are permitted, bags will be checked at entrance)
• Dine at the show with your own picnic; bring your own table settings
• For Lawn Seating bring your own seating
• Ticket Information:
  • Tickets: $16 Table Seating/$12 Lawn Seating; Children 2 and Under Free (CNC Members save 10% off on ticket prices)
  • Day of Event Tickets: $18 Table Seating/$14 Lawn Seating; Children 2 and Under Free (CNC Members save 10% off on ticket prices)

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Children’s Museum of Atlanta is celebrating the season with hands-on activities and events to allow little ones to learn through the power of play. Throughout April, families can explore healthy habits at the interactive Healthyville exhibit, rock and roll to high energy music during Toddler Jam Fridays, celebrate Earth Day by making recycled art to display in the Aluminum Aquarium, watch a special hip hop dance performance and more!
April Special Programming
Feature Exhibit: Healthyville
Through May 28
Healthyville is a place for everybody! This bilingual (English/Spanish), interactive exhibit teaches health and wellness lessons through play-filled activities and educational messages that foster learning by doing. Designed primarily for children ages 5 – 12 and their parents, caregivers and teachers, Healthyville provides visitors with hands-on opportunities to explore health topics in ways that help them understand their bodies, the importance of making healthy choices and how to apply these concepts in everyday situations. Healthyville features engaging content about how the body works and the effects of our positive or negative health choices.

Healthyville was created by Stepping Stones Museum for Children for the members of the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative (YMEC). Healthyville is sponsored locally by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life with additional support from Georgia Power Foundation. Major funding for Children’s Museum of Atlanta is provided by Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Major support provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
Themed daily programming during Healthyville will occur through May 28. Programming subject to change and may be altered during special events. All programs included with admission unless otherwise noted.
Weekdays at 11 a.m. and noon; Weekends at noon and 2 p.m.
Kids are invited to explore the Healthyville Delivery Service warehouse alongside shipping clerk Sean and Randy the new guy to learn about the importance of the foods we eat. By singing along, audiences will help package vitamin-filled boxes for the residents of Healthyville

The Amazing Castle Exhibit to Open June 9:  Children’s Museum of Atlanta will bring new extraordinary hands-on adventures to life with the opening of The Amazing Castle on Saturday, June 9, where visitors will be transported to a magical place and time. Inside the castle’s stone walls, lies a happy and peaceful little community where every citizen has a special job to do. Children can don costumes and engage in role-play, become lords and ladies, castle villagers or even “HiJinx the Jester.” Families can try their hands in the Royal Workshops with “Trim the Tailor” or “Gable the Carpenter.” After picking vegetables in the garden, kids can tote them to the Great Hall to cook up a royal meal or visit the tower to wake “Herald” the sleeping dragon! The Amazing Castle is designed for guests of all ages and will be at Children’s Museum of Atlanta from June 9-September 9.

As visitors explore The Amazing Castle and its eight themed areas, they will encounter graphic panels that introduce seven citizens who are part of the castle community. From entertaining to sewing, each citizen has a special task to complete. Throughout the castle, visitors can playfully explore ideas related to community life. Children will experience the interconnectedness of individuals as they interact with friends, family and new acquaintances.

Exhibit Entry and Big Book
From the moment visitors walk through the entrance to The Amazing Castle, they are transported to a magical time and place—and the fantasy begins! “Lord Ben” and “Lady Evolent” welcome children and adults and make sure the castle is a safe and healthy place to live. Visitors can begin their adventure by reading the story of The Amazing Castle, which introduces the castle citizens and depicts the interconnectedness of those living in the castle.

The Keep
The Keep is a fortress sure to be enjoyed by the youngest royals. Toddlers can create a miniature, magical community in a castle-inspired dollhouse, build their own fortress out of “stone” blocks and play with a castle busy wall.

The Great Hall and Garden
Friends and family can take a seat at the royal table while children prepare a wonderful, magical meal with “Kipper the Cook.” They can put on an apron and select ingredients from a larder stocked with bread, fruits, and choose a main course! Or they can put on a garden smock and join “Posey the Gardener” in the royal garden, where visitors can pick and plant vegetables and gather eggs from a hen in the garden shed. To prepare and cook the meal, children can use wooden bowls, cooking utensils and a fireplace complete with a glowing fire, spit and cauldron.

Royal Puppet Theatre
Children and adults will become castle entertainers when they visit “HiJinx the Jester” in the Royal Puppet Theatre to present a puppet show using castle character puppets. Little ones have the option to pick out a fancy robe, pull up a throne and become the Lord or Lady, or don the jester’s costume and entertain the Lord and Lady.

The Royal Workshops
In the Tailor Shop, families can try their hand at repairing and making clothing for all of the castle citizens with “Trim the Tailor.” Guests play a game and design costumes, from sensible to ridiculous, by mixing and matching puzzle pieces. Children can also create their own outfits and discover how silly their costumes appear when they look at themselves in a distorted mirror!

The Dragon Tower
The Dragon Tower is home to “Herald the Dragon,” who announces important information to the citizens of The Amazing Castle. But Herald keeps falling asleep and needs to be awakened frequently. Visitors can wake Herald, who rises from the top of the tower, by matching each of the six electronic castle character puzzle pieces with his or her appropriate tool or symbol.

The Amazing Castle was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum. Local sponsorship is provided by Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Consolidated Gold Mine  Dahlonega 

Dave & Busters Alpharetta

Come and play at Dave & Buster’s newest location in Alpharetta ~ the one and only place you can enjoy great food and play hundreds of awesome arcade games! Conveniently located across from North Point Mall, Dave & Buster’s offers fun for the whole family!  The restaurant’s mouth-watering, chef-crafted menu and beverage items, combined with the latest games and attractions provide the perfect setting for kids parties, corporate and group events.  Guests can play more than 150 of the latest games including the Walking Dead, Tailgate Toss and Justice League!
Hours and Location:
6500 North Point Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022
678-256-1100
Directions:
Sun – Thur 11:00 a.m. – Midnight
Fri – Sat  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
View our article HERE on Dave & Busters weekly specials to save $$!!

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Through August 2  Backyard Wilderness:  Just in time for spring, Fernbank Museum will open Backyard Wilderness, a Giant Screen Movie that offers explorers of all ages tools and inspiration to discover the wonders of nature at their fingertips. Backyard Wilderness shows us that you don’t need to travel to the Alaskan tundra or the African plains to experience nature, but that—if you look closely—you can see its beauty from right outside your door. The film will open Friday, March 23 in Fernbank’s four-story Giant Screen Theater.Created by Emmy Award-winning and Oscar^® nominated filmmakers Andrew Young and Susan Todd, Backyard Wilderness will surprise and entertain viewers with the unexpected delights of nature found in our own neighborhoods and communities. Spanning a seasonal year around a suburban home, the film displays a stunning array of unique wildlife imagery and behavior—all captured by cameras mounted inside dens and nests and along forest floors and pond bottoms. The film reveals the animal inhabitants in rare and breathtaking detail.

We follow Katie, a young girl, and her family who are absorbed by an array of electronic devices and, at first, oblivious to the natural world outside their home. Katie gradually discovers the intricate secrets nature has hidden outside and we experience the joy she finds in her interactions with this newly uncovered world. The film reminds us that Wi-Fi is not the only connection that matters and that, sometimes in ordinary places, you can uncover extraordinary things—all it takes is one step outside.

Backyard Wilderness is produced and directed by Andrew Young and Susan Todd, who wrote the film together with SK’s Wendy MacKeigan (Flight of the Butterflies, Amazon Adventure).
Backyard Wilderness inspires the same exploration of nature that sits at the core of Fernbank’s mission to encourage a greater appreciation of our planet and its inhabitants.

For exact show times and to watch the trailer, visit Fernbank’s website at www.fernbankmuseum.org. Giant Screen Theater tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for seniors, $11 for children and $8 for Museum members, which are also available at a discount with the purchase of a combination Value Pass, and can be purchased online at fernbankmuseum.org or by calling 404.929.6400.

Additionally, The Secret World Inside You will also be on view to guests with Museum admission through May 6, 2018. A special exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History, The Secret World Inside You introduce guests to the millions of microbes that crawl on your skin, swim in your gut, travel through your intestines and work to keep you healthy every day.

Fox Theatre

The Marquee Club: The Fox Theatre today announced the Marquee Club presented by Lexus grand opening is set for Thursday, May 17, 2018 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for inaugural members. The $10 million expansion is the largest one-time revitalization effort of the Fox Theatre since its 1929 grand opening, as the Marquee Club footprint includes the northwest corner of the building that was previously leased retail space.

The Marquee Club features 10,000 square feet of premium event space, including enhanced food and beverage service within the club’s five stationary bars, with passed and displayed hors d’oeuvres located throughout. Members will enjoy the Club’s multi-level interior and climate-controlled rooftop terrace overlooking Atlanta’s famed Peachtree Street, offering public access to the Fox Theatre’s roof for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Individual, Corporate or Broadway Across America membership tiers offer year-round access to the Marquee Club, in association with ticketed events at the Fox Theatre. A recent addition, members also will receive a number of club access passes for ticketed guests, as well as an allowance for membership transfers. Non-members may access the Marquee Club starting with the Saturday, May 19 show “Live From Here with Chris Thile.” Staring April 16, Fox Theatre ticketed guests may purchase Marquee Club access passes for select events. Marquee Club access passes are limited and may be purchased on a first come, first serve basis on designated shows via the Fox Theatre website.

Guests may enter the club before and after events, as well as during intermission. Additional amenities will include priority pre-sale ticketing notifications, private restrooms, dedicated lobby elevator, concierge guest services and for select memberships, self-parking access to an adjacent lot. At intermission, guests will have access to pre-ordered drinks, dessert and coffee.For more information about membership, please contact Fox Theatre’s Corporate Partnership, Premium Seating Office at (404) 881-2127 or visit FoxTheatre.org

Georgia Aquarium

Ways to Save

11am – 4pm – Buy Online and Save: When you purchase your General Admission tickets online in advance, you’ll save over 10% off our walk up pricing. Click here to purchase.

After 4pm – Imagination Nights: Enjoy Georgia Aquarium by night at a special ticket price! Visit the Aquarium after 4pm every day of the week to save over 30% off full priced admission. You’ll enjoy full access to the entire Aquarium! Restrictions apply. Click here for details and to purchase tickets.

Toddler Time:  10-11:30 a.m. on select dates
Event Fee:  Each adult and child must have a paid ticket to attend. Cost does not include Aquarium Admission.
$16 ($8 per person) – Member
$20 ($10 per person) – Non-Member
Upcoming Dates:

• May 7, 2018 – All About Mom
• September 10, 2018 – Beluga Palooza
• October 1, 2018 – Jelly Jam
• November 5, 2018 – Give Thanks
• December 3, 2018 – Happy Holidays

Please note:

• A paid adult must accompany child(ren).
• Advance registration required. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
• All adults and all children must have a paid ticket to this event to attend.
• Intended for children ages 0-3 years.
• Cost does not include Aquarium Admission.
• Access to Toddler Time via Oceans Ballroom Entrance on first floor of the parking garage ONLY.

**Refunds are not available for Toddler Time. A date may be changed free of charge if the change is made more than 10 days in advance of the original date of your visit. If the change is made less than 10 days prior to the original date of your visit, a $5 change fee per ticket will be charged. Cancellations and no-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. To change your reservation, please contact the Georgia Aquarium Call Center at 404.581.4000.

**The largest aquarium in the United States is getting bigger. Georgia Aquarium revealed expansion plans today for a new gallery featuring sharks—one of the most misunderstood species in the ocean—to open in late fall of 2020. An extension of the Aquarium’s conservation and education efforts, the new experience will help guests have a deeper appreciation for the important role sharks serve in the oceans and inspire them to join conservation efforts to protect our oceans.  The project, Expansion 2020, is a major addition to the Western hemisphere’s largest aquarium featuring a shark habitat and redesigned entry.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Contact: GET.org | 770.641.1260  Location:  Roswell Cultural Arts Center 950 Forrest Street    Roswell, GA  30075

High Museum of Art

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.

Horizon Theatre

 

Infinite Energy Center

Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta

An all-new LEGO® Ninjago 4D short movie launched at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Atlanta! In LEGO NINJAGO – Master of the 4^th Dimension, the ninjas will show off their awesome LEGO® Ninjago moves in a super-cool and explosive 4D adventure. Enter the Dojo with Master Wu and train with the ninjas to learn the teachings of the Scroll of the 4^th Dimension. Guests will experience the totally-awesome world of Ninjago as they’ve never seen, smelled or felt it before.

The LEGO® Ninjago Training Camp is making its return to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Atlanta! Families can put their ninja skills to the test to see if they have what it takes to become a true LEGO ninja and defeat the bad guys in this fun, action-packed play-zone. Children can test their agility in the laser maze and master their building skills at the Ninjago build table to go on a LEGO adventure that’s bigger and better than they can do at home.

Library Events

See Holiday Activity Guide! Click HERE for AMO’s article on local library events that are FREE. Events range from infant to teenagers and adult!

Lowe’s Build and 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 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. 

Milton Rock for Rescues Community Event  April 28

The City of Milton, in partnership with the Vox Artium Foundation, is bringing Rock for Rescues, a one-day, family-friendly music festival benefiting local animal nonprofits, to Milton’s Broadwell Road on Saturday, April 28, 2018. The musical line up features Atlanta-based bands including a slow boat to china, Pony League, Chip McGuire Band, and Linnie and Amy Joy.

 The festival will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Spotify users can preview the event bands by selecting the “RockForRescues2018” playlist.

The April 28 event is free to attend, through the generosity of event sponsors, private donations, retail partnerships, and event-day booth fundraisers. Tax deductible donations may be made at www.rockforrescues.org. Patrons will also have the opportunity to text-to-donate onsite and participate in an online auction.  All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of the net proceeds will be divided equally between the five pet rescue organizations.

To learn more about Rock for Rescues, visit www.RockforRecues.org. For questions regarding the event, contact Courtney Spriggs at courtney.spriggs@cityofmiltonga.us or 678-242-2533.

Six Flags Over Georgia

Now Open on Weekends! The Thrill Capital of the South— with heart-pounding, innovative roller coaster experiences and a special name change for a fan favorite ride.

Guests can experience the massive drops, twists and unsuspecting turns of The Great American Scream Machine — Backward.  When the historic wooden roller coaster debuted in 1973, it was the longest, fastest and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. This season, the coaster celebrates its 45^thanniversary and will feature:

• A suspenseful 105-foot climb while staring straight down at the ground—backward;
• The exhilarating drop down nearly 10 stories—backward;
• Speeds of 57 miles per hour around tight curves—backward; and
• More than 3,800 feet of track racing along the banks of the Chattahoochee River—all while facing backward.

In honor of the park’s friendly wager with Alabama Splash Adventure, the steel stand up roller coaster—Georgia Scorcher—will temporarily become the Alabama Scorcher for the weekend, to celebrate the University of Alabama’s national championship

Six Flags Atlanta
Photo by: Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging

Then, later this spring, one of the country’s most anticipated new rides of 2018—Twisted Cyclone, makes its debut as the region’s first hybrid coaster, combining steel and wood for a smoother and more exciting ride than ever before. Park guests will get an up-close view of the construction progress and amazing transformation of this thrilling roller coaster set to open Memorial Day weekend.

Six Flags Over Georgia opens for the 2018 season on March 10 and operates on weekends through mid-May and daily March 31 through April 8 for Spring Break. For information on Season Passes, Memberships, daily tickets and the All Season Dining Pass, visit www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia.

Southeastern Railway Museum

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

Southern Museum offers a Mommy & ME preschool program every Thursday 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.  Kennessaw

Stone Mountain Park

Celebrate the beauty of spring with a visit to Atlanta’s favorite natural wonderland. Discover a prehistoric creature collection at Dinosaur Explore, trek through the treetops on SkyHike®, and soar to the top of the mountain on Summit Skyride… the adventures are endless!

Challenge yourself on SkyHike®, the nation’s largest family adventure course, cool off and play in the spray on Geyser Towers® or soar to the top of the mountain on the Summit Skyride…the adventures are endless!

Be sure to check out the extended fireworks finale, and the Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision® with all-new breathtaking fire effects. Three flame cannons add a punch to the show by sending a trio of flames nearly one-hundred feet into the air.  Plus, special new fireworks spray multi-colored bursts and dance on the water at the base of the mountain.

Treetop Quest

Are you looking for something adventurous AND nature-oriented? Treetop Quest is an aerial adventure park which means ziplines and obstcles 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

10 Waterfalls Worthy of a Trip by Explore Georgia! 

Amicalola Falls at Amicalola Falls State Park which is Cherokee for “tumbling waters,” boasts seven cascades at Amicalola Falls State Park. At 729 feet, it is the tallest waterfall in the state. Located in the Northeast Georgia Mountains north of Dawsonville, the park and falls are a perfect family destination for the adventure set. Plan to spend the day hiking the trails near the waterfalls, ranging from short journeys to an eight-mile approach trail that will lead you to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. When you’re ready to rest, options range from camping, to a more hotel-style mountain-top lodge, to the Len Foote Hike Inn, Georgia’s only backcountry lodge, reachable by a 5-mile hike.

Tallulah Falls in Tallulah Gorge State Park is a series of six falls cascading through the 1,000-foot-deep Tallulah Gorge. Snap a photo of your view from the suspension bridge swaying 80 feet above the gorge floor.  An easily accessible pathway leads to Toccoa Falls, a 186-foot, free-falling waterfall on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.  Anna Ruby Falls, formed by Curtis and York creeks, are local favorites in Helen. Hike the easy-to-moderate half-mile trail from the parking lot to the foot of the falls, and you just might agree.

Angel Falls Trail in Rabun offers two waterfall gems. Hike about a half-mile to view Panther Creek Falls and then continue on, passing by rhododendron, mountain laurel and American holly, to Angel Falls. Holcomb Creek Falls in Clayton is yet another hike that rewards your effort with double waterfalls. First, find the 120-foot drop of Holcomb Creek Falls and then continue to the viewing deck at the foot of Ammons Falls.  To see Raven Cliff Falls, near Helen, is about a five-mile round-trip hike. Savor the beautiful views of Dodd Creek as you make your way to the 90-foot drop of the main attraction.

The 100-foot, stair-stepping falls of Minnehaha Falls in Tallulah Falls inspire many a photo op, particularly in spring when the surrounding forest puts on a display of blooms.  DeSoto Falls, near Cleveland, is named after the Spanish explorer Hernando Desoto, who traveled through the region in the 16th century. It’s located in the Chattahoochee National Forest.  If you’re visiting Vogel State Park, make a pit stop at Helton Creek Falls, to see these family-friendly falls. In the summer, wear your swimsuits and splash around in the pool at the bottom of the falls.

Also, the Vickery Creek Trail (also known as Big Creek) in Roswell is a pretty 2 mile hike with a beautiful waterfall. The hike starts just off Riverside Road in Roswell, climbs over a series of short ridges and then descends to a man-made waterfall that was once the site of an old mill. The Vickery Creek Trail explores the historic Roswell Mill and the surrounding rolling forest on the banks of Big Creek, also known as Vickery Creek, near Roswell, Georgia. It’s one of the best hikes in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area parks near Atlanta, though its trails don’t follow the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Instead, this hike explores the historic remains of Roswell Mill and visits the mill’s spillway dam waterfall on a Chattahoochee River tributary. The 5+ mile Vickery Creek trail network hikes through beautiful, rolling forest and catches views of the rushing dam waterfall from a steep rock bluff.  The hike crosses a wood bridge at 2.5 miles, the sound of falling water echoing through the forest. The hike visits the southern bank of the Roswell Mill waterfall from a tall bluff alongside its rushing, tumbling waters.  The hike reaches a covered bridge at 3 miles. The view from the bridge upstream is beautiful, as Vickery Creek cascades over a rock creek bed. Reaching the end of the covered bridge, the hike hangs a right, following the trail eastbound and passing a historic brick machine shop. The trail reaches the ruins of the old Roswell Mill, looping around the mill, the old rusted mill chase, and catching an up-close view of the dam waterfall and spillway waterfall from Vickery Creek’s northern bank.

Yellow River Game Ranch 

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!

Woodruff Arts Center

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, intera

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

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. Thirsty yet?

Fun things to do at the World of Coca-Cola:

• Learn about the legend of the secret formula for Coca‑Cola and see the vault where the formula is secured in their Vault of the Secret Formula.
• Taste over 100 flavors from around the globe in the Taste It! beverage lounge, and take home a FREE commemorative 8-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola
• Exhibit, Pop Culture Gallery, Kiss the Past Hello
• Experience their thrilling In Search of the Secret Formula 4-D Theater (3-D movie with moving seats)
• Get an inside look at the bottling process in Bottle Works
• Give the 7-foot-tall and very friendly Coca‑Cola Polar Bear a big hug
• See the world’s largest collection of Coke memorabilia in Milestones of Refreshment
• View works by artists such as Steve Penley, Haddon Sundblom and Howard Finster in the Pop Culture Gallery
• Take the excitement home with clothing, collectibles and gifts from the Coca‑Cola Store

Original article 12/7/12 and updated weekly.