Best 8 Things to Do with Kids in Atlanta, Georgia
Before visiting Atlanta, the thing that came to mind when thinking of the city was that of a business hub, rather than a family-friendly destination, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much there was to do with kids in Atlanta - both in and out of the city.
Atlanta is nicknamed the "city in the forest", and the first thing that struck me was how much green there was for a city this size. The city centre itself is very compact and most attractions are within walking distance of each other, which makes it an easy city to navigate with young kids. We spent a week here and did a mix of museums, parks and hikes.
This guide includes everything you need to know when planning a trip to Atlanta with young kids - where to stay, when to visit and what activities to include in your itinerary!
Best Time to Visit Atlanta with Kids
We went in October, which was a nice time to go - not too hot and humid but the days are still warm (around 25°C most days, with slightly chilly mornings and evenings). Atlanta can get properly hot and humid from June through August (32-35°C), and outdoor activities like parks and hikes are a lot more bearable when it's not stifling hot! In Spring there are azaleas and dogwood blossom all over the city, and autumn has cooler evenings and a good run-up to Halloween.
Where to Stay in Atlanta with Kids
Downtown
If you're visiting Atlanta for the first time, Downtown is where I would recommend staying. You're within walking distance of loads of attractions like the Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and the Children's Museum, as well as plenty of restaurants and the Centennial Olympic Park.
1. Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park (from around £150/night)
Best for: families who want to walk to every main Downtown attraction, with breakfast and a pool included and enough room that putting a toddler to bed doesn't mean sitting in the dark.
This is where we stayed and the location was perfect meaning we walked everywhere and could easily come back to rest. Each room is a two-room suite with a kitchenette and separate living area, which makes bedtime much easier when you have a toddler who needs to go to bed at 7pm and don't want to spend the evening sat in the dark. It works really well as a practical, family base in Downtown Atlanta that puts you within walking distance of the main sights.
2. Hyatt Place Atlanta Downtown (from around £130/night)
Best for: families who want a well-priced Downtown base close to the aquarium without paying full suite hotel prices.
Hyatt Place is a 5-minute walk from the Georgia Aquarium and about the same distance from the Children's Museum. Rooms are comfortable and well-sized, breakfast is included, and the location is walkable to all the main Downtown attractions.
Midtown
A bit calmer than downtown, and right next to Piedmont Park, which has a playground, a lake and open grass. It's still walkable to plenty of family restaurants and a short Uber from the main attractions.
3. Loews Atlanta Hotel (from around £180/night)
Best for: families who want a proper 4-star Midtown base with a dedicated family package, close to Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden.
A 4-star hotel in the heart of Midtown, about 10 minutes' walk from Piedmont Park and within easy reach of the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Loews does a family package that includes breakfast for children and a welcome treat on arrival, which is a nice touch. It's a step up in quality from the Downtown options with some nice touches for families.
4. Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel (from around £140/night)
Best for: families who want a mid-range Midtown hotel with good food on site and easy access to the BeltLine and Piedmont Park.
A popular 4 star with a rooftop terrace, a good on-site restaurant with some Southern classics like shrimp and grits and caramel apple French toast (guaranteed to please the kids!) and within walking distance of Midtown MARTA station, the BeltLine, Fox Theatre, and Piedmont Park. It's a bit smaller than the Loews but at a lower price point which includes extra bed/ cots free of charge.
Old Fourth Ward
This is the area to pick if you want a more residential, local feel and easy access to the Atlanta BeltLine - a paved, flat walking and cycling path that's properly pram-friendly and runs past Ponce City Market, which has a food hall and a rooftop with mini golf and a Ferris wheel.
5. Scout Living PCM (Placemakr Atlanta) (from around £160/night)
Best for: families on a longer stay who want self-catering flexibility, a rooftop pool, and direct BeltLine access from the front door.
Apartment-style rooms inside Ponce City Market itself, which means you step out of your front door onto the BeltLine and into the food hall. Each unit has a full kitchen and a washer/dryer, the rooftop has a pool and terrace with good views, and check-in is done by text rather than a front desk. If you want flexible cooking at home alongside easy access to the best neighbourhood in Atlanta then this is your best bet.
6. FORTH Hotel Atlanta (from around £180/night)
Best for: families who want a boutique hotel feel in the most interesting neighbourhood in Atlanta, with a rooftop pool and the BeltLine right outside.
A newer boutique hotel directly on the BeltLine with a rooftop pool and rooms that are soundproofed. The neighbourhood location puts you within walking distance of most of Old Fourth Ward's best restaurants and a short stroll from Ponce City Market. A more conventional hotel experience than Scout Living but with the same excellent BeltLine access.
Getting Around Atlanta with Kids
Within downtown, Midtown and Old Fourth Ward, you can comfortably walk or take the Atlanta Streetcar between most things. For day trips out to Stone Mountain or further afield, you'll want a car - public transport doesn't really reach that far. We also tried our first Waymo (a self-driving car you can sometimes book through the Uber app) here in Atlanta, and I'll admit we were nervous getting in, but it was smoother than I expected and our daughter thought it was funny that "nobody was driving"! I would recommend bringing a kids car seat that complies with US regulations as Uber and Lyft drivers won't let you ride without them.
For some of the activities listed below I'd recommend recommend checking out the CityPass as it will give huge discounts: Atlanta CityPASS®: Save up to 47% at 5 Top Attractions (Use the GetYourGuide app and apply the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your total booking price)
Top Activities in Atlanta with Kids
1. Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is only a short walk from Centennial Olympic Park, which makes it easy to combine with a couple of the other things on this list in one day. If you're planning a few different activities, I would highly recommend getting the Atlanta CityPass which gets you free admission to 5 attractions, including the aquarium, World of Coca Cola, Zoo Atlanta, and more.
Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, and there is a lot to explore here! I would recommend dedicating at least half a day here so you don't feel rushed. Rather than one continuous exhibit, the aquarium is divided into different sections which are all accessed from the central hall, meaning you can visit the area in whichever order you prefer.
You can also book to see the dolphin shows and sea lion shows which run a few times a day (these are included in the ticket price!). These do fill up so I would recommend booking them as soon as you arrive.
This was such a fun visit for all of us, and despite the size of it, it didn’t feel stressful or overwhelming (we especially loved the underwater whale shark tank and the beluga whales!). It’s easy to get around with a pram (lifts and ramps throughout) and there’s a big restaurant to have lunch with a free water-filling station if you bring your own bottle.
Book an entry ticket here: Atlanta: Georgia Aquarium Skip-the-Box-Office Entry Ticket (Use the GetYourGuide app and apply the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your total booking price)
2. World of Coca-Cola
Did you know Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta? It was first created here in 1886 by pharmacist Dr John Pemberton - you can learn all about the history of the drink at World of Coca-Cola, which is right next door to the Aquarium and also included in the CityPass. Though the museum dedicated to the history of the brand, the main thing for kids here is the "Taste It!" room, where you can sample more than 100 Coca-Cola products from around the world.
You can also create your own flavour profile in the Beverage Lab, test your senses in the Scent Discovery room, visit 'The Vault of the Secret Formula' and take a photo with the iconic Coca-Cola polar bear (this was my daughter's highlight!).
It's a fairly quick visit - two hours is more than enough - and the whole building is pram-friendly. I wasn't sure what to expect before coming here, but it was actually a really fun and interactive visit which my daughter thoroughly enjoyed (though I would recommend heading to the playground opposite the road afterwards to burn off that sugar!).
Book an entry ticket here: Atlanta: World of Coca-Cola General Admission Ticket - 2026 (Use the GetYourGuide app and apply the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your total booking price)
3. Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park is the green space at the heart of downtown Atlanta, built for the 1996 Olympics. It’s free to visit and there are two playgrounds at the edge of the park, next to the Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola, which we went to pretty much every day in between visiting different attractions.
In the middle of the park is also the Fountain of Rings - a huge interactive splash pad laid out in the shape of the Olympic rings, with 251 jets that shoot water up to 10 metres into the air. There are a few choreographed light-and-music shows throughout the day, but you don't need to time your visit around them as the fountain runs as a free-for-all splash pad in between.
The whole park flat, paved and pram accessible, and there's plenty of grass around for a picnic if it’s not too hot. It's a good free activity to break up a day of paid attractions!
4. Tea Around Town
When researching things to do with my daughter while my husband was away, this activity came up and I thought it would be the perfect activity for the two of us!
Tea Around Town is a double-decker pink bus, decorated like a moving tea room with floral decor, that takes you on a roughly 90-minute loop past Atlanta landmarks like the Georgia State Capitol and the Westin Peachtree Plaza while serving tiered trays of scones, finger sandwiches, cakes and a rotation of teas (there's a non-alcoholic mocktail option too).
The bus departs from Centennial Olympic Park, and prices run from around $85 for the "Petite" tea to $125 for the "Luxe" version per person.
Me and my daughter dressed up in our nicest dresses, shared cakes and sandwiches and had a really nice afternoon together!
Book our exact tour here: Atlanta: Tea Around Town Bus Tour with City Highlights
(Use the GetYourGuide app and apply the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your total booking price)
5. Hike up Stone Mountain
If you want a break from the busy city without going too far, then this is a good option. Stone Mountain Park is about a 30-minute drive east of Atlanta and centres around Stone Mountain, the largest exposed granite outcrop in the US.
I would recommend walking up to the top - about a 30-minute (1 mile) trail with roughly 700 feet of elevation. It’s a fairly easy hike which my toddler did partly herself and partly asleep in the carrier (we did this on day 2 of arriving in the U.S. so we were still quite jet lagged!).
From the top, you get great 360 views of the Atlanta skyline and Stone Mountain Park, and there’s plenty of space to sit down and admire the view. Alternatively, you can get the Summit Skyride cable car all the way to the top if you prefer not to walk (around $15-20 per person).
There's also plenty to do around the base of the mountain if hiking isn't your thing: there’s a couple of playgrounds, a scenic railroad that loops the mountain, and when we were there in October there was also a Halloween fair on, so it’s worth checking their website to see what’s on. There are also walking trails around the park - we went for a lovely walk next to one of the lakes and even spotted some turtles!
If you want to do it as a tour: Atlanta: Stone Mountain Park Bus Tour (Use the GetYourGuide app and apply the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your total booking price)
6. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
This was another unexpected visit that ended up being one of our highlights this trip! Fernbank Museum of Natural History is about 15 minutes from downtown, so a bit further than the other attractions, and it’s also included in the City Pass.
The museum has several indoor and outdoor exhibits exploring natural sciences and history in a fun and interactive way, and the building’s centrepiece is the massive Argentinosaurus and Gigantosaurus skeletons in the 3-story Great Hall. Me and my daughter loved exploring the dinosaur exhibit, the kids area 'NatureQuest', and the outdoor play areas. Included in the ticket you also get the choice of one of the 3D film screenings in the giant theatre. The film was about 20 minutes long, so not so long that my toddler had time to get bored, and as she'd never been to the cinema before, she was very excited!
As we went on a weekday, the museum was quiet and we could take our time exploring the different exhibits. There is also a restaurant inside the museum where we had lunch which was affordable and had plenty of options for kids.
But my favourite part about the visit was the canopy walk through the woodlands outside. It's a peaceful walk through the trees, surrounded by wildlife, and there's a nature play area that my toddler loved. If you have the time and want to explore further, there are also walking trails that continue through the woods beyond the canopy walk.
Book an entry ticket here: Atlanta: Fernbank Museum General Admission Ticket Use the GetYourGuide app and apply the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your total booking price)
7. Children's Museum of Atlanta
Another great activity right next to Centennial Olympic Park! The Children's Museum of Atlanta is designed specifically for children aged eight and under, so this is a perfect place to visit if you're in Atlanta with young kids.
The museum has a vast variety of areas that kids can explore - there's a pretend farm, a grocery store, a delivery truck kids can climb into, and a model cow called Buttercup that my toddler enjoyed "milking". The Leaping into Learning area has a toddler-specific zone with a bubble wall and an indoor treehouse and there are also more building and science focused exhibits.
Tickets are priced the same regardless of age (roughly $16-20 per person, with babies under one free), and I'd recommend booking in advance, especially since it gets busy with school groups in the week! Strollers are allowed and can be parked in designated spots. There is no cafe or restaurant inside the museum, but there is an area where you can sit and eat a packed lunch. We ended up spending close to four hours here and our daughter absolutely loved this place!
8. Hike to Tallulah Falls, Georgia
This is the furthest-flung activity on the list, and very much a full-day trip rather than an afternoon add-on, but something I would highly recommend if you have the time! Tallulah Gorge State Park is about two hours northeast of Atlanta, near the town of Tallulah Falls, and the hike takes you around and down into a dramatic two-mile-long canyon with several waterfalls.
It's a fairly easy hike as most of the top rims are flat dirt paths/boardwalked with stairs leading down to the waterfall Hurricane Falls and a suspension bridge crossing the river at the bottom. There are a lot of stairs to get to the bottom though - over 1000! - so if that feels like a bit much you could always stick to the North and South Rim Trails which give you beautiful aerial views of the falls and the canyon.
There is also a visitor centre with a free exhibition and toilets about halfway through the North Rim Trail which is a good place to stop for a break and have a packed lunch on one of the benches.
Our toddler walked most of the rim trails by herself, but we did bring a carrier for when she got tired and she ended up sleeping in the carrier for the entire Hurricane Falls Trail down and up the stairs (which definitely made it a bit tougher!). There are a few other things on the way if you're driving this far - the small Bavarian-themed town Helen is about 35 minutes away, and we also made a pit stop at School Bus Graveyard, which is on the main road and is basically a collection of old graffiti-painted school buses (it was outside of opening hours when we arrived so we just had a quick look from the outside before driving on).
Final Thoughts
Atlanta has loads of options for entertaining kids of different ages but the best part is how close a lot of these attractions were to each other. Staying by Centennial Park gives you access to all of these attractions within walking distance (we stayed at Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park) and if you need to travel around then you can entertain your kids by riding a Waymo so you can all experience what a driverless car is like! As well as the aquarium and various museums there is plenty of stunning nature nearby such as stone mountain or if you can go further then you can hike to see the pretty Tallulah Falls. Either way it's a city full of excitement and adventure with plenty to entertain the kids!
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