What to do in Atlanta with Kids: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary
Atlanta is one of those cities that is surprisingly very kid friendly.
You’ve got world-class aquariums, interactive museums, animals, parks, hands-on experiences and plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore. And then, just beyond the city, the North Georgia mountains are waiting.
That combination is exactly why I think Atlanta makes such a great family getaway, and is perfect for a long weekend.
You can spend a day or two exploring some of the city’s biggest attractions, and then make your escape to the cutest little Bavarian-style mountain town of Helen.
The hardest part is narrowing down your options to fit into a weekend!
This ultimate guide to Atlanta with kids will help you do just that. I’m sharing our favorite family-friendly attractions, where to stay, how to organize your days and a detailed three-day Atlanta itinerary that combines the city’s biggest highlights with a unique day trip to Helen.
Atlanta with Kids: 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Georgia Aquarium + Coca Cola Museum
Morning: Centennial Park + Georgia Aquarium
After breakfast, grab a coffee and take a stroll through Centennial Park, which is located directly across the street from the Georgia Aquarium.
This park is a really great spot for a morning or evening stroll, and offers multiple play areas for kids, as well as some great history of the city for adults.
Next, head to the main attraction of the weekend: The Georgia Aquarium.
If you only have time for one major Atlanta attraction, make it this.
The aquarium is home to an enormous variety of marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays, beluga whales, sea otters, penguins, sea lions and more.
The Ocean Voyager gallery is one of the biggest highlights. Standing in front of the massive viewing window while whale sharks and rays glide overhead is the kind of experience that your kids will be talking about long after the trip ends.
Plan on spending at least three hours here. If your kids love animals or you want to attend presentations, I’d give yourself closer to four hours.
The aquarium uses timed entry for tickets, so make sure to reserve your tickets before you visit. Also note that you will need to make a reservation for the free dolphin and sea lion presentations, which can be done online or through the app the day of your visit.
I’ve put together a complete guide with everything you need to know before your visit: Georgia Aquarium Tips & Tricks.
Lunch: Tea Around Town
For a unique afternoon experience, I recommend booking a sightseeing tea party with Tea Around Town.
This is a fun chance to experience the sights of downtown Atlanta combined with a chance to feel a bit fancy.
Afternoon: World of Coca-Cola
After Tea Around Town, head over to World of Coca-Cola.
Since Coca-Cola was created in Atlanta, this is one of those attractions that really is unique and worth the visit, even if you aren’t a huge Coke fan.
Inside, you’ll learn about the history of the brand, see memorabilia and interactive exhibits, and make your way to the testing room, where you get to try Coca Cola products from all over the world.
World of Coca-Cola is located directly next to Georgia Aquarium, making the two very easy to combine on the same day.
I’d recommend about 2 hours to explore here.
Book your advanced tickets here
Head back to the Aquarium
After you finish at the Coca Cola Museum, head back to the Georgia Aquarium for the rest of the day. Make sure to reserve a spot for the dolphin show, grab dinner at the Coastline Cafe, and spend some more time watching the belugas and incredible whale shark.
Grab desert at The Yard Milkshake Bar after a long day of sightseeing before heading back to your hotel.
Day 2: Helen day trip
Today, you’ll get out of downtown Atlanta and experience one of the most unique little towns in North Georgia.
Morning: Drive to Helen
Start your morning by heading north to Helen, Georgia for one of the most unique day trips you’ve ever taken.
The drive is roughly 90 minutes, depending on traffic and where you’re staying in Atlanta.
This is one of the reasons I recommend having a car for this itinerary – if you decide to skip this day, you can probably get away with ride shares, walking and public transportation.
Late morning / early Afternoon: Explore Helen
Spend some time exploring the Bavarian inspired downtown of Helen. Grab lunch at Hofbräuhaus Restaurant for a taste of Germany, right in the middle of Georgia.
Make sure to grab a pretzel and some bier cheese – so good!
Then hop in some of the shops and wander around downtown.
Make sure to stop in Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, and grab a coffee or drink at Yonah Cofee.
Afternoon: Capyfriends Cafe
Head to your afternoon reservation at Capyfriends Cafe.
This is not your average animal encounter.
At Capyfriends Cafe, you can meet, interact with and learn about capybaras + other exotic animals by feeding, petting and snuggling with them.
We booked the capybara + friends experience, which lasted 50 minutes and allowed us to interact with capybaras, hedgehogs, armadillos, a fennec fox and more.
If your kids are animal lovers, they will adore this experience! Hand feeding 3 capybaras will without a doublt become a core memory for my daughter.
Late Afternoon: Tube the Chattahoochee
If you’re visiting during the summer months, I highly recommend spending the afternoon floating the Chattahoochee River.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but this was so much fun!
We booked with Cool River Tubing, which offers a 1 hour or 2.5 hour float option. We picked the 1 hour and it was perfect – very relaxing with a couple exciting parts where the flow of the river picks up a bit.
This is family friendly and suitable for kids ages 2+, with all children required to wear a life jacket (provided).
If you’re visiting Helen outside of tubing season, substitute another outdoor adventure such as a waterfall hike or time at Unicoi State Park.
Evening: Downtown Helen
Finish your day by grabbing dinner and ice cream in downtown Helen before heading back to Atlanta for the night.
Day 3: Pick your Adventure
For the final day, build your itinerary around the things your kids love doing.
If you have toddlers or preschoolers:
The Children’s Museum is designed specifically around hands-on play and is the perfect activity for younger kids who want to get hands on with some great pretend play.
If you have dinosaur lovers:
Fernbank Museum + Fernbank Forest
Spend the morning with dinosaurs and natural history exhibits, then get outside in the forest.
If you have animal lovers:
This zoo has so many unique exhibits to offer animal lovers, from interactive encounters to one of the largest gorilla exhibits in North America.
If you have slime lovers:
Who knew there was a slime museum?! Well, I can assure you that it’s actually really fun for both kids and adults! Spend a few hours exploring all the different slime textures and colors, take your turn getting slimed, and even create your own unique slime concoction.
If you have LEGO lovers:
This is a great rainy-day choice for kids who could happily spend an entire day building with LEGO’s.
If you want an outdoor adventure:
Swap the city museums for hiking, outdoor attractions and mountain views.
If you have sports lovers:
Catch an Atlanta Hawks or Atlanta Braves game, or tour the College Football Hall of Fame
Atlanta is full of fun sporting events for the whole family.
If you want something unique:
This is a fun option for kids who enjoy storytelling, theater and creative experiences, or are just looking for a really unique experience.
Where to Stay in Atlanta With Kids
Where you stay can make a surprisingly big difference in your Atlanta experience.
For this itinerary, I’d focus on Downtown, Midtown or Buckhead.
Downtown Atlanta
Downtown is the most convenient choice if your primary goal is seeing the major attractions.
You’re within walking distance to so many of Atlanta’s highlights, like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Centennial Olympic Park and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
My recommendations:
- Hyatt Place Centennial Park – free breakfast, sleeps 6, + 3 minute walk to the aquarium
- Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta – swimming pool + family suites
- Springhill Suites – free breakfast + walking distance to Georgia Aquarium
Best for: First-time visitors who want to walk to major attractions or plan on spending most of their time downtown.
Midtown
Midtown is a great choice for families who want to be centrally located but don’t necessarily want to stay right in the middle of the downtown tourist district.
You’re closer to attractions such as Atlanta Botanical Garden, Piedmont Park and the Center for Puppetry Arts.
My recommendations:
- Homewood Suites Midtown Atlanta – free breakfast + year round outdoor pool
- Home2Suites by Hilton – free breakfast + family room options
- Hyatt Centric Midtown – family rooms + indoor pool
Best for: Families who want a central location with a mix of attractions, restaurants and green space.
Buckhead
Buckhead is a good choice if you’re planning to visit Sloomoo Institute, want a more residential/upscale feel or prefer being farther from downtown.
It also makes Day 2 easier because you’re already positioned toward the north side of the city before driving to Helen.
My recommendations:
- Fairfield Inn & Suites – family rooms, indoor pool, close to Lenox Mall
- Hyatt Place Atlanta Buckhead – free breakfast, rooms that sleep 6, budget friendly
- Courtyard by Marriott – onsite Starbucks, 1 minute walk to MARTA station
Best for: Families who prioritize hotels, restaurants, shopping and easy access to northern Atlanta.
How to Get Around Atlanta With Kids
Should you rent a car in Atlanta?
For this particular itinerary, yes.
You can absolutely visit downtown Atlanta without a car. In fact, if you are only planning to visit the aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park – no car needed, as they are all within a block of each other.
But once you add in other activities like Zoo Atlanta, the botanical garden, Sloomoo Institute, or a day trip to Helen, having a car is a must.
Can you use public transportation?
Yes. MARTA can be useful for getting around portions of Atlanta, particularly if you’re staying near a station.
But for a family trip that includes a Helen day trip, I would still rent a car.
Is Atlanta CityPASS Worth It?
If you’re visiting several of Atlanta’s major attractions, I would highly recommend comparing the cost of individual admission with Atlanta CityPASS before purchasing your tickets.
CityPASS currently bundles five Atlanta attractions and can save your family up to 47%. World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Aquarium are included among the participating attractions.
Make a quick list of your must-do attractions, add up the individual prices and compare. If you are planning to visit even a couple of the included attractions, more than likely the CityPASS will save your family some money.
Final Thoughts
Atlanta with kids is a perfect weekend getaway that would be great for any season and age. There is so much to do and see in this city, and there is no shortage of family fun!
Also read: Georgia Aquarium Tips & Tricks: Everything to Know Before you Visit
