How to Spend 5 Days in Atlanta, GA with The Kids

The city of Atlanta is known for being the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., home to the Coca-Cola Corporation, and having one of the busiest airports in the world in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. What I did not know is how family-friendly this historical city is, and the vast activities available for kids. The rich culture and museums galore, along with the temperate weather, makes this bustling southern city a must-see!

When we visited Atlanta for the first time, our boys were 5 years and 2 years old. Planning our daily activities required consideration of their attention span, how long their little legs could walk, and outlets to release their energy. Being that there is such a large variety of things to do, we were never short of activities. The hardest part was choosing what to do in the short 5 days!

Just a tidbit: Atlanta participates in the City Pass program, where for a set price visitors can gain entry into several popular attractions throughout the city. Given what was included on our itinerary, we opted to utilize a City Pass instead of paying individual entry fees as it was more cost effective for us.

ACCOMODATIONS:

Springhill Suites by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead

A northern suburb of the city, Buckhead is a great place to stay as hotel prices are reasonable and don’t always include added fees (such as for daily parking) that you see with the hotels within the city center. Buckhead is also a family-friendly and safe area with many options for food and shopping. Midtown is also a highly rated area to stay as it is closer in proximity to downtown, but still reasonably priced. It is also a livelier area than Buckhead, if you’re looking for more of a scene.

*Note: Our itinerary was created with the consideration of having a car available. Living only 6 hours away from the city, we opted to drive instead of fly. However, a car is not entirely necessary as Atlanta has a train system, called the MARTA, that should be able to take you to most places around the city and its outskirts.

Day 1

• Zoo Atlanta – First stop in the home of the Braves was Zoo Atlanta. Being a Zoology major and an animal lover, I always try to incorporate a zoo, aquarium, or a wildlife conservation center in our itinerary. Not only do we enjoy watching these majestic creatures as a family, but it is an opportunity to teach our boys about other creatures and taking care of our planet. Some fun activities to do at the zoo (besides seeing animals) is to join in on the many keeper talks throughout the day, climb through the Treetop Trails ropes course, hop on board the Norfolk Southern Zoo Train, or cool down in their splash fountain during the summer months. My personal favorite was seeing the Panda Bears. We were lucky enough to see them before they returned home to China in 2024.

Time Spent: depending on how many activities you do, expect anywhere from 3-5 hours.

Lunch: we opted to have lunch at one of the zoo’s eating establishments instead of leaving the zoo grounds. Zoo Atlanta is a bit outside of downtown Atlanta and thus there are not many options within walking distance. Plus, a beer garden at the zoo? That is a win in my husband’s book!

• Ponce City Market – after a day at the Zoo, we headed to Ponce City Market for dinner. Ponce City Market is a food hall filled with both food and retail vendors. There is also a rooftop bar, offering skyline views while satisfying your libations needs. If you are looking for a place to fulfill the cravings of your entire group, this is the place to go. The food options were abundant and mouthwatering. I appreciated there being both classic restaurants (for the kiddos) and fusion restaurants (for us parents). There is also paid parking available if traveling by car.

Must eats: Bibi (Persian), Boti Walla (Indian street food), Cake Culture (for dessert!).

Day 2

• Georgia Aquarium – once distinguished as the largest aquarium in the world, the Georgia Aquarium is a must do when visiting Atlanta. It still holds the title of the largest aquarium in the USA, which in itself is a reason why to visit! This impressive conservation facility is located in the heart of Atlanta near Centennial Olympic Park. They have a large variety of marine wildlife, including the largest specie of shark, the Whale Shark. Be sure to also check out either their dolphin or sea lion show to learn more about these 2 fascinating species and to see them in action (the shows are free with admission but do require tickets so be sure to snag yours as soon as you arrive as they can sell out quickly).

Time spent: this is dependent on how quickly you move through the exhibits. Expect at minimum 2-3 hours to see everything, but 5-6 hours if you take your time.

Lunch: within walking distance of the Georgia Aquarium is Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria. Serving up New York Style pizza, this joint sure hit the spot after a morning at the aquarium. We opted for a cheese pizza and Caesar salad, with a side of garlic flatbread (which was the winning dish of the meal, although the pizza was a close second!)

• Centennial Olympic Park – this popular park was developed in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. It became the hub of the games for spectators and entertainment. Now it is a central gathering place for residents and tourists alike. With surrounding hotels, eateries, and attractions such as Skyview Atlanta, Coca-Cola Museum and Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park is the place to be. There are also numerous walking paths throughout this 22-acre park, as well as a playground for the kiddos. Be sure to snag a photo with the iconic Olympic rings!

Time spent: you can spend a quick 30-minutes here, or all day. I suggest at least a couple hours of your time to soak in the scenery. This is also the perfect place to allow the kiddos to run free.

DaY 3

• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park – no visit to Atlanta is complete without visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park. The city of Atlanta holds a lot of significance in the life of arguably one of the most well-known names in American history. The park is spread throughout several blocks within walking distance and is free to visit. You will be able to see the birth home of MLK Jr., Fire Station No. 6 where he spent much of his youth, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and his final resting place with his wife Mrs. Coretta Scott King. A visit here is the perfect opportunity to teach the kiddos about the civil rights movement, and the influence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Time spent: considering the amount of walking and all the sites to see, expect about 2-3 hours, especially if taking the time to look at and soak in all the exhibits.

• Krog Street Market – another food hall establishment just under a mile from MLK Jr. National Historic Park. We took a nice stroll from the park to have lunch. The vibe at Krog Street Market is very different from Ponce City Market as there are more outdoor areas to enjoy. This is a great spot if you are looking for something more laid back. It is also located along the Atlanta Beltline, a nearly 11-mile paved trail system that goes throughout the city.

Must eat: Recess (fresh grain bowls), Pour Taproom (craft beer)

• Chastain Park – nestled in the hills of Buckhead is Chastain Park, a 268-acre city park filled with activities for outdoor enthusiasts. There are walking trails, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and even an amphitheater. We came specifically for the playground. Renovated in 2016, you will find the typical play structures and swings along with unique ones. The playground is quite spread out, which lends to more variety and exercise for the kiddos. Our boys were in heaven!

Just a tidbit: Parking at Chastain Park can be difficult to find on busy days. Don’t be surprised if you have to walk a bit to the playground (trust me though, it is worth it!). Also be mindful of parking signage as there are numerous residential areas surrounding the playground.

Dinner: Atlanta has a large Asian community with a plethora of restaurants and Asian-focused grocery stores. We were excited to find some good Asian food as we felt deprived with our move from Seattle to the suburbs of Florida. Next to the Super H-Mart grocery store in the Doraville neighborhood, we found a conveyor belt sushi restaurant called Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. It had great food and our boys got a kick out of the “food delivery process”.

Day 4

• World of Coca Cola – have you ever wondered the secret behind the success of this iconic brand? A visit to this popular attraction may just give you the answers! With exhibits such as the historical timeline of Coca-Cola, to a Beverage Lab where you learn the science behind the drink, you will see why Coke has etched itself in the history books. Don’t forget to visit “The Vault” to learn about one of the most safeguarded recipes in the world.

Time Spent: this will be solely dependent on whether there are soda drinkers in your group and the age ranges of the kiddos. We are not soda drinkers ourselves and thus many of the popular exhibits that include a taste-testing were not of interest to us. And our boys being the young ages they were got bored fairly quickly. We were there no more than 1 hour. But if you and your family want to experience all the World of Coca-Cola has to offer, plan for at least a 2-3 hour visit.

• Legoland Discovery Center – for anyone with brick building enthusiasts, the Legoland Discovery Center is sure to be a hit. You will find this Lego attraction at the Phipps Plaza in the Buckhead neighborhood. Not to be confused with the Legoland Theme Park, the Discovery Centers are satellite locations that offer brick building galore, a Miniland themed with the city of location, and even a ride or two! It is the perfect place to put up your feet and let your kids’ creativity come alive.

Time Spent: my oldest is a Lego fanatic and would literally stay all day if he could. If on a time crunch, I would suggest allotting at least 2 hours to enjoy all the elements.

Day 5

• Fernbank Museum of Natural History – this museum was a pleasant surprise in our itinerary. Our boys love a good science and nature museum, but the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is quite possibly one of the best we have been to. Not only did their main atrium house massive dinosaur fossils, but their exhibits were also unique. A highlight of the day was exploring the WildWoods and Fernbank Forest. Off of the museum building is an interpretive trail system where you can learn about and observe native plants and wildlife. There is also an impressive nature play area for the kiddos to run around and explore. This is an attraction we would highly recommend you add to your next trip to Atlanta.

Time Spent: to fully experience all the exhibits (including the outdoor section), I would suggest allotting at least 3-4 hours. If you have little ones in tow, clearing out your schedule to spend a full day may be warranted. We were there nearly 7 hours and our boys were still going strong at the end of the day!

Dinner: For a last hoorah meal, we headed to Brickworks in Midtown. At the time of our visit, they were still in the process of bringing in new businesses. However, the vibe was still awesome with a variety of eateries, shopping, and “hang out” spaces. We ate at a delicious restaurant called Culinary Dropout. Unfortunately, in January of 2025 they closed and moved their location to Dunwoody (which is not too far north of the city if you wanted to give it a try!). But Brickworks itself is alive and well, and definitely worth the visit!

Have you recently visited Atlanta? Please share your thoughts and recommendations not mentioned in this post!