Atlanta Staycation Ideas
An Atlanta staycation could be just the thing for you and your family. Many Atlanta area and Georgia schools will be out for a Winter Break next week. Traveling out of town for a vacation may not be an option for many of you but that’s okay! I know for my family, we usually love heading up to Tennessee for winter break, but this year we are staying close to home.
Whether you head to one of the many museums in and around the Atlanta area, hop on some go-karts, or have some water-based fun in an indoor waterpark, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on an Atlanta staycation during Winter Break. Remember, no matter what you do, be sure to enjoy the beauty of Georgia. It’s all around, after all.
Top Things to do in Atlanta for Winter Fun
I have included a large list of fun things you and your family can enjoy right here in Atlanta. We hope our Atlanta Winter Break Staycation ideas will inspire you to get out and enjoy what this beautiful city has to offer! No reason to leave. Stick around! There’s so much to do right here in Atlanta, from seeing a broadway show to visiting a few museums. Enjoy your staycation!
Adventures and Family Fun Activities
Experience Atlanta’s best laser tag arena at the Urban Jungle. They’ve also got an indoor rock climbing wall!
Go bowling at the Painted Pin.
Enjoy all kinds of arcade games, rock climbing, a rope course, go-karting, and more at either the Marietta or Andretti locations of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.
Go rock climbing at Atlanta Rocks in Midtown or Stone Summit at either of its locations – Kennesaw or the Northeast side of Atlanta.
Jump until you’re all jumped out at SkyZone, an indoor trampoline facility that’s fun AND safe for the whole family.
Let the kids hop in their own vehicle and go zooming around the streets of Tiny Towne.
INK (Interactive Neighborhood for Kids) is a great way to spend some time with the kiddos.
At Legoland Discovery Center, kids can build with giant Duplo blocks and really stretch their imaginations.
At Game-X, parents can enjoy an excellent meal and two full bars, while the kids can take advantage of an arcade with over 60 games featuring everything from Pong to Temple Run.
Wrens Nest offers storytime at 1 PM on Saturdays, as well as tours of the home, where adults and kids alike can learn about Joel Candler Harris, better known as Uncle Remus.
Have you ever done an escape room type game yet? If not, The Escape Game located at the Battery is waiting for you and your family (or friends). Not only do you get to work together to try to beat that clock but everyone has to work their brain muscles to try to figure out and find all the clues.
Indoor Swimming
Too cold to take a dip? Never! These indoor pools are open year-round:
- South Cobb Aquatic Center
- Bogan Park in Gwinnett County
- Cherokee County Aquatic Center
- Cumming Aquatic Center
Each county has its own recreational center so check to see if your local area has an indoor swimming pool (or two!) that you can visit this winter.
Museums and Tours
Head indoors to learn a thing or two at these fun and educational spots:
First and foremost, obviously it’s the perfect time to visit the Atlanta Zoo! Why? Because many of the animals enjoy the cooler weather. Go on a sunny day and you’ll see the animals out in their habitats.
Center for Puppetry Arts – Watch a puppet show, and even make your own puppets to take home.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta – Hands-on interactive exhibits to keep the kids busy all day long.
Take a tour of CNN Studios – My family and I really enjoy this tour!
Delta Flight Museum – For all aviation fans.
Fernbank Museum – See the largest dinosaurs in the world. Plus, the floors in the museum are made of 40,000 limestone tiles featuring fossils dating back to the Jurassic period.
Tellus Museum – More dinosaurs and science fun -120,000 square-foot museum located in Cartersville, GA just off I-75 at exit 293.
Georgia Aquarium – Informative and fun!
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library – Everyone loves learning about past Presidents!
Legoland Discovery Center – Hands-on learning fun for kids (and grown-ups).
World of Coca-Cola – Sample more Coca-Cola than you ever cared to.
Do you have a little astronaut in your life? I highly recommend one of Georgia’s awesome planetariums.
Take the little ones gem mining at Lilly Pad Village in Blue Ridge.
Take kids aged 18 months to 5 years old to the Theatre for the Very Young.
See amazing western-themed art at the Booth Western Art Museum.
The Michael C. Carlos Museum has a multitude of children’s programming.
The National Museum for Civil and Human Rights is the perfect place to teach kids about how important the freedoms they have are and how some had to struggle to get them.
Let the children explore the wonders of nature at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
The High Museum of Art has a variety of children’s programming such as the Greene Family Playroom, Toddler Thursdays, Discovery Backpack program, and more.
Whether you’re a believer or not, a trip to Expedition Bigfoot is always an exciting thing to do with the kids.
Head to the drive-in Movie Theatre in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Don’t forget to take advantage of City Pass when visiting these attractions. You’ll get significant savings on some of these destinations through their program!
Parks and Recreations
Just minutes from downtown, Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park is a popular winter destination in Georgia.
Drive along Highway 246 for a breathtaking view of the North Georgia Mountains.
Cloudland Canyon features gorgeous waterfalls, while Blood Mountain has some of the most incredible views found in the entire state.
What are your favorite staycation spots in Georgia? Did I miss any?