If you’re looking for the very best things to do in Atlanta with kids, you’ll find no shortage of family-friendly attractions, fascinating history, outdoor adventures and delicious Southern food waiting to be discovered. Atlanta is one of the most exciting family destinations in the USA, combining world-famous attractions with beautiful green spaces, important historical landmarks and plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning. Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend or planning a longer family holiday in Georgia, you’ll find enough things to do in Atlanta with children to keep everyone entertained. From exploring the childhood home of Martin Luther King Jr. to sampling juicy Georgia peaches, discovering the secrets behind Coca-Cola and watching whale sharks glide through one of the world’s largest aquariums, Atlanta offers a fantastic mix of education and entertainment. We visited Atlanta on our southern USA road trip, starting and ending in the city. We loved everything it had to offer and the friendliness of the people. Here’s our guide to some of the best family attractions and experiences in Atlanta.
👩💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.
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Table of Contents
Discover the World of Coca-Cola
No visit to Atlanta would be complete without visiting the World of Coca-Cola.
As the birthplace of the famous soft drink, Atlanta celebrates its most iconic export with a colourful and interactive attraction that proves hugely popular with families. We loved our trip here, that was fun as well as interesting to learn more about this famous beverage.
Children will love discovering the history of Coca-Cola, seeing memorabilia from around the world and learning how one small pharmacy invention became a global phenomenon.
One of the highlights is the tasting room, where you can sample dozens of Coca-Cola products from countries across the globe. Some were delicious and some we thought were terrible.
The attraction also features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences and plenty of opportunities for family photographs.
The World of Coca-Cola is included with Atlanta CityPASS and is one of the most popular things to do in Atlanta with children.
Get your Atlanta CityPass here.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to the World of Coca Cola here.
Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home
One of the most important historical attractions in Atlanta is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.
Located in the Sweet Auburn neighbourhood, this fascinating site gives families the opportunity to learn about one of America’s most influential civil rights leaders.
The highlight for many visitors is seeing the modest Victorian home where Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929. Walking through the house helps bring history to life for children and provides an excellent starting point for conversations about equality and human rights.
The wider historical park also includes Ebenezer Baptist Church, where both Martin Luther King Jr. and his father preached, along with exhibits exploring the American Civil Rights Movement.
For families seeking educational things to do in Atlanta with kids, this should be high on your list.
Take a Martin Luther King Jnr walking tour of this historical park.
Explore the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Located close to Centennial Olympic Park, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights offers a thought-provoking experience for older children and teenagers.
Interactive exhibits explore both the American Civil Rights Movement and ongoing human rights issues around the world.
The museum does an excellent job of helping young visitors understand the courage and determination of those who fought for equality and justice.
This attraction is included with Atlanta CityPASS, making it an excellent value addition to your itinerary.
Get your Atlanta CityPass here.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights here.
Visit the Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is regularly ranked among the best aquariums in the world and is home to thousands of marine animals.
Families can see whale sharks, manta rays, sea otters, penguins and countless species of fish across a range of beautifully designed habitats.
The Ocean Voyager exhibit is particularly impressive, featuring one of the largest aquarium viewing windows in the world.
For families interested in marine conservation, there are plenty of educational displays and opportunities to learn more about ocean ecosystems.
It is worth noting, however, that the aquarium does keep dolphins in captivity. This is something we feel shouldn’t be allowed. We would like to suggest that you at least choose to avoid the dolphin exhibits, but you may prefer not to visit the aquarium at all because of ethical concerns surrounding captive dolphins. We believe families should be aware of this before deciding whether to include the attraction in their itinerary.
The Georgia Aquarium is included with Atlanta CityPASS.
Get your Atlanta CityPass here.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to Georgia Aquarium here.
Enjoy Centennial Olympic Park
Built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, Centennial Olympic Park remains one of Atlanta’s most popular family attractions. We really loved the space with beautiful flowers and fun fountains which danced to the music.
Children will love running through the famous Fountain of Rings, a playful water feature that provides welcome relief during Atlanta’s hot summer months.
The park’s iconic Olympic Rings offer a great photo opportunity and help visitors connect with Atlanta’s sporting heritage.
The wide open spaces are ideal for letting children burn off energy between museum visits and sightseeing.
You’ll often find festivals, concerts and community events taking place here throughout the year, making every visit slightly different.
Its central location also makes it a perfect base for exploring many of Atlanta’s major attractions.
Sample Georgia’s Famous Peaches
You simply can’t visit Georgia without enjoying its most famous fruit.
Known as the Peach State, Georgia takes enormous pride in its peaches, and you’ll find them appearing on menus throughout Atlanta.
One of our favourite breakfast treats was a delicious serving of Georgia French toast topped with fresh peaches and crunchy pecans – the perfect Southern start to the day.
There are countless ways to enjoy peaches during your Atlanta adventure, including peach cobbler and peach pancakes.
Sampling local food is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Atlanta with kids, and Georgia peaches should definitely be on your family foodie bucket list.
Watch the planes near the airport and visit the Porsche Experience Center
Atlanta is home to one of the busiest airports in the world, and aviation-loving children will be fascinated by the constant stream of aircraft arriving and departing.
The area around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers several excellent plane-spotting locations where families can watch aircraft from around the globe.
Nearby, the Porsche Experience Center provides another exciting attraction for car enthusiasts.
Families can watch high-performance vehicles tackle a specially designed race track and obstacle course while learning more about automotive engineering and design.
Even if you’re not taking part in one of the driving experiences, the visitor facilities and viewing areas make for an enjoyable family outing.
Explore Zoo Atlanta – things to do in Atlanta with kids
Animal lovers should also consider a visit to Zoo Atlanta.
Located in Grant Park, the zoo is home to hundreds of species from around the world, including giant pandas, gorillas, elephants and reptiles.
The zoo places a strong emphasis on conservation and education, helping children learn about wildlife protection while enjoying close-up animal encounters.
Its manageable size makes it particularly suitable for younger children.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to Zoo Atlanta here
Take a stroll through Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden offers a peaceful escape from the city’s busy attractions.
Children love exploring the Canopy Walk, which takes visitors high above the forest floor, while seasonal displays and interactive exhibits help keep younger visitors engaged.
The garden’s children’s areas often include hands-on activities, making it far more family-friendly than many visitors initially expect.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to the Atlanta Botanical Garden here.
Visit the Fernbank Museum of Natural History
For dinosaur enthusiasts, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a must-see.
Towering dinosaur skeletons greet visitors in the main hall, while interactive exhibits explore everything from prehistoric life to Georgia’s natural landscapes.
The museum’s giant-screen theatre and outdoor nature experiences provide plenty of opportunities for learning through play.
It’s one of the best educational attractions in Atlanta for families with school-age children.
Catch a baseball game at Truist Park
Experiencing an American sporting event can be one of the highlights of a family trip to the United States with kids.
Home to the Atlanta Braves, Truist Park offers a lively atmosphere and a fantastic introduction to Major League Baseball.
Even families unfamiliar with the sport often find themselves caught up in the excitement, especially thanks to the family-friendly entertainment and food options throughout the stadium.
Take a family walk along the Atlanta BeltLine
The Atlanta BeltLine has transformed former railway corridors into vibrant walking and cycling routes connecting many of the city’s neighbourhoods.
Families can enjoy public art installations, playgrounds, cafés and green spaces while exploring a different side of Atlanta.
Hiring bikes is a fun way to cover more ground, and the largely flat routes are suitable for older children.
Save money with Atlanta CityPASS
Families planning to visit several major attractions should consider purchasing Atlanta CityPASS.
The pass can provide significant savings and includes admission to attractions such as World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights Georgia Aquarium. If you’re planning to explore multiple attractions over a few days, CityPASS can be a very cost-effective option.
Get your Atlanta CityPass here.
Atlanta successfully combines history, culture, science, food and entertainment into one highly accessible destination.
Atlanta was a city we really enjoyed, it was the perfect start to our southern USA road trip.
Families can learn about the life of Martin Luther King Jr., discover the story of Coca-Cola, enjoy world-class museums, splash through Olympic fountains, sample delicious Georgia peaches and experience genuine Southern hospitality.
Whether your children love animals, history, science, sport or simply exploring somewhere new, you’ll find plenty of memorable things to do in Atlanta with kids.
It’s a city that manages to be educational without ever feeling boring, making it one of the most rewarding family destinations in the American South.
