Atlanta has long been known as a fast-growing convention city, but it never really had a must-see family-style attraction until last November when the Georgia Aquarium (404/581-4000) opened its doors. Predictions were the world's largest collection of fish would hook two million visitors the first year. It took less than four months, however, to welcome its first million guests. A tip if you're considering a weekend visit: order your tickets online to avoid waiting in the lines, which often snake around the building.

Atlanta is a great destination for a budget family getaway, and a city with a surprising variety of things to do and see. Unlike, say, somewhere such as Orlando, famous for its family-friendly theme parks, Atlanta has traditionally not been known for its tourist attractions. But as befits its size, there's a lot to do here.

Everything about Atlanta is BIG. The city is almost 132-square-miles with a population in the 28-county Atlanta metro area approaching five million people. Plan ahead, and you can enjoy the best of it in a long weekend with the kids.

The Perfect Three Days

A perfect place to begin a weekend visit is at one of the same-day, half-price AtlanTIX booths. Located at Underground Atlanta and the Lenox Square mall, the booths allow visitors to buy half-price tickets to hundreds of attractions and more than a dozen cultural attractions including Zoo Atlanta.

During the baseball season, you can buy two tickets to the Atlanta Braves for just $10. If you want to stand, it will cost you just $1 each. There's also a team Hall of Fame.

It's easy to get around without a car. Try MARTA, Atlanta's rapid rail system. Even if you are arriving by plane, you can catch the train in the baggage claim at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The rail line stops in the major business and tourist areas of Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead. From the airport to downtown, it's just 20 minutes. The price is $1.75. You can see a lot of Atlanta during the ride.

For mobile families, there's a walking tour that covers the history of the city offered by the Atlanta Preservation Center (404/688-3353). Guides will take you through the Sweet Auburn/Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District and show you the Druid Hills neighborhood featured in the movie "Driving Miss Daisy." Adult tickets are $10, or $5 for children.

Free Family Fun in Atlanta

Saturday mornings until noon in the spring and summer, the Urban Green Market takes place at Piedmont Park. It's a fun and reasonably priced place to eat a breakfast featuring Georgia-grown produce, baked goods and specialty foods. From here, 18 miles of sidewalk connect Piedmont Park to the Georgia Institute of Technology, through the suburbs of Atlanta, and all the way to Stone Mountain Park. Pedestrians, bikers and rollerbladers are welcome. You can stop and see the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum (404/865-7100) and later, have lunch in the city of Decatur.

Year-round activities at the Centennial Olympic Park include free regular musical performances and Fountain light shows, where music and special effects are synchronized over the Olympic rings.

Turner First Thursdays offer self-guided tours of downtown galleries that go on the first Thursday of each month. Your family will appreciate that the galleries offer complimentary appetizers and beverages. Self-guided tours are also available year-round, without charge, at the Georgia State Capitol.

Also free of charge and well worthwhile is the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site, where you can join a tour of his birth home, the church where his father preached, or his tomb. It's open daily year-round.

More History & a Meal for Under $10

There is much history in this Southern city. Downtown, where the Underground Atlanta's History Tour takes participants around many historic buildings, is a good place to begin; tickets are $7.

The famed Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum has the world's largest diorama painting that revolves around viewers. It depicts the1864 Civil War of Atlanta. Admission year-round is also $7. The Atlanta History Center ( 404/814-4000 or visit ) in Buckhead teaches children the basic skills that were needed to operate a farm more than 150 years ago. There are also animal sculptures and a ca. 1910 mansion.

For a memorable Sunday brunch, you can try the all-you-can-eat gourmet pizza and salad at MidCity Cuisine or as many authentic tacos as possible at Sala-Sabor de Mexico. Still affordable and a real name-dropper when you get home is Ted's Montana Grill (yes, Ted Turner), which offers bison burgers as well as grilled cheese sandwiches and chili.

A Deserving, Child-Friendly Place to Stay

I stayed at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center (404/659-0000) in the heart of Atlanta. It offers good service and deserves its four-diamond designation. There are plenty of child-friendly amenities such as suitcases filled with games and books, a goodie bag during check-in and menu choices prepared especially for young visitors. Parents are also provided a list of top family attractions, local emergency numbers and a Safety-1st Aid Kit that includes a night light. The Omni has an upscale ambiance without too high a price, and summer weekends are top values.

For more information, contact the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (404/521-6600).

David Wilkening, a Florida-based journalist, has contributed to Florida Trend, New York Times, Newsweek, Orlando Sentinel, Detroit Free Press, Palm Beach Post-Times, Toronto Sun, AAA magazines and the Wall St. Journal, and to travel trade publications such as Birnbaum's, Travel Agent, Travel Weekly, and Zagat's.

Photos courtesy of Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Comments:

The Georgia Aquarium recently got two new guests -- two female whale sharks (Alice and Trixie) to be the companions of the two male whale sharks in hopes they will mate. The girls -- at 11 and 14 feet long -- were transported to Atlanta from Taipei Taiwan in a special B-747 freighter with sophisticated marine life support systems and were coddled like first class passengers.

I completely agree with the author about ordering tickets ahead of time and avoiding crowds at this aquarium. Avoid weekends and holidays and get there early if possible so your children will be able to enjoy the exhibits.

Posted Wed Oct 4, 2006 5:50pm by anonymous

Sounds like the fish had a better in-flight experience than I've ever had!

Posted Fri Oct 6, 2006 3:30pm by anonymous

Fernbank Museum is a cool spot for kids (and grown-ups). They also have an IMAX theater right inside the museum. They offer jazz and cocktails on Friday nights and you can take your beverage right into the IMAX when you're done enjoying the music.

MARTA can be a great transportation option, but typically doesn't venture out past central parts of town. It doesn't even go to the Braves Stadium, though there is shuttle service from the 5-points station. There are buses to connect to the rest of town, but it can be a cumbersome process. I really think Atlanta is overall a driving town.

Posted Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:34pm by finchnyc

Please log in to post a comment

Not an FTF Member yet? Sign up today for blog and boards access, our award-winning vacation deal alerts, and custom trip-planning assistance from our staff of family travelers.