A Family Day in Atlanta: Where to Take Kids

The best things to do in Atlanta with kids are Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta for animals, the Children's Museum of Atlanta for under-8s, and Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline for free outdoor time. Most of the big attractions sit in two clusters, Downtown and Midtown, so you can do a full day without crossing the city twice.

This is a parent's plan, not a catalogue. Pick one cluster, one big ticketed stop and one free stop, and leave before anyone melts down. Eleven places are below, each checked against its own official site in November 2026.

How we chose

Every pick is inside Atlanta, Georgia, was confirmed open on its official site, and has something specific for children. We left out places we could not confirm and places outside the city. Hours and prices change, so treat everything here as typical and check the official site before you go. Opinions, such as what we would skip, are ours.

Which places suit which ages?

Toddlers and preschoolers do best at the Children's Museum of Atlanta, the Piedmont Park playgrounds and the Center for Puppetry Arts. Early elementary kids are best matched with Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta and the Atlanta History Center. Tweens and teens usually prefer the Beltline, Skyline Park and the High Museum of Art.

• Under 3: Piedmont Park, the Beltline, Children's Museum of Atlanta. Zoo Atlanta general admission is free for children under 3, and Skyline Park at Ponce City Market is free under 3.
• Ages 3 to 7: Children's Museum of Atlanta, Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta History Center.
• Ages 8 to 12: Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, Skyline Park at Ponce City Market.
• Teens: Beltline walk to Ponce City Market, High Museum of Art.

The picks

1. Georgia Aquarium (Downtown)

Georgia Aquarium at 225 Baker St NW in Downtown Atlanta is open 365 days a year, typically 9 am to 6 pm, with last entry about 30 minutes before closing. Sea lion and dolphin presentations require same-day reservations, so book them when you arrive rather than assuming you can walk in. Ticket prices are dynamic, so buy online ahead of time on the official site. Go at opening for the shortest lines.

2. Children's Museum of Atlanta (Downtown)

The Children's Museum of Atlanta, at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW, is built for babies, toddlers and pre-K children. It is typically open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 am to 3:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays, which catches many visiting families out. Outside snacks are welcome and snacks are sold on site. Parking is pre-purchased nearby, and MARTA is an option. Details are on the official site.

3. Centennial Olympic Park (Downtown)

Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave W NW in Downtown Atlanta, is the open-air breather between two ticketed stops, typically open daily 7 am to 11 pm. Its Fountain of Rings runs daily shows listed at 12:00, 2:30, 6:30 and 9:00 pm, which makes a good reward for small kids after a museum. Confirm show times on the official site before you plan around them.

4. Center for Puppetry Arts (Midtown)

The Center for Puppetry Arts at 1404 Spring St NW in Midtown has a museum and live puppet shows, and each program lists its own recommended age range. Museum admission is free for children under 3. Performance tickets are required from age 1, and children under 1 can attend free on a lap. Check the official site for the show that matches your child's age.

5. High Museum of Art (Midtown)

The High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St NE, is typically open Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday noon to 5 pm, closed Monday. Children 5 and under enter the High Museum of Art free, and it offers Young Children programs and the Greene Family Learning Gallery. It suits ages 6 and up best, and an hour is plenty. See the official tickets page for current admission.

6. Piedmont Park (Midtown)

Piedmont Park, 1320 Monroe Dr NE, is free and has two playgrounds. Mayor's Grove is a Boundless playground designed for all abilities, the park lists restrooms and picnic tables among its amenities, and the Noguchi Playscape sits near the 12th Street Gate. The Monroe Drive garage is shared with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, is cashless, and the first 30 minutes are free. More at piedmontpark.org.

7. Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail (Old Fourth Ward to Reynoldstown)

The Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail runs from the tip of Piedmont Park to Reynoldstown, with access at Monroe Dr, Ponce City Market and Krog Street. The Beltline lists four restrooms with baby changing stations, including ones near Piedmont Park and the Historic Ward Skatepark. It connects to Historic Fourth Ward Park and passes Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, so lunch is built in. Start at the Beltline site.

8. Skyline Park at Ponce City Market (Old Fourth Ward)

Skyline Park, the rooftop of Ponce City Market at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, has games, mini golf and rides that cost extra on top of entry. Entry is typically $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under Monday to Thursday, and $15 and $8 Friday to Sunday; under 3 is free. Hours vary by day, with weekday opening at 3 pm, so it is an afternoon stop. Check poncecityroof.com.

9. Atlanta Botanical Garden (Midtown)

The Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave, has the Lou Glenn Children's Garden outdoors. Hours change by season, and winter days can close as early as 3 pm, so plan a morning visit in the cooler months. Parking is in the shared SAGE Parking Facility next to the garden. See the official site.

10. Zoo Atlanta (Grant Park)

Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Avenue SE in Grant Park, Atlanta, typically closes at 5 pm, opens at 9 or 10 am depending on the season, and takes last entry at 3:30 pm. It closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas. General admission is free for children under 3, and food stands close an hour before the zoo does. Daytime admission varies by date, so check the official site.

11. Atlanta History Center (Buckhead)

The Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW in Buckhead, Atlanta, is typically open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, on a 33-acre campus of gardens, woodlands and trails. Its Goizueta Children's Experience is a 5,000-square-foot space where children up to about age 8 learn Atlanta through play, and its theme changes every year. Plan for a half day at most with little ones. Details are on the official site.

Where do you park?

Parking is the part that goes wrong, so decide before you leave. At Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden, use the shared Monroe Dr garage (cashless, first 30 minutes free). At Ponce City Market, parking is pay-by-QR or text, and self-park is $3.60 for the first hour, rising to $12.60 for two to three hours. At Krog Street Market, parking needs registration even for short stops, and the surface lot is free before 10 am. Downtown, the Children's Museum sells pre-purchased parking nearby, and MARTA is an option for the Downtown cluster. Read the Downtown Atlanta and Midtown pages for the area layout.

Where do you eat with kids?

For a quick, forgiving lunch near Midtown, The Varsity at 61 North Avenue in Atlanta is a counter-service hot dog and burger stand; call 404-881-1706 for current hours. On the Beltline, Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, at 99 Krog Street NE, have many food stalls under one roof, which helps when a family cannot agree. The Children's Museum allows outside snacks and the Zoo has food stands. For more ideas browse food and dining.

What does a full family day look like?

This Downtown route works best for ages 3 to 10 and avoids crossing town. Use it Thursday to Tuesday, because the Children's Museum is closed Wednesday.

1. 9:00 am: Arrive at Georgia Aquarium at opening and reserve your sea lion or dolphin presentation on arrival.
2. 11:45 am: Walk to Centennial Olympic Park for the 12:00 Fountain of Rings show.
3. 12:30 pm: Eat lunch with outside snacks as a backup, then let the kids run.
4. 1:30 pm: Children's Museum of Atlanta for pre-K and early elementary kids, which is typically open until 3:30 or 4:30 pm.
5. 3:30 pm: Leave. Tired kids do not improve by staying.

For an older group, swap to a Midtown day: High Museum in the morning, Piedmont Park playgrounds at midday, then walk the Beltline to Skyline Park.

What should you check before you go?

Run through this list the night before and the day goes smoother.

• Check each official site for hours and prices the day before.
• Book Georgia Aquarium sea lion or dolphin presentations on arrival.
• Skip Wednesdays for the Children's Museum.
• Catch the 12:00 Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park.
• Use the Monroe Dr garage for Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden.
• Check the weather page for rain or heat before choosing outdoor stops.
• Leave before the meltdown, not after it.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Atlanta with kids?

Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, the Children's Museum of Atlanta, Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline are the core family stops. Pick one big ticketed attraction and one free outdoor stop per day.

What can toddlers do in Atlanta?

Toddlers do well at the Children's Museum of Atlanta, the Piedmont Park playgrounds and the Atlanta Beltline. Zoo Atlanta is free for children under 3 and the Center for Puppetry Arts museum is free under 3.

What free things can families do in Atlanta?

Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail are free to use, and Centennial Olympic Park's Fountain of Rings shows run daily in Downtown Atlanta. Costs for food and parking still apply.

Is the Children's Museum of Atlanta open on Wednesdays?

No. The Children's Museum of Atlanta is typically closed on Wednesdays and open the other six days. Check its official site before you go.

Where should we park for a family day in Midtown?

The Monroe Dr garage at Piedmont Park, shared with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, is cashless and the first 30 minutes are free. Ponce City Market uses pay-by-QR or text parking.