Atlanta

• Georgia Aquarium – this is the big attraction you shouldn’t skip! This aquarium is one of the biggest in the world and you can walk through tunnels and past huge windows where you’ll see whale sharks, manta rays, and so much more! Seeing a whale share swim over you is incredible! They also have a great dolphin show, a sea lion show, African penguins, and belugas.
• World of Coca Cola – right across from the Aquarium, you’ll find this fun museum about the history of Coca-Cola. Kids will love the final room where you get to taste different sodas from all over the world. My kids think it’s very fun to film friends or family members while they try the Beverly for the first time. If you’ve never tried it, I won’t ruin the fun ;) There are other interactive exhibits to enjoy, a theater, and a chance to meet the Coke mascot – the polar bear!
• Centennial Olympic Park – Atlanta was the home of the 1996 Olympics and this park pays homage to that. But kids love it because of the fountains! This is a great spot to cool off on a hot day! It’s also in the same area as the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coke.
• Zoo Atlanta – See a wide variety of animals at this zoo! They also have a playground, a splash area, a carousel, and more. Note: This zoo used to be famous for having Giant Pandas but the pandas went back to China in 2024.
• LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta – perfect for LEGO fans! You can build, explore interactive areas, and experience a few attractions. Best for younger kids. (Very similar to other LEGO centers around the country.)
• Six Flags Over Georgia – a classic amusement park with a variety of attractions for all ages and thrill levels. There is also a waterpark section open in the summer. Check out the rides and keep height requirements in mind – there’s about a dozen rides for little kids, about a dozen more family/mid-thrill rides for kids, 8 more thrilling rides once you reach 48″ tall, and 7 more thrill rides once you reach 52-54″ tall. They have some great roller coasters if you have coaster lovers in your family!
• College Football Hall of Fame  – if you like college football, you will love this museum! They have over 50 interactive exhibits, many of which will entertain kids and adults alike (although I wouldn’t recommend it for younger kids.)
• Children’s Museum of Atlanta – lots of hands-on exhibits where kids can explore and play. Best for young kids – I’d say toddlers through 1st/2nd grade.
• Watch an Atlanta Braves game – the Braves stadium is so much fun! Arrive at least an hour ahead of the game so you have time to check out the huge new kids’ area! We haven’t seen the new one yet, but the old kids’ area was great and now it’s supposed to be bigger and better. The seats are good anywhere, so don’t be afraid to buy the cheapest seats. Our kids actually love sitting up high! Check the schedule to see if it’s a fireworks night and if so, I recommend staying to see the fireworks after the game!

• Embassy Suites Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park – right next to Centennial Olympic Park. They offer suites, restaurants on site, and an outdoor pool. Check the suite configurations because some may have multiple rooms, but only double beds or king + couch.
• Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown – right next to Centennial Olympic Park. A lovely hotel with rooms with 2 queen bed, and both an indoor AND outdoor pools, a hot tub, and a restaurant.
• Omni Atlanta at Centennial Park  – right next to Centennial Olympic Park. This is a lovely hotel with nice rooms, restaurants on site, but no pool. They have multiple room types for families – some with 2 doubles and some with 2 queens so make sure you book the right room type to fit your needs.
• The Westin Peachtree Plaza – this hotel is an Atlanta icon so I have to include it! Our kids love the rooftop indoor pool lined with windows so you can look up at the sky. Every room has a great view of the city (ask for a higher floor for better views), and it’s in walking distance to the Aquarium and Olympic Park. There is also a nice rotating restaurant at the top of this circular hotel, but it’s not very kid-friendly.

• Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta – stay RIGHT near the stadium and The Battery area with lots of restaurants, bars, and entertainment nearby. It will be very convenient to stay here because you won’t have to worry about driving and parking before the game and can walk right to your hotel afterwards. There is a pool and there are tons of restaurant options around but it’s not a quiet area.
• Doubletree Suites at The Battery Atlanta – not AS close to the stadium as staying at the Omni, but still in walking distance which is super helpful! It’s also more affordable than the Omni but still nice and has an outdoor pool.

• If you want to do multiple attractions, consider buying a multi-attraction ticket to save money. CityPASS Atlanta includes the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, College Football Hall of Fame, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and the National Center for Human and Civil Rights. If you plan to visit both the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coke, then the pass equals the cost of both of those, so all the others are basically free.
• If you only want to do the Georgia Aquarium and not the others in the CityPASS above, you can still buy discounted tickets through Undercover Tourist. You can also check Groupon for deals.
• We have marked this destination in our “Under $2000” category because you can have a great time in Atlanta in just 2-3 days. You can of course stay longer and spread out all the activities there are to do, but it’s also possible to do the 5 attractions in the CityPASS plus a day Six Flags and a Braves games, all in 3 days.
• Sample Budget: 
 – 3 night hotel stay at $250/night (but you may be able to find cheaper using the links in the Places to Stay tab) – $750 – CityPASS Atlanta for 2 adults ($99 each) and 2 kids ($79 each) – $356 – Six Flags Over Georgia tickets ($35-55 each – check for deals) – $140 – Braves game tickets – prices can vary but we’ll go with non-discount upper deck tickets for $47 for 4 people – $188 Cost without food = $1434

If staying downtown near the Aquarium:

• The Hub at Peachtree Center – this is a huge indoor complex with a food court with many options. If you are looking for quick, inexpensive, or trying to satisfy multiple picky eaters – this is a winner!
• Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria – pizza close to the Aquarium and Olympic Park
• Ted’s Montana Grill – steaks, bison burgers and other Western favorites
• Metro Diner and Bar – classic diner menu near Peachtree Center
• Meehan’s Public House – Irish Pub with good food
• The Varsity – I feel bad not at least mentioning The Varisty! It’s an iconic classic diner with delicious burgers, dogs, and fries. You’ll have to drive to take transportation to get to this one if you’re staying near the Aquarium.

• Visit the Georgia Aquarium first thing when it opens or during the last 3 hours of the day to beat the crowds.
• Check the Georgia Aquarium schedule before you arrive and make a rough plan for your day if you want to make sure you see both the dolphin show and the sea lion show, which only happen at certain times of day. Plan to arrive for the dolphin show and sea lion show early to get seats.
• If you’re visiting the aquarium on a busy weekend, you can reserve seats for the dolphin show for an extra $5/person. Reserve good seats here >