Visiting Moms Guide to Atlanta

Atlanta Mom Skyline

Atlanta is the “unofficial” capital of the southeast and there are endless reasons why you and your family may decide to make a trip to the ATL. We have put together these tips for you – whether you want to visit as a “tourist” or spend your time like the “locals,” here is your guide to visiting Atlanta with kids.

Things to Do 

Atlanta is rich with history and there are plenty of ways to make your family trip educational, fun and relaxing for everyone! If you are traveling with elementary kids or older, the Center for Civil and Human Rights is a must-see. College Football Hall of Fame is a favorite because of the interactive experiences for all ages. Nearby, you can visit the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola all located within the same city block and next to Centennial Olympic Park. For one of the best views of the city, make reservations for Skyview Atlanta. If you are interested in visiting more than 2, check out CityPASS Atlanta for the best deal!

Other favorite spots include:

Depending on the time of year, check out a local sports team and their venues:

Kid Friendly Eats + Drinks

There are so many amazing places to eat in Atlanta that is nearly impossible to narrow them down into a list, so we tried our best to give you some options to start with:

Breakfast/Brunch:

  • Buttermilk Kitchen – there is often a long wait, but definitely worth it
  • Flying Biscuit Cafe – great option for some unique, yet delicious food
  • Highland Bakery – don’t let the name full you, it is more than just a bakery.. although their baked goods are out of this world
  • Sun in My Belly – such a fun, little place with amazing food
  • Waffle House – founded in Atlanta! it is a must if you have never tried it
  • West Egg – one of our favs! There is nothing bad on the menu.

If you are looking for a quick bite to eat and caffeine, check out our favorite coffee spots here.

 

Lunch/Dinner: 

  • Fox Bros. BBQ – award winning BBQ
  • Krog Street – historic Atlanta food hall
  • Mary Mac’s Tea Room – best fried chicken around, but get there early… when they are out they are out!
  • Ponce City Market – this is an area with several places to eat including a food court type area on the bottom floor
  • South City Kitchen – nicer option for dinner if you still want good southern cooking
  • Taco Mac – Don’t be fooled by the name, it is not a taco place (although they do have them), and they have just about any beer you could want
  • Taqueria del Sol – great Mexican restaurant

 

Breweries: 

There are so many other great breweries in and around town. We are actually working on a list of our favorites, so check back soon if you are interested.

 

Sweet Treats:

 

The Great Outdoors

If the weather is right (pollen count and humidity is low), then there are a number of activities to do outside. 

Places to Sleep

Hotel options are endless. We suggest finding a hotel close to where you will be spending most of your time, however, if you want something a little more fun then your basic hotel we found a couple of unique places to stay:

Neighborhood Gems

The actual city of Atlanta is fairly small if you compare it to what is considered the metro-Atlanta area. One of the neatest things about the area is the number of smaller neighborhoods and cities that have their own character. If you have access to a car when you visit, we encourage you to visit one of these local neighborhood squares. Each offer local small businesses that we love and some of our favorite spots to grab a bite to eat and drink.

Shopping 

There is no shortage of places to shop in Atlanta. Many of the city squares have unique boutiques that offer locally made goods. Some of our favorite that feature local artists and products include:

If you are looking for a discount, check out one of the popular outlet malls (each are about an hour outside the city).

Seasonal Festival and Events

Depending on the time of your visit, you can most likely find a festival or some sort. Check out our calendar for events. 

Winter

Spring

  • Dogwood Festival
  • Inman Park Festival
  • Farmers Markets (everywhere!)

Summer

  • Fourth of the July Fireworks

Fall

 

General Tips

  • While we hope you don’t need it, Atlanta is home to one of the greatest children’s hospitals,  Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. They have 3 hospital locations within metro Atlanta and numerous urgent care facilities. You can find a list of their urgent care locations here
  • Don’t lug all the baby equipment with you. Check out Tot Travels to reserve your baby and toddler equipment needs. 

Transportation

Depending on your agenda for your visit, you can use MARTA, however, it is best to have the option to travel by car so you can experience more of the city, especially some of the outlying areas. 

 

If you’re local to Atlanta, please feel free to comment and let us know what we should add to this list. If you are a tourist to Atlanta, we hope you enjoy these tips and our city! Please feel free to leave a question and we’d be glad to answer you- or contact us on social media @atlanta.mom. Tag us in your adventures and let us know what you love about our city!