Spring (Break) In The Air And Lots To Do

Next week is spring break in Fulton County and around Atlanta. If an exotic trip to a warmer climate is not in your budget and you plan on staying in town with the kids, we've got a list of some hot spots in and around town you won't want to miss!

Visit A Garden/Take a Hike

The flowers outside are blooming early this year due to the warm temperatures, so why not get outside and enjoy all the beauty that Mother Nature created by visiting one of the beautiful gardens in the area!

Atlanta History Center (www.atlantahistorycenter.com) - Stop by for a stroll with the kids around the Atlanta History Center's fabulous historic gardens! Visitors will find a retreat into nature with a variety of flowers, wooded trails and lush spring foliage indigenous to Atlanta. The Center's 7 historic gardens and trails are included in the general admission ticket - so a family can not only see the great exhibitions (including the Centennial Olympic Games exhibition to get ready for summer Olympics) but also to step outside into their backyard and explore all of the grounds and trails in the fresh air. Families can even have a picnic on Swan House lawn or at Smith Family Farm. How fun!

Atlanta Botanical Gardens (www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org) - Enjoy a day at the Garden during spring break! Dress up like a butterfly, dig for worms, plant a seed and more during an engaging morning full of fun family activities. There are exciting opportunities to learn and explore the natural world every day. Meet in the Children’s Garden Amphitheater for Storybook Time at 10:30 a.m., or join an amphibian specialist in the Fuqua Conservatory lobby for Frog Talk at 10 a.m. or Frog Care at 11 a.m. Free with Garden Admission.

Callaway Gardens (www.callawaygardens.com) - Love nature? Take your love to new heights on the dizzying course of zip-lines and other high-flying challenges woven into a natural forest at Callaway Gardens. The TreeTop Adventure, which traverses nearly 1,500 feet horizontally and soars up to 30 feet above the forest floor, features five zip-lines ranging from 44 to 210 feet long. The course also includes 19 more sections comprised of ladders, wires, logs, discs, netting and other suspended surfaces. If you're at least 54 inches tall, you can do it! Their trusty guides will secure you in a harness, lead you through a brief instruction session, then send you up on an adrenaline-charged adventure with a bird’s-eye view. TreeTop Adventure is open Mon-Fri. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. The course takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

Reynolds Nature Preserve (www.reynoldsnaturepreserve.org) - Hike under a canopy of trees, listen to the flow of babbling waters and experience an up-close encounter with wildlife - all at Reynolds Nature Preserve. Home to 146 acres of lush vegetation, Reynolds Nature Preserve features four miles of hiking trails, natural springs and ponds, an outdoor butterfly and hummingbird garden, Interpretative Nature Center and outdoor picnic areas - right in Clayton County!

Go-Geocaching! (www.claytoncountycaches.com) - Bring out your inner pirate and hunt for hidden treasure with Clayton County's new geocaching program! Using GPStechnology and predetermined coordinates, adventure through forest, farm and more to discover twelve hidden "caches" or boxes throughout the county.

Get Up Close with a Giraffe

Zoo Atlanta (www.zooatlanta.org) - Get closer than ever before in Zoo Atlanta's new Giraffe Feeding! Visitors will have the opportunity to get eye-to-eye with a giraffe! No more admiring these beautiful animals from afar - you can feed the giraffes from the all-new Twiga Terrace! Stand eye-to-eye with Earth's tallest living land mammals, and hand-feed them part of their regular diet. The cost is $3 per guests and feedings are daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

Attend a Fair

In early spring, fairs and festivals start to pop up again around town! They are a great source of entertainment for the whole family given the variety of things to do at them! 

Atlanta Fair (www.atlantafair.com) - Spring Break is the last week to enjoy the Atlanta Fair before they pack up at Turner Field and head out of town. The Fair offers thrill rides, classic rides like the beloved-Carousel, carnival fare such as cotton candy and hot dogs, and lots of games that test your knowledge, speed and strength!  The Fair opens Monday through Friday at 5:00 p.m., at 12 noon on Saturday and at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. On weeknights the Fair closes at 10:00 p.m. and on weekends it closes at 11:00 p.m. Gate admission prices are $1 for children between 2 and 11; adults (12 and over) are $5 Monday through Friday and on Sunday. On Saturdays, admission prices for adults is  is $8 after 6 PM. Midway rides, games and food are not included in the admission price.  

Beat the Heat Indoors

If summer weather during Spring Break is not your family's cup of tea spend some time indoors at some local attractions instead. All of these places are designed to get your kids moving and engaged while they're out of school so add them to your list of things to do on spring break!

Center for Puppetry Arts (www.puppet.org) - The story of Peter Pan will soar onto the stage at the Center right in time for Spring Break in a new adaptation for everyone who is young at heart. Join Peter, Wendy and Tinkerbell as they swim with mermaids, romp with Tigerlily, and cross swords with the nefarious Captain Hook! With original music, songs, and a Neverland full of adventure. Then head downstairs to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop to make the Cranky Crocodile Hand Puppet (included in the price of the show ticket)! Show times are Tues. - Fri. 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., Sat at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., and on Sun. at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta (www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org) - Always a lot of fun for kids eight and under, the museum currently has on exhibit through May 6," Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog(TM)." So bring the kids and board the Birdwell Island ferry and take a journey to the world of Clifford™, America’s beloved Big Red Dog with a heart to match. The exhibit offers numerous immersive “paws-on” adventures that reinforce “Clifford’s Big Ideas” – ten simple tangible life lessons designed to help young children navigate their world: Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself, Be a Good Friend and Help Others.  

Also, on April 1 at 2 pm, join "Anthony and His House of Conga Drums" as he helps children navigate through Clifford’s 10 Big Ideas. Anthony Mohamed is known for his percussive rhythms, influenced by West African, Afro-Cuban, and Brooklyn Boogaloo. This artist-educator guarantees everyone in the audience will be challenged to learn something new and positive from Clifford’s Big Ideas.

Legoland Discovery Center (www.LEGOLANDDiscoverycenter.com) - This indoor attraction just opened its doors at Phipps Plaza in March! It features an exciting interactive LEGO laser ride, Merlin's Apprentice ride, a 4D cinema, MINILAND - where guests will see iconic regional landmarks built from LEGO bricks, lots and lots of play areas and a LEGO store!

Monkey Joes (Southlake) (www.monkeyjoes.com/morrow) - What kid doesn't like to bounce and jump on inflatables? You won't have to twist any arms to get the kids to Monkey Joe's. And during Spring Break Monkey Joes in Morrow is offering these daily deals:

Monkey Meal Monday - 1 slice of pizza & small fountain drink w/child’s paid admission
T-Shirt Tuesday - Wear or buy an MJ shirt and get $2 off admission
Water Bottle Wednesdays - Bring in or buy an MJ Morrow water bottle and get $2 off admission
Thirsty Thursdays – Kids receive a free small fountain drink w/paid admission
Friday Family Fun Night - 2 kids admission, 1 large pizza & 1 pitcher of drinks ALL for $29.99