Weekend Trip Idea : Atlanta, Georgia

By: Kayla Soffera

Atlanta is Georgia’s capital and one of the most popular destinations in the southeast. It’s an easy five-hour drive from the Triad and is perfect for a long getaway. There’s so much to do that planning a trip can be overwhelming, but fear not! I’ve put together a fun four-day, three-night trip that’s budget and kid-friendly. 

Day 1: Head out after breakfast & make the drive to Atlanta. If you want to avoid peak accommodation prices, book a stay in a surrounding area such as North Springs, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, or Chamblee. These areas are close to Marta stops and you’ll usually avoid paying hotel parking fees. Check the Braves schedule and get tickets to an evening game. Get tickets in the Coca-Cola Corner which are affordable and include a bottled drink with each ticket! Arrive to the game early and park in one of The Battery’s parking decks then go out for dinner in The Battery. If you spend $50 in The Battery 2 hours before/after the first pitch, your parking is free! 

Day 2:  Take the Marta to spend a day downtown at the Georgia Aquarium, National Center for Civil and Human Rights or College Football Hall of Fame, and World of Coca-Cola, which are all within walking distance to each other. The Marta stop is a few blocks away and is an easy walk. Take a break from the attractions, pick up lunch nearby, and eat at Olympic Park. If you’re still in the area, come nightfall, take a ride on Skyview Atlanta for a view of the city at night. 

A round-trip ticket on the Marta is $6 per person and tickets can be purchased at the station. Parking downtown is around $20/day, so depending on your party size, it can be a cost savings. Plus, riding the subway is a fun experience for kids and saves you from having to drive in downtown traffic!

Day 3: Hop back in the car and drive to Zoo Atlanta in the morning. Zoo Atlanta is one of two places left in the US with giant pandas, but if you want to see these silly giants, you have to go this year as they’re heading back to China soon. Parking is $12 for the day or you can pay by the hour for three hours or less. Leave to pick up lunch on your way over to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. You’re going to want more time at Fernbank than at the zoo. Fernbank has three floors with a 4D movie theater inside, walking trails, and activity courses outside.

To make the attractions affordable, purchase an Atlanta CityPASS. The pass includes admission to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, and your choice of two; National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Fernbank Museum, or the College Football Hall of Fame. You don’t have to stand in line to buy tickets and can walk right to the entrance, saving time and money.

Day 4: Before heading home on your final day, head over to Stone Mountain Park and buy an attraction ticket. There’s a $20 parking fee to access the park, which gives you access to the walking trails, picnic areas, playground, lake, and a few historic areas. But they sell attraction tickets for extras such as the Skyride, train ride, historic square, mini-golf, and more. The attraction tickets are pricey, think $40 each, but check Groupon before you go to see if they have any deals at the time. You could easily spend days at Stone Mountain exploring all there is to do but half a day before your drive home is the perfect way to tire the kids out before hitting the road home.

Museums, not your thing? No problem; Atlanta is steeped in history, has a vibrant arts and music scene, and has amazing restaurants and shopping galore. 

You can do A LOT in a few days and do it affordably with a little bit of planning and securing your tickets and reservations ahead of time.