Kids love learning and exploring their world through play, interactive displays, and exhibits. Letting children get hands-on helps them improve motor skills as well as social and developmental aspects of growing up. Take your family to any of these five cool educational destinations around Sugarloaf, Georgia, for a fun and informative day.

Georgia Aquarium

“Whaleshark exhibit, Georgia Aquarium” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by brian.gratwicke

Take the family to one of the largest aquariums in the world when you visit the Georgia Aquarium at 225 Baker St. NW in Atlanta. The aquarium is home to over 100,000 fish with over a million cubic feet of water by volume. Inside the aquarium, you’ll encounter about 500 species of fish and marine mammals with 60 habitats and over 12,000 square feet of windows to observe the sea life.

Exhibit galleries include Cold Water Quest, Dolphin Coast, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, and Sharks! Predators of the Deep. You and your family can experience the wonder of one of the largest fish in the oceans, the whale shark, all the way down to tiny, colorful reef fish. See the mysterious American alligator, African penguin, and beautiful white beluga whales. Get up close and personal with adorable creatures such as sea otters and dolphins. Go into the deep in a shark cage to witness these ancient fish, or have your kids participate in a sleepover.

Kids can learn skills such as how to make a miniature sailboat or see how the aquarium staff feeds and takes care of the animals in a behind-the-scenes tour. With so many exhibits and experiences offered at the Georgia Aquarium, you and your family will want to return time and time again.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Step back in time to see knights jousting on horses and battling with swords, and bow down to royalty in the noble court when you visit Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. You can experience what life was like in 11th-century medieval times as you get to meet the Queen of Spain, the master horse trainer, the royal falconer, as well as knights in armor.

As you arrive at the castle, you’ll cross a bridge over the castle’s moat to enter into the Grand Hall. Before the show begins, stroll through the Hall of Arms to see replicas of the mighty swords and bows knights used in battle. During the show, as you watch the knights battle, cheer on your favorite knight and help to crown him the winner. Witness magnificent highly trained horses that show their agility and power as they perform difficult and intricate dressage movements. Of course, you’ll want to enjoy the grand feast of a four-course meal that’s fit for royalty.

You’ll dine on soup, bread, roasted chicken, sweet corn on the cob, and herb potatoes. Dessert and coffee also come with the meal. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament also offers menus for those who have special dietary restrictions. Consider taking a group of school kids on a field trip to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament where they get lesson plans and workbooks that help them better understand this important part of history. You can find Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament at 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway in Atlanta.

Hello Rainbow Toys

Incorporate play with educational toys, games, and puzzles at Hello Rainbow Toys located at 3550 W. Lawrenceville St. in Duluth. There’s something for all age groups at Hello Rainbow Toys including books that tell stories of trailblazing rebel women, Spanish/English books, and novels that both boys and girls will enjoy reading.

Shop the science section for items such as a tabletop volcano, kids binoculars, or science-based books. Pick up Brain Quest workbooks for various school grades, vocabulary flashcards, or kids’ chess sets. Help aspiring artists by purchasing art supplies like colored pencils, sketchbooks, and paint-by-number books. Kids can help develop social skills when they play board or card games like Pete the Cat games or the Wonder Woman board game. On select days, Hello Rainbow Toys holds special educational and fun events.

McDaniel Farm Park

See what farm life in Georgia was like in the 1820s when you stop by McDaniel Farm Park. The land and buildings were once a cotton farm that went through difficult times during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The buildings once housed farm workers and sharecroppers who worked the land and picked the cotton. As you walk through the property, you’ll see the furnished farmhouse, barn, blacksmith shed, and elegant carriage house. After a tour of the homestead and farm, encourage the kids to move by walking along the 3 miles of trails that meander through the property.

After your hike, let the kids play in the playground and if you take your furry friend along, they can play in the designated dog park area. Enjoy a picnic or barbecue under the shaded picnic pavilions that have available grills. Stop by 3251 McDaniel Road in Duluth to see the farm. Guided tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

There’s fun for the whole family at LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Atlanta. See the amazing miniature Atlanta cityscape that’s made from over one million LEGO bricks, see adventures at LEGOLAND’s 4D cinema, or take a magical ride in the Merlin the Wizard’s apprentice car. Go on an adventure in Pirate Adventure Island playground, or have fun with tumbling towers of LEGO bricks at the earthquake tables.

Let your kids become proficient at LEGO building by attending the LEGO Master Builder Academy, have them use their imagination in the animal-themed DUPLO village, or go behind-the-scenes at the factory tour. Stop by 3500 Peachtree Road NE in Atlanta to begin your fun and educational LEGOLAND Discovery Center adventure.

Our team at Crème de la Crème of Sugarloaf (Duluth), Georgia, understands the importance of taking your kids to fun educational destinations to help them learn and develop important skills. Which of these cool destinations did you and your family enjoy the most? Is there a place that we missed and you can recommend? If so, feel free to drop us a line and we’ll add it to our list.