East Cobb is a community right outside of metro Atlanta that gives you the perfect balance of the suburbs and the city. Whether you’re in East Cobb for a visit or you’ve decided to make the area your home, there are a number of educational activities you can enjoy with the family. Check out four cool educational destinations in East Cobb that we’ve rounded up below.

Discover Local Flora and Fauna at Wright Environmental Education Center

If you’re looking to learn more about flora and fauna local to Georgia, take some time to visit the Wright Environmental Education Center. This 19-acre center was started on the property of the Wright family in the 1940s. Mrs. Wright wanted to keep commercial and residential development at bay and created an “urban forest” around her home. After the family died, Cobb County Parks took ownership and turned the home into an education center with classrooms. They now use the property to continue ecology education for schools, local scouts, and interested families. 

When you visit, you can go on a walk to see a lot of the protected species of plants, some of which are rare or unusual, that thrive on the property. There are about 2 miles of trails to explore, and they make an easy hike. Along the way, stop to sit on the benches and take in the sights and sounds.

Explore the Chattahoochee Nature Center

East Cobb is home to many parks and preserves beyond the Wright Environmental Education Center. The Chattahoochee Nature Center is another great educational center to learn about the local environment. This nonprofit organization has a goal to connect people to nature. They have educational resources for both adults and children, so you’re able to easily learn no matter your age. 

The Chattahoochee Nature Center offers a Pee Wee Naturalist program if your child is interested in learning more about nature. This program is a three-part series where you, your child, and a CNC naturalist will hike one of the trails at the center, make nature art, and visit some of the wildlife up close. There are also a number of community programs if you’re looking to do something with a group. 

As an adult, you can join a number of programs, including the Georgia Master Naturalist Certified program, which is a hands-on environmental education program that explores habitats and ecosystems in Georgia and the human impact on these environments. The program is sponsored by the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and it takes a total of 50 hours to complete the certification. Other adult programs include becoming a Certified Natural Guide as well as joining the Nature Club.

Outside of the CNC programs, the Nature Center offers resources and programs to scout groups like Boys Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America. Camp Kingfisher is also a great opportunity if your little one is looking for a summer camp or seasonal camp experience. 

Check out a Bookstore

Image via Flickr by ReneS

Stock up on some new, exciting reads while supporting brick-and-mortar bookstores with one of the many great options in East Cobb.

To support a local business, check out Bookmiser. Boasting over 40,000 titles, this bookstore has a huge selection and even carries required readings for local schools. Your kids will love exploring the large selection of children’s titles, and you’ll appreciate how clean and tidy the store is compared to other used bookstores. Don’t see the titles you want? Bookmiser will order them for you with no delivery charge! You can also have books delivered through its partner, Bookshop. 

This East Cobb bookstore even has a trade program, allowing you to trade in books for credit that can be used to purchase new books for your collection. They’re also super involved in the community, hosting a number of book clubs and holding events with prominent figures in the literary community. There are no fees to attend the book clubs, but you must purchase the title new from Bookmiser.

Half-Price Books, located in the Woodlawn Shopping Center, not only offers many unique and hard-to-find reads but also some of the bestselling series. It also has a “half-pint books” section filled with hundreds of children’s books. Want more than just books? Half-Price has you covered with a wide selection of television shows, movies, textbooks, and even puzzles and gifts.

East Cobb is also home to Great Escape, a comic book and games store. With over 100,000 comics in stock and over 10,000 graphic novels, the selection at Great Escape is abundant. New comics are released every Wednesday, so there is always something new for you to check out. If you can’t make it to the store, check out their eBay account for frequent auctions and sales of its comics, graphic novels, manga, RPGs, trading cards, and more.

Support Local Theater at Bailey Performance Center

To support local art and theater, visit the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center at Kennesaw State University. The Bailey Performance Center is home to over 100 public concerts and events every season. The shows range from orchestra, percussion, jazz, and solo performances. Admission varies per event, so be sure to check out the performance center’s website.

While you’re at Bailey Performance Center, make sure you visit all of the world-class facilities within the center, including Morgan Concert Hall, Katherine Scott Rehearsal Hall, the Mortin Art Gallery, and the neighboring Zuckerman Museum of Art. The Zuckerman Museum of Art features two youth art galleries in which educators select their students’ artwork to display. The museum also has plenty of interactive activities for children to enjoy. 

As you can see, East Cobb is full of fun, unique activities that will keep you entertained and also teach you a thing or two. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure or searching for a place to go on a rainy day, East Cobb has plenty of family-friendly activities.