Atlanta is a city full of cool educational destinations to visit with your kids. From science to history to art, this city has it all. Best of all, you can visit places that make learning fun for your child to keep them engaged. Our Crème de la Crème staff invites you to explore five cool educational destinations around Atlanta.
Fernbank Science Center
Georgia_Trip_023 by Ryan Stavely is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0
Science comes alive at the Fernbank Science Center at 156 Heaton Park Drive NE. The science center includes exhibits, a planetarium, and an observatory. You and your child can see the real Apollo 6 Command Module among their permanent exhibits. They have a live animal exhibit, which includes snakes, turtles, poison dart frogs, spiders, and more. You can also view Nikon Small World, a display of close-up magnified photographs taken by photomicrographers, offering detailed views of objects from various scientific disciplines.
Get a better view of the night sky at Ralph Buice Jr. Observatory. The observatory has a 0.9 meter (36-inch) Cassegrain reflector beneath a 10-meter (30 feet) dome, making it one of the most significant educational and public viewing instruments. Weather permitting, observations are free on Thursday and Friday nights from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Since observing requires a clear night sky, it’s essential to check weather conditions by calling the observatory at 678-874-7102 between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the night of your planned visit for updates.
You can experience the universe’s wonders at the center’s 70-foot diameter Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium. The planetarium features a Zeiss Mark V planetarium projector and a SPITZ SciDome 4K Laser projection system for stunning views displaying the wonders of the universe. This celestial theater in the round is a fully immersive experience and one of the largest planetariums in the United States.
Admission to the Fernbank Science Center is free for all ages, but the planetarium has admission fees as follows:
- Adults (ages 19-61): $10.00.
- Students (ages 3-18): $5.00.
- Seniors (62+): $5.00.
Planetarium shows are Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Confirm program times online before visiting, as hours can change.
Fernbank Museum
For science, nature, history, and fun, visit the Fernbank Museum, separate from the science center, located at 767 Clifton Road NE. This location includes a museum, a 3D theater, and a forest to explore. The museum offers the opportunity to travel around the world and go back in time to uncover prehistoric cultures, explore new scientific discoveries, and discover dinosaurs, ancient fossils, live animals, and fascinating places. New exhibits and experiences unfold throughout the year, offering more to explore.
WildWoods and Fernbank Forest offers 75 acres, which includes scenic walking trails, outdoor exhibits, nature playgrounds, a canopy walk, and native wildlife. It’s open rain or shine all year round. With its giant four-story screen, you can also head inside its stunning IMAX theater. You’ll be immersed in 25-minute and 45-minute documentary movies, on subjects like astronaut journeys, in “Ocean to Orbit,” the flights of birds in “Wings Over Water,” and the lives of mushrooms in “Fungi: Web of Life.”
Center for Puppetry Arts
To explore the world of puppets, head to the Center for Puppetry Arts, located at 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia. Step into a magical place for an educational, enlightening journey that charms children and entertains adults. The center has been open since 1978 and introduces visitors to the wonder and art of puppetry through enchanting performances, school curriculum-based workshops, and hands-on museum exhibits. Admission to the museum is $16 for non-members and free for members. Individual puppet shows have varying ticket prices according to seat locations; check the website for show schedules and to buy tickets.
LEGO Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza
Let your kids build something new at LEGO Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road NE, Suite G-1. LEGOLAND has interactive exhibits where kids can explore, learn, build, and play. You can play KINGDOM QUEST with the whole family by hopping onto a chariot and zapping trolls to save a princess. Play with your younger child in DUPLO PARK, an experience designed just for them. Visit their 4D movie theater for a breathtaking 4D sensory cinema experience. Your kids can design and build a LEGO spaceship to launch into cyberspace at SPACESHIP BUILD & SCAN.
At MINILAND, you can view a miniature version of Atlanta with local landmarks created out of more than 1.5 million bricks. BUILD ADVENTURES is an experience designed to let your child’s imagination run wild and put their creative skills to the test. In PIRATE ADVENTURE LAND, you can send your kids off on a swashbuckling quest aboard a LEGO-themed pirate ship. A soft play area makes it safe and fun for them as they fight off enemy ships or make a daring escape down a slide to make it ashore to the island’s castle.
THE GREAT LEGO RACE VR EXPERIENCE immerses your kids in a giant race in a virtual, jaw-dropping LEGO world. Your child can build a custom companion to join them on their adventure at the MINIFIGURE CREATOR. The prices for LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta tickets and passes vary based on optional add-ons. LEGO Discovery Center is open daily, and you select a time slot to visit when purchasing tickets and passes.
The High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art, located at 1280 Peachtree St. NE, showcases art from around the world from all different genres and forms. The museum is very family-friendly and offers activities for children, teens, and their parents. Some programs include story times and projects where your child can get hands-on art creation experience.
They also have a summer camp for children in the first through eighth grades, where young artists get to delve deeper into the museum’s collections and experiment with new techniques and materials, honing their painting, drawing, and design skills to create their original artworks. The High Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with general admission at $16.50, and children under 6 are free.
The Crème de la Crème team of Atlanta hopes this list of five cool educational destinations has given you some ideas for where to take your kids on their next excursion. All these outings combine educational experiences with fun, so your child can learn and have a good time all at once.