When the weather forecast calls for gray skies and unpleasant weather, you might struggle to come up with ways to keep your kids entertained. Fortunately, the Marietta area boasts a wide range of fun activities perfect for staving off that boredom that comes with rainy weather.

Crème de la Crème of East Cobb (Marietta) put together this list of awesome activities the whole family will enjoy on dreary days. Have fun indoors while getting active or learning thanks to these local favorites.

Marietta Fire Museum

If your kiddos love fire trucks, you’ll want to put the Marietta Fire Museum at the top of your list of places to go when the weather is less-than-ideal. This local spot boasts a range of items the Marietta Fire Department has used since the 1800s. From clothing to equipment, antiques to photos to (of course!) vehicles, there’s something to inspire any curious kid at this museum.

Make sure you look for the Silsby Steamer during your visit. This horse-drawn steam-powered pumper was purchased back in 1879, and the department used it until 1921. It’s one of only five of these vehicles that still exist! Then, check out the 1921 American LaFrance pumper, which replaced the steamer. This vehicle was designated as engine number two and was one of north Georgia’s very first motorized fire trucks. Don’t forget to see the 1929 Seagrave Pumper either, designated as engine number one before it was retired in 1959.

This fun local museum is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, you’ll need an appointment to visit. The best part? Admission is free (though they do appreciate donations), so you can easily head to the Marietta Fire Museum whenever the clouds unexpectedly roll in.

Atlanta IceForum

“person wearing white and gray skate shoes inside ice skating rink” used with permission via Unsplash by kelli_mcclintock

Atlanta IceForum offers the perfect fun escape from dreary weather. Open year-round, the IceForum offers public skating seven days a week. Don’t own skates? Don’t even know how to skate? Don’t worry! This popular spot offers figure skate and hockey skate rentals as well as skating classes for all ages and levels, so it’s incredibly easy to make rainy days and beyond exciting when you visit the IceForum. Kids can take part in either private or group lessons with professional instructors, or even have a memorable celebration with a birthday party here.

The two-sheet ice skating facility boasts ice surfaces that are regulation NHL size. You can also stop by the full-service snack bar if you’re hungry after an intense skate, or stock up on the essentials from the pro shop. Video games and seating for spectators complete the package.

Marietta Cobb Museum of Art

Budding artists will love paying a rainy-day visit to the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art. The museum strives to build community and educate the public by exhibiting, interpreting, collecting, and presenting American Art. Changing exhibitions mean you’ll always have a new excuse to check out the artwork here.

The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s closed on Mondays. Admission costs $8 for adults, $5 for students ages 6 to 18 or with an ID, and $5 for seniors. Members and all kids under 6 can enter for free.

Marietta Mountasia Family Fun Center

Marietta Mountasia Family Fun Center has a name that says it all. With acres of family fun easy to access right here in the Marietta area, this is the place to go when you need to add a little extra excitement to your kids’ days.

Go-karts and three 18-hole miniature golf courses are just the start. The arcade is certainly the highlight on gray days when you’re looking for a way to keep the kids entertained. The arcade features more than 70 state-of-the-art video games, so don’t be surprised if your children start hoping for rain just so they have a reason to head to Marietta Mountasia Family Fun Center!

Marietta Museum of History

If you have a history buff in your brood, head over to the Marietta Museum of History the next time you need a way to fill a rainy day. This museum preserves and displays artifacts from Marietta and Cobb County, showing how the objects relate to our local area’s role in world history.

The museum is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Members, active military, and children under 5 years old can enter for free.

William Root House

Kids interested in history will also love visiting the William Root House. The house is one of the Atlanta area’s oldest homes. Though the columned mansions popularized by Gone With the Wind certainly have a place in the public’s imagination, the Root House is actually more typical of its time and place.

The home and grounds have been restored to take you on a trip back in time to the 1860s. At the same time, touch screens and interactive displays add a modern touch that help kids learn the story of the Root family and enslaved servants living here.

You can visit the Root house Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free for members. For other guests, tickets cost $9 for adults ages 18 and older, $7 for seniors, and $6 for students ages 6 to 17.

Gone With the Wind Museum

If you do want to delve into the world of Gone With the Wind, Marietta has the experience for that as well. Visit the Gone With the Wind Museum to transform a gray day into a fun literary adventure. Huge magnolias and lush gardens surround Brumby Hall, a historic dwelling built in 1851 that today houses the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum.

The museum showcases Dr. Christopher Sullivan’s privately owned collection and has been a Marietta mainstay since it first opened in the historic Old Thomas Warehouse Building in 2003. The expansive collection of memorabilia from both the book and movie make this a fun experience for the whole family.There you have it, Crème de la Crème of East Cobb (Marietta) just gave you some fun places to visit the next time gray skies threaten to put a damper on your family fun. Do you have a rainy day favorite we missed? Drop us a line so we can add it!