Best Things to do in Atlanta with Toddlers and Preschoolers
When my children were young, I was always on the hunt for fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta. I discovered some wonderfully entertaining places that left them ready for an afternoon nap. What more could a parent ask for? I created a list that ranks Atlanta’s best things to do with toddlers and preschoolers so you can discover new places to get your kids out of the house and have a great time too! As a bonus, I included our favorite kid-friendly restaurants near each attraction so you can avoid meltdowns on the way home.
If you are looking for gift ideas for families with young children in the Atlanta metro area, a family membership to any of the Atlanta attractions listed in this post would make a much-appreciated gift! My in-laws gave us a membership to the Fernbank Museum for Christmas one year and we made the most of it. It was an excellent gift!
1. Children’s Museum of Atlanta
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta tops the list of the most fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta. This indoor space works no matter what the weather is outside! The museum was designed for children 8-years-old and younger. There is a specific section for children 2 years old and under. However, if your child walks, then he or she will make the most of the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
I recommend that you arrive at the moment that the museum opens for the best experience. The museum gets crowded as the day goes on. You can bring snacks into the museum, but they can only be eaten in the Snack Stop area near the entrance. This space is meant only for a quick break. Full meals are prohibited.
At the Children’s Museum
The museum features a series of permanent exhibits as well as featured exhibits, which change every few months. Upon a return visit, your children will enjoy activities that they remember and experience something new. My children always loved the Fundamentally Food Exhibit – especially the grocery store. I recall that the Sand Tables in the Let Your Creativity Flow area were another favorite.
Helpful Information
You can purchase your tickets in advance online. Check the website for hours and days that the Children’s Museum is open – they are closed on Wednesdays for most of the year. Directions and Parking recommendations are available online as well.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
2. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum of Natural History is the clear winner when it comes to entertaining toddlers and preschoolers. Their exhibits and activities will engage and entertain your littles ones. Fernbank has several permanent exhibits including the impressive dinosaurs in the atrium. Special exhibits come to the museum and rotate every few months, guaranteeing that there will be something new to see upon a return visit. Most of Fernbank’s exhibits are indoors, but Fernbank Forest is outside.
At Fernbank
Preschoolers will enjoy Fernbank’s interactive exhibits. Fantastic Forces explores natural science, while the STEAM Lab offers hands on activities guided by educators. Nature Quest was always the highlight of our visits to Fernbank. My children spent a significant amount of time happily exploring this immersive play space. Save Nature Quest for last, otherwise you will not make it to any of the other exhibits!
WildWoods at Fernbank Forest features outdoor exhibits and nature trails. Back inside, if your kids have the patience, the Giant Screen Theater shows beautifully filmed science and nature documentaries.
Helpful Information
Check Fernbank’s calendar before your visit to find out what activities are going on that day. Activities that your toddler and preschooler may enjoy include the Live Animal Encounter, Critter Corner, and Story Time. The museum recommends purchasing tickets in advance, online. Parking is typically readily available in Fernbank’s lot. Check out the Plan Your Visit section of the museum’s website for hours and directions.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- The Flying Biscuit in Candler Park – kids love breakfast at all hours!
- Hattie B’s Hot Chicken – Atlanta East
- Wrecking Bar Brew Pub – parents and kids alike will enjoy this sit-down dinner
- Fox Bros BBQ on Dekalb Ave – their BBQ burger was voted one of the best burgers in Atlanta
3. Atlanta History Center
Your toddlers and preschoolers will love the main campus of the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead. They have outdoor exhibits and indoor exhibits, so no matter what the weather, there is something fun to do!
Outdoor Exhibits
My kids LOVED to visit the historic Tullie Smith Farmhouse. All the buildings that make up the farm are historical and were moved to this location to represent what life would have looked like in rural Georgia in the 1860s. On weekends and holidays, the Atlanta History Center often has special programs that include reenactors in period costume. My children especially loved to play with the historic toys during these special events. On a typical day, children will love meeting the heritage sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys in the farm yard. Find out what the farm animals are up to in the Live cam! Plus, they can explore the outbuildings and the kitchen garden.
The gardens feature two children’s playhouses. Kids will love exploring these mini-houses! Inside the Swan House, kids will enjoy looking for the swan in almost every room and they will have fun checking out the toys in the children’s room upstairs.
Indoor Exhibits
The locomotive the Texas is on display inside the museum. Kids will have the opportunity to climb aboard and get a close look at this Civil War era steam engine.
The Goizueta Children’s Experience is a brand-new 5,000 square foot immersive play space for children up to 8-years-old. The first theme was “Our Great Big City.” Kids will have a blast and learn about Atlanta’s history and landmarks at the same time. Some of the landmarks featured include the Fox Theater and the Varsity!
Toddler and Preschool Programs at the Atlanta History Center
The History Center hosts Toddler Storytime for children between 1 and 5 years old the first Wednesday of every month. The Goizueta Children’s Experience is home to Tiny Toddler Town which is designed specifically for toddlers aged 1-3 years old.
Visiting the Atlanta History Center
Check out this guide to the Atlanta History Center to learn everything you need to visit including how to potentially go for free!
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- Souper Jenny’s – right inside the History Center and they sell peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
- Henri’s Bakery & Deli – I can never resist letting my children select a cookie for dessert
- Blue Moon Pizza – who doesn’t love pizza? Pizza by the slice available for lunch
- Velvet Taco – kids’ menu available
- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – for a cold treat
- Salty Donut – for a sweet treat
4. Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Atlanta is one of my favorite places to entertain toddlers and preschool aged children in Atlanta. My family had an annual zoo membership every year when my children were young. Zoo exhibits are primarily outside although there are a few indoor exhibits. This zoo is arguably one of the best small zoos in the country and it is so easy to visit. It is Atlanta’s oldest attraction. A couple of Atlantans purchased an abandoned circus at auction in 1889. They wanted the rail cars and simply donated the exotic animals to the City of Atlanta. Zoo Atlanta, which is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, still occupies its original location in Grant Park today.
At the Zoo
Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours visiting the zoo. Restaurants are available throughout the zoo where you can purchase, food, snacks, and beer for the adults. One of my favorite things about Zoo Atlanta is that they allow outside food. Feel free to bring your own snacks or even a picnic! The best place to eat your picnic is in the Children’s Zoo near the Birthday Party Pavilion and across from the birds. Seating is also available for picnicking on the Grand Patio near the Nourish Café. Check out the rules about what you can bring with you.
Zoo Program for Preschool Aged Children & Toddlers
Zoo Atlanta hosts Adventures Cubs each month. This is a special program for children aged 2-5 with exploration opportunities for 0–2-year-olds. Children are introduced to a new animal each month with a game, craft, story and song. At the end of the program, kids will meet the featured animal in person! When it is cold outside, Adventure Cubs is held indoors.
Helpful Information
Purchasing admission in advance is always less expensive than buying it at the gate. Paid parking is available in the Grant Park Gateway at 759 Boulevard SE, Atlanta GA and the surface lot on Cherokee Ave, which fills up very early.
Check out the events for the day online to preplan your visit. Note the opening hours – which change based on the season – and any keeper talks, bird shows, or feeding times that you would like to attend. My kids loved the activities. Favorites included the petting zoo, the Splash Fountain (open during the warmer months beginning on April 1st), Playground, the Zoo Train, the Carousel, and the Treetop Trail/Treetop Tykes Trail.
Visiting Zoo Atlanta
Check out this guide to Zoo Atlanta to learn exactly how to plan your visit including how to potentially go for free!
Zoo Atlanta lights up for the holiday with a Chinese lantern festival called Illuminights. Learn all about Zoo Atlanta’s Holiday Traditions here.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- Little’s Food Store – call ahead and order your burgers for carry out and have a picnic in Cabbagetown Park
- Grindhouse Killer Burgers – Memorial Drive
- Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House – Grant Park/Memorial Drive
- Hotto Hotto Ramen & Teppanyaki – the Beacon near the Beltline
- Gather at Grant Park Market – or just purchase an ice cream treat from the cooler as a treat
- Ria’s Bluebird for breakfast/lunch Thursday – Monday
- Home Grown GA for breakfast/lunch Wednesday – Sunday
5. High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art has an amazing indoor play space which is the main reason I think it is one of the most fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta! The Greene Family Learning Gallery is made up of two large rooms. The space is designed for children 8-years-old and younger. This immersive experience allows children to be inside the art and create art at the same time. My kids loved climbing and exploring the child-sized spaces. But their favorite exhibit was the huge, colored light screens. As children move in front of them, the screens change the colors and created art in front of your eyes!
Programming for Preschool Aged Children & Toddlers at the High
If you have a preschooler, pick up a smART Box at the beginning of your visit. These boxes are filled with paper, pencils, crayons, and other art supplies. When you return with your box, the High Museum will refill the supplies for free. During your visit, High Museum staff will provide guided activities. The first activities involve a scavenger hunt where you search for 2 pieces in the museum. Then to keep the fun going, you complete the next 2 activities at home.
In addition to the play space and smART Boxes, the High Museum offers specific family programing such as Family Saturday (the first Saturday of the month) and Toddler Thursdays. Please note that the play space is closed on UPS Second Sundays – which is the High Museum’s free admission day.
Visiting the High Museum
Before you head out, visit the High Museum’s website to Plan Your Day. This page offers recommendations for specific programming for children of all ages.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- The Varsity Drive In – I love the chili dogs and the onion rings. The kids love the Frosted Orange
- Willy’s Mexicana Grill in Piedmont Park – parking is tight here, but it is a family favorite
- The Flying Biscuit Midtown – all day breakfast is always a hit with little ones
- Varuni Napoli Pizza – this authentic Italian pizza place is just north of Piedmont Park
6. Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden may not be the first place you think of when you are trying to entertain children, but this garden has a lot to offer. The Lou Glenn Children’s Garden and its programming is the reason I added the Garden to my list of the most fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta. The Children’s Garden offers hands on outdoor fun in a garden setting. Preschool aged children can build towers, paint with water and play in the treehouse. Plus, there is a carnivorous plant bog to explore!
When it is hot, the main attraction is the Splash Pad! The first time I brought my children to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens; I had no idea that there was water play and I was not prepared. Don’t make the same mistake! The Gardens offers expanded bathrooms so you can change clothes. Children may only wear bathing suits at the Splash Pad. Adults are not permitted to wear bathing suits in the Garden.
Programing for Toddlers and Preschoolers at the Garden
Toddlers and preschoolers will love the frogs in the of the Fuqua Conservatory. Check the schedule for the day and sign up to participate in a Frog Feeding! Children will also enjoy the running up and down the Canopy Walk and seeing vegetables grow in the Edible Garden. Garden Playtime is a hands-on learning experience for children 5 years old and under that takes place once a month in the Children’s Garden.
Visiting the Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Check of the Calendar of Children’s Programming before your visit! If it is shoulder season, check the website to find out if the Splash Pad is open. Note that the Garden is closed on Mondays except for certain holidays. Double check the website before you visit.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- The Varsity Drive In – I love the chili dogs and the onion rings. The kids love the Frosted Orange
- Willy’s Mexicana Grill in Piedmont Park – parking is tight here, but it is a family favorite
- The Flying Biscuit Midtown – all day breakfast is always a hit with little ones
- Varuni Napoli Pizza – this authentic Italian pizza place is just north of Piedmont Park
7. Southeastern Railway Museum
Do your toddlers and preschoolers love trains? Even if they don’t, they will after they explore Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth – just north of Atlanta. This transportation history museum has the largest collections of trains on display in Georgia. Walk around the museum and explore the locomotives, the passenger cars, the cabooses and more! Most of the historic vehicles are outdoors, but they have a conditioned pavilion which is a comfortable temperature year-round.
Presidential Train Cars
The Southeastern Railway Museum has two presidential railroad cars on display. Franklin Delano Roosevelt frequently rode the Pullman Private car named Marco Polo. Roosevelt traveled to Warm Springs, Georgia often on this car when he was governor of New York and the President of the United States. Norfolk Southern owns this historic car.
More than Trains
In addition to trains, the museum has a collection of historic Atlanta transit vehicles. Check out the historic buses and taxi cabs on display.
Preschool Program at the Train Museum
On the second Thursday of every month, the Southeastern Railway Museum hosts a Preschool Program for children between the ages of 2 and 4 years old. Parents will participate with their little ones in a game, story or song, activity and craft. Sometimes the kids will get to see the “vehicle of the month.”
Visiting the Southeastern Railway Museum
While you are at the museum, be sure to take advantage of the train ride if it is running that day! The toddler sitting next to me on my last visit squealed with delight and echoed the train horn, “Choo choo!”
You can bring your own food and have a picnic at the train museum. Make sure that you wear closed toe shoes as the train museum is an industrial site. Most of this museum is outdoors, so this museum is best enjoyed in pleasant weather! The museum is open Thursday – Sunday. Double check the website for current hours.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- LR Burger on the Duluth Town Green – delicious smash burgers and a kids menu
- O4W Pizza
- Dreamland BBQ – kids will love their mac & cheese
- Maple Street Biscuit Co – when only breakfast food will do
- Butter & Cream – ice cream shop for a treat
8. Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is a magical place earning it a spot on my list for most fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta. It is the largest aquarium in the United States so prepare yourself when you go with your little ones – it will be an adventure. The Aquarium is incredibly busy on holidays and weekends. I highly recommend that you go during the week when the big kids are in school. If you visit on a weekend arrive the moment that the aquarium opens to make the most out of your visit. Expect to spend at least 3-4 hours touring the aquarium. Your toddlers and preschoolers will be sure to take an afternoon nap!
At the Aquarium
Upon your arrival, make a reservation for the dolphin and sea lion shows – these are included with your ticket. Then head over to the Ocean Voyager tunnel. If you arrived early, then you will enjoy being surrounded by magnificent sea life without the crowds. Enjoy the huge viewing gallery at the end of this exhibit. The penguins live in Cold Water Quest. Your kids can crawl into one of the acrylic pop-up tunnels to get up close with the penguins in the middle of their habitat! Adults will enjoy the beluga whales.
If you are looking for Dory and Nemo, they live in the Tropical Diver Exhibit. Adults will appreciate the beauty of the coral reef. The otters live in the freshwater, River Scout Exhibit. Kids will also see piranhas with all of their sharp teeth! Speaking of teeth, sharks are on display in the newest gallery called Sharks: Predators of the Deep.
Programing for Toddlers and Preschoolers at the Aquarium
The Explorers Cove exhibit features two large, interactive touch pools where your children can have a hands-on experience with sharks, rays, guitarfish and sturgeon. Continuing the immersive journey, the exhibit takes you through a marsh environment where you can experience the wetland ecosystem. Kids can even digitally create their own aquatic species!
Helpful Information
Visit the Georgia Aquarium website for information on how to get to the aquarium as well as their hours. The Georgia Aquarium does not allow any outside food. If you are hungry, you must visit the 2-story Coastline Café. You can digitally order menu items such as grain bowls, sandwiches, and pizza. I recommend that you pick up a mid-morning snack here and eat lunch outside the aquarium.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
9. Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is a hidden gem and it deserves a spot on the list of most fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta. You can visit for a couple of hours or you can make a whole day of it. Visit the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, book tickets for a Puppet show, and/or participate in a Create-a-Puppet Workshop!
At the Center for Puppetry Arts
At a minimum, I recommend that you visit the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. This incredible museum houses the Jim Henson Collection and the Global Collection. The Center offers a museum scavenger hunt for preschoolers – which makes the experience even more engaging!
The Jim Henson Collection walks you through the Jim Henson’s life and the evolution of his Muppet Characters. The Sesame Street display includes a wonderful interactive exhibit where your kids can put on their own Muppet show. You can watch the show in the monitor in real time. There is also a reading corner filled with Muppet books. My kids especially enjoyed this section when they were toddlers and preschoolers. Visit this detailed guide to the Jim Henson Collection to learn more.
The Global Collection is an exhibit on the history of Puppetry across the world. The go to exhibit here is the interactive marionette theater. Children can put on their own marionette show while parents watch from the benches. Visit this detailed guide to the Global Collection to learn more.
Helpful Information
If you book tickets to a Puppet Show, I recommend booking in advance online. However, you may be able to purchase tickets when you arrive if it is not a busy day. You can add a Create-a-Puppet workshop experience to the puppet show so you kids can make their own puppet character! Check out this detailed guide to the Center for Puppetry Arts.
The Center has a small parking lot and it is accessible from the Arts Center Marta station. Visit the How to get here page on the Center’s website. Pay attention to the day’s show times if you visit the museum only. I recommend arriving in advance of the puppet show to ensure that you find plenty of parking.
Kid Friendly Atlanta Restaurants Nearby:
- The Varsity Drive In – I love the chili dogs and the onion rings. The kids love the Frosted Orange
- Willy’s Mexicana Grill in Piedmont Park – parking is tight here, but it is a family favorite
- The Flying Biscuit Midtown – all day breakfast is always a hit with little ones
- Varuni Napoli Pizza – this authentic Italian pizza place is just north of Piedmont Park
10. Atlanta Splash Pads, Splash Fountains and Spraygrounds
When it is hot outside, taking your toddlers and preschoolers to get wet always hits the spot. The Atlanta metro area offers a bunch of free splash pads, where you can cool off without busting your budget. They are often near playgrounds, so you can play first and then get wet at the end of your outing.
Pack towels, sunscreen, swim diapers, a change of clothes, and a picnic blanket to sit on – although some of these locations have benches for parents. Most Atlanta splash pads are open from the beginning of May until the beginning of October. The Legacy Fountain at Piedmont Park and the Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park are open year-round. I listed a few favorite splash pads below, but there are many more in the Atlanta metro area.
A Few Recommended Splash Fountains
- Legacy Fountain at Piedmont Park
- Free
- Adjacent Restroom available from 8am-6pm
- Open year-round
- Bring your picnic blanket
- Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park
- Free
- Music & Water Show at noon, 2:30pm, 6:30pm, and 9:00pm
- Restroom available at the Visitor Center from 9am-4pm
- Open year-round from 7am to 10pm daily
- Benches and seating available
- Splash Pad at Historic Fourth Ward Park
- Free
- Adjacent Restroom available from 10am-8pm
- Open from May 1 – October 1 from 10am-8pm daily
- Benches available
- Fountain at Duluth Town Green
- Free
- Restrooms available
- Open during warmer months from 9am-9pm – check the link for current schedule
- Bring your picnic blanket
- Splash Pad at the Battery Atlanta
- Free
- Public Restrooms available in Battery Atlanta
- Open from April until October 24 from 9am-9pm daily except for game days or large events
- Benches and seating available
- Big Splash in Suwanee Town Center
- Free
- Restrooms available near the stage
- Open from April 1 – October 31 daily from 9:30am-9:30pm
- Bring your picnic blanket
- Spray Fountain at the Town Green in Alpharetta City Center
- Free
- Open year-round
- Benches and seating available
- Free parking available in the garage across from the library on Park Plaza
Fun things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Atlanta
Atlanta offers so many fun and family-friendly things to do with toddlers and preschoolers. Your children are sure to love hands-on experiences at museums, animal adventures, outdoor garden adventures and cooling off at Atlanta’s splash pads. Atlanta has something to offer that every little explorer will love. I hope that this guide helps you plan your next outing with your little ones.
If you have a favorite Atlanta sport for toddlers and preschoolers that I missed, be sure to share it in the comments so that other families can discover it too!
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