Guest Author - Kimberly Misra

If you’re looking for free things to do in Atlanta, Georgia here are nine kid-pleasing options.


1. Play in the Fountain of the Rings. Created for the Olympics, the fountain in Centennial Olympic Park is a great place to spend a warm afternoon. Kids can play in the fountain (you’ll want a change of clothes or swimsuits for this) and watch a fountain show. The shows are scheduled several times a day and are set to music such as the 1812 Overture and Under the Sea.

2. Go to the playground. If the kids still have energy after playing in the fountain, they can play at the All Children’s Playground in Centennial Park. The modern playscape is designed to be accessible to children of all abilities.

3. Stroll through Underground Atlanta. If the weather outside is frightful, take a walk through Underground Atlanta, six blocks of shops and restaurants. This is a good place to look for souvenirs.

4. Visit Piedmont Park. This prettily landscaped park offers great views of Midtown and is a nice place for a picnic or walk. You can also go fishing, play on the playground, or just admire the flowers.

5. Tour the Georgia Capitol. If you want to learn more about Georgia’s history, take a free 45 minute tour of the Renaissance style Capitol building. You can also look around on your own with the help of a detailed brochure available at the front desk.

6. Martin Luther King Center.This popular tourist attraction is free. You’ll see the home King was raised in, a fantastic civil rights exhibit, and King’s final resting place. Go early; only a certain number of people are allowed in each day. The visitor’s center offers a “Children of Courage” exhibit that is worth a stop.

7. Visit Grant Park. This pretty park near the Atlanta Zoo offers a great playground and free swimming in the pool for kids under 5 (there’s a nominal fee for older kids and adults). Nearby is Oakland Cemetery, the final resting place of Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell.

8. Learn something new at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. The center doesn’t offer free admission (except to kids under 2) but it’s still a low priced attraction. The center offers a good variety of free activities with paid admission such as guided hikes, raptor encounters, and storytimes.

9. Visit a paper museum. The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum is free to the public. Of most interest to kids will be the special exhibits on topics such as pop art or clothing made from paper. Permanent collections detail the papermaking process, paper mills, watermarks, and more. There’s a store with paper crafts and gifts.