Whether you’re preparing to dive into another year of virtual learning or have just started the school year, this is a big weekend with lots of big feelings, for everyone! Channel that energy into making memories. From exploring an urban forest to casting your luck at a local fishing hole, you’ve got plenty of options to replace those back-to-school jitters with happy campers. Keep reading for our favorite ways to play this weekend, below.
photo: iStock
Hands-On Fun
Explore the Kirkwood Urban Forest
The Kirkwood Urban Forest Community Garden is a unique space, in that it is both a public conservation park and a community garden managed by members of the Kirkwood neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia. This 7.5 acre site features walking trails through hardwood trees, a spring-fed creek, a frog pond, and a surprisingly lush ecosystem only a few miles from Downtown Atlanta. Here’s the scoop.
Go on a Wild Animal Safari
From the comfort of your own vehicle, you can travel through a 3.5-mile drive experiencing hundreds of animals. Many animals will come right up to your vehicle for a greeting. Come face-to-face with a camel, a watusi, a zebra or hand feed an American bison. You’ll see elk, water buffalo, giraffes and more running free. Click here for the details.
Visit the Starlight Drive-In for a Double Feature
If you’ve never been, you have to pay a visit to the iconic Starlight for a drive-in movie with double features, concessions to purchase (or BYO food), plus a flea market from 6 a.m. -3 p.m. on the weekends. Find details here.
Head to the Freedom Farmer’s Market
The market, now open year-round, offers a wide range of organic, local products including: fresh produce, grass fed meats, dairy including cheeses, yogurt, butter, milk, farm fresh eggs, handmade pasta and preserves, baked goods, coffee and more. Wear a mask, bring your own shopping bags, and observe social distancing for a fresh alternative to the grocery run. Here’s what you need to know.
Go Fish at a Local Hole
With these local fishing spots, your kids will fall hook, line, and sinker for this easy going past time that doesn’t break the bank or require tons of planning—but can still allow for responsible social distancing while getting out of the house. For more details, click here.
Virtual Adventures
Explore the Atlanta History Museum from Home
Visit the Atlanta History Center from home with access to lectures, exhibitions, author talks and more. Here’s the scoop.
Take a Virtual Tour of MLK’s Birthplace
Go on a virtual tour of where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and lived as a young man, then wow the kids with the scoop that it’s just down the street and around the corner, right here in Atlanta. Find out more here.
Join Mikey the Rad Scientist Guy
Join Mikey the Rad Scientst for live science and music shows via Facebook. Plan to catch him all summer long so kids can keep learning and having fun. Check it out here.
Virtual Visit the New England Aquarium
Dive into the lives of fascinating aquatic creatures with the New England Aquarium’s #VirtualVisits! Each day the Aquarium’s educators will be posting live videos on their social media accounts allowing everyone to learn more about the aquarium and its animals. For more info, check this out.
Discover Africa through Folktales
In this live class, kids get to listen to an enthralling African Folktale and learn and act out mini scenes from the tale. They’ll learn interesting facts about the story and they’ll spend a few minutes discussing the important lessons they learned. Find out more here.
Check out our incredible virtual adventure calendar here for more options!
—Shelley Massey
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