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Loews Atlanta Hotel
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Georgia Aquarium
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World of Coca Cola
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World of Coca Cola
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The Varsity
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Saltwood Charcuterie + Bar
Family Fun: Atlanta
The problem: Too many chilly weekends cooped up in a house full of kids. The fix? A two-night jaunt to Atlanta, where after just a few hours in the car, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor places to pass the time and relieve everyone's pent-up energy.
STAY
Post up at the Loews Atlanta, which despite its high-class feel is about as kid-friendly as they come. Book a Grand Luxury suite, which offers more than enough space for a brood. Tack on a couple amenities, like the Sprout Dream Stay package, which includes a welcome gift for children under five, or the Family Fun Night Sleepover for an in-room movie-night experience complete with a big bowl of kettle corn. Parents can take turns throughout the weekend visiting Exhale Spa for a core fusion barre class or a sports massage. Centrally located in midtown, the hotel is a quick walk or drive to all of the action.
DO
Atlanta is a playground for kids of all ages. Start by spending a few hours (you'll need at least that) at the Georgia Aquarium, where your little ones can run, research, or simply stare in wonder at the whale sharks, manta rays, and beluga whales. Plan ahead and schedule a sleepover for the entire family, which includes a tour behind the scenes. The aquarium is set directly beside the World of Coca-Cola, an attraction dedicated to learning all about the carbonated beverage, meaning you can hop from one indoor fun zone to the next.
A little further out toward Buckhead, at the child-sized-mind-blowing Legoland Discovery Center, tots can assemble, build, and explore with Legos large and small. And parents of tweens and teens, take note: The College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience is jam-packed with interactive exhibits like a goal-posted expanse of turf fit for attempting field goals, and thanks to the hall of fame's über-advanced RFID technology, each exhibit is tailored to feature a guest's favorite college team as they make their way through the experience.
EAT
If eating with your kids is still an in-and-out affair, consider the city's 88-year old throwback, The Varsity. Spacious and rowdy, it has a menu packed with child-friendly favorites like hot dogs, onion rings, shakes, and yes, chicken nuggets. Little ones will also appreciate the paper hats and silly lingo (ask for a 'bag of rags” and you're given potato chips). Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q puts out a mean plate of ribs for the grown-ups, plus a kids' menu of pulled pork sandwiches and corn dogs.
If you're looking to fill up before hitting the road, stop into Saltwood, inside the lobby of the Loews, where the buffet boasts plenty of breakfast staples (including crowd-pleasing pancakes), while on-menu options like the Georgian Benedicta crab cake topped with fried green tomatoes and chipotle hollandaisewill tide you over until you get home. Bonus? The staff keeps a few game-filled electronic tablets on hand to appease any rambunctious tablemates.
Photos by James Duckworth, Kevin C. Rose, Courtesy of ACVB & Atlantaphotos.com, Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, Loews Atlanta.