30+ Ways to Safely Get Out and About

If you’re looking for fun things to do with your kids, heading outside is a great way to entertain in a safe manner.

Scavenger Hunts:

Secret Doors of Decatur 
Discover this series of more than 30 miniature secret doors, each created a local artist and inspired by the idea of fairy doors. The doors are tucked in unexpected locations around Decatur.

Tiny Doors ATL 
Whimsical doors, created by local artist Karen Andersen Singer, are located throughout the city – everywhere from the Swan House to the Atlanta BeltLine.

Clue Town Books
This series of walkable hunts leads your family searching around Atlanta with clues. Use landmarks to solve puzzles and the solutions reveal how to get to the next checkpoint.

Scavenger Hunt Atlanta
Sign up for one of these adventures, which are custom designed for each family or group. Explore new neighborhoods, visit local landmarks and learn about Atlanta with the City Scavenger Hunt; solve puzzles and riddles with the Escape Adventure; or try survival challenges, geocaching and wildlife watching with the Wilderness Adventure.

The Urban Adventure Quest
This website offers another option to hunt around downtown Atlanta starting at Centennial Olympic Park. Follow clues from your phone, complete challenges and earn points, and since the challenge is guided by your phone, you can complete at your own pace.

The Rock Garden

Secret Gardens:

Sleepy Hollow
Enjoy Sleepy Hollow’s Whimsical Fairy Garden, which is filled with fairy cottages and gnome houses. Visitors can also purchase fairy houses, doors and other creations built by former Disney Imagineer Art Millican. Blairsville.

The Rock Garden
Located behind the Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Calhoun, this garden has miniature stone castles, bridges and buildings. Walk through this peaceful garden, and in spring, spot beautiful blooms. Calhoun.

Paradise Garden
Travel to Summerville to visit this unique attraction. Created by Howard Finster, this delightful display shows odd objects, tools, antiques and curios as artworks and sculptures. Summerville.

Enchanted Woodland Trail

Outdoor Exhibits:

PRISM: Winter Lights
This exhibit at Woodruff Park features light-based, water-inspired works by artists from around the country. Atlanta. Through Jan. 31.

Enchanted Woodland Trail
View more than 30 miniature homes built by fairies and gnomes at Chattahoochee Nature Center. With 127 acres, this outdoor space has plenty of room to spread around, hike and explore. Roswell. Through Feb. 28.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park / Georgia Department of Natural Resources

The Great Outdoors

Sweetwater Creek State Park
This park offers a wooded trail along a stream leading to ruins of the Manchester Textile Mill. Other trails wind through forests, ferns and wild azaleas. Try the red trail for the easiest route. Lithia Springs.

Fernbank Forest
Part of Fernbank Museum of Natural History, this 65-acre old-growth forest has more than two miles of paths, perfect for spotting foliage, animals, flowers and more. Atlanta.

Dunwoody Nature Center
Hike around Wildcat Creek, the wetlands boardwalk or make your way through two miles of Piedmont forest. Stop by the awesome playground, practice music at the Play Me Again Piano named “Bennett,” enjoy the tree swings, spot all the colorful bee hive murals and more. Dunwoody.

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Walk along three miles of hiking trails with cave-like overhangs, scenic views of the water and tons of wildlife and wildflowers. In warmer months, paddle a raft, canoe or kayak. Sandy Springs.

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve
Hiking the easy, less than two miles, part-paved, part-dirt trail round trip takes you by the remnants of a stone springhouse (with moat) and Civil War-era trenches on this former battlefield site. Plus, there’s a small waterfall. Atlanta.

Constitution Lake
This weird spot shows off quirky Doll’s Head Trail, filled with folk art created by local Atlanta artists and park volunteers. All of the art is made from natural items. Atlanta.

Roswell River Walk
This seven-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River offers trails, water access and multiple playgrounds. You can go on to boardwalks adjacent to the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Roswell.

Big Trees Forest Preserve
This 30-acre plant, tree and wildlife sanctuary has has three hiking routes, including a one-mile loop trail beneath white oak trees. Be sure to grab the nature trail guide at the entrance of the forest and try to clasp hands around one of the giant oaks. Sandy Springs.

Big Creek Greenway
Stroll your choice of flat, easy trails in Alpharetta or Forsyth with paved and boardwalk areas. Observe wildlife in the wooded and wetland settings. Alpharetta and Forsyth.

Cochran Shoals
More than three miles of gravel trails runs beside the Chattahoochee River. Check out both woodlands and marshes, and all the animals that inhabit them. Marietta.

Reynolds Nature Preserve
Try the looped trails, all under two miles, and spot ponds, antique farm equipment and resident critters. In spring and summer, check out the Pollinator Garden and the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail to see the areas buzzing with activity. Morrow.

Murphey Candler Trail
A pond is at the center of this moderate two-mile flat loop. Adjacent to a playground, this tranquil spot is a great place to see ducks, turtles, geese and other water fowl. Brookhaven.

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
Enjoy nature, historical artifacts and wildlife. The outdoor animal exhibits include ducks, a rabbit, an African Spurred Tortoise, chickens and three Dwarf Nigerian Goats. Johns Creek.

Lost Corner Nature Preserve
Lesser known than other Atlanta nature centers,  the passive nature trails of Lost Corner have a lot to offer! Go in search of a host of native trees, plants and animals, including birds of prey, deer, turtles, wild turkey, rabbits, foxes and more. Sandy Springs.

Morningside Nature Preserve
More than 30 woodland acres in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood surrounds South Fork Peachtree Creek, and walk along a cool suspension bridge over the creek to try both of the trails. Bring your furry friends to try out the “dog beach.” Atlanta.

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve
This 28-acre sanctuary includes wetlands, upland forests and pine forests along a floodplain, and a 1.5-mile trail perfect for kids learning about Georgia’s climate and native living things. Decatur.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park
With 2,910 acres, Chattahoochee Bend is one of Georgia’s largest state parks with 12 miles of trails and an observation platform for nice views of the river and forest. In the warmer months, enjoy boating, fishing, paddling and kayak and canoe rentals. Newnan.

Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
A preserved Civil War battlefield, see constructions built by Federal and Confederate troops and an authentic 1800s pioneer cabin. The site has four miles of trails. Dallas.

Don Carter State Park
Don Carter is on 38,000-acre Lake Lanier and features paved hiking trails, such as the 0.5-mile Parallel Trail, the Overlook Trail and the 1.5-mile Woodland Loop. You can also hike longer trails, go on a paddling trail, or go on a horseback riding trail. Gainesville.

Stone Mountain

Take in the View

Red Top Mountain State Park
This park boasts more than 15 miles of wooded trails, and you can even explore a reconstructed 1860s homestead. For seasonal fun in the hot months, swim, water ski or fish at Lake Allatoona. Acworth.

Stone Mountain Park
Explore 15 miles of walking and hiking trails, including the one-mile trail to the top of the mountain. The Nature Garden trail is an easy walk around large oak trees. The hike to the top is more challenging, but includes great views of downtown Atlanta. Stone Mountain.

Arabia Mountain PATH
Amazing views await at the summit of the crater-filled Arabia Mountain. The trail is short, but along the way, plenty of unique land forms and plants entertain. Lithonia.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
This 2,965-acre battlefield preserves a Civil War battleground. The Mountain Trail is steep with some level terrain that leads to the peak, where a panoramic view of Atlanta is the reward. There are also many easier trails and activities at this historic battlefield site. Kennesaw.

Panola Mountain State Park
Part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Panola Mountain is a 100-acre granite outcrop. The park has 25 miles of trails, including the .75-mile Outcrop Trail and 1.25 mile Watershed Trail. Stockbridge.

Sawnee Mountain Preserve
Mostly known for the Indian Seats natural rock formation at the peak of the mountain, Sawnee has an easy short hike best for younger children. The brief round trip leads to a tree house and a fairy houses trail. Another short–but steep–climb leads to an observation deck. Cumming.

Catch a Movie

The StarLight Drive-In
This drive-in theater shows the latest films and special features and boasts multiple screens. Shop the flea market to find fun goodies. Atlanta.

Plaza Theatre
Watch a variety of films from the safety of your vehicle. Atlanta.

The Springs Cinema & Taphouse
This theater also offers a drive-in movie experience on Friday and Saturday nights. Sandy Springs.

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