When talking family unit travel, i size definitely doesn't fit all. Everyone'south hotel, nutrient and sightseeing upkeep is different. Something we all have in common? Our love of free activities! If yous're planning a visit to Atlanta, take a look at the all-time costless things to practice in Atlanta with kids.

Centennial Olympic Park; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

1. Centennial Olympic Park

Built in 1996 when the Summer Olympics came to Atlanta, locals and visitors alike love to play at the beautiful Centennial Olympic Park that's wreathed in Atlanta-excitement similar the Georgia Aquarium, where everyone gets in free on their birthday.

Centennial Park itself is 22-acres of green space, waterfalls, and two fantastic climbing parks. But the biggest draw for kids is the interactive Fountain of Rings that'southward synchronized to music and light. The rings play songs like Circle of Life, Twist & Shout, and more four times a day, 365 days a yr, at 12:30, iii:thirty, 6:30, and 9 p.m.

CNN Center; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

2. CNN Center

Sitting an easy four-minute walk from the Fountain of Rings is the impressive—for its clangorous size alone—world headquarters of CNN. While the channel charges for their studio bout, it'southward free to walk into CNN and have a good look at the Hummer that's on brandish. This bad boy was ane of 2 used by CNN reporters during the Iraq war in 2003.

Inside the huge center, you'll find a massive nutrient court (a bang-up place to fuel upwards the kids inexpensively), a gazillion screens broadcasting CNN, photograph opportunities, and time to snoop through the toy and souvenir shops.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Site; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

three. The Martin Luther Male monarch, Jr. National Historical Site

This emotional site features the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. and his father gave sermons, Rex'southward childhood home, and a museum that details Male monarch'south life through exhibits and shows. Y'all'll also run into the eternal flame and reflection pool at Dr. King & Coretta Scott Kings' final resting identify.

High Museum of Art; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

4. High Museum of Art

The High Museum—locals call it The High—is famous in Atlanta for giving costless admission on the second Sunday of every month from apex to 5 p.m., with special activities for families starting at 1 p.thousand. and going until four p.m. (Arrive early on to vanquish the oversupply.)

A visit to The High features selections from the permanent drove—numbering more than 17,000 pieces—and temporary exhibitions like I Come across a Story: The Art of Eric Carle; Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Archetype; and The Pursuit of Everything: Maira Kalman'southward Books for Children. Kids dear the interactive Greene Family Learning Gallery that gives them the chance to participate in art-making activities (best for ages 8 and under).

Georgia Governor's Mansion

v. Governor's Mansion

The Governor's Mansion, built in 1967, is a 24,000-square-foot residence sitting on 18-acres that's been home to nine Georgia governors, including Jimmy Carter and Zell Miller. The self-guided tours allow guests to visit the mansion rooms at their own footstep and listen to the docent in each room explicate the history of the space. The three-floor, 30-room mansion gives the free hybrid tour every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from x to 11:xxx a.m. Check the website for closures ahead of your visit.

Piedmont Park; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

6. Piedmont Park

This 200-acre park sitting in the heart of Atlanta has two incredible playgrounds canopied by vintage trees, an impressive swimming pool with a beach-entrance (costless Monday to Friday, 3 to v p.m.), and a splash pad that's as fun as it is cute.

The park brims in wide walking paths, a lake, and gratis outdoor concerts—such as the outdoor music provided by the Atlanta Symphony in early summer each yr—and festivals like the hugely popular annual Ice Cream Festival in July. The park also gives free tours including history, bird and self-guided tours.

Historic Oakland Cemetery; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

vii. Historic Oakland Cemetery

We hear yous wondering, "A cemetery? On holiday? Sounds creepy." But it's totally not. Founded in 1850, the 48-acre Oakland Cemetery sits in the eye of Atlanta and is home to more than 70,000 residents. Atlanta mayors, Georgia governors, more than than 6,900 Confederate soldiers, wealthy, poor, African-American and white, tycoons and unmarked graves—all take been welcomed into this lush, absolutely gorgeous cemetery.

The famous residents include Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, Bobby Jones (famous golfer), and Maynard Jackson, the starting time African-American mayor of Atlanta. Look to run into elaborate mausoleums, sculptures, vintage oak and magnolia trees canopying the cemetery, and scenic gardens. While the cocky-guided map costs $v, the cemetery'southward app is just $1.99 and walking on your own and soaking up the history is entirely free.

Atlanta Monetary Museum; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

8. Atlanta Monetary Museum

Traveling parents love slipping memorable learning into a vacation and if the bout is also complimentary? We're down! Don't miss this highly recommended visit to the Atlanta Budgetary Museum that teaches what the Federal Reserve does for our economic system. The cocky-guided tour takes under two hours and kids tin see a gold bar, watch interesting videos on the history of money (more interesting than it sounds), meet robots have money out of the vault, marvel at vintage coins, collaborate with educational exhibits, and even have home thousands of dollars equally a souvenir (shredded, only still cool!).

Georgia State Capitol

9. Georgia State Capitol

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and modeled after the The states Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Georgia State Capitol was congenital after the Ceremonious War to symbolize the powerful emergence of "the New Southward." Relish the beautiful grounds before heading upwards to the fourth floor, where you'll find exhibits and artifacts on the State of Georgia. Parking is nigh non-existent and the parking they accept is plush, and then consider taking an Uber or Lyft to run across the Capitol.

Dunwoody Nature Center; Courtesy of TripAdvisor Traveler/Dan

x. Dunwoody Nature Center

The beautiful boondocks of Dunwoody sits about 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta and is kid-nirvana with elaborate playgrounds, a creek to explore, hammocks to snooze in, hives with bees at work to watch, a teepee to duck into, a nighttime hike (best with a flashlight), trees with swings, nature hikes on 5 miles of trails and a donated pianoforte only waiting to exist played (behind the main building).

Atlanta BeltLine Trail; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

11. Atlanta BeltLine Trail

Originally a master's thesis by Ryan Gravel, a Georgia Tech student, the Atlanta BeltLine's former life was as a long agone railway corridor that ran around Atlanta, kind of like a belt… get it? Cheers to Ryan, the powers-that-be decided to upwards level the Beltline with his brilliance to create miles of stunning walking, jogging, hiking, biking, and you-get-the-gist pathways hemmed by absurd restaurants, many art installations, markets, and playgrounds. The most loved office of the BeltLine is the Eastside Trail, which you can enter at Piedmont Park and then walk to Irwin Street/Krog Street Marketplace. Heads up: weekends go busy with happy feet.

Stone Mountain; Courtesy of Explore Georgia

12. Stone Mountain

Loaded in attractions and entertainment, it's not challenging to spend a pretty penny at Stone Mountain, But for those in-the-know, the cute park besides has free kids' activities including two playgrounds with nice bathrooms, xv miles of hiking trails, a mill chosen Gristmill that has water play every kid loves in the form of a mannerly creek (keen picnic spot too), an old scenic covered bridge with a pedestrian walkway, a in one case-active quarry with exhibits that show kids the procedure of stone cut, and hiking the mile up to the pinnacle of Stone Mountain to run across the amazing view stretching sixty-miles on a clear solar day (keep in listen: parts are steep, but do-able for kids). Bring water. There is a parking fee.

Movies outdoors; Courtesy of Shutterstock

thirteen. Movies by Moonlight

Free outdoor movies are part of every Georgia summertime, and a perfect free affair to do in Atlanta with kids. If yous're visiting downtown Atlanta, take in free Flicks at the Tech Summer Movie Series at Georgia Tech'south Bobby Dodd Stadium. At the stadium, you'll sit in the stands so no need to rustle upwards blankets and pillows. Admission and parking are gratis, although you're non allowed to bring in snacks. Gates open at 7 p.thou. and parking is free at Peters Parking Deck.

Want to see a free outdoor moving-picture show in a town but exterior Atlanta? Check out these upscale customs motion picture nights: Movies in the Park in Alpharetta, Movies on the Town at Brookhaven, Movies past Moonlight in Sandy Springs, Movie Nighttime at Candler Park, movies at Heart Hill Park in Bankhead (notation: not Buckhead) and Flicks on the Bricks in super quaint Duluth.

David J. Sencer CDC Museum in association with the Smithsonian Institution; Courtesy of TripAdvisor Traveler/DrSkippy

14. David J. Sencer CDC Museum in association with the Smithsonian Institution

Did you know that the Center for Disease Command (CDC) is headquartered in Atlanta? And that they offer a tour and a museum visit to meet all that the CDC does to keep us condom from diseases similar Ebola, a influenza pandemic, anthrax and more? Ideal for older kids and teens who are interested in science, this fascinating museum is modest, but yous and the kids can hands spend 2 hours watching shows on the complex history of the CDC. Give the kids time to get on the CDC scavenger hunt, play scientist, and find a replica of an fe lung. Access and parking are free. The CDC is a federal building requiring a rubber check; bring ID.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park; Courtesy of NPS

15. Kennesaw Mount National Battleground Park

General Sherman advanced on the Confederates in June 1964 on Kennesaw Mountain (a 28-minute drive from Atlanta), resulting in the deaths of 5,300 soldiers and a victory for the Confederates. Just 5 months later on, Sherman would order Atlanta's supplies exist burned and brainstorm—with threescore,000 men—his March to the Sea.

The Kennesaw Mountain National Boxing Field Park offers almost 3,000 acres that preserve the Ceremonious State of war battlefield. Families tin drive to the acme of Kennesaw (weekdays) or take a shuttle motorcoach (weekends with a small fee) to see the breathtaking vistas, view the 35-infinitesimal park film that details the mountain's story, accept a gratuitous self-guided tour of the museum, and hike up i of over 22 miles of interpretive trails. Brainstorm your journey at the Battlefield'southward Visitor Middle for this free thing to do in Atlanta with kids.

sixteen. Little Nancy Creek Park in North Buckhead

Sitting about xviii minutes out of downtown and tucked in a beautiful Buckhead neighborhood is a small park with an elaborate climbing structure, a modest shallow creek, walking bridges, shade (thanks to the trees), a walking path, and green spaces. As y'all drive to the park, bask the view of one of xl stunning Buckhead neighborhoods equally you venture through this costless thing to do in Atlanta with kids.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan MandirCourtesy of TripAdvisor Traveler/Chris3081

17. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Ready to be stunned with this costless thing to do in Atlanta with kids. Yes, this visit is a 29-minute drive from downtown Atlanta to the Lilburn suburb. Yes, admission—including the audio tour—is entirely costless. And, yep, this five-star visit is absolutely worth your time. Put it this mode: a visit to the Taj Mahal in India might rock except for that little thing called a 23-hr plane ride (and a gazillion dollars to pay for the flight.) How nearly instead visiting a true marvel of a Hindu temple (chosen a mandir) that's dazzler—we'll just say it—rivals the Taj. The mandir is open daily and welcomes visitors of all faiths.

Wendy Irvine is a travel writer who lives in Atlanta with her family unit and pens the blog, JellyfishinJuly.com.

What to Pack for Your Next Trip

For info on these editor-selected items, click to visit the seller's site. Things yous purchase may earn united states a commission.

Our squad of parents and travel experts chooses each product and service we recommend. Annihilation yous purchase through links on our site may earn united states of america a commission.