Georgia Travel Log - March 2016 Edition

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

It's been awhile since I posted a "Georgia Travel Log" post. But 2016 has been a very busy year so far. Many new exhibits have opened and several of the attractions in Georgia have expanded and remodeled.

What is the "Georgia Travel Log?" Well it is one big update on several of the newest attractions, exhibits etc. Most of them will be ones that we actually get to experience that way I can share our personal experiences and show you some personal photos too. I hope you enjoy this first edition of the Georgia Travel Log. Please leave comments with information on any other new attractions or exhibits that you know of. Also remember to follow us on Instagram to keep up with our daily adventures!

If you are hosting an upcoming event or promoting a new exhibit or attraction please email me to discuss getting it covered in the next Georgia Travel Log edition.Children's Museum of Atlanta - NEW and IMPROVED + a NEW special exhibit:
Holy cow! The Children's Museum of Atlanta has gotten a major face lift. The museum is now covers two floors and has several NEW exhibit areas plus they have kept some of the really loved exhibit areas too. Exhibit areas now include fundamentally food, gateway to the world, leaping into learning, let your creativity flow, step up to science and tools for solution. The expansion provides a highly engaging, immersive, informal learning area focused on the whole child. If you haven't visited

The Children's Museum of Atlanta is the perfect place for children ages 6 months to about 9 years old. Gwyn is 10 years old and still enjoys the museum though.  For directions, hours, and more information visit website for details. And be on the look out for Rowyn on the website.

Image courtesy of Children's Museum of Atlanta.

Fundamentally Food Exhibit: This is probably my children's favorite area. The exhibit now features a diner area that is a scaled down, replicated Waffle House. There is also the classic grocery store with carts, a farm and the delivery truck. As a mom I like that this area shows children where their food comes from...farm to grocer to table!

Gateway to the World: This area is totally NEW! It features a large climbing structure (layers of the Earth) with a rotating globe and rocket launch pad. This area seems to be a huge hit with the older children. There are also continent train tables. The train tables were in the old museum however they have gotten a huge face lift and offer more learning opportunities. As a mom I love that this area teaches kids about the world we live in.

Leap into Learning: This area is for children ages 0-5. Some upgrades have taken place in this area too. Here children enter a magical forest, cast their rods, catch colorful fish, and go under a waterfall without getting wet! Then they can climb into a tree house and see animals from the forest. Babies and toddlers will love the bubble wall, play car and little house built just for them.

Let your Creativity Flow: Several new and old items reside in this area. There are the famous sand tables which now project topographical views as children build. My techie children really enjoy this added feature. Then there is the Art Studio where children can sign up to create arts and crafts with an imaginator. The CMA Stage has also gotten an overhaul. Here there are fun shows and story times offered daily. And lastly the paint wall which is an oldie but goodie. As a mom I love that this area encourages each child's inner Picasso. The imaginators do a fabulous job of encouraging the children. The "A" in STEAM is very important, and I love that the Children's Museum did not leave it out.

Step Up Science: I was really excited to see that the Children's Museum expanded upwards. The area they have created upstairs is spectacular. To get upstairs you can either take the elevator or the stairs...if you can I recommend the stairs. The stairs are super special and as children climb them they play music! Upstairs you will find all kinds of spectacular sciency stuff. Marvel at the inner workings of the human body, the wonder of light, and the technology of robots. There is also a Science Bar where children can order a hands-on demonstration or experiment.

There is also a large area upstairs with several tables and couple vending machines. YES you can bring in your own lunch into the museum and eat it upstairs!

Tools for Solutions: (hint this is where you can find Rowyns photo) This area is a huge hit with children who love to build. The Build-It-Lab is similar art studio in that children can sign up to create something fun with an imagination. However these projects are normally more 3d in nature and involve more building skills. The famous giant ball machine has remained and here children can move balls through the machine using six simple machine. Also in this area is the Construction House where children can attach make-believe wires, connect pipes and insulate walls. And there is the city blocks area where children can create skyscrapers and design the city of the future.

But wait there is more. The museum also has an area set aside for special traveling exhibits. From now through May 31st you can help uncover the "Mystery of the Mayan Medallion." My children really loved this special exhibit and so did I. It was very educational and fun. Before you start the expedition you want to make sure you grab your worksheet which will guide you through the exhibit. As you travel through Palenque, Mexico the children will solve clues and puzzles which will lead them to the priceless jade medallion that is buried inside the temple. Children will learn archaeology, biology and astromathematicsm as they visit the field stations.

Make sure you check the calendar of events for special programming.

Fernbank Museum - Wild Music and National Parks Adventure:
A few weekends ago we attended the grand opening celebration of Wild Music the new special exhibit at Fernbank. This special exhibit will be on display until July 31st and is a MUST see. It is very interactive and super educational. This is an exhibit for the entire family! Even I had fun exploring and learning. As you walk through the exhibit you will get to hear, feel and play your way through music that is all around us. Discover that nature is filled with "musicians" that create distinct musical masterpieces to communicate with and relate to one another. Explore how human music is inspired by the music of other living creatures—from tiny insects to giant whales. Everything is very hand-on which gets 5 stars from my children. They also liked that many of the instructions and explanations were audible through headsets.  All of the activities are presented in English, Spanish and in some cases even Braille.

Some of the things you will experience throughout the exhibit:

• Compose and play your own songs in the Jamming Room (my children could have spent all day in here....me not so much)
• Experience sound through touch, sight, and hearing by using spectrograms
• Hear how bird song has inspired humans to create beautiful music
• See a “talking drum” that mimics human speech
• Hear the songs of the deep from whales, shells, and underwater earthquakes
• Use an electrolarynx to speak without using your vocal cords
• Play a wall-mounted xylophone
• Hear birds whistle and learn more about what they’re saying

On of the IMAXs currently showing at Fernbank is National Parks Adventure. We went to see this with our homeschool group a couple weeks ago. You can read our review here. This IMAX will be showing until June 16th.

More Details: Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the 5-story-tall Rankin M. Smith Sr. IMAX^® Theatre are located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Call 404.929.6400 or visit the website to purchase your tickets. The film will be shown daily through September 18th. IMAX tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $11 for children 12 and under and $8 for museum members. Extended show times available Fridays during Martinis & IMAX.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Musical:
I took my 10 year old daughter to see the smash hit Broadway musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Fox Theatre last month. This production was AMAZING and definitely one the entire family would enjoy. The performances and vocals were fantastic and the choreography was spot on. The lavish sets were transformed seamlessly and the costumes were dazzling. This musical has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide and well I can say it definitely won ours too. Many of the classic numbers including  “Be Our Guest” were part of the production, but there were some new to us songs as well (that are not part of the Disney animated movie).  My daughter was mesmerized the entire time. My daughters favorite part was Beauty's dress and when Beauty kept telling the Beast no when he insisted she come down for dinner. My favorite part was the end when the Beast transforms into the prince. Wow it really seemed magical.  This spectacular musical has left Atlanta and has moved onto another state, but I hope that you will be able to experience the romance and enchantment of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast either in another state or maybe the next time it comes to Atlanta. 

Visit www.beautyandthebeastontour.com to see where the show will be next. You can also follow Beauty and the Beast on Facebook Beauty and the Beast on Twitter. 

Pirates of Penzance Opera: 
My daughter Gwyn really wanted to see an opera this school year. I had actually begun searching for the perfect one, then got an invite to Pirates of Penzance presented by The Atlanta Opera. After reading over the synopsis I decided this would be a great first opera for her...and me too as I had never been to an opera either. It is a comedy, a love story and has pirates as the main characters so what more could you want? The show is two acts which are about an hour each. It is actually part musical, part opera and a great introduction to the world of opera for adults and children. Because of the length and story line I wouldn't recommend it for very young children. If I had to recommend an age I would say 8+ years old would enjoy it and be able to follow along for the most part.

The entire cast did a stellar job...Mabel was my daughters favorite. She was in awe of her voice and couldn't believe she could reach such high notes and still move around the stage. The opera revolves around Frederic one of the main characters, who enters the rank of full pirate at the end of his apprenticeship. However since his obligation is met he is ready to return to civilization to find a wife. Once on dry land he falls in love with the Major-General Stanley's daughter Mabel. But his band of pirate mates return to land and set off a hilarious course of riotous events that pit Frederic against his pirate clan. But don't worry as with most stories there is a happy ending. But you will have to see the show for yourself to find out.

The show has been selling out every night so they added more performances. And the March 12th matinee is being marketed to families. For more information visit the Atlanta Opera website.

GA Aquarium - Aquanaut Adventure:
I am way behind on this one. We actually got to visit this NEW exhibit early last year...but better late than never right? Aquanaut Adventure is Georgia Aquarium's newest gallery and provides families with a unique experience to learn about aquatic life as they complete a series of educational and fascinating challenges utilizing an iPad. Participants will have the chance to become a certified Georgia Aquarium Aquanaut, or Aquarium Scientist, after completing their journey! This activity is for all ages as there are different levels for the challenges. 

As Aquanauts-in-training, participants will explore fresh water and marine habitats, scientific research, how animals thrive in extreme environments, and even catch a glimpse into what it’s like to have a career in aquatic and marine sciences. The activities are engaging and hands-on. The gallery instills a sense of appreciation for the oceans, lakes and rivers of our planet and an understanding of the organisms that thrive there. 

The children enjoyed the gallery so much that they actually went through 2 times. This exhibit gets 5 stars from our entire family. 

This gallery is included in the general admission. For more details visit The Georgia Aquarium website.

I hope you enjoyed this edition stayed tuned for more Georgia Travel Log updates!

Georgia Travel Log - December 2014 - Holiday Fun Edition

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We have been super busy lately traveling around Georgia and experiencing some of the newest exhibits and attractions. Because there are so many wonderful things I need to update you on I came up with a brilliant idea (well I think it's brilliant). I am calling it the "Georgia Travel Log." Once or twice a month I will give you an update on several of the newest attractions, exhibits, etc. Most of them will be ones that we actually get to experience that way I can share our personal experiences and show you some personal photos too. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Georgia Travel Log. Please leave comments with information on any other new attractions or exhibits that you know of. Also remember to follow us on Instagram to keep up with our daily adventures!

If you are hosting an upcoming event or promoting a new exhibit or attraction please email me to discuss getting it covered in the next Georgia Travel Log edition.

I know I missed a few months and I am so very sorry...I won't even bother making excuses because there are just too many!

This edition is going to be filled with lots of holiday events. Check out what The Rock Ranch, Stone Mountain, Atlanta Speedway, Historic Westville and Fernbank have to offer your family this holiday season.

The Rock Ranch:
In October we visited the Rock Ranch for one of their Fall Family Fun Days. Sadly I wasn't able to get a post up up sooner about our experience so I am going to share some of that with you now so you can start planning for next year. Hopefully you saw our photos and shout outs on social media and were able to attend this year. What you may not know though is that The Rock Ranch also has Christmas events like breakfast or lunch with Santa, Santa's workshop and country Christmas in lights (FREE).

The Rock Ranch is a family friendly outdoor destination that offers family's seasonal fun. Though they offer events throughout the year their Fall Family Fun Days from September - November (Saturday only) always draw in the crowds. Each Saturday they have a different theme which adds even more fun on top of the main attractions.

We visited on lumberjack day and had an absolute blast. The weather was perfect and we spent an entire day soaking in all that The Rock Ranch has to offer. All of the attractions on site are included in the cost of admission with the exception of the rock wall, carousel and zipline which there is a nominal charge for. The adventure starts out with a hay ride from the parking lot to the attraction area. Inside the attraction area which is encircled by a train track you will find pony rides, slide hill, tiny town (my children's personal favorite), pedal carts, corn maze, cane pole fishing, corn cannon, toddler playground, cow train, rope maze, horse shoes, no left turn maze, wagon jolly jump, paddle boats, petting zoo, corn box and more! There are also several places to pick up some scrumptious food and 2 stores to pick up great gift items.

If you enjoy corn mazes you will love the one at The Rock Ranch. Each year the ranch chooses a special theme for their corn maze. This year's theme celebrated 75 Years of Wizard of Oz, the movie. Throughout the day Wizard of Oz characters were available for photo ops. Throughout the maze there were informational placards, movie quotes, displays and more. If you got lost the corn cops were on duty to give you hints. We were really proud of ourselves for navigating the maze without any assistance. It took us about 1/2 an hour.



More Details:
The Rock Ranch is a 1,500 acre cattle ranch located one hour from Atlanta that offers visitors an "agritourism" experience unlike any other. The Rock Ranch is owned by Chick-fil-A owner S. Truett Cathy and dedicated to "Growing Healthy Families." The Rock Ranch offers seasonal events, educational fieldtrips, unique camping experience, and meeting spaces for events.

Stone Mountain Christmas:
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go...and Stone Mountain is no exception. Stone Mountain has been decked out with more than 2 million beautiful LED lights. We got a sneak peek of the Stone Mountain Christmas festivities and it was pretty awesome. From now until January 4th families can enjoy a variety of holiday shows including Forever Christmas, Toyriffic, A Crossroads Christmas Carol, Holly Jolly Cabaret and The Gift (religious show). Our family was able to catch two of the shows and Toyriffic was the children's favorite of the two. But there's more...you will definitely want to catch the 4-D Ice Age A Mammoth Christmas film, get your photo taken with Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer and Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and take a ride on the Sing-Along Christmas Train. If you stay through dusk you can also enjoy the high energy Christmas parade, meet with Santa and experience some holiday magic as the Snow Angel flies overhead creating a nightly snow and fireworks show. If you want to see everything including the night time parade and Snow Angel magic be sure to arrive early I would say no later than noon. Stone Mountain Christmas will definitely get you into the holiday spirit.

All of the above mentioned fun is included in a Stone Mountain Christmas Adventure Pass plus the Summit Skyride, Discovering Stone Mountain Museum and the Antebellum Plantation and Farmyard are also included in your pass. Stone Mountain Christmas Tickets are $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children.

And don't forget about Snow Mountain which will offer visitors hours of fun in something we rarely get to see here in Georgia...SNOW. Tickets are $28 for Snow Mountain and there are combo deals available for both Snow Mountain and Stone Mountain Christmas. Snow Mountain operates through February 22, 2015.

More Details:
Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most popular attraction and features a wide variety of family activities. Located on 3,200 acres of natural beauty, adventure awaits as you discover interactive family friendly attractions and many natural and historical sights. Plus you won’t want to miss dozens of fun annual events such as Spring FUN Break, Summer at the Rock, Yellow Daisy Festival, Indian Festival and Pow-Wow, Stone Mountain Christmas and Snow Mountain. Stone Mountain activities are suitable for all ages.

Fernbank Goose Bumps Exhibit and Winter Wonderland:
This is another review I totally slacked on but thankfully special exhibits stick around for a little bit at Fernank. Goose Bumps the Science of Fear will be on display through January 4th.

This special exhibit was tons of fun for both children and adults. If you have ever been curious about coulrophobia, pyrophobia or aviophobia then you will definitely want to visit this exhibit before it's gone. You will learn about the physiological, neurological and sociological aspects of this often misunderstood emotion through immersive and engaging hand-on activities.

The first part of the exhibit contains a wall of display boards which highlights several phobias. After learning about phobias such as aviophobia, dentophobia and pyrophobia head over to the Fear Lab where you will meet "Mr. Goose Bump"s the exhibit host. Mr. Goose Bumps will demonstrate how the bran and body work together through hands-on activities, video and exhibit interactives. Right across from Mr. Goose Bumps you can get an up close look as some real brains. Learn all about the amygdala aka the threat center of the brain.

Other hand-on experiences in the first half of the exhibit include the "Trigger Fear" table, "Science in the Works" study, "What are the Odds" test and the children's favorite "Freeze Game" a game that demonstrates predator vs prey.

Next you will head into the "Challenge Course." Here you will face four common fears through immersive displays. The first challenge is the Fear of Animals. In this room you will reach into concealed terrariums that may just house a creepy-crawly creature. In the next room you will face the Fear of Electric Shock. If you are brave enough place your finger into the slot and prepare for a shock! The 3rd room is the Fear of Loud Noises challenge. This demonstrates how this instinctive fear can help keep us out of harm's way. And the final challenge is the Fear of Falling challenge. This one was one of my favorite's. In this challenge you are safely strapped to a table which then falls backward. Afterwards you can head around to the back of the exhibit to watch the recording of your fall and examine your fear face.

Other exhibits include discovering how fears, both real and perceived can be spread and the impact they have on society, how to cope with fear in extreme situations, how to identify facial expressions and more.

The exhibit is great for all ages and is not "scary" in the traditional sense. Visitors can easily bypass any experience they do not wish to participate in or have fun watching others.

Also be sure to read our review on the Winter Wonderland exhibit which will be on display until January 11th. Special events will be going on just about every weekend in December.

More Details:
Ferbank museum offers immersive, hands-on exhibitions that make science, culture and natural history come alive in a big way. From the largest dinosaurs ever discovered, to the biggest movie screen in Atlanta, Fernbank Museum offers world of adventure for all ages.

Atlanta Motor Speedway Gift of Lights:
If you are looking for an affordable light show near Atlanta then the Atlanta Motor Speedway Gift of Lights is it. The Lights will be on display through January 3rd and is bigger, better and brighter than ever. The light show is on the track field and is 1.5 miles with over one million lights. How cool will it be to tell your friends you drove on the famed Atlanta Motor Speedway oval? Proceeds from the show benefit the Speedway Children's Charity.

There are over one million LED lights and the light display is broken into themed segments. Themes include nativity, nursery rhyme, underwater, outer space, patriotic, race car and 12 Days of Christmas. Before you enter the light display through the blue light tunnel you will want to make sure your radio is tuned in to the correct station so you can experience some fun holiday music.

You may drive your own vehicle through the light display at your own pace...and you may only drive through once so take your time. So sit back relax and get into the holiday spirit as you drive on the Atlanta Motor Speedway infield, cross the checkered finish line and even go up on the banking between turns 3 and 4 (if you are brave enough).

We enjoyed the light show very much, however it is not one that I would recommend driving over an hour to visit. Even driving at slow speed we still made it through in less than 1/2 an hour and my children were not happy that we drove so far for something that was so short. If you live close to the speedway be sure to hit it up because it is a fun, affordable family outing during the holidays.

On the following weekends December 5th-7th, 12th-14th and 19th-21st you can even visit the Christmas Village near the Atlanta Motor Speedway Gift Shop which includes a decorated tree, a Santa with his sleigh (professional photos available for a fee), bonfire, and gift shop.

The light display is open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. Admission is $15 Monday-Thursday, $20 on Fridays-Sundays & holidays

However, my readers Save $2 to Gift of Lights.

Six Flags Holiday in the Park:
For the first time ever Six Flags Over Georgia is open during the holiday season. Our family got to attend a special preview night of Holiday in the Park and we definitely left filled with holiday cheer. The park has totally been transformed and is filled with millions of bright, LED lights. Only certain areas of the park and certain rides are open to visitors during this holiday event...but there is still plenty to see and do. Visitors of all ages can enjoy holiday shows, fun games, thrilling rides, sweet treats and even a ride to the North Pole to see Santa Claus.

From the moment you enter the park you will be blasted with holiday cheer and a winter wonderland experience as you admire the many lights hanging overhead, enjoy the falling snow and meet some very fun characters.

The park is broken into 10 sections A Main Street Christmas, Peppermint Plaza, Retro Christmas USA< Candlelight Carousel, Bugs Bunny World, A Georgia Christmas, North Pole, Rejoice!, North Pole Express and S'mores Village.

If you have little ones you will definitely want to go visit Santa. You can either walk through the park to the North Pole or board the North Pole Express. I personally recommend taking the train so you can enjoy the many beautiful lights. The Santa was amazing with the children and spent time getting their wishlist. The lights at the North Pole were white and blue which truly gave the impression of being in a winter wonderland.

Next we headed to the giant snow globe for a fun photo op. I made a recommendation that they put a fake snow blower in the globe to really enhance it...hopefully they will add one.  The children really wanted to rid the Candle Lite Carousel so we made our way over to the other side of the park. Along the way...which took a while thanks to a wrong turn we enjoyed the over one million lights and 400 trees. And the children insisted on stopping every few minutes for a photo op. One of my favorite things about Holiday in the Park was the various tributes to the brave men and women who serve our country. There were several patriotic light displays and patriotic photo ops throughout the park.

We only experienced two of the rides the Candle Lite Carousel and Rockin' Tug. And the Carousel was well worth our long walk. It was spectacular!!! There were beautiful lights adorning the carousel, candles dangling from above and up beat Christmas music. Other rides that are open during Holiday in the Park include Goliath, Dare Devil Dive, Georgia Cyclone, Up, Up and Away, Dahlonega Mine Train, Sky Buckets and most of Bugs Bunny World. 

It's been a pretty mild winter so far but if you are worried about cold night don't be. There are fire pits and propane heaters stationed throughout the park to warm you up. There is also hot cocoa and soup being served at the many cafes that are open. 

And in addition to all of the above there are also several fun shows going on in the park too like A Looney Tunes Christmas, Carols at the Carousel, Hometown Holidays and Because It's Christmas.

Holiday in the Park will be open until January 4^th (on selected dates). Times the park will be open are from  4-10 pm through Dec 23rd and 12-8pm through January 4th. I highly recommend arriving at opening so you have time to enjoy everything...during our visit we ran out of time. The cost for the event starts at $41.99.

I hope you enjoyed this edition stayed tuned for more Georgia Travel Log updates!

Georgia Travel Log - September 2014 and A Giveaway

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We have been super busy lately traveling around Georgia and experiencing some of the newest exhibits and attractions. Because there are so many wonderful things I need to update you on I came up with a brilliant idea (well I think it's brilliant). I am calling it the "Georgia Travel Log." Once or twice a month I will give you an update on several of the newest attractions, exhibits, etc. Most of them will be ones that we actually get to experience that way I can share our personal experiences and show you some personal photos too. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Georgia Travel Log. Please leave comments with information on any other new attractions or exhibits that you know of. Also remember to follow us on Instagram to keep up with our daily adventures!

If you are hosting an upcoming event or promoting a new exhibit or attraction please email me to discuss getting it covered in the next Georgia Travel Log edition.

Stone Mountain - Yellow Daisy Festival:
Get ready for one of the top three arts & craft shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 event and winner of multiple awards by the Southeast Festival of Events Association. The Yellow Daisy Festival takes place at Stone Mountain Park on September 4th - 7th.

Despite its growth from a small arts & crafts show to the four day event that it has become today, the Yellow Daisy Festival Presented by Humana continues to be a big show with a small-town feel. The mission of re-connecting families and friends with fun, shopping, live entertainment and good food has remained constant over the past forty-five years. Multi-generations of mothers, daughters and grandmothers meander the wooded trails together in search of the perfect item.



More than 400 artists and crafters from 38 States and two countries display their works for your appreciation and purchase. Daily live entertainment, Children's Corner activities, and crafter demonstrations throughout the event as well as fabulous festival foods.

Yellow Daisy Festival is FREE with paid parking admission. Vehicle entry to the park is $10 for a one day permit or $35 for an annual permit.

Fernbank Martinis and Imax:
If you are on the search for a fun date night or moms night out then you need to head to Fernbank for Martini's and Imax. I went last month with two of my very good friends and we had a blast. Actually I had so much fun I am attending again this month!

Martini's and Imax happens every Friday night (except holidays) from 7pm to 11pm. Live entertainment begins at 7:30pm.. This fun event is one of the most unique “culture and cocktail” opportunities in Atlanta. Guests enjoy special cocktail menus, small plates, live entertainment, dancing and a chance to see a film on the biggest screen in town, Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre. This popular event, the first of its kind in Atlanta!

The night my friends and I attended we saw the Great White Shark IMAX, read my review here. After the IMAX we headed downstairs to the party! We grabbed our very tasty adult beverages, I opted for an Island Sparkler. There is always a full bar with a wide selection of specialty cocktails, craft beers, wine and more (menus change monthly). Drinks average $6-$8. After we grabbed our drinks we found a seat so we could relax and chat. There were plenty of seating options available. The night we attended a great band called Georgia Floods was providing the entertainment for the evening. And when we worked up an appetite we headed out to the Happy Belly Food Truck for some fresh, wholesome food. Prices on the food ranged from $4-$10 and the food was absolutely amazing. There are also several games on the terrace like Cornhole and Ladder Ball that you can join in playing too!

Visit my friend websites Almost Supermom and The Diva Beautiful.

There are some awesome nights coming up in September and October like Totally 80's Night, Adult Halloween Party Night and special evening hours of the new special exhibit Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear.

General tickets for Martinis & IMAX are $13 for adults, $12 for students and seniors with ID and $8 for Museum members. To enjoy the atmosphere of the event without seeing a film in the IMAX® Theatre, there is an $8 cover charge for non-members. Purchase tickets online or by calling 404.929.6400. Please be aware that some shows do sell out and may not be available. View cocktail menus, live entertainment schedule, VIP policies and more here.

More Details:
Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the 5-story-tall Rankin M. Smith Sr. IMAX^® Theatre are located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Call 404.929.6400 or visit the website to purchase your tickets. The film will be shown daily through September 18th. IMAX tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $11 for children 12 and under and $8 for museum members. Extended show times available Fridays during Martinis & IMAX. Don't forget to download the Official Fernbank App before your visit.

Walker Stalker Con:
Are you a Zombie fan? Do you love the Walking Dead as much as my husband and I do? Then you need to add Walker Stalker Con to your October calendar.

Zombies will be taking over the Atlanta Convention Center at Americas Mart on October 17-19, 2014. Special guests include some of your favorite performers, actors, musicians, and artists like Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, Emily Kinney, Irone Singleton, Paul Wesley and more. The exhibit floor will be open all three days and will feature games, toys, comics and other memorabilia for true fans of zombie, horror and science fiction. View the full even schedule here.

Tickets for the event start at $35 for general admission. Children 10 and under are FREE with adult paid admission.

Update: Here is a great deal on Walker Stalker Con Tickets from GoldStar.
 

Image courtesy of Walker Stalker Con.

CONjuration:
There is a new magical convention coming to Atlanta and just in time for Halloween. Two geeks from Atlanta designed a unique Southeast convention dedicated to the use of magic in books, films & other media. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Charmed, Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, fortune telling, magicians and other magical elements then this is the event for you. The convention is dedicated to highlighting the importance and use of magic in our literature, entertainment and imaginations.

CONjuration takes place in Atlanta at the Marriott Perimeter Center on October 31 - November 2, 2014. Convention tickets are just $40 for all 3 days ($50 at the door) or $20 for Friday and Sunday tickets and $25 for Saturday tickets. Children 10 and under get FREE admission per paying adult. 

Do you want to win 2 tickets to this family friendly, magical convention? Then enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.

More Details:

Taking advantage of the need in the southeast U.S. for a stable, annual, magical, fantasy convention experience; the creators of CONjuration, Chris Seckinger and Angela Hammond, have designed this convention as a means of increasing the experience and enjoyment of our attendees and guests. According to Chris Seckinger, “CONjuration will be a haven for images of all types and an enchanting experience for everyone involved! We are creating a convention where geeks that truly love magical fandom can come  together, meet others like them, and have a blast by taking part in a variety of events.” CONjuration will have trick or treating, wandering entertainers, panel discussions, classes and crafts, vendors and artists, costume contest, gaming, guest speakers, a tea party, a formal ball, quiz shows, charity events and much more. The convention has been designed to have something for everyone. 

World of Coca Cola - Discount:
With the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games coming up Aug. 28 and Aug. 30, the World of Coca-Cola is hosting Fan Days for football fans. Now through Oct. 15, fans can text “WOCC” to 66937 to get two tickets for $25 – a total savings of $7 from regular adult admission.

Image courtesy of World of Coca Cola

Atlanta History Center - The Big Read:
The Atlanta History Center - in partnership with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System - presents the Atlanta Metro campaign, The Big Read. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. The Big Read is the largest reading program in American history and a multi-faceted initiative uniting communities across the nation through great literature. This is the Atlanta History Center’s fourth time participating in The Big Read.

The Atlanta History Center selected Luis Alberto Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North for the 2014 Big Read and encourages the public to get involved by reading the book, attending free programs, and promoting the initiative in their community.

The Big Read launches on September 3, 2014, with a variety of free programs, including a ‘Taste of Mexico’ kick- off party, a keynote lecture with Luis Alberto Urrea, a StoryCorps event, dedicated discussions and lectures at various Atlanta-Fulton Public Library locations, and a film festival.

Into the Beautiful North is written by award-winning and best-selling Mexican American author, Luis Alberto Urrea. Urrea has written numerous works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In his third novel, Into the Beautiful North, Urrea transcends the "us against them" discourse of immigration and writes with compassion, complexity, and humor about the people and places caught up in the border wars. The U.S.–Mexico border is not just a line on a map; it is a dream-like destination and departure point, surrounded by desperation and expectations. Urrea invites us to think of the border as more than a stark divide between nations: he reminds us that it is a place of convergence here meaningful conversations, and even love, between cultures begins.

In conjunction, younger readers are encouraged to participate in The Little Read for pleasure and enlightenment. Tots can read along to I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada. While middle school ages will surely be swept up by Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan.

Whether an avid reader or simply making up for lost time, everyone in Atlanta can take part in The Big Read. Read alone, read to another, join a book club or discussion group, and discover what happens when all of Atlanta reads the same book.

Register today at BigRead@AtlantaHistoryCenter.com to participate and receive information, updates, and program details. For more information, call 404.814.4000 or visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/BigRead.

I hope you enjoyed this edition stayed tuned for more Georgia Travel Log updates!

Now time for the giveaway: 
One lucky winner will win 2 tickets to CONjuration.

Only the first entry is mandatory. Other entries are optional and give you extra chances. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. The winner will be posted on the blog and will be emailed. Winner must reply within 24 hrs with their contact information or another winner will be chosen. Prize will be mailed via me.

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Georgia Travel Log - July 2014 Edition + A Giveaway For World of Coca-Cola Tickets

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We have been super busy lately traveling around Georgia and experiencing some of the newest exhibits and attractions. Because there are so many wonderful things I need to update you on I came up with a brilliant idea (well I think it's brilliant). I am calling it the "Georgia Travel Log." Once or twice a month I will give you an update on several of the newest attractions, exhibits etc. Most of them will be ones that we actually get to experience that way I can share our personal experiences and show you some personal photos too. I hope you enjoy this first edition of the Georgia Travel Log. Please leave comments with information on any other new attractions or exhibits that you know of. Also remember to follow us on Instagram to keep up with our daily adventures!

Children's Museum of Atlanta - Out Of The Box Exhibit:
Both of my children love the Children's Museum of Atlanta. You can read a full review here.

About three times a year The Children's Museum features a special traveling exhibit in the back of the museum. Currently Outside The Box is on display and it is a must see exhibit. The exhibit will be on display through December 31st.

My children love boxes...especially my son. Anytime a package arrives in the mail he confiscates the box so he can use it to create a race car, fort, boat, etc. The opportunities are endless with a simple box!!! The Outside The Box exhibit taps into the imaginative minds of children to encourage “outside of the box” thought, innovation and exploration.

As a homeschool mom I am always encouraging my children to think outside the box. They learn best when they are able to think outside the box and explore through hands on experiences. Which is why The Outside The Box exhibit is so amazing. All children and even adults will become creative thinkers while discovering the building blocks of math, engineering and technology.

The exhibit entrance is a giant open box of course. Once inside there are three creative play areas for families to enjoy.

The Box Zone is the first area the children gravitated towards. In this area children can let their imaginations run wild as they build with giant and small cardboard boxes, tubes and cylinders. The boxes are so large you can build a house with them that even adults fit into. Or build the boat or car of your dream. Or perhaps you want to become a live jack-in-the-box?

Next up was the Imagination Playground. This area has large, blue foam blocks, tunnels, tracks and pillars that children can build and play with. There are also balls. Again the fun and building options are endless. Whatever your child can dream up they can create. My children built one awesome marble maze track, a horse and even a chair.

Maker's Space is not only fun for children, but adults too. Yes I must admit that my husband and I had tons of fun playing on the Maker's Space computers. In this section children can experiment and turn their dreams into realities. There are fun craft projects that the very helpful staff will assist children with. When we visited we made cardboard telescopes with city scenes. To a basic CAD program set up on 2 computers where you can create houses, airplanes, cars, robots, etc. My 7 son enjoyed it so much he asked us if we could get a program like it for our computer at home. There is also a Duplo Lego building area for the little tykes.

Feature activities and programming during Outside the Box will change monthly and each month will feature a new exhibit theme. Check the website for details.

Fernbank Museum - 97 Days of Play and Great White Shark Imax:
Last weekend we attended Fins and Flippers Day at Fenbank Museum. Fins and Flippers Day is part of the summer-long celebration of fun called 97 Days of Play. 97 Days of Play events are included in general admission and FREE for members. Through Memorial Day families can be entertained and inspired with a variety of fun-filled unique activities and events at Fernbank Museum.

Here are some of the activities we got to do during Fins and Flippers Day:

• Circus Fanta-Sea Puppet Show - one of our favorite puppet presenters Lee Bryan aka That Puppet Guy performed yet another fabulous show for families. The 45 minute show was entertaining, funny and taught some great lessons too! In the show Captain Tater Tot the Pirate Captain and Ringmaster loses his circus cargo at sea. But as they say in the circus, the show must go on! The under the sea circus adventure features a tap dancing Octopus, a unicyclist Seahorse, a tightrope walking Starfish Captain Tater Tot, and the very hungry Shark Seymore. Before the show Lee explained to the children how he created all his puppets using recycled plastic containers and encouraged them to create their very own rod puppets. Afterward he let the children get up, close and personal with Seymore. 
• Biofacts Table - children got to get up close and touch a real shark jaw, fish skeleton, nautalis shell, sea turtle and more. There were educators and volunteers available to answer questions and provide fascinating facts.
• Life-size Inflatable Right Whale Calf - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association provided this amazing inflatable so families could appreciate the magnitude of these special creatures. Did you know that the Right Whale is Georgia's State marine mammal? Do you know why it is called a Right Whale? We learned these facts and more from the helpful Fernbank staff member that was stationed by the whale.
• Photo Ops - The children went crazy over the two special visitors which included Domino the Georgia Aquarium's whale shark mascot and Giggy, Fernbanks Dinosaur mascot.
• The Georgia Bubbleman - We are always in awe of the bubbles that The Georgia Bubbleman creates. The Bubbleman is fabulous with children and encourages them to interact with the bubbles by catching them on their tongue and blowing on them to create bubbles inside of bubbles. 
• Shark Craft, Temporary Tattoos, Scavenger Hunt and of course the fabulous exhibits and IMAX.

You can read more about the Whales Giants of the Deep Exhibit here.

The next 97 Days of Play event, Reptile Day, will be held Saturday July 12th from 10 am -2 pm. Visitors will have an opportunity to get up-close with dozens of lizards, snakes, turtles and even a few amphibians.

Check out all the 97 Days of Play events here.

We also had the opportunity last month to check out the newest IMAX show at Fernbank, Great White Shark. This film will be on display through  September 18th.

Georgia Travel Log - June 2014 Edition

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We have been super busy lately traveling around Georgia and experiencing some of the newest exhibits and attractions. Because there are so many wonderful things I need to update you on I came up with a brilliant idea (well I think it's brilliant). I am calling it the "Georgia Travel Log." Once or twice a month I will give you an update on several of the newest attractions, exhibits etc. Most of them will be ones that we actually get to experience that way I can share our personal experiences and show you some personal photos too. I hope you enjoy this first edition of the Georgia Travel Log. Please leave comments with information on any other new attractions or exhibits that you know of. Also remember to follow us on Instagram to keep up with our daily adventures!

LEGOLAND Discovery Center - Limited time Ninjago Laser Maze:
Several weeks ago I posted about my son entering the LEGO Junior Builders Panel at the Atlanta LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Well thanks to all my awesome followers he won the competition and actually had the most votes. All of the children that won the competition (13 total) got to attend the grand opening of the newest LEGOLAND attraction, the Ninjago Laser Maze. Since Rowyn had the most votes they let him flip the on switch. He also made the news a few times here and here.

The Ninjago Training Camp attraction will only be around for about a year so make sure you visit soon. There are two fun ways to test your Ninja skills. First there is the laser maze. This is the first attraction of its kind in the USA. To test your skills you must first select your level: Rookie, Ninja, Warrior, Sensei. Then you step inside and hit the start button. There is smoke, awesome music and of course colored lasers everywhere. The goal is to get through the timed maze by "breaking" as few beams as possible. It is a test of speed, creativity and agility. After you complete the maze don't forget to hit the stop button. As you exit your score is displayed on a monitor. The kids love the maze and my son would stay there all day playing if I let him. Even I had fun going through the maze! Check out our YouTube video of the grand opening.

The second way to test your skills is on the the reactions game. You can choose 1 or 2 players for this game. I must admit I am quite addicted to it and am still trying to beat my personal best of 15,000 points. I totally would love to have one of these at home.

Because Rowyn won the competition he received a FREE 1 year membership so you will be hearing a lot about LEGOLAND Discovery Center over the next year!

Be sure to read our full review on LEGOLAND too.

HIGH Museum of Art - New exhibit Dream Cars on display through September 7th, 2014:
Did you know cars can be art too? We had a blast at the newest exhibit Dream Cars and actually went through it 2 times. This new exhibit will be on display through September. There are 17 concept cars from across Europe and the U.S on display. You will see cars from the early 1930's to the 21st century from Ferrari, Bugatti, General Motors and Porsche. These cars are some of the rarest and most imaginative designs you will ever see. They push the limits of imagination! There are also conceptual drawings, patents and scale models to demonstrate the stages of design process.

Highlights of Dream Cars include:

• Paul Arzens' L'Oeuf électrique (1942), an electric bubble car designed by Arzens for his personal use in Paris during the German occupation that has never before traveled to the U.S.
• William Stout's Scarab (1936), the genesis of the contemporary minivan.
• Marcello Gandini's Lancia (Bertone) Stratos HF Zero (1970), a wedge-shaped car that is only 33 inches tall.
• Christopher Bangle's BMW GINA Light Visionary Model (2001), featuring an exterior made of fabric.
• A full-scale (6 x 20 foot) rendering of a concept car by Carl Renner (1951).

My kids loved the exhibit and cannot wait to return. And I am still dreaming about the Spyder! I highly recommend downloading the Dream Cars App (Android and iPhone) or renting an audio guide. The audio guides at the HIGH are fabulous and really enhance the special exhibits. There is an adult guide and kids guide and for the Dream Cars exhibit there are also videos of the cars in action.

In the Dream Cars lounge area you can take a break to watch the videos on the audio guide or look at a book. We found a terrific kids book to read called, "If I Built A Car." The exhibit takes about an hour to get through so be sure to arrive early so you have plenty of time to tour the rest of this amazing museum. Check out Gwyns thoughts in this short YouTube video.

In addition to this awesome NEW exhibit the HIGH also has several special events and programs for the summer like Father's Day at the HIGH, Arts & Rec: Family Day, Teen Night, Conversation with Contemporary Artists: Syd Mead and more. Check the website for more details and to order tickets.

Despite what you may think the HIGH Museum of Art is very family friendly and highly encourages bringing the kids. Here are some of the family friend events: Toddle Thursdays, Father's Day at the HIGH, Arts & Rec Family Days, Discovery Backpacks, Greene Family Learning Center, Friday Night Lates, Highly Hands-On Blog and more.

World of Coca-Cola - New features Pop Culture Gallery, App and "Moments of Happiness" film:
The World of Coca-Cola is definitely a must see. It is not only fun but very educational too and they've added even more educational features like the new mobile app. Currently it is only available for iPhone, but hopefully Android is not far behind. I have an Android device so though I couldn't utilize the app I did get a peek how it works and it is really cool. With the new World of Coca-Cola Explorer mobile app, you will get to experience the attraction like never before. The app allows visitors to interact with the attraction to deepen their experience. It's like having your own personal tour guide! The app uses location-sensing technology which allows you to discover amazing facts about Coca-Cola, create custom photos with fun frames and effects, keep a journal of your favorite flavors from around the World in the Taste It room, instantly connect on Facebook, Instgram and Twitter, follow the World of Coca-Cola guide map and get general information about the attraction. The app is designed to be used at the World of Coca-Cola and will deliver engaging content as you travel throughout the attraction utilizing Bluetooth. After you unlock the app features you can continue to enjoy them long after your visit.

Moments of Happiness is the newest film at World of Coca-Cola. Warning don't wear mascara! The film reminds visitors that happiness is all around us and happens every day. It is a six minute film that celebrates some of life's most memorable moments from people of different ages and cultures around the world. Even my 8 year old was tearing up.

The newest special exhibit is the Pop Culture Gallery and features works of art from Howard Finster. Finster a Georgia native, was a self-taught artist and Baptist minister and is considered one of the most important folk artists of the 20th century. So why is his work on display at Coca-Cola? Because he loved Coca-Cola and used the iconic bottle shape in a lot of his artwork. Gwyn really enjoyed Finster's use of mixed media!

Howard Finster: Visions of Coca-Cola includes several pieces from The Thomas E. Scanlin Collection:

• A 13-foot-tall Coke bottle “big enough for man to stand in” that depicts historical figures in the artist’s unique style.
• The 8-foot-tall original folk art bottle, which Finster created for the 1996 Olympic Games and inspired a global art project.
• Tools from Finster’s studio that became works of art themselves.

World of Coca-Cola is a great place for public school and homeschool fieldtrips. They even have a FREE Teacher Toolkit to help you explore the many educational connections at the attraction.

Stone Mountain - Updated lasershow:
Did you know that the Stone Mountain Park lasershow is the longest running show in the world? It has been running for more than 30 years and attracts millions of visitors each year. This summer though the 45 minute digitally re-mastered Stone Mountain Lasershow Spectacular will feature more lights, lasers and music! This dazzling display of neon laser lights, fun characters, inspiring stories, historical graphics, spectacular fireworks and popular musical scores is a must see.

Show features include:

• Lighting at the base of the mountain which shine up like fingers of light showcasing the 825 foot mountainside.
• Overhead Laser Canopy that creates a ceiling of light over your head, immersing you into the show.
• Laser mirror bounce shots from all directions onto the law to create the effect of lasers jumping over your head.
• Updated play list featuring 10 new sons including "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel, "Home" by Phillip Phillips, "Cherry" by Pharrell Williams and more.
• Mountainvision technology, which adds 3-D effects without the need for 3-D glasses. It really does look like things are jumping out at you....it's pretty cool!

Our family got the VIB (Very Important Blogger) treatment on Friday night. We got a behind the scenes look at where the magic happens and got to speak with the technical experts. Then we enjoyed a very tasty dinner. Afterwards we headed down to our terrace level seats (Mississippi) for some snacks. Before the show the children had a blast playing on the lawn with the "Georgia Bubble Man" and their friends. Watching a lasershow on the world's largest outdoor screen is definitely a family memory must. My husband said the new show brought out his inner geek. My son loved the fireworks. And I got teary eyed during the patriotic grand finale! My daughter loved "Let It Go" and "Home."

The Lasershow Spectacular is FREE with the $10 parking fee. Or you can enjoy the show from the comfort of one of the terraces which showcase an outstanding view of the mountain, its famous carving and the world’s longest running Lasershow. The terrace seats will give you the best seat in the house, and you can enjoy the show with a snack or dinner package.

Note: If you decide to get terrace level seats try for one of the upper levels closer to Memorial Hall. While walking to the bathrooms up at the top it looked like the view was a little bit better at the top. 

Stop back in a few weeks for a comprehensive review about Stone Mountain Park.

Extreme Dinosaurs - Limited time attraction:
Ever wish you could travel back in time to the time of the dinosaurs? Well now you can for a limited time at the Extreme Dinosaurs exhibit at Atlanta Station. This is the first time this exhibit has been debuted in the USA. We had a blast a few months ago during our visit. As a matter of fact we had so much fun the kids went through twice. The exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to discover the roar and might of the Mesozoic Era. It is an educational and entertaining exhibit for the entire family. You will get an up-close, realistic look at some of the world's strangest dinosaurs from the "Golden Age." There are a total of 17 lifelike and life-size animatronic dinosaurs featured in naturalistic landscapes that roar, snarl, open their jaws, blink their eye, move their limbs and more. There are also full-scale skeletons, both real and replica fossils and several interactive activities including a children's dig site, Make Me Move console, touch panels, Dinosaur Detective quiz and more. Each dinosaur also has an informational placard with dinosaur names, pronunciations, facts and more. The self guided exhibit takes about an hour to get through. Throughout the exhibit there are staff members to answer any questions you may have.

Highlights of the exhibit:

• Animatronic Dinosaurs - View lifelike dinosaurs in their most realistic forms thanks to some of the best animation technology.
• Fossils - Explore dinosaurs through the eyes of a paleontologist with an intimate view our real fossils and fossil casts.
• Skeletons - View phenomenal skeletons like the 57 foot long Omeisaurus which will captivate you with its incredible size and extensive details.
• Feathered Dinosaurs - Did you know that in the last two decades feathered dinosaurs were discovered? See their bizarre features up close through five animatronic species.
• Interactives - Ever wonder what it might be like to control the movements of one of these large creatures? Now you can with our Make Me Move interactive. Kiosks, dig tables and more will give you a hands-on look at Extreme Dinosaurs.

The kids had so much fun and we all learned a great deal. As a homeschool mom I loved all of the hand on learning opportunities available for the kids. The staff was very friendly and answered any questions the kids had. We had been to a similar traveling exhibit a few years ago which doesn't even come close to the quality of the Extreme Dinosaurs exhibit. 

To enhance the experience even further parents and teachers can download a FREE education guide. This exhibit will only be around a limited time so be sure to add it to your Summer fun list.

Tiny Towne - New "edu-tainment" attraction:
Tiny Towne is not open to the public yet, but we had the opportunity to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony. The kids also got a test drive. Let me just say this place is going to be awesome when it is completed. Tiny Towne is an innovative concept and will be the first of its kind. The attraction will be a family-oriented, high-tech "edu-tainment" center with a vision of inspiring a generation of safer drivers. In addition to two different level driving tracks there is also an arcade room, party rooms, a restaurant, fieldtrip classroom, computer lab with touch screen computers and simulators, and plenty of waiting areas for parents. At Tiny Towne children ages 3-15 will be able to drive high tech mini cars on realistic streets where they will have to follow road signs and traffic signals, respect each other and respect police officers. Drivers must complete various educational activities such as quizzes and successful rounds in the simulators in order to advance to more fun and higher-level tracks. It is a place where fun and education come together to teach children an very important life skill...driving!



Follow Tiny Towne on Facebook to receive updates. The attraction will be open to the public later in June. Also visit their website to claim a $20 voucher.

I hope to bring you a full, detailed review early next month!

Six Flags Over Georgia - Hurricane Harbor:
Six Flags Over Georgia recently opened their new multi-million dollar water park Hurricane Harbor. The water park is located in the back of the park and is included FREE with your admission. There are 4 fun attractions in the water park: Paradise Island, Bonzai Pipelines, Calypso Bay Wave Pool and Tsunami Surge.

The kids and I had the privilege of attending the media day event. First we played in Calypso Bay the 38,000 square foot wave pool. There are two massive wave generators that create 4 foot waves in 8 different wave patterns. It is just like being at the ocean minus the sand and salt. The kids spent hours in the wave pool and I had to practically bribe them to get out. There are life vests and inner tubes available for visitor use.

Next we headed over to Paradise Island which is a giant children's water playground. It is about 1 acre and features 6 water slides, multiple water buckets that dump about 2,000 gallons of water every 5 minutes and hundreds of interactive water elements like water blasters, sprayers, fountains, pumps, etc. The kids had a blast and really enjoyed the slides in this area.

The other two attractions Bonzai Pipeline and Tsunami Surge we were unable to try out because we ran out of time, but we will definitely be hitting them up in a week when we go back. The Bonzai Pipeline has 3 unique water slides that sit atop a 41 foot tower. Visitors will barrel down through 180- and 360- degree curves. There are single and double tube options.

Tsunami Surge is the first hybrid zero-gravity slide and sends you down five stories into the splash pool below. You will drop through an enclosed tube and into a whirlpool bowl with 360 degree curves and then out into a massive wave wall and for a moment you will feel zero gravity, or weightlessness. Tubes are available for single, double, triple or quadruple riders.

Check out the kids thoughts in this YouTube video.

Inside Hurricane Harbor there are 11 relaxing cabanas with reserved seating and food service, a beach-themed restaurant with window service, several retail locations, bathhouses, locker rentals, tube rentals and lounging chairs to sit back and enjoy the summer sun. Six Flags over Georgia is now open daily through August 10.

Note: It has been 8 years since we last visited Six Flags Over Georgia. My husband and I did not have a very good experience there our first time. However I will say that this return trip impressed me. There was security throughout the park, the staff was very friendly and it was very clean. I definitely felt that the park stepped up their game over the last few years to provide a safe, family friendly  park. Be sure to arrive early because it will take you an entire day to see all that this massive park has to offer. 

I hope you enjoyed this edition stayed tuned for more Georgia Travel Log updates!