Save 60% Off ROBOTS-4-U Summer Camps

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Hey Atlanta followers! Are you on the search for the PERFECT Summer camp for your kids? Well look no further!  ROBOTS-4-U Summer Camps are now enrolling and my readers can SAVE 60% OFF with Code: TEX1660M15 but hurry this offer EXPIRES 3/31! Camps start at $299.99 (regular pricing) for 1/2 day sessions.

We actually own a few of the ROBOTS-4-U robot sets and they are a amazing. ROBOTS-4-U clearly has a passion for teaching kids about S.T.E.A.M.

ROBOTS-4-U Summer Camps are where fun, thinking & learning come to life. Choose from  Robotics, Dynamic Art, Battle Bots and Drones S.T.E.A.M. camp programs. Campers have a blast, while learning and playing in a dynamic environment. Kids will learn about robotics and science, in an independent and exciting way!

More Camp Details:
-Camps are offered for girls and boys - Aged 7 to 14
-Robot Camps and Dynamic Art Camps are offered during June, July and August
-Hands on Learning, Self-Paced. Beginners to Expert!
-1 week (5 days) long
-Days: Monday to Friday Times: 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:00 p.m.
-Campers ratio: 1 Instructor to 16 participants
-Register early as camps do fill up quickly!
-Each Camper Individually uses a ROBOTICS or DYNAMIC ART Kit. Robot kits do not go home with campers but are available for purchase!

Follow ROBOTS-4-U:
-Twitter
-Facebook


Visit www.ROBOTS-4-U.com to see dates and locations for these amazing day camps.

For more details on the special 60% OFF offer visit the Robots-4-U Camp Special Offer Page.

Homeschooling With National Geographic Books #NGKInsider

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It is no secret that our family has a slight, okay a BIG, book addiction. We have several favorite publishers that we love and utilize in our homeschooling journey and National Geographic Kids is one of them. Their entire line up of books are educational, fun and filled with beautiful illustrations. And most importantly the kids LOVE them.

Over the last few months we have received several amazing books from National Geographic, it is one of the many perks of being part of the National Geographic Kids Insider Club. Sadly I got a little bit behind due to some health issues so I am sharing all of the great books we received that we have been utilizing in our homeschool learning adventures.

I'd like to also mention that all of these books make great gifts for the upcoming holidays too and many are currently on sale on Amazon right now!

A Friend For Lakota by Jim and Jamie Dutcher - ($16.99) Since we homeschool you might think bullying is not a huge concern for our family, but it is, and mostly in our own home. I always say that my kids are each others best friends and worst enemies, it is to be expected since they are together ALL the time. In this book Emmy winning Jim and Jamie Dutcher had the unique experience of living in a tented camp in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains among a pack of wolves where they observed and documented the rarely seen social behavior, including bullying. In the book Lakota is a shy wolf pup who is growing up as the lowest ranked and frequently picked on member of the wolf pack (his brothers and sisters). This story was a great one for my kids. It taught them a very important lesson about not bullying one another and being there for each other no matter what and it also taught them that they shouldn't bully other kids and should they see a kid being bullied to do something to help them. In the back of the book there is a map that shows where Lakota lives as well as information about gray wolves, notes from the authors and a page with websites, books and places to see wolves. The photographs in this book are absolutely stunning by the way and make you feel like you are right there with the National Geographic photographers.*If you hurry you can get this book for $11.79 on Amazon right now!

100 Things To Make You Happy by Lisa m. Gerry - ($9.99) Have you ever made a happiness bucket list? Well after you flip through the pages of this book you just might. This book is filled with great ideas that are guaranteed to make you happy. Try a few or try them all, from exercises and foods that boost happiness to tips from professional "happy makers," like psychologists and even magicians. This book is also filled with inspirational quotes, heartwarming tales from the animal kingdom and interviews with National Geographic explorers who followed their dreams. I will tell you I have been very down in the dumps lately due to my health. I am in pain just about everyday and extremely exhausted. So whenever I am having a really bad day I flip open to a page in this book and find some inspiration to be happy. So not only is this book great for kids it's great for moms too! "The secret to happiness is to start by doing things that make you happy!" *If you hurry you can get this book for $7.34 on Amazon right now!

Why? Over 1,111 Answers to Everything by Crispin Boyer - ($19.99) Have you ever wondered why your cat hacks up hair balls? Or why volcanoes blow their tops? Well this book has you covered. It contains 7 chapters covering questions about your body, our planet, the universe, history, technology, animals and pop culture. This book is filled with hundreds of topics ranging from silly to serious, and includes expert information! It is fun and entertaining and will literally keep your kids busy for hours....seriously it kept my kids busy during a recent road trip from Georgia to Florida. Answers include all kinds of fascinating extra info like top ten lists, weird-but-true facts, explorer profiles, and cool activities. If your kids are anything like mine they ask a lot of questions....well this book will give them the answers without needing to Google! *If you hurry you can get this book for $10.99 on Amazon right now!

Mission Tiger Rescue by Kitson Jazynka - ($12.99) One of our favorite series from National Geographic Kids is the Mission Rescue Series. One of the homeschool clubs I run is zoo club. Each month we visit the zoo and learn about an animal while sitting in front of the animals habitat. Well thanks to the Mission Rescue books I am always well prepared for zoo club and can not only teach the children about the all about the animals but also ways we can help rescue them. Mission Tiger Rescue combines fun and amazing adventure stories, beautiful photographs, hands on activities, tons of facts and more. Throughout the book you meet real life tigers and learn about their habitats, challenges, and successes plus how YOU can personally take action and save these amazing endangered animals. Check out my review on Lion Rescue and Elephant Rescue here. *If you hurry you can get this book for $11.4 Amazon right now!

Buzz Aldrin Welcome To Mars with Marianne J. Dyson - ($18.99) This book is perfect compliment for our astronomy lessons. This book has 5 detailed chapters and covers Why Mars, Off to Mars, Approaching Mars, Riches of Mars, Martian Home and Green Mars. The kids favorite part of the book are the hands-on science experiments. I love that in the back of the book there is a section with additional book recommendations and websites. *If you hurry you can get this book for $12.22 on Amazon right now!

Pope Francis by Barbara Kramer  - ($3.99) I am sure you are all well aware there is a new Pope in the Vatican, Pope Francis! But did you know that he is the oldest of 5 siblings, that he loved to play soccer as a kid, that he was the first pope to take a selfie, or that he is an excellent cook? Well you can learn these facts and more in this Level 1 reader. This book arrived at the perfect time because my daughter asked to learn about the smallest country in the World this year which is well the Vatican!

How to Survive Anything by Rachel Buchholz - ($12.95) My kids are very interested in survival skills so this book is right up their alley. It contains 31 chapters and covers everything from surviving a tornado to a breakup. We took this book along with us on a recent camping adventure it was the perfect book to read at bedtime. I mean knowing how to survive a snakebike, being lost in the woods, or wildfire is definitely important information to know when camping! *If you hurry you can get this book for $8.34 on Amazon right now!

APPS:
Before I get to some really exciting news I want to quickly share one more valuable resource we use in our homeschool and that is apps. Well National Geographic experts have teamed up with Google Play to hand select some top educational apps. Nat Geo Kids is all about exciting children to explore the world around them. With these apps kids will have so much fun discovering all about animals, science, countries, and more that they’ll forget they’re learning. We have personally tried at least 4 of these apps and can say they definitely deserve to be on the list!

 

My kids love their National Geographic Kids subscription. This magazine subscription definitely makes a great gift for any child. Each magazine is loaded with engaging age appropriate content and fantastic photography. Little kids is designed for children ages 3-6 yrs old and Kids is designed for children age 6-12 yrs old. Currently you can get a subscription for as low as $12-$15.

Giveaway:
Guess what? One winner will receive a 1 yr subscription to their choice of Kids or Little Kids National Geographic Magazine thanks to National Geographic. Just fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below. 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 shipped by National Geographic. Wait a moment for it to load....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Raising Awareness For Endangered Animals All Year Long

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Did you know that World Lion Day was August 10th and that World Elephant Day was August 12th? Before becoming a National Geographic Kids Insider I didn't. I know these two days have passed and if you didn't know about them don't worry because you don't need to only raise awareness and celebrate these spectacular endangered animals on just these days, you can help them all year long and here are some things you can do!

Lions:
Did you know that it's not just Lions that are at risk? Many big cats in the wild are disappearing at an alarming rate. But there are things you and your family can do to help, so keep reading.

National Geographic is working hard to help raise awareness for Lions and other big cats by getting people to give high fives on social media. It is really easy, just follow the steps below.

• Share the Facebook and Twitter posts found HERE. Or get creative and share your own photo or video using hashtag #5forBigCats on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.  Don't forget to tag your friends in the virtual high five.
• Then head HERE to donate $5 (or more) to support National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative.
• Sit back and watch the chain grow across social media!
  
  

Some other things you can do are:

• Support the Big Cats Initiative. This initiative helps prevent livestock from being killed by building better corrals, tracking lions and warning farmers, educating farmers and locals on other methods besides lethal action.  Simply text LIONS to 50555 to donate $10.00 or shop Big Cats gear.
• Educate your children about lions and other big cats. Teachers and parents can download this free kit to help educate kids on saving wildlife from National Geographic Kids. Learn more about lions here. Or purchase this awesome book Mission: Lion Rescue. This book is filled with amazing stories, facts and resources. Education is key to understanding and helping these magnificent creatures!
• Host a "Lion" Aid Stand.

Elephants:
Another animal that is endangered is the Elephant, the biggest mammal to walk Earth. And National Geographic is working hard to make sure that these animals are around for future generations.

• Education is key remember! Purchase this awesome book Mission: Elephant Rescue. Just like Misson: Lion Rescue this book is loaded with amazing stories, beautiful photography, hands on activities and more. I am super excited to use this book in a few weeks with my homeschool zoo club. We will be learning about Elephants and I am planning to do one of the many fabulous rescue activities in the book. I found these great little National Geographic books on Elephant Migration at Dollar Tree and will be giving one out to each family attending the zoo club meeting.
• Head over to the National Geographic website and watch the Elephant Mission: Animal Rescue video.
• Download this Mission Animal Rescue Fundraising Kit.
• Print out some Mission Animal Rescue Posters.

Discover The DaVinci In You At The Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side Exhibition (Limited Time)

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SPECIAL OFFER August 1st and 2nd only. Show the ticket desk this blog post to receive $10.00 admission. 

The Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side Exhibition is a very special traveling exhibit from Florence Italy which has currently taken up temporary residence in Atlanta. The Exhibition will be on display through October (possibly longer).  The DaVinci  and Michelangelo exhibition takes visitors back in time to learn about the remarkable genius of two of the greatest Renaissance masterminds that ever lived. The exhibit has been on display at various locations across North American for the past 4 1/2 years and is made possible by Genius Productions a nonprofit company based in St. Louis.

“Not everybody realizes DaVinci and Michelangelo were alive during the same time but were also bitter rivals,” explained Rodgers, “When discussing the Italian Renaissance you can’t talk about one without the other.”

A moms review:
After you check out at the front desk (and hopefully meet curator Mark Rodgers) I recommend taking advantage of the fun Mona Lisa photo op. After you are done striking your best Mona Lisa pose get your FREE audio tour ready for a total immersion experience or sign up for a docent tour which is offered once a day Monday through Thursday and twice a day on Friday through Sunday. Hopefully you are lucky enough to get a tour from Mark Rodgers the curator. He is amazing and full of energy and knowledge. He is so knowledgeable one would think that he somehow traveled back in time to the Renaissance to interview these two amazing men.

The exhibition is broken into themed areas, 5 themes for each genius. These include Michelangelo's life story, sculptures, paintings, architecture, artists bottega. And DaVinci's military machines, flying machines, nautical & hydraulic machines, mechanics and masterpieces. The exhibition compares and contrasts DaVinci and Michelangelo’s masterpieces that defined their individual talents and beliefs.

Some of the highlights and comparisons in the exhibition include:

The Mona Lisa – The Pieta

The Vitruvian Man – The Statue of David

DaVinci’s Ideal City – Vatican City & St. Peter’s Dome

Last Supper – Sistine Chapel

Battle of Anghiari – Battle of Cascina

The first section of the exhibit showcases DaVinci's and Michelangelo's life and several of their most famous paintings, including the "Mona Lisa," "Last Supper" and a picture depicting Michelangelo's life with Lorenzo de' Medici. Next you will explore my favorite part of the exhibition which are the original cast sculptures of Michelangelo's most famous pieces. These cast sculptures were created directly from the Master's works by the National Academy of Cast Making in Florence. Since they are original cast sculptures they are actual size and include all the fine details like the chisel marks. I may never get to Italy to see the original David or Pieta so seeing an exact cast of these two amazing works of art was truly an amazing, once in a life time experience. Did you know that the The Gonfaloniere Soderini of Florence wanted Michelangelo to change the nose on David because it was too big? Well you can find out what he did during a visit to the exhibition. And did you know that the Pieta was the only piece that Michelangelo signed? Visit the exhibition to see his signature.

There are several more DaVinci and Michelangelo paintings throughout this section as well. Do you know what a fresco painting is? Well if you don't you can learn all about them in this section of the exhibit as you get an up close look at details of the "Battle of Anghiari" and famed Sistine Chapel frescos including the famous "The Creation of Adam".

Next you will hit the front corner of the exhibition where visitors get to immerse themselves into Michelangelo's Bottega. Learn about Michelangelo's art studio, his tools of the trade and some of the old secrets and deceptive techniques. Also in this section are several of DaVinci's inventions including the life preserver, scuba diver, glider and portable bridge. And your children won't want to miss the fantastic hands on area where they can build a bridge, color their own Mona Lisa masterpiece, make a paper helicopter and see what these masters saw when they looked through perspective frame.

As you proceed to the next section you will see many more of DaVinci's Masterpieces on display. Each one is a spectacular high quality licensed reproduction with the sort of detail known only to professional restorers. They are even framed to the exact size of the original artwork. Before you make your way into the hands on invention section be prepared to be amazed as you stand in front of DaVinci's water pipe organ.

Finally you will make your way to the DaVinci invention exhibition which contains over 60 hand-crafted inventions that were built from Leonardo's 500 year old designs as no originals exist today. These displays are the life work of three generations of Florentine artisans, who have meticulously brought to life the creations by the brilliant scientist, inventor and artist Leonardo DaVinci. This exhibition is grouped into the following themes: military machines, flying machines, nautical & hydraulic machines, and mechanics. Some of the inventions you will learn about include the "bicycle," "spring powered car," "hang glider," "robotic lion,"  and the "air screw."  Each display has a 3D model of DaVinci's invention along with explanatory notes and illustrative panels with DaVinci's drawings.

I can think of no better way to learn about this Renaissance master than through a hands on interactive exhibit. Yes children (and adults) can touch and try out many of the 60 machines on display. Give the first ball bearings a spin, try out a lever, find out how gears work and slam down a CAM hammer. And if you have any car enthusiasts this is an excellent way for them to learn how the cars we drive today were inspired by DaVinci's invention sketches. This interactive feature definitely makes this exhibit a very educational and memorable one.

After you work your way through the inventions, which might take awhile if you have children, you will learn about DaVinci's and Michelangelo's impact on architecture. Yes these masters were more than inventors and artists they were also architects. 

Throughout the exhibition there are several videos for visitors to enjoy including a video by Mark Rodgers. 

            

I really hope you can make it out to this exhibit before it leaves Atlanta. It is definitely a can't miss event!

Extra details:
-Teachers and homeschool educators can download a fantastic free teacher guide to expand on the exhibition.
-The exhibition will offer docent and self-guided tours.  Docent guided tours are pre-scheduled and visitors can check the website or call for daily times. Self-guided tours require a smart device with Internet capabilities.  Visitors who self guide should bring their own smart device and headphones. Docent and self-guided tours are included in the price of admission.
-Photography is allowed.
-No food or drink is allowed. 
-Pay close attention to the little red and green signs which alert you as to what you may and may not touch.
-Exhibit is stroller and wheelchair accessible.
-Be sure to check out the really awesome gift shop.

Where:
1155 Mount Vernon Hwy – Suite 150
Atlanta, GA. 30338

Phone: 470-395-4888
Email: info@discoverdavinci.com

When to visit:

Monday-Friday 10am to 5pm

Saturday 10am to 9pm

Sunday 12 noon to 5pm

Cost:

-Adults are $18.95

-Seniors (65+) and teachers (with school ID) are $16.95

-Children 4-12 years old are $14.95

-Children three and under are free with a paying adult

Parking is accessible at the public parking lot available at Perimeter Pointe. There is no charge for parking.

Links to follow:
-Website
-Facebook

*Prices indicated in post are subject to change.

Sea Survival Stories - Sharks, Submarines and Ships Oh My!

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

We love reading and hands on learning so of course I couldn't resist participating in another online book club. The last Thursday of every month I will be joining some of my Usborne friends in the Story Corner Blog Hop. Each month there will be a theme and I will share one of our favorite Usborne books and a hands on learning activity to go along with it.

Make sure you also follow my Usborne Facebook page where I share about literacy tips, book deals, giveaways, new arrivals, upcoming party information and more.  - Kathys Cluttered Book Nook.

Book:
This month's theme was beaches/oceans so the book I chose to share with you is called True Survival Stories. This book is part of the True Stories Collection which are great chapter books for children ages 9 years and older. True Survival Stories features 10 stories, 4 of which involve the ocean. From shark attacks and blazing airships to exploding spacecraft and sinking submarines, these are real stories of people who have stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale.  The book is a 100 page  paperback and costs just $4.99.

Be sure to also check out these other shark and ship resources from Usborne.

• A Shiver of Sharks
• Extreme Adventures - Shark
• Shark Excavation Kit
• Sharks Level 1 Reader
• Shark Fact Cards
• Sharks Lift-the-Flap
• Shark in the Park - Phonics Readers
• Warships
• Titanic
  

Craft:

We decided to do a shark craft to go along with this book.

Materials:

• 3 Paper Plates
• Wiggle Eyes
• Markers or Paint
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Fold the 1st paper plate in half, this is the body/jaws. Fold the 2nd paper plate in half then cut it in half to make the fin. Glue the pieces together in the middle.
2. Cut triangles out of the 3rd paper plate, these are the teeth. Also cut a large oval out of the 3rd paper place, then cut it in half to make the eyes. 
3. Color or paint all the pieces gray.
4. Glue the fin piece to the top of the 1st paper plate along with the eyes on each side of the fin. Glue wiggle eyes on the semi ovals. Glue the teeth around the opening on the 1st paper plate. 
5. Have fun with your shark puppet.

Free Resources:
Head over to Camp Google and check out all the resources from Ocean Week including a live dive with National Geographic Explorers. (The live dive is over but you can watch the recording and still complete the activities)

Story Corner

Each month we feature different themed books and corresponding activities! This month’s theme is summer so make sure you check out all the other posts from my blogger friends!

Treasure Island-Inspired Compass Treasure Hunt from Line Upon Line Learning
Free Ocean Matching Pack from Life Over at C's

Camp Google - 4 Weeks of FREE Fun Science Adventures #NGKinsider

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

I am about to leave for a a week long camp to become certified as an Outdoor Wildlife Leader along with my two friends. But I won't be the only one having fun....you and your children can experience a science camp from the comfort of your own sofa over the next 4 weeks. Khan Academy, National Geographic and NASA have joined forces with Google to bring you Camp Google. Camp Google is a 4 week online camp designed for children ages 7-10 years old. Each week will be filled with fun science activities and exploration.

Every Monday camp starts with a live adventure that you access right from the Camp Google site. Adventures include a dive into the Atlantic ocean, a hike up an active volcano and jamming with a music star. If you miss a week don't worry, camp activities will remain open and you can look back and relive the experiences at anytime.

National Geographic kicks off the fun on July 13th with Ocean Week. During Ocean Week children will go on a 1 hr live dive into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with with National Geographic Explorers Erika Bergman and Sylvia Earle. The event will be staged from inside Baseline Explorer's Submarine 'Nemo' where Erika Bergman and Sylvia Earle will discuss marine biology, technology and then pilot an OpenROV pre-positioned several miles offshore and piloted through a wireless ethernet bridge.

Children will learn things like:

• What's at the bottom of the ocean floor?
• How are volcanoes formed?
• What do astronauts eat?
• Why does music make us want to bust a move?

All you need to participate is internet access and a few household items.

As children progress through camp activities they will earn cool badges....like these.

Google explains:

"To really dig into the answers, kids will complete hands on science projects led by experts - using supplies often already available at home - that encourage them to learn by doing, explore the real world and get a little messy. With every activity completed, kids collect special Camp Google badges and track the new skills they've learned along the way."

Watch this video to learn more:


I'd love to hear your thoughts on the camp after you attend some of the session!

Summertime Fun - Learn How Flowers Grow

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

We love reading and hands on learning so of course I couldn't resist participating in another online book club. The last Thursday of every month I will be joining some of my Usborne friends in the Story Corner Blog Hop. Each month there will be a theme and I will share one of our favorite Usborne books and a hands on learning activity to go along with it.

Make sure you also follow my Usborne Facebook page where I share about literacy tips, book deals, giveaways, new arrivals, upcoming party information and more.  - Kathys Cluttered Book Nook.

Book:
This month's theme was summer and nothing says summer better than flowers! So the book I chose to share with you is called, "How flowers grow." This book is part of the beginner series and features easy- to-read text which has been specifically written with the help of a reading expert. The book covers a wide variety of topics including: How do flowers grow in dry deserts? How do animals help to spread seeds? Which flower smells like rotting meat? And like all Usborne books the illustrations and diagrams are bold and beautiful. In the back of the book there is a glossary, website links and an index. The book is a 32 page hardback and costs just $4.99.

Craft:

We got the inspiration for our craft project from the Summer Activities Usborne book which is now out of print. However there are several other Usborne activity books available which have similar craft ideas.

Materials:

• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Pipe cleaners or bendable straws
• Pom poms

Instructions:

1. Cut a 5 x 11 inch piece of tissue paper and fold it in half length wise.
2. Next fold the paper in half, short sides together.
3. Then fold it in half again, short sides together. 
4. Make long cuts from the bottom edge (where openings are) to the top edge (where creases are) but do not cut all the way to the top creases. Be sure to cut through all the layers of the tissue paper.
5. Open the paper carefully and lay it flat with the cut edge at the top. 
6. Tape one uncut end to a bendable straw or pipe cleaner and roll it tightly around the straw.
7. Fasten the loose end with tape and pull down all the cut ends to make the petals.
8. Glue a pom pom onto the center. 

More Resources:

Visit my flower unit study post for even more resources and craft ideas.

Free Journal Pages:
Here is an flower journal page that goes along great with books on flowers. Download your copy here or click the picture below.

Story Corner

Each month we feature different themed books and corresponding activities! This month’s theme is summer so make sure you check out all the other posts from my blogger friends!

15 Seashore Inspired Kid Crafts from Bombshell Bling

Summertime Fun - Learn How Flowers Grow from Kathy's Cluttered Mind

Mud Painting from Line Upon Line Learning

Summer Explorations from Whatsoever is Lovely Living

Glow in the Dark Ocean Bottle from Sunny Day Family

Free Printable Camping Journal from To the Moon and Back

A Pirate Ship Summer Adventure from Pichea Place

What's Awesome And FREE In Athens?

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

We love day tripping and exploring local cities. Our most recent trip was to Athens, Georgia which is about an hour and 15 minutes from our home. We arrived at about 10:00 am and explored until about 7:00 pm. The best part about the trip is that everything we did was FREE! Athens has been on our radar for several years, but every time we headed out there we had car problems, but not this time! I am so happy we finally got to explore and we will definitely be visiting again soon!

Athens is a vibrant, restored Victorian-era town that is full of art galleries, trendy shops world-renowned nightclubs and distinctive dining. But that's not all! Athens is also home to the University of Georgia, which was chartered as America's first state college in 1785. And Athens is teeming with historic buildings which have made it onto the National Register of Historic places, beautiful gardens and natural oasis's. This amazing town offers something for everyone with its unique blend of traditional heritage and trend-setting southern culture!

If you are looking to spend a day in Athens and spend a very small amount of money I have the perfect itinerary for you!

1) Georgia State Botanical Gardens - This stop takes about 1-2 hrs. Admission is FREE. 

This 313 acre botanical garden on the Middle Oconee River is a fabulous cultural, educational and recreational facility and one of Athens' most visited attractions. There are several themed display gardens including a Flower Garden, International Garden, Heritage Garden, Shade Garden, Herb Garden (a huge hit with the kids), Rhododendron Collection and more. There is also a fantastic conservatory with tropical plants from around the world. In the conservatory kids can learn about the various plants that provide them their favorite foods and snacks while getting a whiff of some of them too. The garden has great information placards throughout to help you learn more about the flowers, plants and trees. You can opt to pick up some self guided resources at the visitor check in like the Hummingbird Trail guide. For educators and homeschool parents call ahead to reserve one of the fabulous education packs for $20. Every week the gardens also offer events and activities. After browsing through the garden you can check out the 5 miles of nature trails that extend far into the reaches of the Garden and natural areas typical of the habitats and plan communities found in the Georgia Piedmont. 

2) Memorial Park and Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail - This stop takes about 1 hr. Admission is FREE.

This little zoo is a great place to learn about Georgia's native wildlife. There is a paved trail that winds through the woods and leads you to viewing decks where you can see black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, owls, and many other species of wild, free-living animals (all animals are non-releasable). There is also a reptile/amphibian house on site with snakes, turtles and frogs. Bear Hollow also offers a variety of family programs and events.

3) Georgia Museum of Natural History - This stop takes about 20-30 minutes. Admission is FREE.

This little museum is only about the size of our living room and dining room combined, but it is a lot of fun and really educational. The museum offers visitors a chance to observe samples from the over 6 million objects in the museum's collection, including 1.5 million insects and more than 100 whale skeletons. The sections of the museum cover the 6 departments at the University of Georgia: Anthropology, Botany, Entomology, Geography, Geology and Plant Pathology.  There were even several interactive sections where the kids got to touch animals pelts and skulls.  The museum can offer behind-the-scenes tours for groups of up to 20 at no charge and we were lucky enough to get such a tour while we were there. A nice retired entomologist overhear us in the museum and asked if the kids would like to see the insect collection. Of course we said yes, so he led us upstairs to the entomology department where all of the insects are cataloged and stored. It was an amazing experience for the kids and we got to see some of the largest bugs in the world.  During our visit there were signs up indicating that they are in the process of currently updating some of the exhibits, however there was still a lot to see and learn about. 

4) Athens Welcome Center and Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum - This stop takes about 15-20 minutes. Admission is FREE.

The Church-Waddel-Brumby House is a Federal-style house and is believed to be the Athens' oldest surviving residents. This is a great place to start your guided or self guided tour of Athens, because you can grab maps, brochures, tour tickets and get expert local information. There is even a small gift shop too with Athens souvenirs, books and more.

5) Double Barrel Canon - This stop takes about 15 minutes. Admission is FREE.

Stop by to admire a piece of failed history. The cannon sits right outside of City Hall and faces north (just in case). You will need to pay for street parking (we put in 50 cents). The one-of-a-kind cannon was built at a local foundry in 1863 to ward off any attacks by invading Northern armies during the Civil War. It is one of the most unusual relics preserved from the Civil War and the concept was to load the cannon with two balls connected by a chain several feet in length. When the cannon was fired, the balls and chain would whirl out and cut down the unfortunate enemy soldiers caught in the path. But according to legend when it was test-fired a field of unfortunate cows became the only victims of this new cannon design. This spectacular, historical failure is now a successful, cherished landmark of Athens.

6) The Tree That Owns Itself - This stop takes about 15 minutes. Admission is FREE.

Before we visited this landmark we read a great book called, "The Tree That Owns Itself and Other Adventure Tales From Out Of The Past." Well after reading the book the kids were really excited to meet this famous tree. The tree is located at the top of a steep cobblestone road (which is lots of fun to ride over) where Dearing and Finley Streets intersect and is probably the most unusual property holders in the world. The tree pays no taxes, is protected by the community and rests secure in its own enclosed garden-type lot. The tree even was featured on Ripley's "Believe it or Not" and is quite famous around the world receiving attention in newspapers and magazines.

But is this trees Legend real and accurate? The legends says that the land where the tree's roots are planted was originally owned by Col. William H. Jackson a professor at UGA. The legend says that in the early 1800's the professor out of love for the great oak deeded to the tree ownership of itself and the land within eight fee on all sides. The marker at the foot of the tree reads as follows: "For and in consideration of the great love I bear this tree and the great desire I have for its protection, for all time, I convey entire possession of itself and all land within eight feet of the tree on all sides."  But the original deed has never been located, but the Athens community has recognized the tree's title to the surrounding land and has taken measures to protect the tree.  Philantrhopist George Foster Peabody paid to install the enclosure surrounding the tree. But if you read the book you will find that this legend is about Jackson is a fake. The legend of "the tree that owns itself" is just like most legends part truth and part fake all mixed together.  

But wait there is more to this bizarre story. The original tree became diseased and fell down on October 9th, 1942, so the current tree is actually one of the original trees offspring. The Junior Ladies Garden Club grew a sapling from one of the tree's acorns and planted it on the same spot on October 9, 1946 and so the legend lived on. To this day no one has ever questioned the property rights of the tree! Crazy and cool right?

7) Sandy Creek Nature Center - This stop takes about 1-2 hours. Admission is FREE

We have found the BEST nature center in Georgia. The Sandy Creek Nature Center is a 225 acre woodland and wetland that offers families an amazing outdoor exploration experience. There are more than 4 miles of trails, an ADA interpretive trail with connections to the North Oconee River Greenway and Cook's Trial and a SPLOST-funded education and visitor center. The education center was so amazing and my kids could have spent several hours there exploring. The center is broken into several learning sections including wetlands, coastal, woodlands, agricultural and urban environments of Northeast Georgia. Each learning section has hands on activities where kids get to utilize their senses to learn about nature and wildlife. Some of the activities included viewing reptiles, amphibians, and marine and freshwater life in their natural habitats, puzzles, sent bottles, a hydroponics demonstration, food chain inter actives and more. There is also a great resource library and planetarium. Before heading out on a trail the nature center has bags, binoculars and other resources you may want to grab. Also on the centers property there is a circa 1815 Log House and several wildlife observation areas. Before you leave be sure to hit up the awesome gift shop too...they have some great deals on nature resources. We had some time to hit up one trail and it was beautiful. We grabbed a geocache, took photos inside the spooky tree and then headed to our next destination!

8) T.R.R Cobb House - You don't even have to get out of the car for this one. As you drive to the next stop make sure you pass the T.R.R Cobb House to check out the unique octagonal wings and distinctive color!  This home is the newest house museum in Athens and was owned by T.R.R Cobb a UGA Graduate and co-founder of its school of law, Confederate General, and principal author of the Confederate Constitution. Admission is FREE. If you wish to make a stop they do offer tours, $2 for adults and free for children and students.

9) Taylor-Grady House - You don't even have to get out of the car for this one. As you drive to the next stop make sure you pass the Taylor-Grady House to check out the Greek Revival architecture! The house was the collegiate home of acclaimed newspaper editor Henry W. Grady, credited with establishing the view of the New South after the Civil War.  Admission is FREE. If you wish to make a stop they do offer tours for $3 per person.

10) Dudley Park - This stop takes about 1-2 hours. Admission is FREE.

We specifically stopped at this park to grab a geocache and see the "Murmur” trestle. If you are an R.E.M fan or train history buff you will really appreciate the trestle, read more about it here. Dudley Parks is a 24 acre park nestled in between Trail Creek and the North Oconee River. It is close to downtown Athens and the University of Georgia. The park has majestic hardwoods, open fields, picnic tables, a playground and a bike/walking trail.

If time allows or you end up making your visit to Athens more than 1 day are some other places you might want to check out (all FREE): Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall Sports Museum, Georgia Museum of Art, Oconee Hill Cemetery, Trail Creek Park with splash pad, Southeast Clark Park with World of Wonder Community Playground and Skatepark, Lamar Dodd School of Art Galleries,  And just a little South of Athens you might want to check out Heritage Park, Elder's Mill Covered Bridge and Oconee National Forest and Scull Shoals Experimental Forest.

At and in between all your stops be sure to grab a few geocaches too, there are quite a few around Athens.

And there you have it, how to spend a day in Athens and experience history, culture, science and more without breaking the bank.  For a family of 4 this trip itinerary will be FREE (not including gas and food).