Atlanta Braves Kids Day (Next Kids Day is Aug. 8 Kraken Water Polo Home Depot Workshop

Silver Scream Spookshow (Sat. show is Godzilla on Monster Island) Fulton Free Days at the High Museum (Dali: The Last Work opens Aug. [...]]]> If you missed the Field Trips with Sue segment this week on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, here is what we discussed:

Atlanta Braves Kids Day (Next Kids Day is Aug. 8
Kraken Water Polo
Home Depot Workshop

Silver Scream Spookshow (Sat. show is Godzilla on Monster Island)
Fulton Free Days at the High Museum (Dali: The Last Work opens Aug. 7)
Target Free Days at The Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Newest Exhibit is Conservation Quest)

If you are looking for something a little different to pass the last few weeks of summer, why not [...]]]> What: Free Water Polo Lessons
Where: Kraken Water Polo, 20 Willow Glenn Dr., Marietta, Ga.
When: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 – 11 am for middle and high school
Cost: Trail Week is Free ($40 a month dues after)

If you are looking for something a little different to pass the last few weeks of summer, why not try a little football in the water or water polo.  Thanks to Stuart Sheldon for telling me about Kraken Water Polo.

Kracken Water Polo began in 2006 when a group of 13 high school swimmers got together for a friendly scrimmage.  Now the group has several teams of differing age levels and offers instruction for new players. Best news, you can try it out for FREE.

Middle and high school aged kids are invited to practice with the team for a week FREE to determine if they want to play. Practices are Mon., Tues., and Thurs., from 8 – 11 am. Instruction is broken into water and land practice. All swimming abilities are welcome. Wed. evenings, there is an official game.

For more information on the youth practices, contact Owen Sweitzer at owen.sweitzer@gmail.com.

I know summer is actually winding down for many. We only have two more weeks until school starts! However, if you are looking to get in a whole summer’s worth of fun into the next few weeks, here’s another great list of activities. [...]]]> What: A list of Summertime Activities
Where: Atlanta Area
When: Summer 2010
Cost: Free and Cheap

I know summer is actually winding down for many. We only have two more weeks until school starts! However, if you are looking to get in a whole summer’s worth of fun into the next few weeks, here’s another great list of activities. Thanks to Sonia Winfield for forwarding this on from her building concierge.

If you need even more ideas, check out the links in this post we did earlier this summer.

If you’re a savvy shopper, you know about the deal sites/emails where, for a limited time, you can get a fantastic deal on a variety of things such as attraction tickets, restaurants and services. There is a new deal site coming to Atlanta focused [...]]]> What: Juice in the City
Where: Starting in Atlanta
When: Now
Cost: Free to register

If you’re a savvy shopper, you know about the deal sites/emails where, for a limited time, you can get a fantastic deal on a variety of things such as attraction tickets, restaurants and services. There is a new deal site coming to Atlanta focused on families, called Juice in the City. Juice in the City sources deals that parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and caregivers would find interesting. Right now they are soliciting feedback on the types of deals YOU want to see. In a few short months, they’ll begin sourcing those deals to bring you savings. You can register now (it’s free) to receive emails on the latest suggestions, or you can suggest your own deal.* Just scroll down and enter your email address. In addition, if you sign up now to see activities each day, you’ll get a $10 credit when deals launch in Atlanta.

Deal sites are a great way to see Atlanta (and any city) on the cheap. We recently purchased a membership to the High Museum at a 50% discount through one of the deal sites. Other local deal sites include Groupon, Living Social, ScoutMob and HalfOff Depot. Check them out and enjoy all the wonderful activities and places Atlanta has to offer for less.

* In full disclosure, Field Trips with Sue will get a little something for the back-to-school fund for each registrant.

B*ATL (145th Anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta) Piedmont Park Green Market (Tango Lessons and Kids Cooking Workshop) Shrimpin’ Aboard the Lady Jane

Tree Climbing at Panola State Park Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Flying Colors Butterfly Festival Webkinz Road Trip

What: Shrimpin’ on the Lady Jane Where: Golden Isles, Ga. (Includes Brunswick, Jekyll Island, St. Simons and Sea Island) When: Generally Wed. – Sun., but check the schedule online Cost: $39.95 per person, $25 6 and under

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a shrimper, then a tour on the Lady Jane is for you. It’s [...]]]>

What: Shrimpin’ on the Lady Jane
Where: Golden Isles, Ga. (Includes Brunswick, Jekyll Island, St. Simons and Sea Island)
When: Generally Wed. – Sun., but check the schedule online
Cost: $39.95 per person, $25 6 and under

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a shrimper, then a tour on the Lady Jane is for you. It’s the Deadliest Catch, Golden Isles style.

After boarding the authentic shrimp boat, the vessel heads out into the marsh to see what adventure awaits. A few minutes out you hear “Lowering the nets” and watch as the shrimp nets go into the water. After about 10 – 20 minutes of trawling, the nets are brought up and the sea’s bounty spread on a table before you. In addition to shrimp, we caught puffer fish – all puffed out, grouper, squid, crabs, shark and even a 4 foot spotted eagle ray. The catch is laid out and guests are encouraged to pick up the sea creatures as first mate Cliff, explains a little about the fish we caught. Once all the shrimp are pulled out and guests have touched all the fish, everything is returned to the sea where the hearty swim away and the not so hearty become food for the flock of seagulls following the boat.

The crew of the Lady Jane generally drags the net two to three times each trip, depending on tides, crowds and the catch. After the first catch, boat guests feast on boiled shrimp, caught fresh the day before. While waiting for the next catch, we watched shore birds and even spotted a few dolphins along the marsh. There is bottled water on board for guests and some enterprising folks brought their own cooler with additional kid and adult beverages. Even in mid-July, the trip was pleasant with a cool sea breeze. There is ample shade on board and guests can duck inside the cabin where there is air conditioning if it gets too hot. This is also where the on-board bathrooms are located.

The best part is seeing what comes up in the nets, followed closely by feeding the seagulls and seeing if they can catch the fish in mid-air. A shrimp boat cruise is a great way to not only learn about the sea life that lives along the Georgia coast, but also get up close and personal with it.

What: Westville, an 1850’s living history museum Where: Lumpkin, Ga. When: Thurs. – Sat. 10 – 5 pm and Sun. 1- 5 pm Cost: Adults $10, Seniors, College Students and Military $8, Students K-12 $5 Click here for a $1 off admission coupon

Westville is a working 1850’s town located in Lumpkin, Ga., not far from Providence Canyon . The [...]]]>

What: Westville, an 1850’s living history museum
Where: Lumpkin, Ga.
When: Thurs. – Sat. 10 – 5 pm and Sun. 1- 5 pm
Cost: Adults $10, Seniors, College Students and Military $8, Students K-12 $5
Click here for a $1 off admission coupon

Westville is a working 1850’s town located in Lumpkin, Ga., not far from Providence Canyon . The museum is a collection of 30 historic buildings assembled from across the state, and arranged as a typical 1850’s town layout with commerce buildings in the center and residences on the outskirts. Buildings include various trades, a school, courthouse, church, store, carriage house, gardens, slave quarters, upscale residences and a farm.

We visited on a random rainy Thursday. Two costumed interpreters lead three different tours explaining various aspects of 19th century life. I found the cotton gin and press to be most interesting. Our guide demonstrated a hand crank cotton gin and showed us a more advanced model that spit the cotton out into a barn. The massive cotton press was quite impressive. Mules were used to turn a huge pole that “pressed” the cotton into 500 lb. bales which were then tied by hand.

Westville alone was interesting, but unless you plan to go more than once, I would recommend timing your trip around the various special weekends on the Westville event calendar. During special events, there are more costumed interpreters and activities making it a more enriching experience. For example, staffers told us during the Civil War Days program in October, there is a soldier encampment in addition to numerous demonstrations of life in 1850. Interpreters spend the weekend at Westville and remain “in character” from Friday evening through Sunday night.