Photo Credit: http://ow.ly/8AVoN

What: Atlanta Braves Community Caravan
When: Jan. 27 – Feb. 9, 2012 (times vary by location and date)
Where: Across the Southeast Including Ga., SC, NC, AL and TN locations
Cost: FREE

The 2012 Braves Country Caravan, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors is hitting the road January 27th thru February 9th. With more than 25 stops in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, the Braves will travel more than 3,000 miles and meet thousands of fans before the team heads to Orlando for Spring Training. To get a detailed list of who will be where, visit the Atlanta Braves website.

Atlanta Braves players, coaches, alumni, broadcasters, and team executives will make community appearances at children’s hospitals, schools, and military bases, and will host autograph signings at Academy Sports + Outdoors stores and Taco Mac locations throughout the Southeast. Check the schedule to see when we’ll be in your town, and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates!

Here’s some great photos of a stop last year in Macon from a blog called The World this Week.

Indoor activities for kids is a hot topic as the weather gets cooler and the rain continues to fall. Of course, giveaways for some of Atlanta’s hottest shows are big news too. We talked about both yesterday morning on the Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta.

Here is a link to the giveaways to Atlanta area shows.(It takes a few minutes to load, so be patient) Be sure to register to win – we’ll be choosing the winners over the next two days. We talked about…

• Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
• Laughing Pizza Red Carpet Movie Premiere
• Space! at the Center for Puppetry Arts
• MEMPHIS, at the Fox Theatre

Next we talked about indoor activities for kids in Atlanta. Including…

• 2012 Braves Country Caravan – see Field Trips with Sue later today for more information and a link to the schedule
• Stone Summit Climbing Gym
• Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta (note the link here goes to a post with Curious George. That was a previous exhibit, starting Feb. 4, it will be Clifford!) - Clifford Exhibit opens on Feb. 4 with a BOGO offer for Fulton County residents on opening day. Don’t forget, the second Tuesday of every month is Target Free Tuesday at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta from 1 – 7 pm.

Photo: Paul Kolnikstudio@paulkolnik.comnyc 212-362-7778

What: MEMPHIS
Where: Fox Theatre
When: Jan. 31 – Feb. 5, 2012
Cost: Prices start at $25 plus fees from Ticketmaster
Click the link to read more about Memphis and enter for a chance to win tickets to see Memphis

I’m looking forward to seeing Memphis, a 2010 Tony Award winning musical coming to the Fox Theatre next week. The show takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50’s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. Memphis is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever. It looks like a lot of singing and awesome dancing.

You can purchase individual tickets for this or purchase it as part of a mini-season package that includes Memphis, Billy Elliot – The Musical (March 13-18), Les Miserables (April 24-29) and my absolute favorite Jersey Boys (May 22 – June 10). To purchase the package go to www.BroadwayInAtlanta.com or call 800-278-4447

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What: Laughing Pizza Red Carpet Event
Where: Georgia Aquarium Ocean’s Ballroom
When: Feb. 4, 2012 11 am
Cost: There are two ticket options for families to purchase: VIP Red Carpet Premiere tickets include admission to the film, live performance by Laughing Pizza, meet and greet with the band, and red carpet festivities. VIP Red Carpet Premiere tickets are $15 (Children under 1 years old are free). For an even more spectacular experience, guests can upgrade their tickets to the VIP Red Carpet Premiere Plus ticket, which includes admission to the premiere and its events, as well as admission to the Aquarium and the 3:30 p.m. showing of AT&T Dolphin Tales. VIP Red Carpet Premiere Plus tickets are $34.95 for adults and $28.95 for children. Children ages 1-3 years old need only a film pass, as they are admitted to the Aquarium for free.

For more information on the program and how you can enter to win a four pack of tickets to the VIP Red Carpet Premiere click the link below. (Giveaway Tickets are for VIP Red Carpet Event Only, and do not include general admission to Georgia Aquarium.)

Atlanta’s family-favorite musical group, Laughing Pizza, invites families to the grand Oceans Ballroom at Georgia Aquarium for a one-time, VIP family film premiere Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11:00 a.m. The award-winning band and world’s largest aquarium are teaming up for the world premiere of Laughing Pizza: The Concert Movie as well as a live performance by Laughing Pizza after the screening.

Beginning at 11:00 a.m., guests will get the “red carpet treatment” with photographs, spectacular views into the world’s largest aquatic habitat, Ocean Voyager, as well as views into the charismatic beluga whale habitat from within the grand Oceans Ballroom. There will also be entertainment by Atlanta’s own Circus Camp and more. The VIP screening of Laughing Pizza: The Concert Movie, will begin at 12:00 p.m. (The film has already won 5 out of 5 Doves from the Dove Foundation, and was endorsed by the Parents Television Council.) After the screening, Laughing Pizza will perform a few of their hits, and guests will have the opportunity to meet Billy, Lisa and Emily, up close and in person!

Laughing Pizza is a real family band that writes and performs all original pop-music for families. Their music videos can be seen every day in more than 18 million homes on PBS stations and TV On-Demand channels around the country. This mom, dad and daughter trio travel across the nation performing at theatres, museums, music festivals, nightclubs, schools, and other venues – including the White House (with Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers). Their live performances are energetic, interactive, dance-filled shows that get kids and parents up and moving, and they have a loyal following all across the country.

The event is sponsored by Shumate and B-98.5FM. A portion of all proceeds will go to The Georgia Aquarium’s SEA Program.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What: Space! at the Center for Puppetry Arts

Where: Center for Puppetry Arts
When: Jan. 26 – March 11, 2012
Cost: $9.25 members $16.50 non members
Click the link below to learn more and enter to win a family four pack of tickets to see Space! on Sat. Jan. 28 at 12 pm

Your child can make these extraterrestrials at the Create a Puppet Workshop included with your show tickets.

My son loves the Center for Puppetry Arts puppet shows and doing the Make-a-Puppet Workshop that is included in the admission price. The latest show by the Center for Puppetry Arts is Space! an out-of-this-world adventure where an extraterrestrial guides families on an educational journey through the solar system. Afterwards, make your own extraterrestrial hand puppet.

The show blasts off with a rocking band of extraterrestrial musicians. Astronomy fans can learn out-of-this-world facts about planets, stars, meteors and more. They can feel the gravitational pull with Sir Isaac Newton, gaze at Saturn’s rings with Galileo and rock out on the asteroid belt. Ever wonder what fuels the sun or where the planets got their names? Find out in this galactic trip filled with cosmic special effects and an eclectic musical score fit for a universe as vast and diverse as our own.

Space! is written and directed by Jon Ludwig with music composed by John Cerreta. Blending rod, shadow and blacklight puppetry with projections, this show offers a unique take on science. Kids can bop along to 15 original songs, gaze with awe at hundreds of NASA images and get silly with a host of unusual characters.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brian Miser is the Human Fuse

What: Circus in Atlanta Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is Fully Charged
Where: Philips Arena Feb. 15 – 20 and Gwinnett Arena Feb. 23 – 26, 2012
Cost: Tickets start at $14 (plus service charges) and can be purchased through ticketmaster.com
Click the link to learn more about Fully Charged and enter to win vouchers for four tickets to see the show.

Come one hour before showtime for the Free All Access Power Up Preshow

I love the circus and this year’s show is electrifying! Fully Charged, the all-new surge of circus entertainment from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey where megawatts of thrills explode off of the arena floor with breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances that energize Children Of All Ages.

Feld Entertainment, the producers of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus are clients of mine, so I had the pleasure of seeing the show a few months back. My favorite are still the elephants, but I loved the guys on the regular stilts and the neon glowing bounce stilts. I know my children will love the human fuse who shoots out of a cannon on fire and the Turbines of Terror.

One of my favorite parts of going to the circus is the All Access Power Up Pre-show. One hour before show time, guests are allowed on the floor to try on costumes, get up close with animals and performers. If you’re lucky, you might become part of the pre-show. We always grab a few clown noses and pose for a photo with one of the clowns before taking our seats.

Atlanta on the Cheap has some great discount codes and updates these often, so check out how to get discount tickets.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo Credit: http://ow.ly/8uK0G

What: Three Kings Day Celebration
Where: Atlanta History Center
When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, 1 – 5 pm
Cost: The program is FREE (does not include admission to the museum)

I’ve always wanted to go to this program and never seem to make it. Here in the states we take down the Christmas tree the day after Christmas. Our celebration is the month prior. However, the true Christmas season isn’t over until the Epiphany on Jan. 6 (the actual 12 Day of Christmas). In Hispanic cultures, this is the celebration of the Three Kings, or Three Kings Day. As I understand it, the three kings – Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar saw the star on the day Jesus was born and traveled (over field and fountain, moor and mountain) to see the baby, arriving around this time.

The Three Kings Day Celebration at the Atlanta History Center is a festival of storytelling, music, and live performances. The Center is partnering with the Instituto de Mexico for this free celebration. Space is limited and does not include museum admission. For more information call 404-814-4000. Here is a schedule of events:

1 – 1:30 pm – Welcome
1:30 – 1:50 pm – Youth Pastorela performance by St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (children’s nativity play)
1:50 – 2:15 pm – Raffle
2:15  - 2:45 pm – Mexico Lindo, youth performance of traditional folkloric ballet
2:45 – 3:10 pm – Raffle
3:10 – 3:30 pm – Youth Pastorela performance by St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
3:30 – 4:00 pm – Traditional Music
4:15 – 5:00 pm – Raffle and Closure

Traditional Three Kings Day Mexican food items are available for sale. Every child under 12 receives a ticket for a free drink, tamale and a slice of rosca. There is also a free picture with the Three Kings.

Twice a month I do a Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS’s morning show Better Mornings Atlanta. Since January bills are rolling in, I focused on free things to do in Atlanta. Here’s what we talked about, as well as links to the video of you’d like to watch it. Plus I’ve added a few additional freebies to round out the 10. Do you know of any other great free things to do in Atlanta with Kids? Tell us about it.

In this link to Field Trips with Sue on Better Mornings Atlanta we talked about

• Monster Jam Monster Truck Appearances
• Booth Western Museum
• Callaway Gardens

In this link of Field Trips with Sue on Better Mornings Atlanta we talked about

• The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Visitors Center and Monetary Museum
• High Museum of Art
• Home Depot Workshop

Here’s some additional free or cheap things to do in Atlanta with Kids. Want 100+ ideas you can carry with you? Purchase my book 100+ Free and Cheap Things to do in Atlanta with Kids.

• Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshops (2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month)
• Atlanta Boat Show (Jan. 12 – 15, 2012. Children under 16 are FREE. Plus free kids catch & release fishing at the show.)
• Braves Museum and Hall of Fame. Through January admission is 2 for $12.
• Alliance Theatre  is doing a free performance inspired by the Declaration of Independence. Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness is an original script that uses the unique voices of teenagers to question issues of citizenship and diversity. Performances are on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at 1 and 3 pm in The Rich Auditorium at the Woodruff Arts Center. For free tickets call 404-733-4749 or email atedu@woodruffcenter.org
• Dunwoody Nature Center

The cash processing viewing area lets visitors see workers counting the money and watching it move in and out of the vaults.

What: Federal Reserve Bank  of Atlanta’s Visitors Center and Monetary Museum
Where: Midtown Atlanta
When: Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm Closed on legal holidays
Cost: FREE

We overspent a bit this holiday season, so I’m looking for some good free activities to keep my crew busy. Recently, we headed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in Midtown to check out the visitor center and free monetary museum.

Meet Cash Cow (Milk Money) from the 2003 CowParade Atlanta

The museum includes display cases, videos and interactive kiosks to show the history of the Federal Reserve and the monetary system in the United States. It may sound like a heavy subject, but it’s not all serious. In the lobby, you are greeted by Cash Cow or Milk Money as she is called, a fiberglass cow painted with a dollar bill coat and coins. Cash Cow was part of CowParade Atlanta, an art exhibition that raised money for charity and just happened to be one of my clients back in 2003. The cows still make me smile.

Don't forget to grab a bag of shredded money on your way out. They are located in the kiosks in the lobby.

The highlight of the tour is viewing the cash processing activities at the Federal Reserve. Watch the bill counter spin through $10s or $20s; the cash bus that moves bags of money in and out of the vault and see the shredded money fountain. Be sure to get your own bag of shredded money on the way out.

To learn more about the history of money and the barter system backtrack to the first gallery. The history of money starts with items used for barter in ancient times and goes through the many variations of printed and minted money in the US and the world. It’s an interesting display. If you are a coin collector, you’ll love seeing the historic and rare pieces. You’ll also enjoy the mosaic of all the state quarters into a map of the United States.

The main room also has video kiosks to learn more about banking and the history and job of the Federal Reserve. For instance, did you know the idea for the Federal Reserve was hatch on Georgia’s Jekyll Island? The year was 1910. A group of politicians met at the Jekyll Island Club and drafted legislation (the Aldrich Plan) for the creation of the US central bank. Now you’ll want to go to Jekyll Island and see the room where this historic meeting took place!

Plan your trip to the Federal Reserve of Atlanta Museum

In addition to static displays, feel the weight of a gold brick and take the ‘Banker’s Challenge’ a video game where players manage a bank’s risk. I did great on the training and loan officer portion, but fell a bit short on investments.

Tips for visiting the Federal Reserve Bank Museum
1. Paid parking is available in lots or along the street on 11th Street
2. You may not take pictures or video in the museum. In fact, you’ll have to store your purse or any other bags in a free locker before entering the museum.

Looking for more FREE things to do in Atlanta with Kids? Check out the Field Trips with Sue book 100+ Free and Cheap Things to do in Atlanta with Kids.

Atlanta

See Grave Digger the Legend at Little Caesars in Dallas, Ga

It’s time for Monster Jam Atlanta 2012! Atlanta is a great place to see the Monster Jam show because it’s generally shown on the Speed Channel and since it’s just one night, the trucks really do it up. Because it’s such a good show (and because we live in Georgia), Monster Jam at the Georgia Dome generally sells out. If you don’t have tickets for the Monster Jam Atlanta show on Saturday, Jan.14, get them now or you might be out of luck. You can find Monster Jam Atlanta 2012 discounts on the Monster Jam site.

If you can’t go to the show, or if you just want to get yourself pumped up for the event, here are some places where you can see Monster Truck Displays in Atlanta and meet the drivers. Bonus, these Monster Truck Displays are FREE!  For photos of Monster Jam Atlanta, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook. Go ahead and “Like” the page while you’re there.

What: Monster Magic
Where: Brandsmart, 400 Mt. Zion Pkwy, Stockbridge, 30236
When: Thurs., Jan. 12, 2012 from 3 – 7 pm

See Grinder at Advanced Auto Parts in Kennesaw

What: Grinder
Where: Advanced Auto Parts (Store #6540), 1660 N. Roberts Rd. NW, Kennesaw, 30144
When: Fri., Jan. 13, 2012 from 2 – 6 pm

What: War Wizard
Where: Advanced Auto Parts (Store #9672), 295 Glynn St., Fayetteville, 30214
When: Fri., Jan. 13, 2012 from 2 – 6 pm

What: Black Stallion
Where: Advanced Auto Parts (Store #6840), 3426 Clairmont Rd. NE, Atlanta 30319
When: Fri., Jan. 13, 2012 from 2 – 6 pm

The Party in the Pits allows fans to get up close and person with the trucks and secure driver autographs

What: Gunslinger
Where: Academy Sports and Outdoors, 1585 Scenic Hwy, Snellville 30078
When: Fri., Jan. 13, 2012 from 4 – 7 pm

If you are going to the show and have a ticket, be sure to pick up a  free Pit Passes at the Advanced Auto Parts or Metro PCS stores. Pit Passes are good for the Party in the Pits from 2 – 5 pm (but you must have an event ticket to use the Party in the Pits pass). During the Party in the Pits you can go down on the track, see the Monster Trucks up close, meet the drivers and get autographs. It gets very crowded at the Party in the Pits, so if you want autographs, especially for well known drivers like Dennis Anderson, be there when the doors open.