Field Trips with Sue

FTWS Talks Spring Break on WXIA

Sue — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:32:45 +0000

If you missed Valerie Hoff’s Ways to Save segment on WXIA this morning, it featured me talking about Spring Break ideas. Here’s a link to the article Spring Break Ideas on the WXIA site. If you are planning a spring break trip, here are some other blog posts you might be interested in perusing:

Going to Jekyll Island, Ga.? Here are 5 Things to Do on Jekyll Island and information on Geochacing on Jekyll Island.
Going to St. Simons Island, Ga.? Here are 5 Things to Do on St. Simon’s Island

Going to Orlando, Fla.? Here is a review of the Nickelodeon Hotel (note the deal this post links to is expired) and on the way down to Fla. you might want to stop at Wild Adventures in Valdosta.
Hitting a Georgia State Park? Here is information on Reed Bingham State Park, Sweetwater Creek State Park and Sope Creek as well as information on bird watching in Georgia
A Trip to Augusta, Ga.? Check out information on 5 Things to Do in Augusta
Staying in Atlanta? Here are 5 FREE things to do in Atlanta and here are 5 More FREE things to do in Atlanta

Finally, my list of Favorite Finds in 2009 and my List for 2010.

Enjoy the break and let me know what fun places you’ve discovered or re-discovered.

CBS Better Mornings Features Things to do in Atlanta & Augusta

Sue — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:59:38 +0000

If you missed this week’s Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, never fear. The segments featured the following:

Things to Do in Augusta, Ga. Beyond the Masters including:
Augusta Canal Intrpretive Center
Fort Discovery
Morris Museum of Art
Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s (March 23)
Free Rita’s Italian Ice (March 20)
Atlanta Opera Family Day
Places to birdwatch during National Wildlife Week
Buy One, Get One at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

If you’d like to see the actual clip, go to Better Mornings at CBS Atlanta.

Atlanta Opera Hosts Family Day

Sue — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:04:18 +0000

Photo by Tim Wilkerson

What: Atlanta Opera’s Family Day
Where: The Atlanta Opera Center, 1575 Northside Dr. NW, Bldg. 300, Suite 350, Atlanta, GA 30318
When: Saturday, March 27 from 10 am – 2 pm (performances at 11 am and 1 pm)
Cost: $5 (children under 3 admitted free), free parking is available on-site

The Atlanta Opera is hosting their popular Opera Family Day on Saturday, March 27 from 10 am – 2 pm. The day is designed for children in preschool and early elementary school. Activities include make-your-own instruments and other craft activities, an interactive costume shop, stage combat demonstrations (this might not be good for my children, give them ideas) and an instrument petting zoo. For those who don’t know, an instrument petting zoo is an opportunity for children to hold and play various instruments. It’s a lot of fun and the kids love it. Of course there is also an opera performance. This year will be The Ugly Duckling.

Admission is $5 for anyone 3 and up and there is free parking on-site.

Atlanta Home Show Features Clifford the Big Red Dog

Sue — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:59:27 +0000

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Who: Clifford the Big Red Dog
When: March 20, 1 – 4 pm
Where: 32^nd Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show, Cobb Galleria Ctr.
Cost: Children 12 and younger and seniors over 65 are FREE, all others $10

If your thinking about a home improvement project, the Atlanta Home Show is a great place to get ideas and a list of vendors that can make your dreams a reality. If you’ve got junior along, make sure to go by the American Family Insurance booth between 1 and 4 pm on Sat. March 20 and meet Clifford the Big Red Dog. The Home Show is March 19 – 21 at the Cobb Galleria Center. Onsite parking is free.

BOGO Offer from Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Sue — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:57:19 +0000

What: Buy One Value Pass, Get One FREE
Where: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
When: Offer Expires April 4, 2010 and is not valid on group tickets
Cost: Value passes are $23 for adults, $21 for students and seniors and $19 for children 12 and under.

Fernbank Museum is offering a great deal to see the museum and an IMAX movie. Buy One value pass (includes the museum and IMAX) and get one free. The freebie is on the lower priced ticket but for a family of 4, that’s half off! You need to mention the BOGO Offer when you purchase your tickets. I found this offer in the Fernbank Museum e-newsletter but can’t find it anywhere online, so you may want to call before you go to make sure the offer is still good.

The current traveling exhibit is about the forces of nature called Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters and has a corresponding IMAX show, Forces of Nature. There are several other IMAX shows playing too, so if you don’t want to see Forces Unleashed, check the listing and the show schedule to plan your trip.

National Wildlife Week: Get Out There and Bird Watch

Sue — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:39:49 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

This week, March 15 – 21, is National Wildlife Week, sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. As one activity to get you outside, NWF suggests birdwatching. There are lots of great places in or near Atlanta to go birdwatching from afar or see birds up close. There are also several guided bird hikes around town. Here are five places to get you started. If you know others, please leave a comment for everyone.

Piedmont Park Bird Walks – Held the first Saturday of every month from 8 – 9 am, birders meet at the Community Center located at 1071 Piedmont Ave. near the 12^th St. entrance. The hikes are FREE and last one hour. When you’re done, enjoy all the other fabulous activities at Piedmont Park.
Atlanta Audubon Society – The society sponsors bird walks in a number of places including the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Fernbank Forest and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. For those of you on the Southside, there is also a walk originating at the Newnan Wetlands Center. Kennesaw Mountain is one of the best places in the Eastern US to see spring (mid-April – early May) and fall (early Sept. – mid-Oct) bird migrations. The walks are free, but there may be a nominal parking fee at some locations. For a complete list of walk locations, dates, times and the types of birds you are likely to see, visit the Atlanta Audubon Society website.
Dauset Trails Nature Preserve – If you aren’t an early riser, or would rather see your birds close up, Dauset Trails has several birds of prey on display. The birds were injured and cannot go back to the wild. You’ll see hawks, eagles and lots of other animals too. The nature preserve is free, but they do accept donations.
Dunwoody Nature Center – Reserve a Birds I-Spy Backpack at Dunwoody Nature Center. The packs are $10, but admission to the center is FREE. Inside the pack you’ll find everything you need to take your own bird hike including: a notebook of information and activities, Peterson Guide to birds, Audubon Pocket Guide, bird song identifier, Professor Noggin’s Bird Game, Bird Bingo, Wild Bird Bandana Bingo, binoculars and more!
Chattahoochee Nature Center – On March 27 from 8 – 10 am, introduce your kids to birding with Master Birder and wildlife volunteer Zelia Lebeau. It’s a great class for the beginner birder. When you are done, you can visit the many birds of prey that live at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. These activities are free with admission to the Center. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children.

Things To Do
Atlanta

Augusta, Ga. | Things to Do Beyond the Masters

Sue — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:58:30 +0000

In a few short weeks, the world will be watching as the best golfers descend on Augusta, Georgia for The Masters golf tournament. If you’ve never been, it’s an experience worth the trip, but tickets, even for the practice round days, are hard to come by. So, why not take in the many other attractions this Southern city has to offer. Here are five to get you started.

1. The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area – Built in 1845 to harness the power of the Savannah River, the canal has a historic past that comes to life in an award winning, hands-on, Interpretive Center. A section on child labor lets kids, and adults, test their skill at refilling spools on the manufacturing line. After the museum, take a ride down the canal in an electric powered Petersburg boat. Be nice to the driver, he normally has bread for youngsters to feed the many waterfowl along the route.

2. Morris Museum of Art – The museum is located along the Augusta Riverwalk, and is dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and interpretation of the art of the American South. Sundays are always free and feature Artregeous! a program specifically for kids. The event is different each week, but has featured art projects, musical performances, storytellers and more.

3. Fort Discovery – This science center is also located along the Augusta Riverwalk and a delightful walk from the Morris Museum of Art. The Center has 250 hands-on exhibits including: a human gyro that allows visitors to experience weighlessness; a 22 foot tall, spaced-themed playground; and a special area designed for those 7 years-old and younger. The museum offers half-priced admission after 3 pm and reciprocal membership with more than 250 science centers worldwide, including the new Tellus Museum in Cartersville, GA.

4. President Woodrow Wilson’s Boyhood Home – President Wilson was 4 years-old when he moved to Augusta. He left at the age of 14. During that time, he saw train loads of wounded Civil War soldiers arrive at the hospital less than 1/2 mile from his house. When the hospital overflowed, the wounded were taken to the church where “Tommy’s” father was a minister. When that space was full, the wounded overtook the Catholic Church on the other side of his boyhood home. I’m sure this experience had a profound impact on this future wartime president and creator of the League of Nations. A fun treasure hunt while you’re there: find the “Tom” etched in the window.

5. The Augusta Museum of History - Chronicling 12,000 years of history, this museum covers a lot of ground. There are hands-on exhibits (see if you can carry a Civil War backpack and gun) to full sized locomotives. A new James Brown exhibit lets visitors practice their dance moves with the Godfather of Soul. Of course no history of Augusta would be complete without golf and the newly opened Celebrating a Grand Tradition, The Sport of Golf gives a good history of the sport in the city.

If you MUST see Augusta National, home to The Masters golf tournament, consider a plane ride over the course. Augusta Aviation offers Sunset Plane rides but also daylight rides for about $20 less.

For more pictures and video of Augusta, go to the Field Trips with Sue Facebook page.

Disclosure: Although the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau provided a complimentary room and admission to these attractions for the purpose of reviewing them (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.

Things To Do
Augusta

Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade This Weekend

Sue — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:32:33 +0000

What: Atlanta’s 128th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Where: Downtown Atlanta
When: Saturday, March 13 at 12 noon
Cost: Free, but you’ll have to park in a pay lot around the parade route

St. Patrick’s Day is a BIG deal in my family. If you’re looking for a great way to celebrate, head to the Atlanta’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday, March 13 beginning at 12 noon in Downtown Atlanta. The parade begins at Peachtree St. and Ralph McGill and goes past Woodruff Park to Underground Atlanta. Here’s a map of the parade route.

I LOVE a parade and this one is a wonderful family friendly event. Of course there are the requisite marching bands, clowns, schools of Irish dance with girls in those fabulous dresses and Catholic grade school floats. But this parade also has the 501st Stormtroopers from Star Wars, in kilts no less. Always a HUGE hit with my boys.

After the parade, head to Underground Atlanta for the St. Patrick’s Day party and celebration. It’s a family event with Irish dancers, singers and performers. While you’re there, have your head shaved for St. Baldrick’s.

Things To Do
Atlanta

It’s a Laughing Pizza Weekend | Meet and Greet and Shows

Sue — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:03:57 +0000

What: Musical Group for Kids Laughing Pizza
Where and When: Saturday, March 13, Towne Center Mall, Meet and Greet and Performance, 12 – 3 pm
Sunday, March 14, GPB TV, 3 pm
Cost: The Towne Center program is FREE, Tickets to Sunday’s show are $10 for children and $15 for adults

Winner: The winner of the Laughing Pizza tickets is @JaMonkey. Congratulations!

Don’t be sad if you didn’t win. There are still several opportunities for you to meet and party with the Pizzas. On Saturday, Laughing Pizza (mom Lisa, Dad Billy and daughter Emily) will be shaking hands, kissing babies and signing autographs at Towne Center Mall from 12 – 3 pm. Rumor has it they will also perform. This is a FREE event and a great way to get pysched for Sunday.

On Sunday, March 12 at 3 pm, Laughing Pizza is playing a concert at GPB TV to launch their new CD “Let’s Go Play!” and the television premiere of the new “Let’s Go Play!” video. In addition to a great show, you’ll also have a chance to see the full video before it hits the airways. There are only about 100 tickets left to the show and they generally sell out, so make sure to order them today. I’ll be introducing the band, so please say “hello”.

After Sunday’s show, join us for our very own Pizza Party at Pizzeria Venti off Lenox Rd. Pizzeria Venti is offering a Laughing Pizza Special – $20 Family Dinner including full pan of pizza (cheese, pepperoni or sausage) + endless salad + 4 sodas. What a fabulous way to cap off a great weekend.

Things To Do
Atlanta

Winner: Tickets to Spring Awakening at the Fox Theatre

Sue — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:12:48 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

I know I said we’d announce the winner of the Spring Awakening tickets last Friday, but I was out of town and had some technology issues, so we’re announcing it today! Del Kittendorf, you are the winner of the Spring Awakening Tickets for Tuesday, March 9th at 8 pm at the Fox Theatre. Your tickets will be waiting at the media will call. This is not the regular will call, it’s just outside the theatre doors. Have fun and let us know what you thought.

There is still another day to register to win tickets to see Laughing Pizza on Sunday, March 14 at GPTV. Afterwards, we’re going to have our own Pizza Party at Pizzeria Venti, off Lenox Rd. So purchase your tickets today and plan to join us after the show for our own Pizza Party.

Field Trips with Sue

FTWS Talks Spring Break on WXIA

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CBS Better Mornings Features Things to do in Atlanta & Augusta

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Atlanta Opera Hosts Family Day

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National Wildlife Week: Get Out There and Bird Watch

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Augusta, Ga. | Things to Do Beyond the Masters

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Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade This Weekend

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