What: Stawberry Picking Farm Where: Cottle Farms Fayetteville(770-719-2600) and Stockbridge (770-761-7822) When: Mid-April through Early June. Monday – Saturday 8 am – 6:30 pm Sunday – 1 pm – 7 pm (Upick please arrive by 6:30 pm) Cost: 5lb buckets = $10 U-pick, $12 picked Quarts = $3 U-pick, $4 picked

Since my oldest learned to walk, we’ve gone to pick strawberries with [...]]]>

What: Stawberry Picking Farm
Where: Cottle Farms
Fayetteville(770-719-2600) and Stockbridge (770-761-7822)
When: Mid-April through Early June.
Monday – Saturday 8 am – 6:30 pm
Sunday – 1 pm – 7 pm (Upick please arrive by 6:30 pm)
Cost: 5lb buckets = $10 U-pick, $12 picked
Quarts = $3 U-pick, $4 picked

Since my oldest learned to walk, we’ve gone to pick strawberries with the kids. Its become a tasty rite of spring. There are several U-pick places and you can find one near you here. Scroll down the page and you’ll see the U-pick farms by county.

We went to Cottle’s Strawberry Farms in Clayton County. It’s about a 30 minute ride from Downtown Atlanta. As you can see from the video, there isn’t anything else here but the strawberries, which can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it. We went to the Fayetteville location, but folks there said the Stockbridge location is larger. Call before you go, if it’s raining, they won’t normally pick and if it’s toward the end of the season, they may be picked out.

A couple of tips I didn’t know. Don’t wash the strawberries until you’re ready to use them. Once they are washed, they start to deteriorate faster. The later you pick the sweeter the berries, but the darker the seeds. Once you get your bucket home, if there are any left, take half and put them in a flat bottomed dish with a dry paper towel on the bottom. The weight of the strawberries on top will crush the ones below if left that way.

A tip from my own experience: Don’t let your oldest convince his little brother to use his shirt as a bucket for extremely ripe strawberries unless you’re filming a battle scene from a war movie.

Below is a guest post from Andrea who writes a terrific Atlanta blog called Family Friendly Atlanta. We’re so excited to have Andrea share her adventures. If you’d like to be a Field Trips with Sue contributor, email me at sue@fieldtripswithsue.com.

What: Vintage Pizzeria and Frosty Caboose Where: Downtown Chamblee on Antique Row When: See links for hours of operation

Spring [...]]]>

Below is a guest post from Andrea who writes a terrific Atlanta blog called Family Friendly Atlanta. We’re so excited to have Andrea share her adventures. If you’d like to be a Field Trips with Sue contributor, email me at sue@fieldtripswithsue.com.

What: Vintage Pizzeria and Frosty Caboose
Where: Downtown Chamblee on Antique Row
When: See links for hours of operation

Spring has settled in nicely and Summer is just around the corner, so who can blame you if the idea of cooking in a warm kitchen becomes less appealing as the temperature rises. Where do you go when you have kids anxious to eat and no idea what to cook? Check out Vintage Pizzeria in Chamblee! Located in a non-descript building of condos, this local pizzeria is a big favorite of families all over the area.

There is a family side and an over 18 side, divided by a large bar, so you don’t have to worry if your kids are a little loud during the meal, everyone around you will have kids. Their pizzas range from the unusual, like the blue pie, with blue cheese and buffalo sauce (a spicy favorite in our house!), Hawaiian pizza and BBQ pizza, to the traditional cheese and pepperoni. For those who want something a little less cheesy, there are pasta and salad dishes to choose from as well. While most of the seating is inside there are a few tables outside, so get there early to snag one of those!

Don’t fill up on pizza, because the best part comes after – head across the street to The Frosty Caboose, a repurposed caboose train, and get some local Greenwood ice cream, which has been produced in Chamblee for over 50 years! Located right on the train track so you can sit and watch the trains go by, and a stones throw away from the Peachtree Dekalb Airport, so you can also see planes as they are coming in for a landing. With that much excitement who needs to go anywhere else?

What: The Atlanta Opera’s The Magic Flute Where: Cobb Energy Centre When: Tues. April 27, Fri. April 30 and Sun. May 2 Cost: $25 – $125 plus tax and fees (get 20% off by calling 404-881-8885 and mentioning #magicflute on twitter)

Last week I was asked by the Atlanta Opera to participate in social media night during The Magic Flute [...]]]>

What: The Atlanta Opera’s The Magic Flute
Where: Cobb Energy Centre
When: Tues. April 27, Fri. April 30 and Sun. May 2
Cost: $25 – $125 plus tax and fees
(get 20% off by calling 404-881-8885 and mentioning #magicflute on twitter)

Last week I was asked by the Atlanta Opera to participate in social media night during The Magic Flute dress rehearsal. I’d never been to the Opera and I’ll be very honest, really never thought about going. That said, I truly enjoyed it.

The Magic Flute is a perfect Opera for first timers. Although it is sung in German, there were subtitles in English, and, unlike other Opera’s, The Magic Flute has spoke parts too. All speaking parts were in English, so the story was easy to follow. Light up props and puppets added a whimsical fun to the production.

The Magic Flute follows the story of Tamino, an Egyptian prince, in his journey to find Pamina, the Queen’s daughter, and rescue her from the sorcerer Sarastro. Armed with only a golden flute for protection, he must face trials of fire and water to prove his worth and win her heart. In another interpretation from fellow social media attendee Chad Elkins,“3 divas craving affection, a light saber, a sidekick, & mission to save a princess: story of my life!”

The Egyptian set, lighting, beautiful costumes (and those puppets!) were amazing and quite a production even without the incredible music. Someone asked if this was a good production for children and the answer is “yes”. However, unless they already know the storyline, I’d only bring children who can already read, so you aren’t whispering throughout the performance.

If you’re interested in learning more about Opera, there are FREE pre-opera talks. Pre-Opera Talks occur one hour prior to each performance in the John A. Williams Theatre at the Cobb Energy Centre. Pre-Opera Talks help patrons gain a better understanding of the upcoming production through a brief presentation about the setting, plot, characters, composer, and music. Reservations are not required and seating is unreserved. You must have a ticket for the specific performance that follows.

What: Inman Park Spring Festival Where: Inman Park, Edgewood Ave., Atlanta When: April 24 – 25, 2010 11:30 am Cost: FREE

What: [...]]]> It must be spring in Atlanta because there are an abundance of festivals each weekend. Here is a partial round up of ones in the area this weekend. If we’ve missed one of your favorites, let me know.

What: Inman Park Spring Festival
Where: Inman Park, Edgewood Ave., Atlanta
When: April 24 – 25, 2010 11:30 am
Cost: FREE

What: Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival
Where: Smyrna Village Green, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna
When: Sat. April 24, 2010 at 10 am and Sun. April 25, 2010 at noon
Cost: FREE

What: International Food Festival
Where: Suwanee Town Center Park, 370 Buford Highway, Suwanee
When: April 24, 2010 11 am – 7 pm
Cost: FREE

My kids love to bowl and [...]]]> What: Kids Bowl Free two games per day (must be under 15)
Where: Select AMF Bowling Centers
When: Generally May 24 – Sept. 18, but in Decatur the program began April 1 (check the actual location for specifics)
Cost: FREE (Add on up to 4 adults for only $24.95)

My kids love to bowl and it’s a great indoor activity when the weather is bad or it’s just too hot to hang outside. This summer at select bowling centers (read only outside the perimeter) kids can get a coupon to bowl two free games every day. Shoe rental is extra.

For adults that want to join in the fun, there is a special Family Pass. For a$24.95 one time fee, up to four adults can get the same 2 free games daily. That’s a fabulous deal for the whole summer.

If you plan to bowl quite a bit, you may want to invest in bowling shoes as well. I found a child’s pair for $29.99 at www.bowlingshoedepot.com.

What: Junior Golf Lessons (ages 7 – 17) Where: PGA Tour Superstore When: Wed. and Fri. Year Round (schedules vary with season and location, call before you go) Cost: FREE (but you must call to reserve a spot as space is limited)

Spring will be here soon (we hope) and with it The Masters golf tournament. If after watching [...]]]>

What: Junior Golf Lessons (ages 7 – 17)
Where: PGA Tour Superstore
When: Wed. and Fri. Year Round (schedules vary with season and location, call before you go)
Cost: FREE (but you must call to reserve a spot as space is limited)

Spring will be here soon (we hope) and with it The Masters golf tournament. If after watching a week of the world’s best golfers you’re kids are looking to play, check out the PGA Tour Superstore’s FREE junior golf clinics.

Each clinic is 30 minutes and covers a specific skill. Beginners are tested on their skills and can graduate to an intermediate class. Upon successful completion of all the skills tests from the beginner level, the player earns a GIMME (gift) card to the PGA Tour Superstore and graduates to the intermediate level. Upon graduation from the intermediate level, each student receives a GIMME card to the PGA Tour Superstore, a graduation certificate, AND a certificate for a  free individual lesson. Each level consists of more advanced instruction and harder skills challenges. Players also learn the rules and etiquette of the game which is part of the skills tests for each level.

PGA Tour Superstore has locations in Roswell, Kennesaw and Duluth (I’m still upset that the Buckhead store closed). Currently the golf clinics are on Wed. and Fri., but call the location near you before you go to make sure they have a pro available and space before you head out.  In addition to the lessons, my kids love putting on the green and chipping in the practice area.

PGA Tour Superstore also offers FREE junior tennis clinics. For more FREE Golf Lessons, see the Junior Golf Lessons at Victoria Bryant State Park.