Fernbank's NatureQuest is a nature lovers indoor playground

During the cold winter months, everyone heads indoors. For families looking for things to do in Atlanta with kids indoors, there are lots of options for every age. Here’s a list of twelve great indoor activities for everyone in your family from toddlers to teens. Even the adults will have fun. What are your favorites?

Waiting to get on the main court for the SkyMania session

1. SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park: This is the latest attraction for families in the Atlanta area and a great place for tweens and teens.

2. Indoor Water Parks in Atlanta: Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t go swimming. These indoor water parks offer water slides, lazy rivers and play structures. NOTE: This link is to a post I did last year. Check current times and prices with the location before visiting.

3. Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Nature Quest: I love this nature themed indoor playground for the under 8 set. There are so many things to explore, it will take your little one several visits.

4. Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms in Atlanta: We’ve visited Stone Summit Climbing Gym, which was great for kids. I know other folks who like Atlanta Rocks.

5. Silver Scream Spookshow: This quirky variety show followed by vintage horror flick is free for kids under 12. In 2012 the Silver Scream Spookshow will run every other month at the Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon in Midtown starting in February.

Sagebrush Ranch is the indoor playground at the Booth Western Museum

6. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta: This indoor museum is a great place for kids to play and parents can feel good about knowing their children are learning at the same time. Check out their When I Am cards to find out exactly what they are learning. The video on this link gives you a great overview of the museum’s permanent exhibits.

7. High Museum of Art: I love the High Museum for Kids. Be sure to check out a Discovery Backpack and the Green Family Gallery. Toddler Thursdays are a great way to introduce your little ones to art.

8. Home Depot Workshop and Lowe’s Workshop: No matter what time of year, my boys love donning an apron and hammering some nails.

9. LEGO Mini-Builds: This free activity can get crowded, but for the LEGO fan, it’s worth it.

10. Booth Western Museum: This Cartersville museum has become one of my favorites for kids. They have lots of hands-on activities.

11. Tellus: Another Cartersville museum, this one will keep them busy for hours.

12. National Infantry Museum: This fantastic museum is in Columbus Georgia, but it’s worth the drive, especially if you have tween and teens. You can even shoot on the rifle range.

Atlanta

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Waiting to get on the main court for the SkyMania session. SkyMania is specifically for kids 11 - 15.

What: SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park
Where: 590 Old Peachtree Rd., Suwanee, Ga.
When:
Tuesday – Thursday 3 – 9 pm
Friday 12 – 9 pm, SkyMania (10 – 15 years old) 9 – 11 pm
Saturday 10 – 9 pm, SkyJam (ages 16+) 9 – 11 pm
Sunday 11 – 7 pm
Monday – Closed
Cost:  Prices start at $9 for 30 min. Most people will jump for 90 min ($17)
Photos: For additional photos, visit SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park on Field Trips with Sue on Facebook

SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park is not your backyard variety trampoline. That is unless your backyard trampoline has side walls to jump on, a dodgeball court, basketball net and a foam pit to jump into.

Last weekend I took a group of tween boys to SkyMania night at SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park to check the place out. SkyMania is a Friday night event especially for teens and tweens ages 10 – 15. SkyJam is a similar event held on Saturday nights for teens 16 and older. The program runs from 9 – 11 pm and includes 90 minutes of jumping, 2 slices of pizza and a drink for $16. A bargain given a normal 90 minute jump session is $17. And drop off is totally acceptable. If you have toddlers, a special toddler time is scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 – 11 am. Parents are asked to stay with the toddlers.

Shooting hoops at Skyzone. Court Monitors allow one person at a time to shoot.

SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park Facility
SkyZone  is located in a warehouse complex. There are four main jumping areas, a game section with air hockey, pool and video games for those that need a break from jumping, plus a parents lounge and various decks for viewing or snacking. Jumpers can either wear shoes provided by the facility or go barefoot, but just socks are not allowed.

• Main Court: The main court is 9,000 square feet and divided into 8 x 8 ft. squares, plus a few longer strips, so jumpers are not double jumping or crashing into each other.  There is also a small kid court off to the side that was perfect for my youngest to get his bearings before heading out into the masses of people.
• SkySlam: Two basketball nets are set up along trampolines. Try your hand at dunking on either the 10 ft. net or the 7.5 ft net.
• 

  The foam pit is 5 ft. deep. Climbing out is exercise too!

  Foam Zone: There are four lanes of trampolines that lead into a 5 ft deep foam pit. Just getting out of the foam pit is a workout in itself!

• Dodgeball Courts: There are two dodgeball courts and monitors do their best to ensure that kids of the same size are playing together. This was the highlight for all the boys, but also an area for improvement by the facility. Kudos to management for separating the bigger kids from the smaller ones. However, there was a larger crowd of younger kids and the system for switching people in and out was a bit random, resulting in some of our group complaining they had a hard time getting on the court. The court monitors were all very nice, so educate your children before they go to speak up if they can’t get on the court and let the monitors know they’ve been bypassed.

Court Monitors keep everyone safe.

Safety at SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park
Safety is a big concern for parents. SkyZone has court monitors at each station. Four in the main jump area, two for each dodgeball court, one at the foam pit and another at the basketball court. At the foam pit and basketball areas only one child goes at a time. The Dodgeball courts do their best to keep same size kids playing against each other and only allow 13 people on each side. The way the main court is separated into squares of individual trampolines discourages double bouncing. In addition, the facility only holds 147 jumpers at any one time, so although it can get crowded at the dodgeball court, it doesn’t feel too crowded on the main court and the lines are not overly long for the basketball or foam pit. In fact, it’s a welcome relief to stop bouncing for a minute. Walking after all that jumping makes your feet feel like lead boots!

Cleanliness at SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park
As soon as the kids were off the trampolines, staff was beginning to wash down the courts. Each night they spray the trampolines and pads with sanitizer and scrub them down. The foam pit is sprayed nightly and weekly the 5 ft pit is emptied and throughly cleaned. It’s a five hour job!

Trampolines and pads are sanitized and scrubbed every night.

SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park Tickets
As we’ve mentioned, SkyZone Atlanta Indoor Trampoline Park has a limited capacity of 147 people. Although they do accept walk-up ticket sales, often on weekends and holidays they are sold out prior to the session time through advanced sales. Especially while the facility is so new, I recommend securing your tickets before you go. The Friday we went, they had sold out by 11 am that morning.

Although we were provided a complimentary admission for the purpose of reviewing this establishment (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.

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

What: Free Admission to Callaway Gardens
Where: Callaway Gardens, Pine Mtn., GA
When: January and February 2012, 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: FREE
** Learn about more free things to do in Atlanta with Kids 

Callaway Gardens is about an hour and a half from downtown Atlanta and a great day trip, especially during January and February when admission is free! There are no coupons or special discounts to keep track of either, just show up.

Once you are there, enjoy the beautiful Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center. Make time for the Birds of Prey show. Shows are Monday through Sunday. The 3:30 pm free flight show is a favorite of my boys. (note the outdoor show is weather permitting). Bring your bikes, or rent them on site, the Gardens has more than 10 miles of bike trails. We just enjoyed walking from the Discovery Center to the butterfly house. The boys found turtles, cool sticks, watched fish in the creek and had a great time just running around.

photo credit: www.muscogeemoms.com

TreeTop Adventure Course
If you’re looking for more thrills, take in the TreeTop Adventure course. The TreeTop Adventure is a 60 – 90 minute ropes course that traverses nearly 1,500 feet horizontally and soars up to 30 feet aboe the forest floor. The course features five zip-lines ranging from 44 to 210 feet long. It also includes 19 more sections comprised of ladders, wires, logs, discs, netting and other suspended surfaces. The cost for the TreeTop Adventure is $30 per person, but you get a deal in that you don’t have to pay the additional garden admission that is required at other times during the year. Note that children must be at least 54 inches or taller to participate and there is a weight limit of 260 pounds.

Atlanta Vacations

What: New Year’s Eve 2012 Celebrations for Families
When: Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
Where: New Year’s Eve 2012 in Atlanta with Kids
Cost: See each listing for costs.

New Year’s Eve has never been my favorite holiday, and with kids, it isn’t worth the premium on babysitting, given you can even get a sitter, to go out for the evening. But I’m never one to shy away from a reason for a bit of partying with the family, so here are some ideas on celebrating New Year’s Eve with your kids.

What: Medieval Times New Year’s Extravaganza
Where: Medieval Times, 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville, Ga.
When: Sat. Dec. 31, 2011 9:30 pm show
Cost: $69.95 adults and $35.95 children 12 and under

I’ve been wanting to go to Medieval Times and this evening sounds like a great way to ring in the New Year with kids. The extravaganza includes: pre-show hors d’oeuvres, admission to the museum of torture, two-hour live tournament, four-course medieval feast, party favors, DJ and dancing, champagne toast at Midnight (non-alcoholic drink will be served to guests under 21), Midnight countdown with balloon drop, continental breakfast. Looking for a place to stay that continues the medieval theme? Try the Medieval Times Package at the Atlanta Marriott in Alpharetta.

What: Noon Year’s Eve Celebration
Where: Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
When: Dec. 31, 2011 11:30 am
Cost: Included with Museum Admission which is $12.75 per person online

What: Disney Noon Year’s Eve
Where: City of Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna
When: Sat., Jan. 31, 2011, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Cost: Free

Radio Disney AM590 will be at the City of Smyrna for a Noon Year’s Eve with tons of interactive activities, dancing and more dancing.  Afterwards, talk a walk around the pond and look at the fish and ducks. There is also a small playground with room to run around. If you are hungry, visit the restaurants at the Smyrna Square.

What: Noon Year’s Eve Party
Where: Play Activity Center,  10930 Crabapple Rd., Roswell
When:  Sat., Dec. 31, 2011 11 am – 2 pm
Cost: $7 per child ($4 sibling) advanced ticket purchase required
Call 770-650-0122 for reservations (tell them you heard about it on Field Trips with Sue)

Play Activity Center includes two gyms that feature foam pits, trampolines, inflatables, slides and more. Play also has a creative play area, parent lounge and moms room. The Noon Year’s Eve celebration includes: noise makers toy walk, apple juice toast at 12 noon, gym play, snacks, games and more!

What: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade
Where:  Downtown Atlanta
When: Sat. Dec. 31, 2011 12:30 – 2 pm
Cost: Free

Long regarded as the official kickoff for game day, the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade spreads football festivity throughout downtown Atlanta.  This free event launches at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Baker Street and concludes at the Georgia World Congress Center, leading fans into the Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest Made Possible by Coca-Cola Zero.  Come watch the pageantry of floats, classic cars, cheerleaders, mascots, award-winning marching bands, dynamic dance groups and much, much more!

What: Chick-fil-A Bowl FanFest by Coca-Cola Zero
When: Sat. Dec. 31, 2011 2 – 6 pm
Where: Georgia World Congress Center (Halls C1-C4)
Cost: $15 per person

Fans of all ages can challenge themselves in an array of receiving, passing and kicking games, obstacle courses and rock climbing walls.  After mastering the competitions, take a well-deserved break with food and beverages from Chick-fil A and Coke Zero and check out official Chick-fi-A Bowl merchandise to arrive at the game in style.

As always, the FanFest culminates with the ACC vs. SEC Pep Rally & Team Walks.  The loyal legions can provide final words of encouragement to the teams as they make the walk through FanFest en route to the Georgia Dome.  Each squad’s band, cheerleaders and mascot will also be on hand to lead in traditional fight songs and cheers.

Hike the Falls for a great workout

What: First Day Guided Nature Hikes
Where: Georgia State Parks
When: Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012
Cost: $5 for parking. Some hikes are a nominal fee between $1 and $5

This isn’t a New Year’s Eve idea, but a great way to begin the New Year. All across the country, State Parks are inviting families to start the New Year with a “First Day Hike” and a commitment to healthy living. In Georgia, a dozen state parks have planned guided hikes where families can connect with nature and even re-connect with each other. The nationwide event is sponsored by America’s State Parks, with New Year’s Day hikes being led in all 50 states. For an entire list of New Year’s Day hikes, visit the Georgia State Park’s website under events. Families may want to call ahead to make sure hikes are suitable for the youngest family members.

St. Regis Astor Ice Rink

I had a request recently from a Twitter friend asking what there was to do in Atlanta on Christmas Day. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, or you’re dying to get away from the family after the packages are unwrapped and the dinner dishes are cleared, here are some suggestions. Do you have a favorite place you go on Christmas? If so, share it with us.

Ice Skating in Atlanta
Atlanta has three fantastic ice rinks within the city. Here is an overview of Atlanta area outdoor ice skating rinks.  The Astor Ice Rink at the St. Regis and the Centennial Olympic Park ice skating rink are both open on Christmas Day. Click the links for information on each rink. For photos of the Astor Ice Rink at the St. Regis, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook (note these photos are from our visit in 2010)

I'd like to see the new Muppet Movie

Movies in Atlanta
When I was a kid, my older brothers would come home from college for Christmas. After dinner, they’d take me with them to the movies. Goldstar had a great deal recently for discount tickets to AMC Theaters. In addition, here is a list of cheap movie theaters in Atlanta – call first to make sure they are open on Christmas Day.

Bowling in Atlanta
A quick call to Brunswick Zone confirmed that all Brunswick Bowling Centers are open on Christmas Day. A perfect holiday outing. I contacted AMF Bowling Centers too and it’s up to the individual lanes to determine if they are open, so call before you go.

Hike the Falls for a great workout

Georgia State Parks
Why not work off a bit of the holiday gluttony with a hike in the woods. You can visit any of Georgia’s State Parks on Christmas Day. Try Sweetwater Creek State Park just east of Downtown Atlanta or Amicalola State Park north of Atlanta. We’ve also liked biking on the Silver Comet Trail or hiking to the Sope Creek Ruins.

Holiday Lights
Many of the holiday light displays in Atlanta are visible on Christmas Day, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Holiday Lights, Garden Nights which is open from 5 – 10 pm. We haven’t been to the Garden yet, but it’s on my list. I’ve heard this is gorgeous!

Atlanta