Winter time is full of lots of memories with the holiday season in full swing. Even though it can be a bit chilly outside during this time of year, there are so many activities inside and outside in the city of Atlanta to take part of. These activities are great for date nights, friends who are visiting in town and for the whole family to enjoy. After the new year hits and you go back to your normal routine, those weekends in January, February and March you want to start of the new year fresh and exciting! Try out these spots to give your life a little adventure and enjoy the city you know and love.
Free/Low Cost Things to Do:
#1: Oakland Cemetery
The stunning sites of Atlanta from Oakland Cemetery
This beautiful cemetery is Atlanta’s hidden pride and joy. Located right outside the city with many beautiful grave stones, historical names and stellar views of the city is a perfect way to get out of the house and see something new. Every weekend they are tours at 2pm and they are $6 for students and children and $12 for adults. They last 90 minutes and are super informative! But if you aren’t into paying for a tour you can do a self guided one for free {you can do it through an app!}.
#2: Atlanta Beltline – The Other Trail
I love the Atlanta Beltline and taking time to walk along it and see the sites and sounds of Atlanta but I want everyone to go out and walk the WestSide trail and not the EastSide one. This trail is also 3 miles long like the other one but it gives you a different perspective and shows more of the south side of Atlanta that hasn’t been built up as much.
#3: Starlight Drive-In Movie Theatre
Ever wanted to have a throw back and go to movie but not have to move at all? Well head a little south of downtown Atlanta to this awesome movie theatre. It’s only $9 for adults and $1 for kids! What a steal! The early movies start around 7pm. The best part, you can bring your own food and not get suckered into that popcorn and soda. We love to go and grab delicious pub subs, turn up the radio (where the sound is hooked up to) and sit back and enjoy.
#3: Ice Skating
Views of the rink at Atlantic Station
Winter is the perfect time to play in the snow and do winter like activities. In Atlanta where we get one snow day and everyone freaks out it is very hard to do that. But, you can enjoy ice skating inside the city or outside the perimeter. These are the best places with the best deals in my opinion.
Marietta Ice Center: located about 20-25 min north of the city this ice skating place is indoors and only costs $13 with skates (the cheapest in Atlanta). Make sure you check their online schedule here for open ice times. I love it because sometimes you’ll see figure skaters and hockey players practicing and you are just mesmerized. The best is they are open year round, not ending date!
Skate the Station: Located at Atlantic Station this is the perfect place to spend a day in the city. Parking is free for 2 hours and it costs $15 for adults and $12 for kids. A large rink that goes in a circle which help prevents accidents which I loved. They also do discount nights: College Night each Tuesday night and skate for $12 with a valid college ID and Spirit Nights will be on Wednesdays – show your school spirit gear and kids 12 and under skate for $10. This rink is open until Feb 14th.
Skate at the Battery Atlanta: The newest rink to open up this year and a a great deal as well! This rink is open until Jan 14th and has free 2 hour parking as well. Nestled right next to the new Sun Trust Park this only $15 deal allows you to skate and get 10% at the local restaurants right next to it as well. Try and go early on the weekends so you don’t have to deal with the construction near 285!
#4: Krog Street Market
Located right next to the East Side Atlanta Beltline trail, this local market features lots of delicious food and shopping. It’s smaller than Ponce so it makes it a little more intimate and easier to get around to. This market also runs right next to the Freedom Parkway Trail which leads you to the beautiful Jackson Street Bridge and the Carter Center. There are 4 different parking lots available when you visit but if for some reason it is super busy, theres lots of street parking.
#5: Free Concerts at Centennial Olympic Park
For those who are not into college football and sports in general, the College Football National Championship is coming to Altanta the first weekend of January. This is great tourism for the city and lucky for us natives, it is bringing a free concert to Centennial Olympic Park! It’s the first weekend of January the 6th-8th and the gates open at 4pm. I suggest taking Marta or parking on Centennial Olympic Drive near Georgia Tech for free and then walking. The concert will feature artists like Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth, The Chainsmokers and my personal favorite Darius Rucker.
#6: High Museum of Art
This well known museum in Atlanta is something I think people visit once and they don’t go back a lot. But you should go back a lot because they have lots of exhibits that change and right now they actually have a lot of outdoor art as well! In January they have the First Friday on January 5th event that includes live music and drinks perfect for a night out on the town! But you must go on Sunday January 14th between 12-5pm because it is FREE admission. They also have special programming for kids from 1-4p. Normally ticket prices are $14.50 and the best way to get there is to take MARTA.
#6: Painting {and Drinking} Course
I love going to classes like these when friends are in town or you are needed a girls night out, but they are also perfect for a date night or family time! You spend around 3 hours painting an awesome canvas with someone instructing you how to and a lot of times you are allowed to BYOB. I suggest searching on Groupon for the best deals because they are normally a lot cheaper. The coupons usually last 3 months and you can pick any day and any painting you want! This Dib and Dab near Piedmont Park is only $16 per person!
#7: Dekalb Farmer’s Market
This amazing market is inside the perimeter and perfect for grocery shopping or wanting to take a trip around the world without actually going to the airport. It is considered a world market so there is every type of cuisine you could imagine. They are open every day and they also offer tours. But make sure you know they only accept debit cards and cash!
Fun Things to Do that Cost Money:
These activities give you unique experience inside the city but they do cost a little bit of money. I would say maybe pick 1-2 a month to do on the weekend to splurge!
#1: Comedy Show
This is a perfect date night idea or a great way to get some good laughs at the start of the new year. Atlanta has a ton of different places to go and watch stand up comedy but these are my best recommendations.
The Punchline Comedy Club: Located right off 400 in Buckhead, this intimate atmosphere is perfect and it is also attached to a diner so it is perfect for dinner and a show. Ticket are around $25-$30! We went for our anniversary last year and it was worth every penny!
The Laughing Skull: Probably the most famous location in Atlanta because it is located within the Vortex (delicious and famous burgers). They have a great acts every month but also have a open mic night to see local talent and even some people I know (shoutout to Sammy Eastwood) even perform there. General admission tickets are normally $15-$20 and assigned seats are $30-$35.
#2: Mercedez-Benz Tour
The new and amazing stadium has finally opened up in Atlanta and us natives are very excited. I have been to football games, soccer games and I will be there next year to see my girl Taylor Swift. It is an amazing venue but the coolest part is that every day they offer tours of the stadium to let you see behind the scenes. From being on the field to seeing Arthur Blank’s person suite it is a cool experience. It costs $25 per person and I’m even giving it to my dad and brother as a Christmas gift this year!
#3: CNN Studio Tours
Many people from Atlanta or visiting Atlanta forget that the world headquarters is right in our back yard! This center is located in the heart of Atlanta with lots of restaurants and a hotel built in. This tour is about an hour long and costs $15 per person. You might even get a chance to practice your skills in front a green screen as well!
#4: Delta Flight Museum
Another amazing company that is headquartered in Atlanta is Delta. What many don’t know is they have an amazing museum right near the airport to take you through the air. The museum is very interactive and a great experience for all! Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids!
#5: Atlanta Movie Tours
Atlanta had become the “Hollywood of the South” because of all the film and movie productions we have going on. The best part now is that you as a movie and TV lover can get the behind the scenes right in your back yard. This amazing company can give you tours from The Hunger Games, to The Walking Dead or the Marvel movies. Normally the tours can vary from $20-$50 but right now Groupon is running an amazing deal for cheaper of course. Check out the link here!
#6: Fernbank -Not Just the Museum
I remember going to this museum as a kid and it is just as amazing as a museum today as it was back then. But now they have amazing events for families and adults on the weekends. On Friday January 12th and normally one Friday a month they do Fernbank after Dark. This event is when the museum opens up later and is cheaper being only $15-$20 pending what you want to do. Also every 3rd Friday of the month (Jan 18th and Feb 16th) for $15 you can salsa the night away at Salsa Night. The first hour they have a class to teach you then you can dance your heart out.
#7: Ponce City Rooftop
This well known attraction I think is getting better and better every month. Ponce City Market has been revamped in the last 2 years and the rooftop is probably one of the coolest parts. It costs $10 to get yourself up to the roof and once up there all of the activities cost money as well. Skyline Park allows you to bring out the kid in yourself through mini-golf, carnival games and a slide. Games cost $1-$3. Also until February 14th they also have an ice skating rink as well for $15 for adults and $8 for kids.
My person tip: Make yourself a reservation at 9 Mile Station at Ponce City Rooftop it costs $20(but the money goes towards your food). Then you are already on the roof and don’t have to pay the fee to get on the roof. It is perfect for a date night with a meal and games!
#8: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
This amazing musical group performs at the beautiful Atlanta Symphony Hall. In January and February they feature music from Jurassic Park and the Star Wars Films. Tickets to some events are as cheap as $40!
#9: Shakespeare Tavern
This Globe Theatre like experience is located right in the heart of Midtown. For those wanting to a trip down memory lane or back to high school English class, these performances are amazing. In January they are performing The Comedy of Errors all month. In February they are of course performing Romeo and Juliet, perfect for Valentines Weekend. Tickets range from $22-$45 depending on where you want to sit!
Hopefully these ideas inspire you to get out and have a new experience at the start of 2018. Share with all your family and friends and let them know as well!
