5 Unforgettable Learning Experiences In Atlanta

Atlanta is a great city for families. In addition to its schools and plentiful opportunities for outdoor play, Georgia's most populous metropolis offers a wide array of museums, special events, and places that let visitors get close to animals. This list, presented in no particular order, shares some excellent institutions that make learning fun.

For #1, we have the Atlanta Science Festival, an annual two-week event that celebrates local science and technology every March. Festival events feature activities, tours, tastings, and performances from community partners, including school districts, museums, and local businesses.

The festival ends with the Exploration Expo, Atlanta’s biggest interactive family science event. It showcases many hands-on booths from local organizations, universities, and companies. The event has received a great deal of press coverage in outlets like Atlanta Parent.

Coming in at #2 is Atlanta History Center. Founded in 1926 as the Atlanta Historical Society to preserve and study Atlanta history, its 33 acres include the curated Goizueta Gardens, four historic houses, varied programming, and a range of signature and temporary exhibitions.

Its Kenan Research Center preserves primary source holdings for the study of Atlanta and the surrounding region, including a special collection for Southeastern horticultural history in the Cherokee Garden Library. The center also has a collection dedicated to gathering and sharing the stories of veterans.

The #3 entry is the Georgia Aquarium. This scientific institution features exhibits and programs that aim to promote the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. Visitors can view a range of marine creatures at the aquarium, including penguins, beluga whales, and sea lions.

The aquarium team conducts research by working with animals both in human care and in their natural habitats to improve husbandry methods, develop new exhibits, and contribute to the understanding of marine life.

For #4, we have Zoo Atlanta. Its mission is to save wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research, education, and engaging experiences. The institution aims to meaningfully engage the public in the lives of its animal ambassadors and the preservation of their counterparts in the wild.

Many critters call the zoo home, including elephants, orangutans, macaws, and giant pandas. There are several special experiences for guests, such as giraffe feedings and behind-the-scenes visits with tortoises and elephants. On the Treetop Trail, adventurous zoo-goers can navigate rope ladders, bridges, nets, and tightrope-style foot lines two stories above the ground.

Our final entry, #5, is the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. This museum and cultural institution works to connect the U.S. Civil Rights Movement to global humanitarian challenges. It hopes to inspire visitors with exhibitions, events and conversations, and educational programming.

One of the most well-known exhibitions features papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , along with Fragments, an art installation based on his words. The center provides human rights training for law enforcement officials as well as diversity, equity and inclusion experiences for workplaces. The Advocacy Academy trains students, advocates, and nonprofit leaders in how to engage in civic life effectively.