Things to Do in Decatur, GA

Your Dekalb Farmers Market

3000 East Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur GA 30030

Believe me when I tell you this is no ordinary farmers market. Whenever I get the chance to take someone there, I do. No matter how I try to explain that they are in for a surprise, they are never prepared. Since 1977, this market has been providing ingredients to local residents, restaurants, and caterers. Nothing I say will prepare you for the spectacle that awaits, so I’ll just tell you this – If you love, cook, or eat food, you should put this place on your bucket list. Just go!

Secret Doors Decatur

Downtown Greenville has mice, and Decatur has tiny doors. Hidden around the downtown area are 30 doors decorated by local artists. See how many you can find!

One of these secret doors can be found next to some of the best doughnuts in Atlanta.

Revolution Doughnuts

908 West College Avenue, Decatur GA 30030

This doughnut and coffee shop offers hand-made doughnuts that are almost too beautiful to eat! But we encourage you to just take a photo and then chow down. A place that makes 10 billion doughnuts a year must be doing something right.

Decatur Toy Park

133 Nelson Ferry Road, Decatur GA 30030

This open-to-the-public park is located at First Christian Church, and super popular with the locals. Tricycles, scooters, little tykes-type play structures, and more, all donated, are what draw locals to this unique park.

Decatur Beach Party

Speaking of toys, towards the beginning of summer the streets of downtown Decatur are filled with 80 tons of sand, and kids (and kids at heart) are allowed to play and have fun at this huge beach party!

Waffle House Museum

2719 East College Avenue, Decatur GA 30030

In 1955, the very first waffle house opened at this location. They offer self-guided tours that include free waffles, however only on certain days. View the link above for more details, or email museumtours@wafflehouse.com.

My Parents’ Basement

22 North Avondale Road, Avondale Estates GA 30002

This family-friendly gastropub is hiding a super-cool secret. It also has a comic bookstore inside that houses old pinball and video games. It’s a really neat spot, and honestly, I’m surprised there aren’t more places like this. It’s kid-friendly and where else can a young kid learn the fine art of pinball?

Alpaca Treehouse in The Bamboo Forest

1162 Fayetteville Road Southeast, Atlanta GA 30316

If you do decide to make a weekend of it, might we suggest a stay with one of the most desired Airbnb locations around? It’s just around the corner from Decatur.

Even if you don’t want to make a weekend of your trip, you can still visit this urban farm by taking a 60-minute tour. We visited the Alpacas, llamas, and their treehouse and it’s a really magical place. All the information can be found on Kidding Around’s visit to the Alpaca Treehouse.

Enjoying Nature in Decatur

Fernbank Forest and Rec Center

767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta GA 30307

Part of the Fernbank Museum, Fernbank Forest is included in the admission fee. This location combined with the Wildwoods attraction of the museum equals 65 acres of outdoor fun to explore.

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

2580 Pine Bluff Drive, Decatur GA 30033

Enjoy this 28-acre nature preserve with a variety of different ecosystems. Have the kids bring binoculars and go on a scavenger hunt. The preserve has geocaching activities too! There is no fee to visit, although donations are always welcome.

Lullwater Park

1463 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta GA 30329

This is a 154-acre nature preserve on the campus of Emory University. There are miles of walking trails where all sorts of animals can be observed in their natural habitat. A lake and suspension bridge provide plenty of photo opportunities for your family. Bring a tripod and get those holiday card photos checked off your to-do list!

Woodlands Garden of Decatur

932 Scott Boulevard, Decatur GA 30030

This is a beautiful garden with a recently completed expansion. The gardens are free to visit, and they offer lots of special events. In October, visit the gardens to find the fairy houses hidden along the path.

Mason Mill Park

1185 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia GA 30058

This community park has a nice playground with nearby restrooms. There is a family-friendly trail that leads to a historic mill ruin. If your family plays Pokemon Go, this park has plenty to keep trainers busy.

Date Day-Trip to Decatur

If you are looking for a fun day-trip excursion with your main squeeze, there are a ton of grown-up places to enjoy in Decatur.

Decatur Square

Decatur Square is the centerpiece of downtown Decatur and a venue for local music performances. It’s also a Marta Station, if you decide to hop a train into the heart of Atlanta for an adventure.

The Iberian Pig

121 Sycamore Street, Decatur GA 30030

This restaurant is great for a romantic meal. I’ve been several times, and it’s by far my favorite restaurant in the Square. Be sure to try the B.W.D.! They are bacon-wrapped medijol dates, and they are so good! Everything is good, but these we order first every time we go.

Victory Sandwich Bar

340 Church Street, Decatur GA 30030

This place is famous with locals for the Whiskey & Cola slushies they serve. Pair it with a slider-sized sandwich and the peanut ramen noodles for a nice afternoon snack.

The SOS Tiki Bar

Located behind the Victory Sandwich Bar, this little tiki bar has some really yummy drinks and a cozy atmosphere.

Decatur Ghost Tour

101 East Court Square, Decatur GA 30030

The south has seen it’s fair share of atrocities. This makes it a hot bed for (alleged) supernatural activity. Whether you are a believer of the paranormal or not, this tour led by a psychic medium comes highly recommended.

Date Weekend in Decatur

You can do a self-led brewery walking tour in Decatur. But save this for a weekend away from the kids because an Uber home from Decatur to the Upstate would not be a wise fiscal idea.

Wild Heaven Beer

135 B Maple Street, Decatur GA 30030

From yoga to sports-game viewing, this brewery offers weekly events you can find on their social media account. This brewery is family-friendly during tasting room hours.

Three Taverns Brewery

121 New Street, Decatur GA 30030

Tours of this brewery are offered several times a day Fridays through Sundays, and do not require a reservation. The brewery is family-friendly and on weekends has food available via food trucks to go along with your craft beer.

Independent Distillery

547 East College Avenue, Decatur GA 30030

This distillery produces small-batch rum, dark rum, whiskey & bourbon. You can enjoy flights and cocktails starting at $6.

We look forward to updating this with more fun things as we return to Decatur and seek new adventures!

Do you have a favorite place that we don’t know about yet? We’d love to know!

Inside: A list of Family-friendly things to do in Alpharetta, GA

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Looking for fun things to do in Alpharetta, Georgia?

Are you looking for the perfect place to spend a weekend of fun with kids close to Upstate, SC? You should consider Alpharetta, Georgia. Tucked between the Georgia mountains and downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta is a city with close proximity to many attractions and also with a number of local significant events, delicious dining options, and plenty of things to do for the whole family.

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We visited Alpharetta as guests of Awesome Alpharetta, Alpharetta’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. This article includes both our suggestions for activities based on our visit as well as suggestions from our readers. Prices and fee information are subject to change.

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Things to Do in Alpharetta

Here’s our list of over 10 fun things you can do with kids in Alpharetta.

Big Creek Greenway

FREE

The Big Creek Greenway offers 8 miles of paved trail that connects Forsyth, Alpharetta, and Roswell. We entered the Greenway at the entrance near North Point Mall (6698 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022).

At this entrance point, you can choose to rent a Zagster bike. To rent a bike, you will need to download the free Zagster app and enter a credit card. The first three hours of your rental are free. Be aware though that you can only rent one bike per app downloaded and that only adult-size bikes are available. You will also need to bring your own helmets.

The trail had plenty of space for bike riders and walkers and offered many scenic views of the river. We also discovered a couple of side paths for pedestrians only that entered the surrounding marshland.

Learn more about the Big Creek Greenway.

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Painting with a Twist Alpharetta

Painting with a Twist Alpharetta is a family-owned painting studio that offers family painting classes, birthday parties, adult classes, and more. You can bring your own snacks or purchase snacks during your visit.

Even if you have never taken a painting class before, you won’t have any trouble settling right in. Painting with a Twist takes each step and makes it simple enough for a child (or non-artsy adult) to recreate. We were surprised by what our family could create with a little bit of encouragement and also by how relaxing and fun painting is in a group.

You will need to sign up for a class or come during an open studio time to paint at Painting with a Twist.

Find the schedule at Painting with a Twist

11770 Haynes Bridge Rd, #801, Alpharetta, GA

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Odyssey Escape Game

If you have never taken your kids to an escape room, you are missing out. There’s about nothing that will encourage even your teens to put away their cell phones faster than a ticking clock and a goal to prove your intelligence by solving a puzzle faster than time can run down.

Odyssey Escape Game Alpharetta is one of only two Odyssey Escape Game locations and offers unique escape room themes including Titanic, Prison Break, Jack the Ripper, Towering Inferno.

We peeked into all of the rooms. Jack the Ripper was particularly gruesome and I bet a bit spooky to solve, but Titanic — The Final Hour was the room that we set out to solve. We were impressed from the beginning by the accuracy of the room decorations and the history that the clues taught our kids.

For those that are not as familiar with escape rooms, you are not actually locked into the room but you do have at least one or more doors in each room that you must unlock by solving puzzles in order to escape.

The Titanic was particularly challenging due to the amount of puzzles. We did escape with a little extra help and a couple of extra minutes of time. Considering the room is built for up to 12 people and we only had 2 adults, we considered that success even with the extra help.

If you are an escape room fan, Odyssey Escape Game is definitely worth the drive. The rooms are unique and fun and it’s a great family bonding activity.

Be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time as rooms do fill. Find the schedule on Odyssey Escape Game’s website.

1111 Alderman Dr, Suite 210, Alpharetta, GA

For an additional escape room option, check out Urban Escape Games in Alpharetta.

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Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

Our family really loves ice cream, so we were really looking forward to visiting the famous Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Avalon but even with high expectations, we were still blown away.

The ice cream spread included so many artisan and popular flavors that it was almost impossible to choose. We were also delighted to learn a bit about the history and quality of the ice cream from our server.

If you can’t make a decision, the menu does offer a 10 half scoop ice cream flight for under $20. I tried to talk my kids into trying it to no avail. They wanted their own ice cream cones and as much as I like ice cream, I can’t eat 10 half scoops on my own.

From our choices, we voted that the Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter ice cream were favorites of ours. The waffle cones were also unusually delicious. We might visit Alpharetta again just for the ice cream.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is located at Avalon in Alpharetta. Avalon is a walkable community that includes shopping, residential, entertainment, and dining. In addition to Jeni’s and the other shops and dining, you will find a massive green turf where the kids can play, plenty of seating, and a large Regal Theatre.

800 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, GA

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Main Event Entertainment

Main Event Entertainment is an arcade plus entertainment venue that offers laser tag, a ropes course, billiards, bowling, and more in addition to a large arcade collection.

The laser tag room had two floors and space for a large group to play. The ropes course spanned over the arcade room and was challenging. You could also eat lunch at a full-service restaurant.

We always like deals and we were excited to find that Main Event Entertainment offers several seasonal deals that you can find on their website. We took advantage of a deal that allowed our kids to play as much laser tag, ropes course, bowling, and billiards as they wanted for under $15/person. The website also has deals on arcade games and more.

10700 Davis Dr, Alpharetta, GA

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Wacky World Playground at Will’s Park

FREE

This large wooden playground resembles a castle and includes slides, monkey bars, bridges, towers, and swings. Pack clothes that can get dirty because this play area also has sandboxes.

11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA

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North Point

North Point is a favorite shopping center in Alpharetta where you’ll find lots of restaurants, shops, and mall fun.

1000 North Point Circle Alpharetta, GA 30022

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Cosmic Mini Golf and Play

You can play indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf at Cosmic Mini Golf in the North Point Mall.

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Da Vinci’s Donuts

This reader recommended donut shop bakes fresh cake donuts that are hand-dipped at the counter.

131 S Main St Suite F, Alpharetta, GA

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Places to Eat with Kids in Alpharetta

Here are some suggested places for dining in Alpharetta based on our trip and reader suggestions.

Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar

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House of Hummus Mediterranean Cafe

House of Hummus Mediterranean Cafe serves traditional Mediterranean entrees such as gyros, falafel, hummus, lentil soup, and more. We liked how it was easy to order small portions of different types of foods so that our kids could easily try different things without having to eat a full portion. We loved everything we tried.

5950 North Point Pkwy #127, Alpharetta, GA

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Antico Pizza

We did not get to personally try Antico Pizza but after hearing the locals recommend it enthusiastically, we won’t miss eating there next time. We hear that the Margherita Pizza is to die for.

Antico Pizza is also located at Avalon, so be sure to save room for dessert at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

3185 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, GA

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Smokejack BBQ

Smokejack BBQ was another local spot that was highly recommended to us by locals. The meats are smoked for 12 hours and you can order everything from nacho appetizers to pork, sausage, beef brisket, smoked turkey, chicken, baby back ribs, and spare ribs. We hear though that if you eat there, you must try the burnt ends. These pieces of brisket are smoked overnight, cubed, wood grill charred, and sautéed in Smokejack’s KC sauce. For dessert, try the Coca-Cola cake and banana pudding.

29 S Main St, Alpharetta, GA

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Superica

This popular Tex Mex restaurant is located at Avalon.

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Buca di Beppo

Buca di Beppo serves traditional family-style Italian dishes that you can share.

335 Mansell Rd, Alpharetta, GA

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Where to Stay

Embassy Suites by Hilton in Alpharetta

We stayed at Embassy Suites by Hilton during our trip. We liked that our room had a door between the bedroom and sitting area which made putting kids to bed at a reasonable time much simpler. A full breakfast including fresh to-order omelets was included with our room.

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Events in Alpharetta for Kids

Alpharetta has a number of fun family annual events each year. Here are some of our favorites. Check their full events calendar to see what events are happening.

Events may be rescheduled or postponed

20th Annual Scarecrow Harvest October 8th, 2025-November 2nd, 2025

Over 100 life-size scarecrows along the streets of downtown Alpharetta, inspiring fall spirit! A family street party that continues throughout the day offers inflatables, groovy music, hayrides, quirky face painting, artsy activities, and delicious food. More info can be found on the Alpharetta Government page.

Avalon Nights Live (Every Friday Night)

Enjoy music at the Palmer Plaza every Friday night from 6 pm to 8 pm. This event is free, but you can purchase drinks at the event. Address is: 950 3rd. Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 United States

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Looking for things to do in Atlanta with kids? As someone who grew up in Atlanta, my heartbeat is strong for this Southern city. There’s so much to do for every age and every person. And as a family with kids? You’ll never get bored in Atlanta, GA.

So whether you’re a native Atlantan or someone looking to visit the ATL, we’ve rounded up all the best things you can do in Atlanta with kids. Consider this your ultimate guide to visiting Atlanta with your family.

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Inside: A local parent reviews her visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, GA. This place is one of the largest Hindu temples in the United States. It’s full of intricate details and was built entirely by hand!

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

If you’ve ever driven through Atlanta, you may have spotted a massive white temple just off the interstate. It looks like it belongs in another part of the world, and for the longest time, I assumed it was completely off-limits to visitors.

But here’s the thing—you can go inside! And it’s even more incredible than it looks from the highway.

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A Temple Built Like a 3D Puzzle

The intricate details inside are stunning, with over 300 columns covered in elaborate carvings of animals, deities, and floral motifs. The dome, the final piece that completed the temple, is made up of 16 layers of stone, is supported by 13 columns. It weighs 6.2 tons and includes an elaborate chandelier of carved leaves.

Photography isn’t allowed inside, so you’ll have to take our word on that. But, plan your own visit so you can see it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!

A Historic Tradition

Mandirs have been built using ancient architectural methods passed down for thousands of years. This particular Mandir is one of only six of its caliber in the U.S. and the largest in the Southeast.

The temple was built by generational temple builders from India, following traditional techniques that date back centuries. The structure is designed to last a thousand years, with features like a 2-3 inch movement allowance to withstand earthquakes.

The temple’s name, Mandir, comes from the Sanskrit words “man” (mind) and “dir” (place of stillness), symbolizing a space of spiritual peace.

FAQs & Tips for Visiting

• Yes, it’s open to the public! No reservations are needed for individual visits.
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily (Best times: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM).
• Entry: FREE!
• Dress code: Shoulders and knees must be covered. Wraps are provided if needed.
• Shoes: You’ll need to remove them before entering, so wear socks if you prefer.
• Can kids visit? Absolutely! The carvings feature various animals, making for a fascinating treasure hunt—but remind them to be respectful, as this is an active place of worship.
• Guided tours & audio guides: Available if you want more context ($5 for the audio guide).

Witnessing Hindu Rituals at the Mandir

For a deeper experience, consider timing your visit to witness one of the temple’s daily Hindu rituals:

• Arti Ceremony (11:15 am daily) – A traditional Hindu prayer where lighted wicks are waved before sacred images while chants and music fill the space. This ritual has ancient roots, originating when lamps were used to illuminate deities in dimly lit stone temples.
• Abhishek Mandapam (Multiple times daily: 9:00 – 10:15 am, 11:35 AM – 12:00 pm, 4:15 – 6:00 pm) – A ritual bathing ceremony where visitors can offer water over the sacred image of Nilkanth Varni while prayers are recited.

If your visit coincides with these times, it’s a great opportunity to observe or participate in these ancient traditions.

More Than Just a Place of Worship

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir isn’t just an architectural masterpiece. BAPS, the organization behind the Mandir, is the fastest-growing branch of Hinduism, celebrating its 50th anniversary with 118 Mandirs across the U.S.

The temple provides a space for the local Hindu community to gather, worship, and learn. On Sunday afternoons, 18 different classes are held for attendees aged 5 to 99, covering cultural and religious values. Over 1,200 people are fed as part of the temple’s services.

Spiritual leaders, known as sadhus or Hindu monks, reside at the temple, dedicating their lives entirely to worship and service. These monks give up personal lives, including contact with family, to devote themselves fully to spiritual practice.

Final Thoughts: Visiting BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

If you’re looking for something unique near Atlanta, this is it. Whether you’re interested in history and architecture, or simply want to step into a peaceful, awe-inspiring space, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is worth a visit.

And the best part? It’s free, welcoming, and right in our backyard. So next time you’re driving by, don’t just admire it from the highway—go in and experience it for yourself!

And Don’t Skip the Café!

Before you leave, stop by the Shayona café for some authentic vegetarian Indian cuisine. Open to the public, the café offers a variety of traditional snacks, meals, and sweets to try. The Mandir also has a catering program, making it a sought-after location for Indian weddings and celebrations.

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