Atlanta With Kids: Aquarium, Zoo, Museums

November 5, 2026

Atlanta’s family attractions are spread across downtown, Midtown and the Druid Hills area, so a car, rideshare or MARTA trip is part of most days. Prices are in US dollars. The June to August heat index often tops 100 F, so plan outdoor time for the morning and keep water handy.

Georgia Aquarium

Children can walk through the 100-foot acrylic tunnel in Ocean Voyager, a habitat of about 6.3 million gallons built for whale sharks, with manta rays and sharks overhead. Other galleries include Tropical Diver, Cold Water Quest and Southern Company River Scout. Fixed Date tickets start at $54.99 and mostly run up to $67.99, and an Anytime ticket costs $69.99. Children aged 2 and under enter free. Marine mammal presentations are optional, and the fish and shark galleries keep younger visitors busy without them. Ticket details are on the aquarium’s site .

Zoo Atlanta

The zoo keeps western lowland gorillas, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, African savanna elephants, giraffes and red pandas. A new pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, make their public debut on November 6, 2026 in the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove. The zoo opens at 9 a.m., closes at 5 p.m. and sells its last tickets at 3:30 p.m., with a later start of 10:30 a.m. on the panda debut day. General admission varies by date, and children under 3 are free. Check the zoo’s website before going, because panda days draw crowds.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

The Great Hall holds Giants of the Mesozoic, where a 123-foot Argentinosaurus skeleton faces a Giganotosaurus. The museum also has an outdoor area called WildWoods and a giant-screen film included with the base ticket. Weekday admission in 2026 is $25.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors and $23.95 for ages 3 to 12, and weekends cost $2 more. Children under 2 are free.

Center for Puppetry Arts

The Worlds of Puppetry Museum includes the Jim Henson Collection, with Kermit, Miss Piggy and other puppets from Henson’s career. The center also stages live puppet performances. Check the center’s own website for current ticket prices before you book.

Atlanta History Center

The Buckhead campus covers 33 acres of gardens, woodlands and trails, and it has the Goizueta Children’s Experience, a 5,000-square-foot space for kids. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The campus also houses a rare nineteenth-century cyclorama painting. The Atlanta History Center’s visit page lists admission.

Saving money

The Atlanta CityPASS costs $106 for adults and $86 for children aged 3 to 12, plus tax. You choose five of six attractions, including the aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank and the College Football Hall of Fame, and the pass lasts nine days. Children 46 inches and under ride MARTA free, with up to two per paying adult, and the adult fare is $2.50. Fares are listed on MARTA’s site . Do not leave bags or strollers in view inside a parked car, because theft from vehicles is common at tourist lots. Family tours can be compared by searching Atlanta family activities on GetYourGuide .