Kid-Friendly ATL: Where to Take the Wee Ones for Big Fun

2809 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 (map)

Kids can have their own slice of plain cheese or pepperoni. Parents can take on the more sophisticated spinach and mushroom. Kids love eating outside on the patio with fountains to look at and Peachtree Street to admire. Mom and Dad enjoy not sitting in traffic and enjoying a cold pitcher of beer. Cheap prices and a relaxed atmosphere make this a young family no-brainer.

1001 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (map)

Way to make food sound and taste better, Flying Biscuit. The fluffy misshaped biscuits are slightly sweet and loved by all, a direct reflection of the colorful, whimsical atmosphere. Plus breakfast is served all day. (Pancakes at night? Oh boy!) When bringing youngin's, it's best to get there early on the weekends to avoid the big crowds and waiting list.

3500 Peachtree Rd NE Ste G3, Atlanta, GA 30326 (map)

Pretending never gets old when you're a kid, so pretending to dine in a different decade fits in perfectly! Plus the straw dispensers, juke box and sock-hop attire cement the time machine vibe. Sandwiches (burgers, grilled cheese) come wrapped in paper jackets to prevent the typical mess and shakes get shared movie-style. Adults and kids win at this game.

61 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 (map)

Top 5 reasons kids love chowing at the V: 1.People shout when you order. 2.They have funny names for regular food like "naked dog" or "bag-o-rags." 3.There is not only ice cream but an orange frosty called an "FO." 4.There are car hops like they had in American Graffiti. 5.If you ask nicely, the folks will give you your own Varsity hat.

7561 Riverside Parkway, Austell, GA 30168 (map)

Ah Six Flags, the flagship adventure park in the Southeast. The great thing about this massive place of fun is everyone can find something they like. Little kids can enjoy Lickskillet Sky Buckets. Thrill seeking tweens can have their way with the Great American Scream Machine. Families that want to stay together can enjoy Thunder River. With season passes that pay for themselves in less than two visits, there is no wonder why this park is so popular.

250 N Cobb Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30062 (map)

When you are a little kid, the backyard slip-n-slide is awesome. However this exciting contraption seems downright mundane once you've discovered the majestic land of White Water. Take on rides (Bahama Bob Slide, anyone?), pound dip-n-dots with your buddies and make fun of Dad as he falls off the Lily Pads. Mom is off the hook to read pool-side at the Wildwater Lagoon.

265 Park Ave W, Atlanta, GA 30313 (map)

On hot summer days, overheated kids and their parents find Downtown relief in the park's "dancing fountains." We suggest though, don't let your kids be "those kids" who get almost naked in the fountain, as horribly portrayed in the mural at the airport. Keep an eye out for Screen on the Green, showing free classic flicks like Back to the Future at dusk on Thursdays.

248 Oakland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30312 (map)

Don't laugh, we're being serious! Visiting Oakland Cemetery is like taking a beautiful walking history lesson through our city's past. Atlanta's founding fathers, 24 former mayors, Margaret Mitchell and golf legend Bobby Jones are just a few of the folks who were laid to rest here. After the grave jaunt, take the kids next door to Six Feet Under for fried seafood and skyline views.

Hwy 78 E (Exit 8), Stone Mountain, GA 30087 (map)

It's a family paradise! Laser shows, camping, boating, multiple golf courses, hiking, train rides, an adventure ropes course, and 4D theater give all the options parents and kids could want without having to leave the greater metro area. Though 'rents--don't go with your tweens to the laser show--let them fly solo with their friends. It's a suburban right of passage.

800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 (map)

Two words: Baby pandas. If there is anything both parents and kids can agree on, it's the cuteness factor of this roly-poly infant Asian bear. Even though they are overshadowed by the panda-demand, tons of animals call Zoo Atlanta home and kids seem to love visiting. For some reason learning about animals is just way more fun than learning about, say, math. We can't blame them.

1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 (map)

I don't care how old you are, Muppets are always cool. And the Center of Puppetry arts does Atlanta a favor by constantly featuring Jim Henson exhibits. From seeing sketches of the Sweedish Chef to the actual Rawlf the Dog puppet, you get a completely unique look at Jim Henson's brilliance. For the kids more interested in doing rather than seeing, there are workshops for all ages offered throughout the year.

767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (map)

Now here is something that both kids and adults can dig: Dinosaurs. Fernbank not only delivers Dinosaur-mania and a plethora of history lessons, but their Imax movies make even educational stuff seem cool. For adults who want to fly solo, we suggest catching Martini's & IMAX on Fridays. Watch an educational movie on an all-encompassing screen with cocktail in hand.

225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 (map)

Like the zoo, kids love live creatures, so it's typically an exciting aquatic free-for-all at the world's largest aquarium. We give mad props to the Ocean Voyager exhibit, which boasts an underwater tunnel that makes you feel like you're diving somewhere much more exotic than Atlanta. Giant octopus, Japanese spider crabs and enormo whale sharks wow even the skeptics.

275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr, Atlanta, GA 30313 (map)

A children's museum is sort of like fantasy land for little kids. Hell, any place that allows the youth of American to write on the walls is sure to be a big hit with the under 8 crowd. Tots can crawl through larger-than-life trees, play with the "giant ball machine" ... and for the more sophisticated kid, learn about the farm-to-table food concept. Not kidding.

121 Baker St, Atlanta, GA 30313 (map)

Kids will think you are lying to them at first. Yes, it's true, there is an entire museum completely dedicated to their favorite fizzy elixir. And not only do you get to drink as much as you want there, but you get to try WEIRD COKES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES! This is a pretty damn fun way to educate our kids on Atlanta's most important company.