Celebrating Spring in Atlanta

Ann McDermitt - Atlanta
March 28, 2012

Springtime Atlanta is filled with yellow forsythia bushes brightly blooming, vibrant azaleas bursting, and lush hostas awakening to take their place for the next six months. Though Atlantans hardly put shorts away for winter, the Daylight Savings Time change signals a chance to smile at the coming warm weather and fresh beginnings. Your children will squeal with delight at the chance to spend time enjoying the city outdoors without their coats. They'll never suspect they are learning until the day is over and they are talking about the fun you enjoyed together.

We've collected some favorite outings for the spring season in the Atlanta area:

Be Festive

Beautiful spring weather calls for some celebration and some of the most popular gatherings happen in April and May. The Dogwood Festival is an Atlanta tradition, which features days of activities, crafts, and food that celebrates the white-flowered tree in bloom. The Georgia Renaissance Festival begins in mid April and runs through early June leaving plenty of opportunity to celebrate your inner Camelot with the costumed performers. Neighborhood festivals are popular fun for families and range from the Inman Park Festival, Sweet Auburn Springfest, and the Decatur Arts Festival.

Cross a Covered Bridge

Take a day's adventure that includes covered bridges and the history that surrounds them. Scattered throughout Northern Georgia, the majority of these covered beauties were built in the 1800s and can be accessed by foot. An exception is the Stone Mountain Covered Bridge, which can be crossed by auto to access to the lovely Indian Island Picnic Area within Stone Mountain Park.

Root for the Home Team

Baseball is the official sport of spring and summer and visiting an Atlanta Braves game before the heat becomes intense is a must for area locals. The Braves host special events throughout the season and tickets can be purchased on their website. We suggest starting at the Kid's Club section of the website since joining the club may actually save your family money on game attendance and make you eligible for special events and information. Fans of the team can also soak in the rich history by taking the Turner Field Tour including the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame.

Pick Some Berries

The opportunity to pick-your-own fruit is not only a science lesson but delicious too. With the warmer winter season, strawberries have ripened at the earliest date ever on record, and the pick-your-own farms are gearing up to host families during the spring and into the summer as blueberries become ready. Some farms have additional activities, which you can find on their social media sites or by calling. (It's a good idea to verify the availability of the crop and best times to visit anyway.) We recommend sunscreen, some clean buckets or baskets, and wipes for little dirty hands.

Admire Nature's Artwork           

For about five weeks Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia becomes the canvas for one of nature's most beautiful art shows. Azaleas and dogwoods literally create non-stop color on the property which is also filled with trails, ziplines, and bike paths to explore. Don't miss their Wondrous Weekends calendar that includes themed activities and workshops—gardening, cooking, spring renewal, music, and artwork colors—during the height of the spring beauty. Two Savvy Source favorites at Callaway are the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center and the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center where you can experience wildlife and nature up close. 

Enjoy the sweet sunshiny moments with your family and the peaceful kid slumber after a day of play together. These are the adventures children will remember for years to come.