at the Children’s Museum

See the world in a whole new way at the newly renovated Children’s Museum of Atlanta – in fact, climb inside it and give it a spin. A giant globe that kids can climb inside is one of the new features of the museum, which just underwent an $8.2 million renovation. Here’s what our kids, ages 2½ and 4, loved.

Gateway to the World. The two-story globe lets kids (and adventuresome adults – it’s a tight fit for those “big kids”) climb through the layers of the Earth and rotate it. Below the structure, kids can play at continent-shaped train tables.

Piano Steps. The stairway to the new 3,000-square-foot mezzanine lights up and sounds piano tones as you climb.

Fundamentally Food. For kids who love to pretend to cook the renovated space, with a Waffle House-like diner and an updated supermarket, gives them plenty of opportunities. Tables and counters are kid-sized.

Let Your Creativity Flow. This area lets kids do art – ours made fish out of paper plates – in a quieter, glassed-in area.

Tools for Solutions. Kids get to use real tools, including sewing machines and construction tools in the Build It Lab for projects. We built a well-designed boat out of Popsicle sticks. Older kids can try other projects or learn about circuitry.

As the kids grow the museum will continue to hold their interest. In the Step Up to Science area, we played with a programmable robot. Older kids can enjoy science experiments and more here, as part of the museum’s new emphasis on giving kids ages 5-9 more ways to learn and have fun.

– Laura Powell