Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

There are so many great, kid-friendly places to travel within a few hours of Atlanta. Ride on a train, splash in a water park, visit wild animals and more at these fun places.

Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, many of these attractions are requiring timed ticket entry, and some sections of the attractions may be temporarily closed. Call or check websites for updates and rules.

Trains

Climb aboard one of these train exhibits/museums, and go “Choo Choo” for locomotives!
Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Stearns, Ky. Go back to the bygone era of logging and coal mining with a train ride through beautiful southern Kentucky.
Casey Jones Home and Museum. Jackson, Tenn. The legend of America’s most famous engineer lives on. Fans can tour Casey’s original 1900 home or climb aboard a 35-ton replica of engine #382.
Folkston Funnel. Folkston, Ga. Train enthusiasts from all over the country converge at the double track, which serves as the main artery for railroad traffic in and out of Florida. The viewing platform features lights, ceiling fans and scanners to listen to radio traffic between trains.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Bryson City, N.C. The Railroad offers a variety of scenic, round-trip excursions. Trips range from 4½ hours to a full day of fun and adventure.
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Chattanooga, Tenn. This breathtaking, one-mile railway has thrilled passengers since 1895 and boasts the distinction of being the steepest passenger railway in the world.
North Alabama Railroad Museum. Huntsville, Ala. Self-guided tours are available for the depot, museum grounds and facilities. Vintage trains rides are offered on select days.
SAM Shortline Railway. Cordele, Ga. All aboard! Ride through the countryside and historic towns in Georgia, including Cordele, Americus, Leslie and Plains, home of President Jimmy Carter.
Tennessee Valley Railroad and Museum. Chattanooga, Tenn. Ride the Missionary Ridge Trail, which travels through Missionary tunnel on a steam or vintage diesel locomotive.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Blue Ridge, Ga. A pleasant 26-mile round trip through historic Murphy Junction along the beautiful Toccoa River.

Carolina Harbor at Carowinds

Water Parks

Many water parks are affiliated with amusement parks and have combined ticket prices. Most water parks are open from April to October.
Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park. Destin, Fla. Find a place to stay cool among the lazy river, slides and 40 other water attractions. The park even touts the biggest man-made waterfall in the world.
Carolina Harbor. Charlotte, N.C. Part of Paramount’s Carowinds, this water park is a 16-acre oasis of wet fun with water slides, rides and more. Opens June 3.
Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. A 30-acre water adventure theme park that combines the beauty of the Smoky Mountains with the excitement of water park rides, slides and attractions.
Nashville Shores. Hermitage, Tenn. Brave the waves in a gigantic wave pool, plunge down eight thrilling water slides, or play, slide and splash in Kowabunga Beach, a massive water treehouse and playground.
Point Mallard Park. Decatur, Ala. Hidden among northern Alabama’s wooded pines, the 750+-acre family park lets you stay in tune with nature 365 days a year with a water park (including America’s first wave pool), tennis courts, golf courses, nature trails and more.
Shipwreck Island Waterpark. Panama City Beach, Fla. More than a dozen water attractions for thrill seekers, families and children.
Splash in The Boro. Statesboro, Ga. Race your buddies on their five-lane mat racer, plus enjoy slides for toddlers, three large tube slides, a lazy river and more. This park also has the only dual Flow Rider in Georgia.
Splash Island Waterpark. Valdosta, Ga. Part of Wild Adventures, this fun water park boasts interactive play where you can enjoy a children’s water play area, wave pool, lazy river and dousing your family with buckets of water.
Splash Lagoon. Bowling Green, Ky. Beech Bend’s water park is a great place to cool off during a hot summer day. With sky-high water rides, visitors can find thrills or relax at the leisure pool. Little ones also have their own area to splash around.
Spring Valley Beach Water Park. Blountsville, Ala. A charming, family-owned water park; bring your own picnic basket or grill to the park. Free suntan lotion provided, as well as free parking.
SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland. Nashville, Tenn. Book this special experience package for an indoor/outdoor resort water attraction with relaxing water features, energetic rides, family slides, a wave pool and more.
Summer Waves Water Park. Jekyll Island, Ga. Plan your fun-filled day with relaxing laps around Turtle Creek Lazy River, riding the waves of the Frantic Atlantic, and taking in high-speed thrills down Pirate’s Passage.
Waterville USA. Gulf Shores, Ala. The ultimate in family fun with a 20-acre water park and amusement area, located in the beach resort community. Experience thrill-seeker slides and relaxed family attractions.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Zoos & Animals

A visit to the zoo is always a hit. Your kids will be amazed to see all kinds of wildlife. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Alligator Adventure. Myrtle Beach, S.C. One of the largest facilities for reptile life in the world, it also has mountain lions, Chilean flamingos and spotted hyenas.
Birmingham Zoo. Birmingham, Ala. With rides both animal and mechanical, feedings galore, and over 900 animals to see, the whole family is sure to be busy, busy, busy.
Chehaw Park & Zoo. Albany, Ga. This park is situated on over 800 acres and includes a zoo. Chehaw’s Zoo is home to 234 specimens representing 73 different species. Enjoy natural, outdoor exhibits including cheetahs, black rhinoceros, meerkats, black bears, alligators and more.
Duke Lemur Center. Durham, N.C. The world’s largest and most diverse collection of lemurs outside of Madagascar. The Center advances science, scholarship and biological conservation through interdisciplinary research, community-based conservation and public outreach. Reservation required.
Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Jekyll Island, Ga. Learn all about the life cycle of the sea turtle with interactive exhibits and presentations, then visit recovering turtles in the sea turtle hospital (the only one of its kind in the state). And, if you time it right, you can even see some baby sea turtles!
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Jacksonville, Fla. The zoo houses more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals. It also features a play park for kids, including a splash ground, forest play area, maze, otter and squirrel monkey exhibit, discovery building and animal care area.
Knoxville Zoo. Knoxville, Tenn. Situated on 53 acres, the zoo features more than 800 animals. Encounters with giraffes, camel and carousel rides, a splash pad and an indoor kid’s adventure area are just some of the joys that await.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Nashville, Tenn. A 200-acre zoo and historic plantation farmhouse located six miles southeast of downtown Nashville. It’s home to more than 2,248 animals including Red Pandas, blue Hyacinth Macaws and White-Cheeked Gibbons.
North Carolina Zoo. Asheboro, N.C. The zoo covers over 500 acres and is a walk-through zoo. See animals and plants living in environments that simulate their natural habitats. Between exhibits, walk through North Carolina’s natural piedmont forests.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Columbia, S.C. The grounds are home to more than 2,000 animals and botanical gardens. The 170-acre site features dynamic natural habitat exhibits, scenic river views and spectacular valley overlooks.

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Historical Museums & Houses

The history lessons don’t have to stop once school ends: these historical museums will provide your children with valuable information about the nation’s past.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. Hodgenville, Ky. Discover Abraham Lincoln’s Boyhood Home at Knob Creek, which includes a memorial building, the actual sinking spring that inspired the farm’s name, an environmental study area and the location of the boundary oak.
Biltmore. Asheville, N.C. Tour the luxurious home of the Vanderbilts, along with its beautiful gardens, winery and 1890s farm village.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Birmingham, Ala. With a collection of galleries, the Institute offers families a self-directed tour through the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggle, including exhibits that feature dramatic media presentations.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. Sullivan’s Island, S.C. These two forts redefined American freedom during the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars. The island can only be accessed by private boat or park ferry.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Little White House State Historical Site. Warm Springs, Ga. Tour this house to see our 32nd president’s carefully preserved retreat, guest house, servants’ quarters and garage, including a hand-controlled 1938 Ford.
George Washington Carver Museum. Tuskegee, Ala. Located in the Tuskegee University, the museum teaches how Dr. George Washington Carver rose from slavery to become a renowned educator, scientist, artist and humanitarian.
Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. Tifton, Ga. Travel back in time to this 95-acre museum featuring costumed interpreters explaining and demonstrating daily tasks as they were performed over a hundred years ago.
Graceland: The Home of Elvis Presley. Memphis, Tenn. For a one-of-a-kind experience, visit the home of a small town boy who became the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Don’t miss the tour of his automobiles and custom jets while you’re there.
Ivy Green. Tuscumbia, Ala. Touch the actual well pump where Anne Sullivan brought the young, deaf and blind Helen Keller out of her dark, silent world at the 640-acre birthplace of Helen Keller.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Savannah, Ga. Scouts honor, you’ll love the birthplace of the founder of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. This 1821 home is also a National Girl Scout Center and Savannah’s first National Historic Landmark.
Lightner Museum. St. Augustine, Fla. Located in the heart of our nation’s oldest city, the museum displays relics of America’s gilded age including costumes, furnishings, mechanical musical instrument demonstrations and the beautiful stained glass work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Mayfield Dairy. Athens, Tenn. Find out (among other things) how the stick gets into the ice cream bar, view the historical exhibits and displays before taking a tour of the plant and end with a sample.
Mission San Luis. Tallahassee, Fla. A visit to Mission San Luis transports you back to 1703. Your destination is a community where Apalachee Indians and newcomers from Spain lived together.
Muddy Pond Mennonite Community. Monterey, Tenn. Catch a glimpse of the fascinating world of the Mennonites as you watch true craftsmen create fine horse-drawn buggies, wagons, and more with several homes selling fresh baked breads, pies, eggs and molasses.
Museum of Appalachia. Clinton, Tenn. Your entire family will appreciate the privately-owned, 65-acre collection, which celebrates the rich Appalachian history with 35 log cabins and buildings and more than 250,000 historical artifacts.
Oconaluftee Indian Village. Cherokee, N.C. An authentic replica of an 18th century Cherokee community, this village allows visitors to step back into 1760. Watch Cherokee craftsmen demonstrate their skills, and tour the replica of a council house and typical Cherokee homes.
Old Salem Museum & Gardens. Winston-Salem, N.C. History comes to life with costumed interpreters performing household activities and trades common to Salem in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, along with beautifully restored gardens waiting for visitors to stroll.
Oldest House Museum Complex. St. Augustine, Fla. A must-see tour that includes Florida’s oldest house, two museums, a changing exhibition gallery, an ornamental garden and museum store.
Tallahassee Museum. Tallahassee, Fla. Travel back in time, see a wealth of exotic animals, walk nature trails and soar above the rest with Tree-to-Tree Adventures zip line course for children and adults.
Tennessee State Museum. Nashville, Tenn. One of the largest state museums in the nation with interpretive exhibits include the prehistoric, frontier, age of Jackson, antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction periods of Tennessee’s history.
Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. Tybee Island, Ga. Be amazed by the beauty of the lighthouse, which has been guiding mariners safe entrance into the Savannah River for over 270 years.

Anniston Museum of Natural History

Science & Nature Museums

The mysteries of science and technology will enthrall you and your kids at one of these museums.
Adventure Science Center. Nashville, Tenn. Multilevel museum features nearly 175 hands-on exhibits and a planetarium teaches kids about biology, physics, visual perception, listening, mind, air and space, energy and earth science.
Anniston Museum of Natural History. Anniston, Ala. Explore the seven fascinating exhibit halls (in association with the Smithsonian Institute), where perhaps you can solve the mysteries of 2,000-year-old mummies. Nature trails, gardens and children’s discovery room included as well.
Discovery Place. Charlotte, N.C. The ever-growing science center features exhibits from the frontiers of space to the depths of the sea. Also, the Charlotte Nature Museum provides education and entertainment.
Florida Museum of Natural History. Gainesville, Fla. Visit a Butterfly Rainforest and Florida Fossils, along with other exhibits displaying Florida’s natural history.
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center. Mobile, Ala. With more than 150 interactive exhibits, IMAX films, and fun educational programming, the center aspires to increase science literacy.
McWane Science Center. Birmingham, Ala. Permanent exhibits include Itty Bitty Magic City, Explore! Collections Center, Alabama Dinosaurs, Sea Monsters, the John W. Woods IMAX Dome Theater and more.
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Jackson, Miss. A temporary exhibit space showcases unique displays, and explore the aquariums and the nature trails.
Museum of Aviation. Warner Robins, Ga. Let your vacation take flight at the beautiful 51-acre site displaying 93 aircrafts and hundreds of exhibits. Free admission and picnic and playground area.
Museum of Life and Science. Durham, N.C. Explore the butterfly house, the Insectarium, aerospace and weather. Take train rides, and visit over 60 different species of animals.
Museum of Science and History (MOSH). Jacksonville, Fla. Delight in the remarkable, hands-on exhibits for exploring the natural environment and history of Jacksonville and northeast Florida, featuring an Allosaurus and Planetarium.
U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Huntsville, Ala. Have a blast with the actual-size NASA and military rockets on display, The Spacedome IMAX and National Geographic theaters and numerous other hands-on attractions.

Dollywood/Curtis Hilbun

Amusement Parks

Take the whole family out for a fun-filled day of exciting roller coasters, thrills and entertainment.
Alabama Adventures and Splash Adventure. Bessemer, Ala. Just west of Birmingham, this park has more than 25 rides and attractions with a water park and an amusement park.
Beech Bend Park. Bowling Green, Ky. A 368-acre, multipurpose entertainment complex nestled amongst a Beech tree forest and the winding Barren River in southern Kentucky with thrill, family and kid rides.
Carowinds. Charlotte, N.C. 108 action-packed acres, with more than 60 world-class rides, shows and attractions, including Carolina Harbor Waterpark, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z and Carolina Cyclone.
Dollywood. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Major theme park with wooden roller coasters, including Lightning Rod, the fastest wood roller coaster and the first launching wood roller coaster in the world, thrilling rides and family shows.
Family Kingdom Amusement Park. Myrtle Beach, S.C. More than 30 fun-filled rides for all ages.
Lake Winnepesaukah. Rossville, Ga. More than 30 family and kiddie rides to please the entire family, including the SOAKya Water Park.
Pavilion Park. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Three areas of attractions to enjoy: East Park (original and new rides), West Park (kiddie rides) and Central Park (thrill rides).
Tweetsie Railroad. Blowing Rock, N.C. This family-oriented theme park is based on the early Tweetsie railroad, whose nickname derives from the shrill “tweet, tweet” of its whistle.
Wild Adventures. Valdosta, Ga. A mix of more than 100 rides and attractions, including nine roller coasters, more than 500 wild animals, a variety of daily shows, Splash Island Water Park and concerts and special events throughout the year.

Tennessee Aquarium/Casey Phillips

Aquariums

You and your children will be fascinated with the variety of aquatic life at these Southern aquariums.  
Newport Aquarium. Newport, Ky. Showcases thousands of sea animals, including three rare shark rays, alligators, eels and more.
South Carolina Aquarium. Charleston, S.C. View over 5,000 animals, many that are native to the state, and don’t forget to touch a shark!
Tennessee Aquarium. Chattanooga, Tenn. Come eye-to-eye with 10-foot sharks, giant spider crabs, river otters and alligators.

Creative Discovery Museum

Children’s Museums

This summer, you and your kids can beat the heat through hands-on projects and fun-filled exhibits at one of these children’s museums.
Children’s Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Storytime, Movin’ and Groovin,’ Kiddie Kitchen and Small Fry Science are among the programs you’ll find at this museum, which also has an art studio, farm area and even a place for space exploration.
Creative Discovery Museum. Chattanooga, Tenn. Programs include art lessons, science demonstrations and story times, and you’ll find traveling exhibits such as The Great Outdoors.
EdVenture Children’s Museum. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Exhibits and activities keep kids engaged and learning in the 3,000-square-foot space. You’ll find space exhibits, puppet shows, STEM activities and more.
KidSenses Children’s Interactive Museum. Rutherfordton, N.C. This 11,000-square-foot museum has wowed visitors since 2004, when it opened with 12 interactive exhibits, workshops and other learning experiences for visitors to this small town (population about 4,000).
Marbles Kids Museum. Raleigh, N.C. The museum encourages imagination, learning and discovery by providing a stimulating environment for hours of play.
Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. Greensboro, N.C. Kids are put to work on Main Street, operating a market or pizza parlor or performing in the theater. They can climb aboard a police car, a real tractor-trailer or a DC-9 jet.
Mississippi Children’s Museum. Jackson, Miss. Explore galleries focused on how the world works, health, creativity, history and animals, splash around or visit the Literacy Garden.
Savannah Children’s Museum. Savannah, Ga. This museum, with activities for kids Wednesday through Saturday, is next to the Georgia State Railroad Museum, so you can have two adventures in one stop.

National Corvette Museum

Additional Places to Discover

Museums devoted to unique themes like Rock ‘n’ Roll or automobiles may be just what your family needs for a little fun.

Ave Maria Grotto. Cullman, Ala. A four-acre park, this mini Jerusalem contains 125 miniature reproductions of some of the most famous historic buildings and shrines of the world.
International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum. Chattanooga, Tenn. Located three miles from where the first wrecker was created, this unique museum includes antique wreckers, toys and memorabilia that will entertain adults and kids alike.
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Jackson, Miss. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the Magnolia State’s incredibly rich history of producing world class athletes and teams.
National Corvette Museum. Bowling Green, Ky. Corvette enthusiasts will appreciate the 115,000-square-foot building, which houses more than 80 Corvette models and one-of-a-kind concept cars spanning the history of Corvette.
The Tallahassee Automobile and Collectibles Museum. Tallahassee, Fla. An eclectic collection of items, with everything from Abraham Lincoln’s hearse carriage to the Steinway White House Piano to a Batmobile and Batman movie memorabilia, this museum is a delight for everyone.

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