In the Neighborhood: Vinings and Smyrna
A look at the top family-friendly spots in this part of metro Atlanta.
If you love baseball, you’ve likely been to Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. With 41,000 seats, fans get a great view of the game. On game days, families can enjoy the kids’ zone with a rock-climbing tower and other interactive play experiences. During the offseason, schedule a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue. The Battery is the 2.25-million-square-foot mixed-use space surrounding Truist Park. It features an escape room, movie theater, indoor VR and golfing experiences, music venues, shops and restaurants. Kids will love options like ice cream, pizza and burgers; mom and dad will enjoy jazz brunch, prime rib night and seeing popular musical acts. The Battery also features green spaces for kids to enjoy.
For a shaded playground area, check out Lake Court Park in Smyrna. The 12.6-acre park also has an off-leash dog area, sand volleyball, bocce court, pavilion and lots of green space.
Nature lovers can’t get enough of Paces Mill Park in Vinings. The West Palisades Trail is a great starting point to the park’s broad network of running, walking and biking trails that have views of the Chattahoochee River. It is a paved path through a wooded forest and is ideal for spotting wildlife.
If your kids love adventure, try Smyrna’s Chuck Camp Park. With a walking trail, baseball and multi-use fields and concessions, sporty kids will have a blast. The 16-acre site’s playground features a large climbing structure, swings, slides and more.
If you’ve always wanted to go skydiving, visit iFly in Vinings. The indoor experience gives all the thrill of skydiving in a controlled environment. Make a reservation online before you go and be sure to wear closed-toe shoes. Adventure lovers as young as 3 are allowed to fly!
From daily pleasures of shopping, dining and enjoying the green space to special events, Smyrna’s Village Green & Market has it all. The revitalized downtown is home to an annual concert series, festivals — including the Jonquil Festival in April — and the weekly Market Village on Sundays that features local vendors and ends on October 19 for the season. The Village Green Park has open green space, seating areas, playgrounds (including one just for toddlers), an arboretum and a pond. The destination is also walking distance to the Library and Community Center.
Music, dance, comedy and more take the stage at Vinings’ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The whole family can enjoy Atlanta Ballet performances here. Adults may prefer the drama of the Atlanta Opera. In November, bring the kids to see Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!
Get personalized baby and toddler gifts at Marshmallow Dream, a monogram studio and shop in Smyrna. From bath time to blankets and clothes to stuffed animals, this family-owned shop carries and personalizes a variety of items and brands.
Shop baby and kids’ clothes and gifts at Baby Braithwaite on the Paces Ferry side of Vinings. Owned by a mother-daughter team, the boutique specializes in high-end brands. They also offer a variety of nursery accessories and a registry for new parents.
It got its reputation as a sandwich shop, but Muss & Turner’s has turned into a Vinings’ staple that serves lunch, dinner and brunch with fresh ingredients and unique takes on classics. Kids will appreciate the variety of options on the kids’ menu and that every meal comes with a cookie; parents will love the $10 price tag. The whole family will enjoy Street Food Sunday when the menu explores a new region of the world each month.
Kids eat free on Tuesdays at Creatwood Tavern & Rooftop in Smyrna. American favorites like wings, salads and burgers are the highlights of the menu. Kids’ meals come with fresh fruit or fries. Plus, they’ll love the variety of appetizers as much as the grownups. Ask your server about the spot’s historical name!
Even babies can have fun at The Little Gym in Smyrna. Parent/child classes are available for babies starting at 4 months with the groupings determined by age ranges. Kids can enjoy gymnastics through age 12. The space also offers Parents’ Night Out for members, birthday parties and camps.
Little ones will love exploring Buddy’s Indoor Playhouse in Smyrna. Complete with an area for toddlers, including a driving track, young children can safely test their independence. Everyone who comes in must have on socks, and you can get a monthly express pass to save time and money.
Invest in your child’s creativity from a young age at Vinings School of Art. Parent & Me classes are available for children as young as 4. Or, opt for the $20 Children’s Art Class available one Saturday per month. This month, it’s on October 25 with two sessions based on the age of your child. The artful space also offers birthday parties and camps.
The Clement Family Faves
Scott, Ali, Willow (left) and Amelia (right)
We love the vibe/location of our neighborhood because: Our neighborhood is filled with kids, friendly families, and there is always something to do close by. We are close to the The Battery, downtown always has festivals and markets, and there are tons of playgrounds nearby.
Our favorite restaurant is: The Corner Taqueria. It’s right in downtown Smyrna, is kid friendly and has great food!
Our favorite playground is: Taylor-Brawner because it has a playground, a huge green space to run and a path to ride bikes or walk. There are also food trucks on Tuesdays in the spring/summer!
You can’t miss this hidden gem: The hiking and biking trails at North Cooper Lake Park are a hidden gem. My family loves to go there and walk down to the creek and hike on the trails.
-Tali Benjamin
Great family resources in Vinings/Smyrna:
