Children love getting to know Buttercup the museum's official milking cow. Photo courtesy of the museum

Children's Museum of Atlanta: Experiences

Permanent Exhibits

Visit the grocery store without visiting the grocery store in Fundamentally Food. Kids LOVE this exhibit and learn about how food gets to their table! They can visit the "farm" and pick vegetables and fruit; climb the John Deere tractor; milk Buttercup, the museum's official milking cow; load boxes and operate a fork lift; shop the grocery store; and finally make a pretend meal in the always busy diner.

One of my favorite things about the museum is waiting in the play diner for my kids to prepare my meal...when lots of children start putting "food" on my plate and take my order. I've never seen a child who doesn't have a ball preparing the perfect meal in that restaurant exhibit.

Gateway to the World, in the center of the museum, welcomes kids with a gigantic globe that stands as the ultimate two-story, climbing structure. Learn about the world by playing at the interactive continent tables, where kids can feel the shaking of an earthquake, the temperature of the glaciers, and more.

Younger children and toddlers have a great time at Leaping Into Learning, which features a fishing pond with magnetic fish and rods, an indoor tree house, and the toddler zone featuring a bubble wall and and play car.

Build and construct the ultimate creations in the Tools for Solutions exhibit. Photo by Melanie Preis

Kids who love building, engineering, and constructing head straight to Tools for Solutions. Connect pipes and stack blocks in the form of a house, move balls by operating the giant ball machine and crane, and more.

Creative kids looking to express themselves love Let Your Creativity Flow, a place to honor and celebrating the arts, with a paint wall, sand table, stage performances, and an art studio.

Older kids head upstairs (atop the melodious piano steps) to a science-focused area with a circuit bench, spectrum light table, keva planks, microscope, and other STEAM activities. 

Featured Exhibits

One of the great things about the Children's Museum of Atlanta are the featured exhibits that visit throughout the year. These exhibits focused on various topics, including emotions, imagination, Thomas Edison and scientific exploration, storybook characters, and more. As of press time, the current temporary exhibits include Emotions at Play with Pixar's Inside Out and Outside the Box.

Special Events

Another awesome element of visiting the Children's Museum of Atlanta are the special events planned during the year. Holidays, local celebrations, and seasonal activities in Atlanta inspire the coolest special events at the museum. For example, the New Year's Bubble Bash is the museum's clever way to bring in the new year -- the ultimate kids' New Year's celebration occurs on December 31 and includes a DJ, games, and the bubble-wrap-popping annual tradition. Or celebrate the frost of the season as every day in December includes Snow Days, with "snowball" fights, hot cocoa, and a sock-friendly "ice" rink.

Kids LOVE the paint wall to show off their creative spirit for everyone to see. Photo courtesy CMA

Children's Museum of Atlanta: Parties & More Fun

Birthday Parties

My kids have been invited to lots of birthday parties at Children's Museum of Atlanta and they never disappoint. The facility hosts birthday parties on the weekends in a private, party room area that includes up to 20 guests. Birthday party rates differ based on museum membership.

Sensory-Friendly Sessions

On select Sunday mornings, the museum offers a sensory-modified experience for children on the autism spectrum, with sensory processing disorders, or just prefer a less intense experience. In addition to sound and lighting adjustments, Callie the Therapy Dog attends these days and is available for snuggles at the CMA stage.

Museum Store & Cafe

The museum store carries a selection of fun, educational toys (BTW, you can shop in the store without purchasing admission to the museum). The Snack Stop area, near the main entrance, is the only place to munch on quick snacks.

Children's Museum of Atlanta: Know Before You Go

• The museum is closed on Wednesdays. Adults are not allowed in without a child. Advance online reservation are required -- Session A 9:30am-12:30pm or Session B 1:30-4:30pm (each session lasts three hours).
• Children's Museum of Atlanta is located downtown at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW. The closest parking to the museum is across the street at 112 Baker Street for a paid rate. There's also parking at various public lots, as well as Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.
• Ticket price is for anyone ages 1-100. General admission ranges from $15.95-$25, depending on the day you attend and any special events. Museum memberships include unlimited free play session admission for one year, 10 percent off general admission for guests, discount on museum events, store purchases, and parties, discount vouches, and more.
• Limited stroller parking is available. Adult and child-size wheelchairs are available upon request.