Raising Atlanta teens and tweens, compared to little ones, has a lot of benefits; besides getting a full night of sleep, you no longer need to change diapers, tie shoes, or swaddle (hopefully). As these teens in Atlanta participate in sports and school activities, it’s rewarding to watch their personalities and skills develop. They may even start performing chores around the house (hopefully)! On the flip side, these same wonderful kids begin asserting their independence, and parents eventually realize they may not be the center of their teen's world anymore.

Welcome to the tween and teen years! Although teens' behavior is completely normal, finding family activities can prove challenging. Let our guide of exploring Atlanta with teens help you find new and exciting things to do together in the area while keeping the bonds with your Atlanta teens strong.

Living in Atlanta has many perks: impressive museums, appetizing restaurants, and boundless shopping. But sometimes the noise and congestion that often come with big city life gets to be too much. Parents may find they want to breathe fresh air, listen to the birds sing, and get back to nature—Atlanta hiking answers that need.

Fortunately, you don’t have to travel outside the city for a brief respite. With its dense tree canopy, the metro Atlanta area offers many parks and nature preserves to explore the outdoors with your little ones. Visit these natural areas on our Atlanta hiking list and you'll forget you’re still in a city of over 6 million people.

Atlanta’s long-awaited Westside Park recently opened (first phase) and it’s ready to be explored. The gigantic park, located west of Midtown, has been in the works for over 15 years at a cost of $44 million. The true beauty of the park, eventually spanning 280 acres, is the former Bellwood Quarry, now a reservoir set to hold 2.4 billion gallons of water, which contains the emergency drinking water supply for the city.

Larger than Chastain Memorial Park in Buckhead and Piedmont Park in Midtown, Westside Park is open 6 am-11 pm daily. Westside Park features amenities parents will enjoy: playground, stroller-friendly trails, free parking, and plenty of restroom facilities. Note: Though Phase 1 of Westside Park is complete, the public space is not completely finished and thus, some attractions, park hours, and other details could change as the project nears completion. Read our guide below and be one of the first to enjoy this urban oasis!