Stone Mountain Park Spring FUN Break! April 2-10, 2016

It is finally Spring Break in Atlanta! If you are like us, you look forward to this one more than the other "breaks" we have during the school year. Mostly because the weather is always nicer and the pollen storm is mostly behind us. Its the perfect opportunity to head out into Atlanta and check out some of the wonderful things in our city. On of our favorite spring break Atlanta passtimes is Stone Mountain Park.

This spring, Georgia’s most visited attraction Stone Mountain Park will open its annual kids festival Spring FUN Break filled with family-friendly shows and entertaining attractions to accommodate metro Atlanta school Spring Break calendars April 2 through April 10.

All new for Spring FUN Break, kids will be amazed by Magic Mark and Einstein the Rabbit. Einstein the Rabbit isn’t the average bunny, as he is a magical rabbit performing card tricks and reading minds. Also new: The Great American Duck Race, at which families select a mallard duck to compete for glory on a pond with built-in racing lanes. Duck interaction is also open throughout the day.

The April Fool's Indoor Laser Tag is another new activity giving guests the opportunity to play against each other in five minute sessions. Visitors may also say hello to Bernard the Bunny, Penelope the Parrot and Splash the Duck at the Character Meet and Greet in the park’s Character Circle.

Stone Mountain Park’s Adventure Pass guarantees a full day for families with access to all Spring Fun Break activities plus Stone Mountain Park’s many other attractions such as Yogi Bear 4-D Adventure, Geyser Towers®, SkyHike®, Summit Skyride, the Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf, The Great Barn, Scenic Railroad, Historic Square & Farmyard and Memorial Hall Museum. A special sneak peek of the Lasershow Spectacular™ in Mountainvision® can be seen April 2-9 during Spring Fun Break. 

Our family favorites are the Summit Skyride, The Great Barn, and of course Geyser Towers! I am really looking forward to the Lasershow though. 

(Photo credit: Stone Mountain Park)

When: 

April 2 through April 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where:

Pick up your passes at the Crossroads® at Stone Mountain Park. The park is located at 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Cost:

For the best deal, pick up your Adventure Pass online and you will receive a FREE meal and unlimited drink refills! (Online Only) Or you can grab your tickets at the Crossroads when you get there.

Adventure Passes are $31.95 (+tax) for adults, and $25.95 (+tax) for children ages 3-11. A $15 parking permit or $40 annual parking permit required for Park entry.

Spring Break Junior Knight Training at Medieval Times!

Its almost here! Spring break is just around the corner and families all over Georgia are looking for fun things to do to keep the kids occupied. Medieval Times is one of our all time favorite places to visit in Atlanta and they have a super exciting event coming up! With all the amazing food, showmanship, and, of course, competition, what is not to love? I know at least two little boys that could not be more excited!

This Spring Break, bring your kids to train to become Knights of the Realm at Medieval Times. Kids between the ages of 4-12 will have the opportunity to get down in the sand before the show and train with the knights.  Children will enjoy watching an exclusive weapons demonstrations and learn about the grueling training it takes to become a Knight. Upon completion of their training, your children will be knighted by His Majesty King Carlos in a group knighting ceremony. 

Kids and students are just $29.95 and adults are $36.95, and Junior Knight Training is free with a paid admission to the show. (Offer code SBWEB16)

Be sure and get your little Knight signed up for one the Junior Knight Training sessions soon to guarantee your spot!!

Show dates:
o Friday, March 25 – Show starts at 6:30pm and Junior Knight Training begins at 7:15pm

o March 30 & 31 – Show starts at 7:30pm and Junior Knight Training begins at 6:45pm

o April 1 - Show starts at 6:30pm and Junior Knight Training begins at 7:15pm

o April 4-7 - Show starts at 7:30pm and Junior Knight Training begins at 6:45pm

o April 8 – Show starts at 5:00pm and Junior Knight Training begins at 5:45pm

Buy tickets:

Order your tickets online at the new Medieval Times Website  and be sure to sign up for the Junior Knight Training using the offer code SBWEB16 and using this form: Junior Knight Training

Its Georgia Renaissance Festival time!

Hear ye! Hear ye! Its time again for the Georgia Renaissance Festival to return for its 31st glorious year! This has been one of my favorite Atlanta area traditions since I moved to Georgia 19 years ago. Its the one festival that never gets "old" and now that I have kids, its even better. The boys love to go and watch the shows, see the costumes, and of course grab a turkey leg to fill their bellies!

Every weekend this year and Memorial Day, April 16 thru June 5, 2016 The 31st Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival is a different kind of theme park. A family-friendly event, Inside this 32-acre recreation of a 16th Century English Village you'll find hundreds of costumed characters, the Queen and her Court, endless circus-style entertainment on 10 stages, shopping in over 130 artisan shoppes, food fit for Royalty, games and rides for kids of all ages, and the spectacular Jousting Knights on horseback. Patrons are invited to wear costumes and join in the fun too. It's a whole lotta' fun, and a little bit of History!

This year save a little money and get $6 off Adult and $3 off Child (6-12) tickets by using promo code "castle" when purchasing discount tickets on our secure website at www.garenfest.com. Tickets good any day of the 2016 Season. (Online discount only. Not good with any other offers.)

Have you ever been to the GaRenFest? What is your favorite part?

Look Who is Getting Big!

Sweet baby B is 6 months! It is crazy how fast he is growing compared to how long it felt like I was pregnant. I don't remember the bigger boys' babyhood going this fast at all! B is such a sweet, easygoing little fellow and I'm sure that is part of it. In the last month he has really developed even more of a personality though. He has started flirting with people and pretending to be shy when they notice him. He has also noticed when we are eating and he isn't getting any! Little piggy loves to eat

!

Mayan Medallion Exhibit at Children's Museum of Atlanta!

Last weekend we packed up the three musketeers and headed to the Children's Museum of Atlanta to check out their newest exhibit: Mayan Medallion. Now, I am probably dating myself horribly here but when I first heard the name of the exhibit, my mind went back to the glory days of the show Legends of the Hidden Temple. You remember the game show with the giant stone face (Olmec) and different physical and mental challenges? Yeah, it was my favorite.

Of course, the Mayan Medallion exhibit was a blast too! Based in an archaeological dig site in Palenque, Mexico, you are recruited to help find a priceless jade medallion. The original team left behind valuable information in the archaeology, biology and astromathematics field stations that they constructed. Student Archeologists must uncover the mystery of the dig site and find the priceless treasure.

My bigger two boys had a blast checking out all of the different "tents" set up for them to explore.

The archaeology tent had different ways for them to learn the science and work behind the profession of archaeology. The observatory had a puzzle of sorts for them to learn about Mayan symbolism. The astromathematics tent helped them learn how the Mayans kept time. Last but not least the biology tent had stations for them to examine all kinds of bugs and critters from the Mayan jungle!

We spent a good hour discovering and learning lots of things about the Mayan culture. The hieroglyphics station was my personal favorite but I think the boys like looking up close at the bugs!

Of course while we were there we spend some time exploring the rest of the museum as well. The sand table, painting station, and climbing tower were the biggest hits for us but there is so much more to explore! Truely a wonderful place for kids to go to learn, play, and explore!

Located at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, the Children's Museum of Atlanta will have the Mayan Medallion exhibit on display now until May 31st, 2016. You can buy tickets upon arrival but in order to skip the line, I would highly recommend buying tickets online!

Have you checked out the Children's Museum of Atlanta? What was your favorite part?