If you’re looking for some cheap child-friendly entertainment, there are plenty of inexpensive options within a short drive of Cherokee County. Whether you’re looking for an educational option or just something to keep the kids occupied for the day, here are five free options for things to do with kids.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta
For younger kids, the Imagine It Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers a range of interactive exhibits geared specifically for children ages 8 and under. With exhibits that let children literally paint on the museum walls, explore an indoor forest complete with a treehouse, and discover simple machines, this museum is a must visit for anyone with younger children.
Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Woodstock, this enriching museum will capture the kids’ imagination. The best part about this attraction is that anyone can get free admission on special dates each year. While the children enjoy this fun and educational playhouse, you can enjoy knowing it didn’t cost you a thing. Just across the street from the museum is Centennial Olympic Park, where the kids can cool off in the Fountain of Rings or enjoy a packed lunch in the park.
For those who can’t make it on the free admission dates, the cost for tickets is $12.75 for anyone, except children under the age of 1 who get in free. For more information on the Target Free Second Tuesdays, visit the museum’s FAQs page about the program.
The King Center
Also situated in downtown Atlanta, about a half-hour drive from Cherokee County, is a different kind of attraction, where slightly older children and adults can walk through history and enjoy a living memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The King Center offers kids a chance to learn about the civil rights leader while enjoying beautiful surroundings like a reflection pool and International World Peace Rose Garden.
The mostly self-guided tour route includes numerous learning opportunities as visitors cross paths with some of the historic sites where Dr. King once walked. Following the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, you will pass a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and end up at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site visitor center. From there, you can go see the rose garden, visit historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, view the eternal flame in honor of King’s dream, and enjoy the peaceful reflection pool. Exhibits and a bookstore are located inside Freedom Hall, also on the tour route, and parking and admission are always free at the center. For more information, visit The King Center website.
Booth Western Art Museum
Just 30 minutes West of Cherokee County, the Booth Western Art Museum offers an original experience for kids and adults. Featuring traditional paintings and sculptures from the American West, an extensive cowboy gallery, stagecoaches and covered wagons, Native American objects and much more, this Carterville museum is a great choice for both young and old.
For kids, the museum offers free Saddlebags, which are filled with family activities that can be done throughout the museum to keep children engaged, Kids can choose to get their Saddlebag in a few different themes, including Cowboy, Native American, or Presidents. The museum also features the Saggebrush Ranch, where kids and their parents can participate in hands-on activities to play and learn about the West. Admission is always free for children ages 12 and younger, and $10 for adults. Free admission for adults is offered on the first Thursday of each month. For more information on visiting, go to the Booth Museum website.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Wanting an even closer option for free kid-friendly entertainment? The exhibits and trails at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield in Cobb County may be just what you’re looking for. At the visitor’s center in Kennesaw, you can enjoy a 35-minute movie about the battles, check out artifacts in the museum, and get a map of the extensive trails around the park. To learn more or plan a visit, go to the National Park Service website.
Zuckerman Museum of Art
Just minutes from south Cherokee, Kennesaw State University’s new Zuckerman Museum of Art is free to the public. Older kids, especially those interested in art, can enjoy several different galleries with work spanning decades.
The East Galleries feature rotating temporary exhibits, while the Malinda Jolley Mortin Gallery houses works from the university’s permanent collection. The Ruth V. Zuckerman Pavillion features a soaring glass atrium, and highlights 40 years of the Zuckerman’s art, spanning 1953 to 1993. According to the museum, the collection includes stone and bronze sculptures, photography, paintings, and the artist’s personal archives. More information can be found at the Zuckerman Museum website.
