Traveling in Sandy Springs for Work? Extend your Trip with these 8 Family-Friendly Adventures

Just a few minutes outside of Atlanta, Sandy Springs has a wealth of unique family-friendly adventures that appeal to a wide variety of ages and energy levels, from relaxing to adrenaline-pumping. While you’re knocking out those meetings, your spouse and/or little ones can knock around town on their own. And when it’s time for you to punch out, you can join in the fun.

So the next time work brings you to the Atlanta/Sandy Springs area, why not bring along the fam? Here, a few inspiring reasons you following attractions on the itinerary.

Spend an evening with Atlanta’s beloved Major League Baseball team in their new home at Truist Park, located just 15 minutes from downtown Sandy Springs. The Braves’ stadium is the star of the show at a new open-air complex called The Battery, which offers dozens of shops, restaurants, and bars to explore before the first pitch. Make sure to arrive early so you and your family can enjoy the pregame parade and other fun happenings on site. Get to the game with ease by pre-purchasing a parking space, or use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.

Any trip to the zoo is a kid-pleaser, and Zoo Atlanta delivers on all fronts. Must-see animals include African elephants, lions, a sun bear, and an array of monkeys. With hourly programs like Keeper Talks, feedings, and demonstrations, you can spend the whole day listening and learning alongside your kids.

Zoo Atlanta participates in worldwide field conservation programs that protect wildlife and wild spaces, so you can also feel good about your family’s admission fees going to a good cause (and children under two are free, as is on-site parking). The zoo is located inside historic Grant Park, so pack a picnic to enjoy before or after your visit.

The Fernbank Museum hosts kid-oriented events and includes a 75-acre park with family-friendly trails. Jaci Starkey This interactive science and history museum is a curious kid’s paradise. While the cultural and rotating exhibits are exceptional, the star of the Fernbank Museum is its 75-acre outdoor park, full of trails, wildlife, a canopy walk, and several fascinating exhibits.

Before your visit, check the museum’s website for special kid-oriented events like the Fernbank Forest Bird Walk and the Moon Landing Celebration. Don’t forget to visit the awe-inspiring IMAX theater for enriching films like Great Bear Rainforest and Apollo 11. Tickets to the Fernbank can be included in a CityPASS package, which is a money-saving bundle of top attractions in Atlanta.

No family feuding for this one: You’ll have to work in harmony to complete your mission in under 60 minutes at Mastermind Escape Games in Sandy Springs. Your kids will love choosing which of the six challenges to attempt, with themes like Superhero Training, Lost in Time, and Bank Heist. Each room has a posted escape route and difficulty level, which you can use as a guide when choosing your room. If you get stuck during the challenge, don’t worry! A watchful gamemaster will offer assistance over an intercom to keep things moving. Mastermind Escape Games is open to all ages, though an adult must accompany kids under 12.

Originally founded over 100 years ago as the Atlanta Art Association, the High Museum of Art has grown into one of the South’s premier art destinations. The collection includes global works from various periods, with a particular emphasis on Atlanta-based artists and traditional Southern art forms. Special kids programs like Toddler Thursdays and Weekend Family Tours make the High, as locals call it, fun and approachable for all ages. Additionally, the rotating gallery of children’s picture book art and outdoor sculpture collection in Sifly Piazza are sure to please little ones, while adults will love the fact that kids under five get in free.

Each year, the Fox Theatre presents more than 250 shows, including plenty of kid-friendly options. Daniel Lobo If you want to watch your child’s jaw drop in amazement, plan on seeing a show at the Fox Theatre in Midtown. Built in 1928 by a group of Shriners who sought to imitate the grandeur of ancient temples, the building eventually turned into a movie palace that survived demolition in the 1970s. Nowadays, the Fox, as local calls it, remains as one of the most beloved landmarks of the city, attracting more than a half-million visitors who can still marvel at its spectacular architecture, stained glass, and ornate gilt work.

The entertainment is equally incredible, with more than 250 shows on the calendar annually, including plenty of family-friendly programming: Paw Patrol Live, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Peppa Pig Live, just to name a few, as well as film screenings like The Wizard of Oz. Visitors can avoid traffic and travel to the theatre via the nearby MARTA station, or pay for parking in the surrounding lots.

Join locals to cool off at the ‘Hooch, the affectionate nickname of the scenic, peaceful Chattahoochee River that flows along the boundary of Sandy Springs. The river offers a wealth of opportunities for warm-weather recreation, and one of the best access points is at Morgan Falls Overlook Park just north of town, with picnic tables, restrooms, and playgrounds, plus lovely river views. High Country Outfitters operates an outpost at the park where your family can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the many alcoves and tributaries on this calm section of the Chattahoochee. Bring snacks, inflatable toys, and plenty of sunscreen and spend a whole day relaxing and exploring at this locals’ favorite spot.

The Georgia Aquarium offers a variety of programs to entertain and educate kids. Josh Hallett It’s no wonder the Georgia Aquarium is one of the most popular family attractions in the Atlanta area. It’s the largest aquarium in the country, giving kids that chance to encounter amazing animals from several ecosystems. The Dolphin Coast, Cold Water Quest, Tropical Diver, and other sections of the aquarium offer captivating programs like Sea Dragon Feeding and Whale Shark Talk. As a nonprofit organization, the Georgia Aquarium aims to not only entertain guests but also educate the public and encourage an appreciation for aquatic life. The aquarium is also included in the CityPASS special offer.

The grind of travel can make even the most enthusiastic of employees dread leaving home. But planning a post-work family adventure can instantly change your next business trip into something to celebrate. Whether your family loves wildlife or watching baseball, you’ll find that Sandy Springs is an excellent place to spend some quality time together when you’re off the clock. It offers proximity to Atlanta (and often cheaper hotels), but with easy access to many of the area’s most popular family-friendly attractions. Don’t be surprised if you discover more than enough to keep everyone in the family busy—and ready to come back again, this time on vacation.

Written by Madison Eubanks for Matcha in partnership with Sandy Springs GA.