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photo credit: dougww

Whether your idea of fun is a safari, a water slide or a mountain hike, Atlanta has a theme park for you. Here’s a look:

American Adventures
This member of the Six Flags group features 14 rides for children 12 and under.

Bumper cars, balloon rides, mini golf, a super slide and swirling teacups are among the attractions. The whole family can let loose in the Foam Factory, a multilevel fun house with foam balls that visitors can catapult from launchers, turbo blasters, targets, turrets, and giant dumpsters.

All-day passes go for $19.99. Three hour passes are also available and visitors can purchase tickets for individual rides, too.

Andretti Entertainment
The racing Andretti family own this sports and entertainment facility, which features two Kart tracks, a rock climbing wall, more than 120 video games, a full bar and an authentic diner.

The facility boasts 40 state-of-the-art RIMO karts capable of speeds of 38 miles per hour. Visitors can test the karts out on two tracks:

1. The road course features hairpin turns, sweeping curves and fast straight-aways for licensed drivers only.
2. The oval course is available to kids 8 years of age and 48 inches tall and over. Up to 10 karts can race against one another at one time.

There are a variety of pricing options available from single races for adults at $19.95 to multipacks of three races at $51.50 for adults and $30 for younger racers.

Dixie Land Fun Park
DixieLand’s focus is families; alcoholic beverages are prohibited, and smoking is not allowed inside the park. Attractions include:

• The Scream’n Eagle Roller Coaster, which climbs four stories and reaches speeds of 35 miles per hour.
• Bumper Boats equipped with onboard water cannon.
• Two 18 hole mini golf courses.
• An indoor playground for small children with tunnels, ball pits and slides.
• Three Go Kart tracks and a junior course.
• The Dixieland Antique Car track gives you the opportunity to drive a replica of a vintage vehicle through our scenic trail.

There are also ferris wheels, an arcade, giant slides, a picnic area and snack bar available.

All day armbands cost $14 for kiddie rides only and $30 for all the rides. There is a $5 entrance fee per vehicle.

Malibu Grand Prix
Batting cages, bumper boats, miniature golf, go karts and a gameroom are all available here.

Visitors with a valid driver’s license can race custom-built 3/4 scale indy style race cars along a turning half-mile track for $2.75 for one lap or $12 for 10. Check online for special packages including family passes.

Mountasia of Marietta
Visitors to this park pay by the attractions, which include three miniature golf courses, Go Karts and Bumper Boats. There’s also a game room and snack bar. Admission and parking are free.

Six Flags Over Georgia

photo credit: padrian2

Home of the Georgia Scorcher, one of the South’s tallest and fastest stand-up roller coasters, the park’s thrill rides are among it biggest attractions. There’s Acrophobia, a 20-story stand up tower that features a 16-story drop; Superman with its 78-foot pretzel shaped inverted loop and 360-degree in-line roll; and Ninja, which features five upside-down turns, upward spirals and corkscrew dives at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.

The park also also has tamer rides and numerous other attractions, including parades and concerts. Check out 40 Fun Things for Kids for activities for the younger set. The latest addition, Skull Island, adds water to the mix. Skull Island features three giant, water-dumping towers; six water slides; and hundreds of interactive water elements.

Six Flags is open through October. It’s generally cheaper to buy daily tickets through the website before you go. Season passes are available as are combined passes for Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water.

Six Flags White Water
With more than 20 water rides ranging from shallow wading pools for toddlers to the Dragon’s Trail with its 250-foot drop, there’s something for everyone who wants to have a little fun while beating the heat.

Thrill seekers will enjoy the Cliffhanger, one of the world’s tallest, fastest water rides with a nine-story free-fall descent; Run-A-Way River, a 735-foot river raft slide from a seven-story tower ; and Tornado, a six-story funnel slide. The Atlanta Ocean, Atlanta’s answer to the Atlantic, features four-foot waves and more than 700,000 gallons of water. Younger children can cool down at three water playgrounds: Little Squirt’s Island, Tree House Island and Captain Kid’s Cove.

After you dry off, check out the park’s games, buy a souvenir or have a bite to eat. Note: Veterans recommend buying a concession stand wristband that vendors can scan rather than carrying your wallet with you.

Stone Mountain

photo credit: delta407

Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis appear on the face of this large chunk of granite in what’s claimed to be the world’s largest bas relief. But that’s not all this park has to offer: A Civil War museum,a restored plantation, a sky tram and paddlewheel boat are also among the park’s attractions.

Situated on 3,200 acres not far from Atlanta, this park also offers visitors a chance to explore a 4-story barn and adventure course and visit a recreated 19th Century southern town. The park also features 10 miles of hiking trails, 15 miles of biking paths, golf, tennis, fishing and water slides. For a different perspective, take the Ride the Ducks tour a 40-minute adventure in a World War II amphibious vehicle that moves from land into the waters of Stone Mountain Lake.

A one-day pass costs $25 for adults and $20 for kids between the ages of 11 and 3. There are two hotels located in the park as well as camping facilities.

Sun Valley Beach
Featuring the largest pool in the Southeast, Sun Valley Beach has something for everyone: 10 water slides, a dolphin fountain, showering umbrella, Lumber Jack log roll, diving platforms, Tarzan swinging ropes and a zip line.

The park also has a playground, picnic areas, pavilions available for rental, grills, sports fields and a concession stand. Admission is $17.95 for ages 12 and up, $14.95 for ages 2 TO 11, $10.for seniors and active military with ID.

WhirlyBall Atlanta
Picture a combination of basketball, hockey and jai-alai played while riding a bumper car. That’s whirlyball and you can play it here for $190 per hour per court if you have a minimum of 10 players. Party packages, which feature food, are available. Otherwise, you’ll have to eat elsewhere.

Wild Animal Safari
Start with the Serengeti Adventure, an hour-long drive through 200 acres that offers visitors a chance to see–up close and personal–giraffes, American Bison, and more exotic animals like Yakatusi, Nilgai, Rhea, Black Buck Antelopes and Watusi. You can take the trip in the park’s guided Zebra Bus, rent a Zebra Van, or drive your own car.

A conventional zoo, called the Walk-About, features a Monkey House, Alligator Pit, Petting Zoo, Tropical Bird section, and BOld McDonald’s Farm. A picnic area and restaurant are also available.

Admission is $16.95 for adults and $13.95 for seniors and kids aged 3-12. Season passes are also available.

Yellow River Game Ranch

photo credit: Dixie Traveler

This petting zoo located on 24 wooded acres offers a mile-long trail along which families can see 600 species of birds, deer, bunnies, buffalo, sheep, goats and bears. The animals are highly socialized and live either out in the open or in open enclosures, giving visitors a chance to study them up close.

Inhabitants include donkeys Rhett and Scarlett, Georgia black bears that stand up and beg for marshmallows, goats, a herd of buffalo and a groundhog named General Beauregard Lee who lives in a white mansion.

Admission is $12 for adults and $11 for kids 3-11.

Tags: atlanta | Family Travel | georgia | North America | theme parks | United States