Cool Things to Do in Atlanta for Teens and Tweens

By Joleen Pete

Published April 23, 2024

Are you between the ages of 11 and 19? No doubt you’ve probably uttered the words “I’m bored” a time or two. Having a list of boredom busters (aka awesome experiences) up your sleeve is never a bad idea, and you’re going to love this list of cool things to do in Atlanta for teens and tweens. 

Discover Atlanta through a Tour

Wondering how stuff works or curious to know what’s behind that door? Sign up for a behind-the-scenes look at your favorite Atlanta attraction or tour Atlanta in a fun and unique way.

• A guided tour at World of Coca-Cola allows you to skip the line for photos with the polar bear and get access to unique photo ops plus a one-hour ambassador tour through popular areas. There’s a new immersive experience to visit as well. In the Beverage Lab you’ll have an opportunity to get an inside look at Coca‑Cola beverage creation, sample formulas from the Vault and taste unreleased formulas. In the newly reimagined Scent Discovery, you can explore the Scent Library, learning about the five scent categories then put your nose to the test. 
• Zoo Atlanta offers Wild Encounters to provide a behind-the-scenes experience with some of its wild residents. There currently are several encounters to choose from, including elephant, lemur and warthog. There are even some furry artists in the mix when you check out the petting zoo painters.
• Bicycle Tours of Atlanta offers a variety of tours of Atlanta that kids as young as 9 can participate in. You must be able to ride a geared bike with hand brakes and have a good attention span as tours last 2.5 to 4.5 hours.

Encounter Sea Life at Georgia Aquarium

Lovers of animals who live beneath the water will enjoy spending time and viewing exhibits at Georgia Aquarium. Tweens and teens can sign up for a live animal encounter with penguins, otters or dolphins to experience these animals up close and personal. Or, you can suit up and get in the water with beluga whales. Even more daring? Consider the aquarium’s Shark & Ray Interaction.

Get Arts and Crafty

• The High Museum of Art provides art programming for all ages. Be sure to consider the next Teen Art Afternoon, which you can find on the museum’s events calendar. Or, search under what to do for teens for information on the Teen Team and other upcoming events. 
• Get messy and have fun at Splatter Art Studio. Book a session or an entire party and dribble, splash and splatter paint to create your own masterpiece.
• Jewelry making, ceramics, drawing, painting and blacksmithing are among the myriad art classes offered at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Classes are open to a variety of ages with some special classes designed just for kids and young adults. Be sure to view the extensive catalog.
• Arts Beacon offers classes for all ages with a specific class for tweens (middle school age) to explore and develop art skills in a fun and supportive environment.
• Take a look at A Spunky Little Arts Company for art clubs specifically geared toward teens and tweens. Comics Club explores creating comics, anime and graphic novels, and ArtWell offers a relaxing place to create and socialize. It also offers summer art camp for 11-to 17-year old artists.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt to Explore Atlanta

• Tiny Doors ATL has added whimsical tiny art to all your favorite spots in Atlanta. Take a not-so-tiny tour of them by visiting top Atlanta attractions. There is even a giant “tiny” door on the BeltLine for you to feel tiny while standing next to it.
• A little bit adventure, a little bit sightseeing. Scavenger Hunt ATL hosts purposeful wandering daily. Choose from a variety of adventures, ranging from a city-wide hunt, Amazing Race-style hunt, wilderness adventure and more. There is even a shopping mall option if you want to stay in air conditioning.

Play Like Kids

As teens and tweens, you play harder than the little ones, but I don’t need to tell you that. Here’s where we bust out the list of action-packed sports and activities available in the Atlanta area. Grab your favorite adult to drive you around.

• Play the games, see the views and ride the rides at Skyline Park on THE ROOF at Ponce City Market. Enjoy a vintage, carnival-style day of fun with the entire family. Or bring your friends and challenge them to a game of mini-golf. Play for the day or purchase an annual pass.
• Go-karts are a super fun way to spend the afternoon, and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is the perfect place to go. Race your friends, play laser tag, drop a couple of quarters in the video games and have fun.
• Fore! Indoor golf at Topgolf provides a different kind of fun for teens. Reserve an indoor bay where you can hit balls, then follow up with a game of pool, some snacks and maybe a video game or two.
• For a unique immersive escape room experience with friends, try Beat the Bomb Atlanta. Gear up in hazmat suits and advance through five high-tech video game rooms to earn time on the bomb clock. Disarm the bomb in the final room or be blasted with paint or foam, depending on your mission. Slime bomb mission coming soon. 

Find Thrills at Six Flags Over Georgia

If there is one thing teens love, it’s a good theme park and fortunately Atlanta is home to the largest theme park in the Southeast. Six Flags Over Georgia is home to 11 roller coasters plus thrill rides and water rides (and three children’s areas for little brother and sister). During summer months, bring your swimsuits and enjoy Six Flags Hurricane Harbor with water features including wave pools and wild water slides. If you’re a teen age 16 and older and are in need of a summer job, Six Flags might be the gig for you.

Try New Stunts at an Atlanta Skate Park

Skaters rejoice. Atlanta is home to some great skate parks. From Old Fourth Ward Skatepark, which was opened with an appearance by Tony Hawk, to the 27,000-square-foot lighted Brook Run Skate Park in Dunwoody, Atlanta offers skating for every skill level. Another local skate park of note is McKoy Skate Park in Decatur.

Keep Cool with Water Play

On the hottest days, you probably will want to get out onto the water. How about something a little different with an afternoon on the Chattahoochee River? “Shoot the ‘hooch” via kayak, tube or paddleboard, or take a canoe trip with an experienced guide at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Or check out these fun activities and things to do at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Grab Good Eats and Sweet Treats with your Besties

Get your friends together and visit one of the best restaurants in Atlanta for some good eats or sweet treats. Search by location, type of food or iconic dishes for the perfect spot. Check out our guide to Atlanta’s best food halls, where everyone in your group can get what they want and still sit together to enjoy it.

Are you a budding chef? Atlanta is a great place to experience a plethora of cuisines. Find the freshest ingredients at Atlanta’s farmers markets or take a cruise down Buford Highway to explore a vast array of cuisines from other cultures.

Another fun idea? Take cooking classes at a variety of places around the Atlanta metro area. Check out Young Chef’s Academy, The Cook’s Warehouse or Marcus Jewish Community Center classes for tweens and teens. 

Spend the Day at Stone Mountain Park

While Stone Mountain Park appeals to all ages, it offers some attractions especially suited to tweens and teens, particularly those of you who prefer a little adrenaline rush. Geyser Towers and SkyHike offer fun and challenging rope courses with a variety of obstacles for an active adventure. Teens also enjoy a ride on the Ducks (1940s’ era Army DUKWs) through Stone Mountain Lake — a great way to cool off and learn some history. And while these attractions might be enough, Stone Mountain is loaded with more permanent and seasonal offerings. Just check the daily schedule online.

Root for your Team at Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame 

College football fans love visiting the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Teens especially are excited by the amazing technology. At check-in, choose your dream college (or maybe mom’s alma mater) and your visit will be customized. You can try the augmented reality booth for a 365-degree look at amazing historical moments. Warning: Visiting during the off season makes fans seriously crave the return of college football.

Strike a Pose

Strike a pose for Instagram or do the latest TikTok trend. Atlanta is filled with public art that screams to be a colorful background in your next selfie. Check out locations like the Jackson Street Bridge (famous for its appearance in the hit series “The Walking Dead”), Little Five Points with its fun architecture and street art, and the Atlanta BeltLine with its numerous murals and art installations.

Give Back to the Community

Volunteering is a great way to get involved and give back to our community. Here are some volunteer opportunities for teens and tweens in Atlanta. 

• Trees Atlanta welcomes kids entering or in high school to apply to be part of the Youth Tree team. Do this and be exposed to “green jobs” with hands-on (paid) experience.
• Hands on Atlanta is a database of volunteer opportunities. It is searchable by age and opportunity and a great place to explore needs.
• Zoo Atlanta has a Volunteen Program for high school students ages 14 through 17. It’s a year-round program where teens work toward a minimum of 160 service hours over the course of the program year, with specific hour requirements during each of the three terms. Details and applications can be found on the website.

Still searching for something to do? Explore our list of 50 Fun Things to Do in Atlanta for more ideas.

Joleen Pete lives outside Atlanta with her husband and their son. On the weekends they enjoy going into the city for family fun and exploration. Joleen is the family travel and lifestyle blogger behind Love, Joleen.