Planning Your Spring Break Staycation Right Here, Intown

By Kay Stephenson, VHCA Vice President

Spring break may have originated with college students flocking to Ft. Lauderdale in the 1930s, but today families with children of all ages make special plans for this time. For colleges and universities, spring break is scheduled at different times throughout the month of March, but for the Atlanta Public Schools, April 3rd through the 7th is the time for families to kick back and have some fun this year.
For those who don’t plan to travel, there are a host of options for family fun in and near Virginia-Highland.

Kids’ Camps
Virginia-Highland resident Kim Steen Langan of Intown Tumbling is offering a half-day camp for kids three and up. Located right on the BeltLine at 828 Ralph McGill Blvd, the program runs from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm April 3 – 7, 2017. Full details may be found here.

Have a child who is more the outdoor type? Let them be a Junior TreeKeeper with the Trees Atlanta programs. April 3 – 7, 2017, the educational staff is offering two spring break camps – one for 1st to 3rd graders, and a 2nd for 4th to 6th graders. Each day begins and ends at the TreeHouse in the Stove Works Building, 112 Krog Street, but most activities will be out on the BeltLine and throughout nearby parks and neighborhoods. More information may be found here.

Tours
Get the whole family outdoors with a walking tour of the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum along the Eastside Trail. Scheduled every Friday and Saturday morning, trained docents will lead you on a 1 ? hour walk discussing the arboretum collection, other plantings, history, architecture and the future of the Atlanta BeltLine. Register for tours here.

Inman Park company Food Tours Atlanta offers family-friendly walking tours full of history, art, and great food. Tour Inman Park or Ponce City Market. The 2 ? hour tours are offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Use the code EATLIKEALOCAL to receive a 10% discount for the whole family. More information may be found here.

Sales & Festivals
Saturday April 1st is Trees Atlanta’s 5th Annual Native Wildflower and Vine Sale at the Carter Center. It is a great place to pick up plants for your garden. Let the kids get in on the act and pick their favorites. Experts will help you to pick the right plant for any location and even give you advice on how to plant and care for your plants when you are home. More information may be found here.

Festival on Ponce takes place April 1st and 2nd in the historic Olmstead Linear Park, designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead, Sr. The festival includes both fine art and crafts, acoustic music from local artists, a kid’s area, and of course food & beverages. More information may be found here.

The 81st annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival once again brings us all to Piedmont Park on the last weekend of spring break (April 7-9). This is Atlanta’s longest-running festival and includes the always entertaining Atlanta Dog & Disk Club Competition. Stroll through the artist market, eat gourmet and festival foods, enjoy rides and games, and listen to live music. From inflatables in the Meadow to crafts at the Mayor’s Grove, there is plenty to entertain children. Check it out here.

Gardens and Parks

The Atlanta Botanical Garden offers seasonal family activities throughout spring break both on the great lawn and in the Children’s Garden. Enjoy all-age exhibits, including Atlanta Blooms and Orchid Daze–both continuing throughout April. Check out a special itinerary for visiting with kids here and spring break programs here.

Did you know that Piedmont Park offers guided tours? The Atlanta Audubon Society leads bird tours on the first Saturday of the month at the park. Piedmont park also offers guided history tours on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Saturday from March to December.  More information may be found here.

Best of all, you can explore the park on your own by downloading a Piedmont Park scavenger hunt or a self-guided tree tour.