Hospital and healthcare professionals, you’re going to love the deal that LEGOLAND Discovery Center is offering for you!  The special promotion will allow healthcare professionals free admission and 25 percent off for up to six guests from January 12th-February 9th, 2020. The offer is only available at the door – not redeemable online.

Make sure to bring your ID!  Eligibility for ALL Hospital Employees and: physicians, dentists, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physician assistants, nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, surgeons, surgeon’s assistant, athletic trainers, surgical technologist, midwives, dietitians, therapists, psychologists, chiropractors, clinical officers, social workers, phlebotomists, occupational therapists, optometrists, physical therapists, radiographers, radiotherapists, respiratory therapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, operating department practitioners, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, medical laboratory scientists, medical prosthetic technicians, Allied Health Professionals, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, paramedics, EMT, dentists and dental surgeons, dental assistants, dental auxiliaries, dental hygienists, dental nurses, dental technicians, dental therapists, and related professionals. Public health practitioners (public health nurses, environmental health officers, paramedics, epidemiologists, health inspectors), social workers, occupational therapist, psychiatrist, mental health counselor, licensed behavioral analyst, expressive therapist/art therapist, hospital environmental services, nursing assistants, certified nursing assistants, health insurance employees

This past weekend, we went to Stone Mountain Park to check out their Play by Day, Glow by Night Pumpkin Festival.  We have been to Stone Mountain Park for their Christmas events and we were so excited to see how everything is decorated for fall.  It blew us away!

Everywhere we turned, there were fun fall displays set up and it truly made us feel more in the fall spirit. This all-new event features massive glowing pumpkin displays, fairy tale meet & greets, a glow-along party parade, costume contests, flashlight tours of Dinosaur Explore, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and lots of other twilight fun!

Delicacies such as Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream are available for purchase.  It was absolutely delicious!  I’m not normally a fan of anything but chocolate or vanilla ice cream, but Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream was fantastic!  Definitely recommend getting some during your visit.

One of our favorite places to visit was the Mad Hatter Tea Party Games.  They have several fun little games set up that are perfect for kids and they can earn tickets for trying the games.  The tickets can be redeemed for prizes!  The kids were so happy to earn a prize here!

Another hit for our family was the Pie Eating Contest.  My 15 year old was chosen for the Pie Eating Contest and beat out a teenage boy and a man.  She did great! It was so fun to watch!  Her tip for anyone giving it a try is to just slurp it up!  She said it was mainly pie filling with whipped cream so fairly easy to eat! Sorry for the blurry pictures-  we were sitting in the back.

The flashlight tours through Dinosaur Explore was also a hit with our crew.  Anytime a flashlight is involved, my 3 year old is a fan!  Since we had walked through it earlier in the daytime, my youngest wasn’t scared a bit taking the flashlight tour.

Our experience at the Pumpkin Festival was such a good one. The kids are asking to go back already to do more fall activities. Plus you can totally wear a costume to get into the fall spirit! In fact, you can save up to $10 on your regular All-Attractions Pass at the Ticket Plaza when you wear your costume.

For more information, please visit the Stone Mountain Park website.  You’ll be so glad you added this to your fall list!

I have a number of family and friends in the path of Hurricane Florence.  I’m excited to share this news with them if they decide to evacuate toward Atlanta!  Many hot spots in Atlanta are prepared to show kindness and souther hospitality to evacuees!  You can read the full list at www.atlantakindness.com but here are some highlights:

Atkins Park Restaurant and Bar (Virginia Highland)
Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée.
Must present valid ID from Coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia or other evacuated area. Limit one free kids meal per adult entree purchased. Valid through Sept.16.

Aurora Theatre
50 percent off standard priced tickets to The Two Kids That Blow Sh*t Up by Carla Ching, best known as a writer for the hit television series “Fear the Walking Dead.”
Must present valid ID from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland or Tennessee. Limit one offer per guest; walk-up only. Offer valid through September 19.

Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Kids eat free with adult purchase.
Must present driver’s license from Costal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. Offer valid for up to two kids per paying adult; item from kids menu only. Valid Sept. 14-16.

Broadway in Atlanta
Free tickets to the September 13 1 p.m. matinee performance of Disney’s Aladdin. Tickets can be claimed starting at 11 a.m. on September 13 at the Fox Theatre Box Office (660 Peachtree Street NE) while supplies last.
Aladdin opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 13 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and welcoming over seven million people worldwide. Its global footprint has expanded to include productions in Tokyo, Hamburg, London and Australia, in addition to the two U.S. productions.
Offer valid for residents of North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia with valid ID. Maximum four tickets per family. Offer valid while supplies last.

Center for Puppetry Arts
25 percent off all-inclusive tickets to The Tortoise, the Hare & Other Aesop’s Fables.
Must present a valid ID from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia; walk-up only.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta
$3 off general admission door-price tickets from September 13-18.
Must present valid driver’s license from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. Walk-up only; tickets must be purchased at Welcome Center. Limit 8 tickets per purchase. Not valid with other offers or discounts. Valid on general admission tickets only.

Cinco Mexican Restaurants
Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée at all four Atlanta-area locations through Sept. 19.
Must present a valid ID from an evacuated area.

Corner Bakery Cafe (Lenox Square)
$3 off $10 purchase.
Must present valid ID from an evacuated area. Valid at the Lenox Square Cafe from September 12- October 30.

The Dapper Doughnut (Lenox Square)
25 percent off doughnuts and coffee.
Must present valid ID from an evacuated area. Valid September 13-October 7.

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse (Phipps Plaza)
Complimentary appetizer or dessert with purchase of dinner.
Must present valid ID from an evacuated area.

Doughnut Dollies (Marietta, Ga.)
Complimentary donut with purchase.
Must present valid ID from an evacuated area. Valid through September 20.

Earl of Sandwich (Phipps Plaza)
10 percent discount on any purchase.
Must present valid ID from an evacuated area.  

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Buy one, get one free Museum admission.
Must present a valid ID from an evacuated area or enter discount code ‘Florence’ online.

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern
20 percent off food at Midtown and Brookhaven locations.
Must present valid ID from coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia or other evacuated area. Valid through Sunday, September 16; excludes alcohol.

The Hub at Peachtree Center
Free coupon savings book with savings to 50+ restaurants and retail shops ($50 value).
Must present a valid driver’s license from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia at Guest Services.

Johnny’s Hideaway
Complimentary appetizer with any purchase.
Must present valid driver’s license from Coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. Valid through September 16.

Livingston Restaurant + Bar
Free kids meal with purchase of adult entrée.
Guests must show their driver’s license from Coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia today through September 16.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta
50 percent discount on standard walk-up tickets.
Must present a valid driver’s license from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia.

Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza
Free savings passport available at Guest Services.
Must present a valid driver’s license from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia.

Monday Night Brewing
Free 8 oz. pour of any year-round or seasonal beer.
21 and up only. Must show a valid driver’s license from an evacuated area. Valid at both locations through September 17.

North Georgia Premium Outlets
Free savings passport available at Guest Services.
Must present a valid driver’s license from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia.

Red Sky Tapas & Bar (Marietta, Ga.)
15 percent off entrees.
Must present valid ID from Coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. Valid through September 20.

Time to Escape
50 percent discount with code ‘hurr50’ when booking online at itstimetoescape.com or on-site with a valid Coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia ID.
Valid only September 12-20.

Village Theater
Free tickets to all improve shows from September 14-21.
Must present a valid Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia license; can only redeemed at the box office in person. This offer does not include any Atlanta Improv League Shows, Shi*Faced Shakespeare or Sketch work shows.

Willy’s Mexicana Grill
Free kid combo with adult entrée purchase.
Must present a valid driver’s license from Coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. Limit two kid combos per one adult entrée purchase. Valid September 13-16.

Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar (Lenox Square)
15 percent food discount.
Must present valid ID from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. Excludes alcohol. Valid only at Lenox Square location.

Zoo Atlanta
50 percent off adult and child tickets.

Must present a valid ID from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia. This offer is only valid at the front gate from September 12-20 and is not available with offer offers.

Credit to: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

One of the best things about living in Georgia is driving to the mountains during the fall months.  One of our favorite drives is up to Dahlonega to see the leaves changing, but you can also visit one of the ten top Georgia State Parks for fall color.  You can visit Georgia’s Leaf Watch to find out when peak leaf watching times are going to be this year.

Amicalola Falls State Park – Dawsonville – Just an hour north of Atlanta you’ll find the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall.  A short, flat path leads to a boardwalk offering the most spectacular views.  There is also an easy-to-reach overlook at the top.  For a tougher challenge, start from the bottom of the falls and hike up the steep staircase.

Black Rock Mountain State Park – Clayton At an altitude of 3,640 feet, Black Rock Mountain is Georgia’s highest state park.  (Brasstown Bald is the state’s highest peak.) Roadside overlooks and the summit Visitor Center offer sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The 2.2-mile Tennessee Rock Trail is a good choice for a short, moderate hike.  For an all-day challenge, take the 7.2-mile James E. Edmonds Backcountry Trail.

Cloudland Canyon State Park – Near Chattanooga – One of Georgia’s most beautiful parks offers easy-to-reach rim overlooks and challenging trails.  A favorite hike takes you down a staircase to the bottom of the canyon, where you’ll find two waterfalls.  (Remember, you have to hike back up, but it’s worth it.)  The 5-mile West Rim Loop is moderately difficult and offers great views of the canyon.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park – Pine Mountain – Many people are surprised to find hardwood forests and rolling mountains south of Atlanta.  The 6.7-mile Wolf Den Loop is a favorite section of the longer Pine Mountain Trail.  For a touch of history, drive to Dowdell’s Knob to see a life-size bronze sculpture of President F.D. Roosevelt and views of the forested valley.  Ga. Hwy. 190 is a pretty driving route.

Fort Mountain State Park – Chatsworth – This park is best known for a mysterious rock wall along the mountain top, plus a variety of trails. For the easiest walk, take the 1.2-mile loop around the park’s green lake.  For a challenging, all-day hike, choose the 8-mile Gahuti Trail.  Mountain bikers have more than 14 miles to explore.  Hwy. 52 has beautiful mountain scenery and overlooks worth stopping to see.

Moccasin Creek State Park – Lake Burton – Georgia’s smallest state park sits on the shore of a gorgeous deep-green lake.  Guests can choose from the 2-mile Hemlock Falls Trail or 1-mile Non-Game Trail with a wildlife observation tower.  Hwy. 197 is a particularly pretty road, passing Mark of the Potter and other popular attractions.

Smithgall Woods State Park – Helen – Protecting more than 6,000 acres around Dukes Creek, this is the perfect spot for fly fishing while enjoying fall color.  Day visitors can picnic near the creek, and overnight guests can hike a private trail to Dukes Creek Falls.  A 1.6-mile loop climbs to Laurel Ridge and provides a view of Mt. Yonah once most leaves are off the trees.  Smithgall Woods has some of the park system’s most sought-after cabins and is near wineries and Helen’s Oktoberfest.

Tallulah Gorge State Park – Near Clayton – Tallulah Gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons in the Southeast, and you can choose from easy or difficult trails. Hike along the rim to overlooks with waterfall views, or get a permit from the park office to trek all the way to the bottom. (Permits run out early on weekend mornings.) During November, you can watch expert kayakers as they enjoy the bi-annual “whitewater releases.”

Unicoi State Park – Helen – Ziplines take you high above the forest canopy for a unique view of leaves. If you’re up for a steep hike, take the 4.8-mile Smith Creek Trail up to Anna Ruby Falls. Unicoi offers a lodge and restaurant.

Vogel State Park – Blairsville – The 4-mile Bear Hair Gap Trail makes a nice day trip for experienced hikers, offering a birds-eye view of the park’s lake.  For an easier walk, follow the Lake Loop to a small waterfall below the dam.  The twisting roads around Vogel, particularly Wolf Pen Gap Road, offer some of north Georgia’s prettiest fall scenery.

Safe Hiking Tips

If you plan to get out of your car for a bit, Rangers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources offer these tips for safe hiking:

• Avoid hiking alone.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.  Remember to let them know when you are back.
• Stay on marked trails. As you hike, pay attention to trail blazes and landmarks. A double blaze indicates a change in trail direction or intersection, so be sure to follow the correct trail.
• Never climb on waterfalls or wet rocks.
• Always carry quality rain gear, and turn back in bad weather.
• Dress in layers and avoid cotton.
• All hikers should carry a whistle (especially children), which can be heard far away and takes less energy than yelling.
• Carry plenty of drinking water and never assume stream water is safe to drink.
• Don’t count on cell phones to work in the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about your location.
• Don’t rely on a GPS to prevent you from getting lost. Batteries can die or the equipment can become damaged or lost.

Which parks are you hoping to visit this year?

It’s time for the Juneteenth observance at the Atlanta History Center on June 16-17. On both days, the History Center opens its entire campus for free to the metro Atlanta community.

Yes, this is a free weekend at Atlanta History Center. Guests are invited to enjoy the festival, and to continue their free-day adventures with a variety of Atlanta History Center offerings — signature and temporary exhibitions, historic houses, and gardens and trails. Food and drink are available for purchase.

Every year, the Atlanta History Center is pleased to extend free admission to the community on both Juneteenth days, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Dia de Muertos/Day of the Dead.

As homeschoolers, we love venturing to parks for some hands on learning.  We really appreciate when special days occur with free admission, especially with our large family!

To spotlight Georgia’s fascinating past, State Historic Sites are offering free admission on Sunday, February 11.  The event is part of Georgia History Festival’s statewide celebration of “Super Museum Sunday.” Visitors can see the Cherokee Nation’s first newspaper, walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War soldiers, admire FDR’s hand-controlled roadster, or climb to the top of an Indian mound.

On the Super Museum Sunday website above, you can find a map to print of the museums and plan out your road trip.  96 locations are included!  This looks like a very fun activity!

You can also print a free guide to all of the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.