Sweet Summertime- no school, sleeping in, lazy days…until the joy wears off and you’re met with “Mom, I’m borrrrrred!”
There’s always something fun to do when you live in a big city like Atlanta. There’s the usual- outdoor games and sports (pickleball, anyone?), hanging by the pool, and going to the movies, but sometimes you want to do something a little different.
Here are a few ideas to get your tweens or teens through the dog days of summer.
1. Host a Picnic with Friends- Piedmont Park is a great place for this
2. Take a Daytrip- Helen, Serenbe, Dahlonega, and Chattanooga are great choices
3. Go Camping (don’t forget the marshmallows!)
4. Try Tie-Dye
5. Water Balloon Fight or Slip ‘N Slide in the backyard
6. Visit a Swimming Hole at a Local Park-
Vickery Creek in Roswell
Jones Bridge Park in Norcross
Yellow River Park in Stone Mountain
Settles Bridge Park in Suwanee
Tribble Mill Park in Grayson (this one takes a little effort to find; type “Tribble Mill Waterfall” into Maps)
7. Go to a Concert- either a local city concert or a large venue
8. Do an Escape Room- some top-rated ones in Atlanta are
Amazing Escape in Norcross
Breakout Games in Buckhead
The Escape Game at The Battery
9. Start a 1000 Piece Puzzle- work on it a little each day
10. Host a Movie or Game Night- don’t forget to do up the popcorn and snacks. Bonus points for an outdoor setup!
11. Create Some Art- determine a medium (watercolor painting, origami, mixed media) and follow a YouTube tutorial
12. Recreate Pinterest Photos- browse Pinterest for fun photos you want to try with your friends. Take turns photographing each other
13. Donut Sampling- venture to a few local shops, buy a few donuts at each to sample and rate them
A few of our favs are-
The Salty Donut
Sublime Donuts
Simply Done Donuts (mini donuts)
Duck Donuts
14. Catch Fireflies in a jar and feel the nostalgia of childhood
15. Hike Stone Mountain early to catch the sunrise
16. Go Tubing- you can shoot the Hooch in Cobb County or venture up to the mountains in Helen
17. Make a Summer Collage- be sure to snap photos of your adventures and turn it into a keepsake to display in your bedroom
18. Self-Care Sleepover- have her friends get together for all the facemasks, cozy robes, and foot baths
19. Go Strawberry Picking- there’s nothing better than fruit right from the vine! Here are a few around metro Atlanta-
Washington Farms in Bogart
Warbington Farms in Cumming
Jaemor Farms in Alto
20. Spend the day exploring The Battery- there’s so much to do, from shopping to live music, to, of course, catching a Braves game!
Summer should have lazy days, and there’s no need to try and tackle all of these (unless, of course, you like a challenge!), but choose one or two to try out with your teen this year. You may end up with a new hobby or family tradition! Go out and adventure instead of staying cooped up until August!
