Favorite Georgia Places for Kids Who Love Things that GO

Plan a Georgia vacation that feeds kids' desire to move. Whether they want to go fast, take a leisurely ride, or watch the pros, they'll love these exciting ways to get from here to there.

Automobiles

Racing

For the car enthusiast, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton has tons of different kinds of events, from the Petit Le Mans to drift racing. One of the best events with kids is the HSR The Mitty in April, a circus-type atmosphere that celebrates the past, present, and future of motorsports, and is perfect for the family looking for unusual extreme sports fun. You won’t be sitting in stands watching from your seat at this springtime event, which is more like a festival than a spectator experience.

If you don't get enough of race cars at Road Atlanta, visit Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton for a NASCAR event. Plan to get there early for tailgating and the free FanZone. For the ultimate experience, purchase FanVision, a tablet-like device that allows you to hear the drivers and pit crew, plus see the racing action from inside the car! Save money by reserving your device ahead of time. Besides NASCAR, Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts events throughout the year.

Get up close to loud and fast racing action at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, which hosts events on its quarter-mile drag strip and half-mile oval speedway. You can even race your own street car on the strip!

Cars for Kids

Tiny Towne in Norcross may sound like it’s just for younger children, but actually they have driving programs that teach kids as young as 3 and as old as 15 to be safer drivers. And because any age kid can get behind the wheel at Tiny Towne, it’s fun, too!

Planes

Vintage Aircraft

Georgia's military aviation history is a lengthy one told by museums throughout the state, like the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler and the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing Museum in Peachtree City. See an incredible collection of planes and artifacts, and learn about the men and women who braved the skies in the earliest days of flight.

Helicopter Rides

For those who truly want to take to the sky, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) in Hampton takes guests up in military helicopters. But even if you don't want to fly, you can still climb in and around Vietnam-era helicopters in the hangar for free.

Air Shows

Some of the best places to see the pros flying are at air shows in Georgia, like the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show held in Rome and the Atlanta Air Show held at the Atlanta Regional Airport.

Skydiving

For an extreme experience, try skydiving in Georgia! Skydive Atlanta is a popular option for tandem jumps. If you aren't quite ready to jump out of a plane, go to iFly Atlanta, an indoor skydiving gym located in Cobb County. Kids and adults can get the feeling of flying in the iFLY wind tunnel with the help of a coach.

Plane-themed Roller Coaster

Have you ever dreamed of being a fighter pilot? If so, then you'll want to try the Dare Devil Dive roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell. This exceptionally smooth coaster pays homage to World War II-era stunt planes and the daring aerial acrobatics of the pilots. According to an F-22 test pilot, it's similar to flying a modern-day fighter jet, too.

Trains

Satisfy young train fans with a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Springtime is perfect for an open car ride where you can feel a part of the scenery around you. In fall, there is no better way to view autumn’s color. And in winter, don't miss the railroad's festive holiday packages.

There are many more places to ride trains in Georgia, like the Georgia Coastal Railway, Historic SAM Shortline Railroad in Cordele, Stone Mountain Park, and the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village in Tifton.

And More

Bikes

Most kids know how to ride a bike, but few kids can say they've tried track cycling. At Dick Lane Velodrome in East Point, kids can experience riding a closed circular track on a bike with no brakes and no gears. Sounds scary, but promise, they'll love it, and Dick Lane has special classes just for kids.

There are also a number of cycling events in Georgia that welcome all skill levels to participate and spectate, like the Athens Twilight Criterium in the spring and the Six Gap Century Bicycle Ride in Dahlonega in the fall. And, any time of year, head to Georgia's paved trails for a bike ride, stroll, or jog to release some energy.

Trucks

Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville is known for its planetarium and fossil exhibits, but did you know they also have huge, and I mean HUGE, trucks on display outside the museum? These construction trucks are a kid’s dream. Inside the museum, the Science in Motion exhibit has historic cars, as well as spacecraft like an Apollo 1 capsule replica.

Boats

An afternoon aboard the Lady Jane Shrimpin' Excursions shrimp boat is one of the coolest boat rides on the Georgia coast. Ride through Georgia salt marshes, and watch how the big fishing nets drop into the water to bring up nature's bounty.

Motorcycles & ATVs

New riders can experience the excitement of motorcycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Campus in Alpharetta. Learn the basics and develop skills with instruction from certified coaches at this Atlanta-area dirt bike and trail riding school.

Bring your ATV, UTV, 4x4, dirt bike, Jeep, or other off-road vehicle to Iron Mountain Park in Dahlonega to ride more than 150 miles of scenic routes in the North Georgia mountains. If you don’t own a machine, choose from among a full fleet of rentals that come with all the gear you need to hit the trails safely. Routes range from mild to wild to suit any style. Book a cabin or campsite to stay close to the trails so you don’t lose a minute of riding time.