As Atlanta area residents prepare for graduation ceremonies, all thoughts are on the brilliant summer just beyond. Everywhere you look, people are planning to make the most of their free time and sample some of the premium recreation, entertainment and culture around Atlanta. Here’s a brief guide to the best ways to find fun during the summer months.
The season of festival fun
Summer around Atlanta wouldn’t be the same without festivals!
- In June, enjoy arts, music, food and running events at the Virginia-Highland Summerfest.
- Wet your whistle at the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest.
- Watch nature take wing as gorgeous butterflies are released at the 23rd annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival.
- July offers the heat-busting Atlanta Ice Cream Festival, with all the flavors you’ve heard of and plenty you haven’t.
- The Atlanta Underground Film Festival is an eclectic showcase of independent film, spanning multiple events around Atlanta.
- As August rolls around, the Bronzelens Film Festival offers even more for film culture fans.
- The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival celebrates and supports Atlanta’s oldest park with 2 days of music, arts, food and running.
Make a big splash
With so many waterways and waterparks around Atlanta, staying cool won’t be an issue.
- For a relaxing trip downstream, residents love to paddle or float down the Chattahoochee River — and picnic, play and explore among its extensive series of parklands throughout the northern Atlanta metro.
- Abundant rental outposts like the popular Shoot the Hooch are a great way to float in peace without having to buy any of your own flotation gear.
- Guided canoe trips at the Chattahoochee Nature Center are another great way to get out on the river.
Some local attractions are either centered around water (like Six Flags Over Georgia’s Hurricane Harbor and the thrilling Six Flags White Water) or contain playful, refreshing splash pads in addition to other attractive features (Zoo Atlanta or Atlanta Botanical Garden).
Many of the area’s state and local parks also offer places to swim and splash with beaches, swimming areas, pools and falls — plus a myriad of other activities that vary by location.
Cool down at these indoor attractions
When the thermometer really starts to rise, it’s time to seek shade with some indoor summer fun. Thankfully, Atlanta and its surrounding areas offer plenty of rain-or-shine options:
- The World of Coca-Cola Museum gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the bottling process, shows off hundreds of pop culture artifacts from the company’s long history, offers an impressive 4-D theater and has an astounding gift shop.
- The nearby Georgia Aquarium has a deep collection of sea life, animals and exhibits (including a brand-new shark gallery) and offers a full schedule of events for adults and children alike.
- For the artistically inclined, there’s no beating Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience — a 20,000+ square foot sound-and-light spectacular with two-story high projections of Van Gogh’s most compelling masterpieces.
Obviously, this is only scratching the surface of all the things to see and do during an Atlanta summer — but hopefully it gives you an idea of all the variety in town and spurs you to explore further. Each Lennar neighborhood has something to offer in its own corner of the metroplex, so be sure to look around and have fun!
