We’ve talked about fun, free things to do in Athens, but what if you’re in the mood for a day trip? The rest of the state has fun, free activities that are worth checking out too. If you head to Atlanta and don’t want to battle parking and traffic, MARTA tickets are just $2 a person. So pack a lunch and set out for one or more of these exciting attractions:

• Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta has free live music at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 5:30-8:00 on Wednesdays. The fourth Saturday of each month is free family fun day, with games, educational activities, workshops and prizes.
• The Center of Puppetry Arts offers Jim Henson: Puppeteer and Jim Henson: A Man & His Frog, free of charge every Thursday from 1-3 p.m.
• The Georgia State Capitol allows you to do a self guided tour to learn about the lawmaking process and the building’s history, observe the House and Senate in session, and and see the Georgia Capitol Museum. Bonus prize: they have a stuffed two headed snake!
• Visit the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta to learn all about the Federal Reserve. Hopefully this will help your kids learn the value of money, and that it doesn’t grow on trees.
• Buckhead has a free shuttle service called The Buc that stops at 26 different locations around the area. The Tech Trolley is a free shuttle around Midtown. Both of these would be great hop on, hop off free people watching.
• The King Center offers information about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a tour of his birth home, the church where his father preached, Ebeneezer Baptist Church, and his final resting place.
• Fernbank Science Center offers free programs at 4:00 and 5:00 on the first Thursday afternoon of the month. There’s no need to make a reservation, just show up 10 minutes before the program starts. Happy savings!

Published on Thursday, June 14th, 2012 @ 4:57 pm.