Elsa Simcik

Elsa Simcik has been freelance writing for 20-something years, covering a hodgepodge of fields--health & fitness, human interest stories, and even dating. After becoming a mom she segued into writing for local magazines and websites, focusing on parenting, fun things to do with kids, and travel. The travel part is fun, but not as glamorous as it sounds, because it's traveling with kids. Still, she'll take it.

Latest posts by Elsa

Easter Egg Hunts and More Best Things to Do in Atlanta April 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 03/30/2025 - 11:45am

Hop into fun at the Easter Egg Hunt & Eggs-stra Special Needs Egg Hunt in Norcross. Photo courtesy of the event

From Spring festivals and Easter to Earth Day and Passover, there's lots of fun for kids in Atlanta this April!

We start April with spring break 2025 for most Atlanta students, and families who stay in town will have plenty of options for seasonal entertainment at Stone Mountain Park and Six Flags. Experience spring festivals both new, Panda Fest, and not-so-new, Atlanta Dogwood Festival (back for its 89th year at Piedmont Park!). And just when we thought April couldn't get any more "egg-citing," here comes Easter on April 20, 2025. Check out our list of Easter Egg Hunts in Atlanta and see below for our full list of fun, family-friendly events in April.

Best Spring Festivals in Atlanta for Kids and Families

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 03/14/2025 - 10:28am

The Georgia State Fair promises carnival rides, children's attractions, live shows, concessions, a magic show, and more! Photo courtesy of the event

What's not to love about spring festivals in Atlanta? Dogwoods and cherry blossoms are in bloom; the weather is sunny and mild; and Atlanta has the best spring fairs! Since we know families love to hit up spring events (most of them are FREE!), we've gathered all the details for our favorite spring festivals in Atlanta. Pack up the kids, set them loose on the bouncy houses, get their faces painted, and enjoy spring in Atlanta!

St. Patrick's Day Parades and More Best Things to Do in Atlanta March 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:18am

Celebrate all things Irish at the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade. Photo courtesy of the parade organizers

From Purim to St. Patrick's Day and the arrival of spring, March is a great time to get out and enjoy Atlanta!

As we spring forward into March, families can enjoy outdoor events like the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade with floats, bagpipes, and lots of green! Purim falls in mid March this year and families have several events to choose from like the Purim Carnival with a Cause in north Atlanta and MJCCA's Purimpalooza. Fans of the Harlem Globetrotters have the opportuniy to see the awesome antics of the basketball stars in Duluth at Gas South Arena this month. Finally, nothing signals spring in Atlanta more than the annual Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, with live music, fun kids' zone, food, and more. Read on to see all of the family-friendly March events!

Presidents Day Weekend 2025: 16 Things To Do in Atlanta With Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:20am

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey takes the stage at State Farm Arena this weekend. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this long weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend!

Presidents Day weekend in Atlanta means a day (or five) off from school, which could equal lots of family time. To keep everyone entertained and off screens, we've come up with 30 Fun Things to Do for February's Winter Break in Atlanta. Families celebrate Valentine's Day this weekend too, with events like the Brookhaven Sweetheart Dance and the I Love Music Valentine's Day Concert from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. We also LOVE that Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus is in town this weekend at State Farm Arena! Keep reading on for details on these and more events this Presidents Day weekend!

Best Affordable Summer Camps in Atlanta

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 02/09/2025 - 9:02am

Kids can spend the day playing in the park at one of several camps across Gwinnett County. Photo courtesy of Gwinnett Park and Recreation

Finding affordable summer camps in Atlanta can feel like trying to find a unicorn. But unlike unicorns, these summer camps are out there! Check out our list of affordable summer camps in Atlanta — helping parents get the most out of their buck and helping kids have an awesome summer.

For this article, we've capped "affordable" summer camp cost at $250 per week or less for 2025. Luckily, Atlanta's suburbs and counties have awesome parks and recreation departments that offer parents lots of affordable camp options. Note: We will add more details as Atlanta summer camps release the 2025 information so stay tuned.

30 Fun Things To Do in Greenville, SC with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 02/02/2025 - 11:00am

You'll love chasing waterfalls at Falls Park on the Reedy.

If you haven't been to Greenville, SC, think of it as a place where quaint Southern charm meets family-friendly fun. Greenville's fabulous walkable downtown area is anchored by Falls Park on the Reedy with gorgeous waterfalls, a cool suspension bridge, and sprawling grassy areas for running and picnicking. Add to that, yummy Southern fare, plenty of kid-approved activities, and mild weather, and you've got yourself an easy, memorable family vacay. Through February 2025, families can snag deals at fun Greenville attractions and restaurants as part of Visit Greenville's Yes Day GVL promotion.

Read on for our list of 30 fun things to do in Greenville, SC with kids, including our favorite hotels and restaurants in Greenville. For more family vacation ideas from Florida to California and beyond, check out our Family Travel Guide.

Valentine's Day and More Top Things to Do in Atlanta February 2025

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 01/31/2025 - 9:32am

Bring the family to a community-wide Valentine's Day celebration at Halcyon at Forsyth. Photo courtesy of Halcyon

Whether enjoying Valentine's Day or Black History Month, or planning a Mardi Gras or Presidents Day weekend getaway, there is plenty to love about February! Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Atlanta for February.

February in Atlanta brings Valentine's Day love with events like Halcyon's Family Valentine's Day Party and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Valentine's Day Concert. Your kids will also love Atlanta Ballet 2's kid-friendly (as in one hour) production of The Swan Princess at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The circus is coming to town not once, but twice, in February —families can choose seeing the Greatest Show on Earth in Downtown Atlanta or Duluth...or both! We're all loving the fact that Blippi will be in Atlanta February 23 for the brand new Join the Band tour! And there's even more fun, February events included below!

Free Museums and Free Museum Days in Atlanta

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 01/17/2025 - 9:39am

Visit the second largest museum in the U.S. Air Force, the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robbins.

We have the scoop on FREE Atlanta museums, as well as the ones that have certain free museum days throughout the year, to spend a wonderful day with the kids. Atlanta museums are great ways to have fun, especially during freezing winters and scorching summers. Plus museums spark the imagination, help develop observation skills, and expose children to a broader world.

Many Atlanta museums participate in the Museums on Us program, in which Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders receive free admission to participating museums on the first weekend of each month. Also, Georgia library card holders can check out Experience Passes, which include free admission at many museums, parks, and Zoo Atlanta. And don't forget the upcoming Super Museum Sunday on February 9, 2025, when many museums and state historical sites offer free admission in conjunction with the Georgia History Festival.

Elsa Simcik

Latest posts by Elsa

Pages