Melanie Preis
Melanie Preis is a writer, editor, wife, and mom of three (including her beloved bernedoodle). Before joining Mommy Poppins, she worked at StyleBlueprint, Turner Broadcasting, and HowStuffWorks. She loves reading, anything Bravo, art fairs, and, of course, her bernedoodle.
Latest posts by Melanie
Stone Mountain Park offers a unique combination of amusement park, outdoor destination, and historical landmark. Located in DeKalb County, about 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park welcomes Georgia visitors and residents alike with wonderful attractions, including Summit Skyride, a Swiss cable car, that quickly transports riders 825 feet in the air to the top of Stone Mountain itself. (Hikers can also get up the mountain the old-fashioned way by foot, too.) Whether families want to spend an extended period of time by camping in the park; a day of outdoor fun and attractions; or a few hours at a seasonal event, like Lunar New Year, Stone Mountain Park satisfies everyone's needs.
History buffs, outdoorsy folk, and families looking for a day of fun activities like mini golf, dinosaurs, and laser shows, all enjoy the amenities of Stone Mountain Park; those who truly love it don't even have to leave to sleep —the park houses an on-site campground, inn, and resort. Take a look at our trip through Stone Mountain Park and get ready to bring your own kids!
As the new year begins, many families work to make better, healthy food choices. And Atlanta healthy restaurants offer a variety of options that not only taste good, but are also good for you. Sure we at Mommy Poppins love the occasional frozen treat and slice of cake, but for everyday nutrition, we prefer our kids to eat a wholesome meal that hits all the food groups. Whether your kids are snackers, pickers, dessertaholics, anti-green eaters, or something in between, we've rounded up our favorite healthy restaurants in Atlanta sure to please the entire fam!
It's important to note that these healthy restaurants aren't focused on weight loss, low sugar, etc.; they offer fresh ingredients, wholesome recipes, customizable options, vegetarian-friendly meals, and a welcome space for all eaters.
2022 in Atlanta has been making news for all the great, kid-friendly spots that have opened this year. In fact, as we speak Atlanta is still making headlines for 2022 with Winter Storm Elliott's freakishly cold temperatures (Christmas weekend 2022 is the coldest it has been in years in Atlanta). Stay cozy by curling up to your device and reading about our favorite openings and new events that made Atlanta children smile this year!
We at Mommy Poppins love a good recap, so we've rounded up awesome things in Atlanta this year. From engaging exhibits to delicious eateries, 2022 was a great year for Atlantans to try some fabulous new options. Take a look at just some of our favorites!
There's nothing more enticing to a child than a blob of sticky, stretchy, soothing slime; and they can get oodles of the gooey stuff at Sloomoo Institute Atlanta. This mecca of slime is a wacky experience that pays homage to the best of Elmer's Glue. Kids will fan out over the amount and variety of slime, showcased in cool, colorful ways at Sloomoo Institute. And parents will love the fact that all the slime experimentation stays at the Institute and not stuck in their carpet.
My young daughters are definitely working on their doctorates in Slimeology, and by attending Sloomoo Institute Atlanta, their passion in the sticky science has only increased! I can only hope these little graduates go on to make their alma mater proud by coming up with even more insane slime inventions...in our backyard.
For the whole month of November, we've rounded up some of our favorite, fun, and most significantly, FREE events in Orlando, perfect for families of all ages and sizes. There are outdoor movie nights happening in Orlando, Longwood, and Maitland, as well as Veterans Day weekend events, including a wreath ceremony and parade. And make sure to keep fall festivals alive and well by attending free Orlando events like Fusion Fest, Maitland Rotary Art Festival, and much more.
With the start of November comes the inevitable start of holiday programming! Get ready for Santa's arrival later this year with FREE holiday events kicking off in November, like those in Mount Dora, Celebration, and Orlando. Start shopping and get into the holiday spirit at Disney Springs or spend time meeting mischievous elves in Kissimmee.
We've amassed Orlando's top activities for the month in our Best of November piece. Get even more ideas of what to do in our wonderful city by visiting the Mommy Poppins Orlando events calendar!
Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta is a utopia of everything magic. This fantastic Atlanta attraction is the closest many of us will ever get to Hogwarts, celebrating the beloved book and movie series. Fans of all ages need to experience Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta as it immerses visitors in the culture, history, and nostalgia of this magical world.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta comes to downtown for a limited engagement, where visitors get a behind-the-scenes experience of the Harry Potter books and movies, as well as the Fantastic Beasts films and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play. Take a look at authentic props, original costumes, J.K. Rowling's inspirations, as well as innovative exhibits that use modern magic (i.e. technology) to create truly transformative experiences that will astound kids and kids-at-heart.
Conjur your patronus, wear your House colors, and grab a broom because we're taking you through Harry Potter: The Exhibition Atlanta!
Living in Atlanta during the fall means two things: sweater weather and college football. And as fun as sweaters are, it's really all about the rivalries and drama of college football in the South. Sports-loving kids choose their favorite college football teams at a young age, usually based on mom and dad's alma maters, hometowns, Pop Warner youth football names, and more. And the best way to root their beloved teams on is by taking kids to watch college football at the fun Atlanta restaurants and venues. It's also great prep for 2025, when Atlanta hosts the College Football National Championship!
Whether you're a Bulldog, (purple and gold) Tiger, Gator, (orange and blue) Tiger, Yellow Jacket, (orange) Tiger, Rebel, or just like screaming, "Roll Tide," there are some fun places to watch college football in Atlanta with kids. So let your tiny fans slather on the team face paint, wear their favorite jerseys, and holler with their adult counterparts during college football season! And on that note, go Dawgs (sorry, we had to root for the home team)!
Preschools offer the chance for children to explore their worlds in entirely different ways —through the exploration of friendships, academics, the arts, and much more. Every Atlanta preschool follows its own philosophy to open that educational and social path for kids, and it's up to parents to discover which philosophy lines up best with their own personal values. In addition to teaching philosphies, like Reggio Emilia and Montessori, there are also other elements to consider when finding the right preschool for your family, including spiritual, environmental, and cultural connections.
Finding the right Atlanta preschool can be tough so make sure to ask questions! We've come up with a few helpful questions to ask during your next preschool tour but make sure to come up with some the directly affect how you'll make your choice.
There are so many amazing preschools in Atlanta that it's nearly impossible to spotlight every one, so keep an eye out as we constantly expand this group. We've rounded up a few of our faves after talking to local parents. Always let us know what you recommend by visiting our Facebook page and getting in touch!
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