Oh those 3 dreaded words, “Mama, I’m bored!” Now that the presents are opened and exchanges made, how many days do you have until the kids get bored? With the rain and wind, it has been hard to get out of the house to play outside. So what is there to do in Atlanta when the kids get bored with all the new toys?  Here are my top three picks for cold weather:

Tellus offers tons of great activities for kids (and adults) at the largest planetarium in the South.

• Pan for gold and other treasures
• Get a fossil hunting license and discover what it is like to be a paleontologist
• Find the fossilized dinosaur poop in the musuem
• Visit the Collins Family My Big Backyard – a gallery just for kids

Booth Western Museum boasts the largest collection of cowboy art east of the Mississippi. There are a variety of activities for kids including:

• The Sagebrush Ranch where they can ride a stagecoach, dress up in western wear, “ride” a horse or pretend to cook at the Chuck Wagon.
• The 6th Annual Kids Cowboy Up Exhibit is on Display through Jan. 10.
• There are several online activities available for download

Georgia Aquarium offers 8 million gallons of water full of fish and aquatic life. Kids will enjoy

• Georgia Explorer where they can touch horseshoe crabs, star fish, stingrays and shrimp
• Ocean Voyager is a favorite of mine where you walk through an acrylic tunnel surrounded by the ocean
• Get up close with piranah at the River Scout area

Zoo Atlanta, it may be cold outside, but the animals LOVE it. You might just find them frolicking around at the zoo. Bundle up and check them out!

• Gorilla feedings from 2 to 3 p.m. daily
• Orangutan feedings from 2:30 to 3:30 daily
• The petting zoo is themed to resemble an Australian sheep herding station
• The Kids Zone features the Norfolk Southern Zoo Express, a rock climbing wall and a colorful carousel
• Don’t miss the Giant Pandas!

If this list doesn’t tempt the kids, you could go to a movie, tackle a Boy Scout or Girl Scout badge, clean out a closet or play my all time favorite game, Clue. Hope this helps to cure those three little words!

via www.atlantarealestateforum.com

Time is running out to be able to see the 2009 Atlanta Holiday House as it is only open through December 20th. And, according to the reviews from local media, this is a home you do not want to miss. The general consensus is that the house is the “the most stunning show home ever built!” What a claim! Can you imagine what this home must look like in order to draw that kind of a response?

Well, considering the house is the collaborative effort of 25 of Atlanta’s top designers, it’s no wonder that it is impressing visitors.  The house is 22,000 square feet of exceptional architecture and was built by Atlanta custom builder Steve West. With your ticket, you will be given access to every room of the house, each with its own unique flair. Unfortunately, the website has no pictures of the home, so there is no way to see it other than paying a visit in person.

You can purchase tickets in advance for $20 or at the door for $25. All proceeds from the Holiday House will go to Save a Smile Foundation benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and other premier medical entities specializing in the treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate birth defects. Don’t miss your chance to tour this extraordinary home!

via www.atlantarealestateforum.com

For everyone that is hosting family and friends this holiday season, you need to be more than the source of food, you must also be the source of entertainment. Playing host/hostess during the holidays is no easy feat, but thankfully, we live in Atlanta where there are a myriad of options for keeping out of town guests busy and happy.

Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) is happy to present Downtown Holiday Adventure, which is 50 Days of Family Fun during the holiday season. What types of things are included in the 50 Days of Family Fun? Well, of course catching a performance of the Nutcracker from the Atlanta Ballet, which is a 50 year tradition in Atlanta now. Other things like bringing the family to visit the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke. Or, having the opportunity to ice skate outdoors in Centennial Park even though we don’t exactly have snow or freezing weather. There are also many different holiday concerts and plays. Visit the museums or take a trolley tour, so much to do!

Any of these activities will help put your family in the holiday spirit and get them out of the house so you can do what needs to be done. For a full list of the 50 Days of Family Fun, visit http://www.atlantadowntown.com/fun/holidays

And, Happy Holidays everyone!

via www.atlantarealestateforum.com