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Child snow tubing with Stone Mountain in the background.
Enjoy Snow Mountain before it melts away.
Stone Mountain Park

The 26 best things to do in Atlanta this winter

A range of terrific options for exploring Atlanta during winter’s (somewhat) chilly weather

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Enjoy Snow Mountain before it melts away.
| Stone Mountain Park

The holiday season is behind us, and a new year—and decade—is underway. While winter is in full swing, Atlanta weather, as usual, has its fair share of chilly and not-so-chilly days. As such, Atlantans (and Atlanta visitors) are ready to explore.

Good thing the metro is brimming with options—both indoors and out—for beholding winter wonders.

Below, we’ve updated our list of places to visit during a cold, wet winter day, a staycation, or one of those “let’s get outside right now” weekends in January, February, and March. It’s also a guide for where to take out-of-town guests and show off the ATL.

Grab your flannel and cocoa, step away from the couch and TV, and get going!

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Arabia Mountain hike

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For an uplifting experience in nature that doesn’t require much driving (but benefits from clear winter skies), head to Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, where you’ll find the relatively unsung, lunar-like, prehistoric sibling to Stone Mountain, just south of Interstate 20 in Lithonia. 

Explore a wandering PATH trail or hike up two granite outcrops that are moderate compared to that famous other rock. This rolling landscape took 400 million years to form, and it’s a quick, idyllic getaway for experiencing winter’s beauty. On a clear day, you’ll spot Atlanta sky-rises in the distance. (Pro tip: A good place to begin is the nature center, 3787 Klondike Road.)

In the foreground is a shallow body of water and various plants and grasses. In the distance are trees. There is a sunset and the sky is orange. Photo by David Akoubian, The Nature Conservancy, via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Playing in Piedmont Park

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As the city’s backyard, occasional sledding paradise, and one of America’s great urban green spaces, Piedmont Park offers intown dwellers and visitors a place to stretch their legs, enjoy the great outdoors, and be social—for free. A favorite Atlanta pastime during all seasons includes grabbing a blanket, beverages, and soaking up the vibes in the South’s version of Central Park. No better time for all of this than temperate winter days.

Located in centralized Midtown and tied to a range of neighborhoods by the Beltline, the park and adjoining Atlanta Botanical Garden are a breath of fresh air among the hustle and high-rises of the city.

A park dusted in snow with tall buildings behind it. Curbed Atlanta

Stone Mountain Park

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A year-round destination, Stone Mountain Park is especially enjoyable in winter’s climate. Through February 23, grab a snow tube and hit Snow Mountain, a winter wonderland that takes over the park’s Memorial Lawn. Once the manufactured snow melts—or even while it remains—you can enjoy hiking up the mountain, experience the park attractions or hit the links at the park’s two golf courses. All year long, there’s no shortage of entertainment available at the park.

Parking ($20) is required for entrance to Stone Mountain Park. Attraction tickets are available in specific ticket packages, starting at $31.95.

The walkable Decatur Square

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Predating the City of Atlanta itself, Decatur has managed to retain its small-town feel despite the urban explosion around it. It's worth a visit (or two) to enjoy entertainment at the gazebo or a beer sidewalk-side to people-watch away the hours.

A short ride on MARTA from the core of Atlanta, the square features a vibrant restaurant and arts scene. Characterized (questionably) as the Brooklyn of Atlanta by the New York Times, there’s no shortage of things to see and do around Decatur Square all year.

Stores and restaurants on a street. Outside of the restaurant in the foreground are tables and chairs. There are holiday decorations hanging above the sidewalk and on the trees that line the sidewalk. Curbed Atlanta

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

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Home to dinosaurs, a Star Gallery (featuring a variety of constellations, from Orion to the Big Dipper), and a theater with a four-story screen and 3D capabilities, Fernbank is Atlanta’s premier destination for science and history lovers. It’s also an enchanting place for a winter’s walk in the woods.

With eclectic events, including a tour of the adjacent old-growth forest and “Fernbank After Dark,” which couples liquor and learning, there’s plenty to do for children and adults.

Oakland Cemetery

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The final resting place of many famous Georgians, Oakland Cemetery was founded in 1850 and offers plenty of history and stoic beauty. Encompassing 150 acres just east of downtown, the cemetery boasts fantastic views of the city’s skyline from among the shadows of numerous large oaks and magnolias.

Tours and events abound all year, and winter is a great time to check them out without the crowds. Check the calendar, and choose one for your visit.

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

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Wanna feel like you’re in North Georgia wilds without leaving the urban confines of ITP ATL? Head here to enjoy a mild winter’s day. The rolling, residential terrain of Southwest Atlanta yields a surprising natural treasure that spans 120 acres on Cascade Road and is dotted with remnants of Civil War battles (plus a historic springhouse and climbable waterfall). 

Not far from downtown, the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve Trail might be ITP’s most tranquil running and hiking destination, with three trail options and plenty of terrific vantages for a clear winter day. Onsite parking is available.

Ponce City Market’s rooftop

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Atlantans have long pined for public rooftop views that encompass the city’s varied skylines, and Ponce City Market’s rollicking vintage amusement park in the sky does the job as well as anywhere. Whether relaxing with your favorite cocktail or taking part in one of PCM’s many events, there’s no better place to enjoy a warm winter day—or night. Standard admission is $10.

PATH400

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For Buckhead dwellers pining to enjoy a multi-use trail without venturing southward, look no further than PATH400. Winter explorers will soon be able to tackle a new section that connects Miami Circle to Peachtree Park.

The first phase, connecting Old Ivy Road to Tower Place, opened in early 2015, and the network is far beyond half-complete already. Once finished, this 5.2-mile spine will connect to the Beltline’s Peachtree Creek spur trail and beyond, offering a 10- to 14-foot-wide multi-use path for cyclists, skaters, walkers, and runners.

A highway with a walking path next to it. There is a man walking down the walking path. There are cars on the highway. In the distance is a city skyline. Curbed Atlanta

The Atlanta Beltline

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Less a singular thing to see, and more a chance to people-watch and walk between some of Atlanta’s great sights and most quintessential ’hoods, the Beltline continues to grow from a big idea to one of the most transformative urban initiatives in the country.

The Beltline pulses with activity all winter long, with everything from fitness and art happenings to bus tours and more. Visitors might want to catch it at the southeastern edge of Piedmont Park and explore points south.

Zoo Atlanta

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Located in Atlanta’s oldest public green space, Grant Park, recently expanded Zoo Atlanta is a longtime favorite of Atlanta residents and visitors. It’s also home to pandas and many other cute creatures who look forward to visitors on warm, sunny winter days.

Little Five Points

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A fun visit for all seasons, Atlanta’s vibrant, subversive, and always feisty Little Five Points provides a shopping and people-watching experience like no other in town.

L5P crept up organically in the 1920s, around streets where trolleys once converged, and visitor’s today can find everything from rad thrift-store jewelry and some of America’s best burgers to high-performance bicycles and indie concerts.

An entrance to a market place. The entrance is shaped and painted like a cartoon skull. The skull’s eyes are pink and swirly. Curbed Atlanta

Chattahoochee River, National Recreation Area

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What beats a winter hike along the banks of the ’hooch? Not much. The Chattahoochee River, along the northern and western borders of the City of Atlanta, offers an array of options for whiling away a warm winter day—even if it means skipping the getting wet part.

The National Recreation Area, which includes the gorgeous East Palisades, features a range of options for hiking, kayaking and canoeing, and fishing. It’s an inexpensive, restorative way to soak in nature close to home.

Atlanta History Center

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More than just a storage facility for artifacts, the Atlanta History Center’s 33-acre Buckhead grounds feature a museum, library, research center, and range of historic structures, including the amazingly ornate Swan House and plenty of trails to enjoy cooler weather.

A great place to learn about the history of the city and its citizens, the facility also is home to the fully restored panoramic cyclorama painting and the historic Texas locomotive.

A large crescent-shaped building with a  tree beside it. Courtesy of Atlanta History Center

College Football Hall of Fame

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Missing your college football fix? Atlanta is the country’s amateur pigskin mecca, and the College Football Hall of Fame just might be the nucleus.

Located across Centennial Olympic Park from the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Center for Civil and Human Rights, the facility is part museum and part fan-experience zone. With an indoor football field, visitors can play out their QB (and field-goal kicker) fantasies.

A large glassy building with an orangish football-shaped appendage and other tall buildings in the background. Courtesy of College Football Hall of Fame

World of Coca-Cola

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Need a fun option for a rainy winter day? Head here—and have a smile. Among the many global powerhouse companies with Atlanta roots, Coca-Cola is undoubtedly the most universally known.

While some may find the World of Coca-Cola an over-the-top ad for the company, approaching it with the understanding that it’s one big shameless paean to the hometown beverage maker allows for enjoyment. Don’t forget to sample the “Beverly” in “Taste It!”

High Museum of Art

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Just a fraction of the greater Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown, the High Museum is the premier art facility in the Southeast. The world-class museum features an extensive permanent collection and plays host to an array of traveling exhibitions from around the globe. What’s more, the collections are housed in two remarkable buildings designed by architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.

Porsche Experience Center

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Not as family (or cost) friendly as many activities on the list, the exhilarating Porsche Experience Center is tailored to those of driving age and older. For visitors willing to pony up some serious cash ($350 and up for 90 minutes, which is plenty of time, given the workout-like exertion required), the Experience Center offers Porsche enthusiasts and bucket-listers the chance to run the company’s iconic sports cars around a test track at breakneck speeds.

A large commercial building with a path outside of it. HOK

Georgia Aquarium

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For fans of artfully displayed aquatic life, the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere (damn you, Singapore!) is a soothing respite from truly cold winter days. What’s more, an ongoing expansion project will bring back an emphasis on large toothy sharks. Tip: Buy tickets online beforehand. And unless you enjoy that sardines-in-a-tin sensation, avoid visiting on holiday weekends.

Center for Puppetry Arts

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Looking for an indoor option on crummy days? As the largest organization in the United States devoted to the art of puppetry, the Center for Puppetry Arts is a unique Atlanta attraction for both kids and adults.

A recent renovation and addition has allowed for the display of a treasure trove of puppet paraphernalia. And as home to Jim Henson’s collections, the museum allows visitors to get up close and personal with Kermit and his iconic Muppet friends.

In the foreground is a glass display case with the puppet Big Bird from Sesame Street. In another glass display case are colorful statues of the numbers 1, 9, 6, 9 with various Sesame Street puppets flaking the numbers. The puppets are Oscar the Grouch, E Photo courtesy of The Center for Puppetry Arts

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

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Encompassing the blocks in Sweet Auburn where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, grew up, preached, and is buried, the National Historic Site is a fitting monument to Atlanta’s most legendary civil rights leader. With opportunities to tour his birthplace and see just some of his many works, the compound is a must for visitors and locals alike.

A large yellow house with windows. There are shrubs and stairs in front of the house. Getty Images

National Center For Civil and Human Rights

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Designed by Phil Freelon, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a prominent feature in the cultural district surrounding Centennial Olympic Park. Architecturally stunning on its own, the museum houses comprehensive, educational, and thought-provoking exhibits and artifacts. It’s a much headier visit than the fish tank and soda shrine next door.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

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Still a newcomer to the Atlanta sports scene, the stadium on the western edge of downtown is home to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United—the MLS champions whose rabid local fanbase has smashed attendance records since inception. But for those who don’t love football, soccer, or live music (or who scoff at paying big bucks for the tickets), a cheaper guided tour is well worth the time.

The Fox Theatre

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Saved from the wrecking ball in the 1970s, this former Shriners hall and movie house from 1929 is an architectural gem on Peachtree. Home to everything from Broadway to rock concerts, the Fox is the epitome of pre-Depression opulence, rendered in a Moorish Revival style. Tours are offered, too, allowing a glimpse behind the scenes at some of the building’s most unique architectural features.

In the foreground is a theater marquee with letters that read: Fox. In the background are brown buildings. Curbed Atlanta

Atlanta Preservation Center

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Built in 1856, the Lemuel P. Grant Mansion is one of only two surviving antebellum homes in Atlanta. (Thanks, Sherman!) Constructed as a three-story Italianate mansion for Grant—a railroad magnate and philanthropist in early Atlanta—the mansion survived the Civil War, numerous fires, and a lot of neglect.

The site of golf legend Bobby Jones’s birth, the home now serves as the headquarters of the Atlanta Preservation Center. A phenomenal resource for all things yesteryear Atlanta, it breathes history.

Historic Fourth Ward Park

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Adjacent to the Beltline’s Eastside Trail, Historic Fourth Ward Park offers 17 acres of green space, a playground, skatepark, an outdoor theater, and beautiful two-acre water feature—all perfect for a stroll any day of the year.

A lush pond and plants surrounded by white and brick apartment buildings.
The park’s flood-preventing pond, in summer.
Curbed Atlanta

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Arabia Mountain hike

For an uplifting experience in nature that doesn’t require much driving (but benefits from clear winter skies), head to Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, where you’ll find the relatively unsung, lunar-like, prehistoric sibling to Stone Mountain, just south of Interstate 20 in Lithonia. 

Explore a wandering PATH trail or hike up two granite outcrops that are moderate compared to that famous other rock. This rolling landscape took 400 million years to form, and it’s a quick, idyllic getaway for experiencing winter’s beauty. On a clear day, you’ll spot Atlanta sky-rises in the distance. (Pro tip: A good place to begin is the nature center, 3787 Klondike Road.)

In the foreground is a shallow body of water and various plants and grasses. In the distance are trees. There is a sunset and the sky is orange. Photo by David Akoubian, The Nature Conservancy, via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Playing in Piedmont Park

As the city’s backyard, occasional sledding paradise, and one of America’s great urban green spaces, Piedmont Park offers intown dwellers and visitors a place to stretch their legs, enjoy the great outdoors, and be social—for free. A favorite Atlanta pastime during all seasons includes grabbing a blanket, beverages, and soaking up the vibes in the South’s version of Central Park. No better time for all of this than temperate winter days.

Located in centralized Midtown and tied to a range of neighborhoods by the Beltline, the park and adjoining Atlanta Botanical Garden are a breath of fresh air among the hustle and high-rises of the city.

A park dusted in snow with tall buildings behind it. Curbed Atlanta

Stone Mountain Park

A year-round destination, Stone Mountain Park is especially enjoyable in winter’s climate. Through February 23, grab a snow tube and hit Snow Mountain, a winter wonderland that takes over the park’s Memorial Lawn. Once the manufactured snow melts—or even while it remains—you can enjoy hiking up the mountain, experience the park attractions or hit the links at the park’s two golf courses. All year long, there’s no shortage of entertainment available at the park.

Parking ($20) is required for entrance to Stone Mountain Park. Attraction tickets are available in specific ticket packages, starting at $31.95.

The walkable Decatur Square

Predating the City of Atlanta itself, Decatur has managed to retain its small-town feel despite the urban explosion around it. It's worth a visit (or two) to enjoy entertainment at the gazebo or a beer sidewalk-side to people-watch away the hours.

A short ride on MARTA from the core of Atlanta, the square features a vibrant restaurant and arts scene. Characterized (questionably) as the Brooklyn of Atlanta by the New York Times, there’s no shortage of things to see and do around Decatur Square all year.

Stores and restaurants on a street. Outside of the restaurant in the foreground are tables and chairs. There are holiday decorations hanging above the sidewalk and on the trees that line the sidewalk. Curbed Atlanta

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Home to dinosaurs, a Star Gallery (featuring a variety of constellations, from Orion to the Big Dipper), and a theater with a four-story screen and 3D capabilities, Fernbank is Atlanta’s premier destination for science and history lovers. It’s also an enchanting place for a winter’s walk in the woods.

With eclectic events, including a tour of the adjacent old-growth forest and “Fernbank After Dark,” which couples liquor and learning, there’s plenty to do for children and adults.

Oakland Cemetery

The final resting place of many famous Georgians, Oakland Cemetery was founded in 1850 and offers plenty of history and stoic beauty. Encompassing 150 acres just east of downtown, the cemetery boasts fantastic views of the city’s skyline from among the shadows of numerous large oaks and magnolias.

Tours and events abound all year, and winter is a great time to check them out without the crowds. Check the calendar, and choose one for your visit.

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Wanna feel like you’re in North Georgia wilds without leaving the urban confines of ITP ATL? Head here to enjoy a mild winter’s day. The rolling, residential terrain of Southwest Atlanta yields a surprising natural treasure that spans 120 acres on Cascade Road and is dotted with remnants of Civil War battles (plus a historic springhouse and climbable waterfall). 

Not far from downtown, the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve Trail might be ITP’s most tranquil running and hiking destination, with three trail options and plenty of terrific vantages for a clear winter day. Onsite parking is available.

Ponce City Market’s rooftop

Atlantans have long pined for public rooftop views that encompass the city’s varied skylines, and Ponce City Market’s rollicking vintage amusement park in the sky does the job as well as anywhere. Whether relaxing with your favorite cocktail or taking part in one of PCM’s many events, there’s no better place to enjoy a warm winter day—or night. Standard admission is $10.

PATH400

For Buckhead dwellers pining to enjoy a multi-use trail without venturing southward, look no further than PATH400. Winter explorers will soon be able to tackle a new section that connects Miami Circle to Peachtree Park.

The first phase, connecting Old Ivy Road to Tower Place, opened in early 2015, and the network is far beyond half-complete already. Once finished, this 5.2-mile spine will connect to the Beltline’s Peachtree Creek spur trail and beyond, offering a 10- to 14-foot-wide multi-use path for cyclists, skaters, walkers, and runners.

A highway with a walking path next to it. There is a man walking down the walking path. There are cars on the highway. In the distance is a city skyline. Curbed Atlanta

The Atlanta Beltline

Less a singular thing to see, and more a chance to people-watch and walk between some of Atlanta’s great sights and most quintessential ’hoods, the Beltline continues to grow from a big idea to one of the most transformative urban initiatives in the country.

The Beltline pulses with activity all winter long, with everything from fitness and art happenings to bus tours and more. Visitors might want to catch it at the southeastern edge of Piedmont Park and explore points south.

Zoo Atlanta

Located in Atlanta’s oldest public green space, Grant Park, recently expanded Zoo Atlanta is a longtime favorite of Atlanta residents and visitors. It’s also home to pandas and many other cute creatures who look forward to visitors on warm, sunny winter days.

Little Five Points

A fun visit for all seasons, Atlanta’s vibrant, subversive, and always feisty Little Five Points provides a shopping and people-watching experience like no other in town.

L5P crept up organically in the 1920s, around streets where trolleys once converged, and visitor’s today can find everything from rad thrift-store jewelry and some of America’s best burgers to high-performance bicycles and indie concerts.

An entrance to a market place. The entrance is shaped and painted like a cartoon skull. The skull’s eyes are pink and swirly. Curbed Atlanta

Chattahoochee River, National Recreation Area

What beats a winter hike along the banks of the ’hooch? Not much. The Chattahoochee River, along the northern and western borders of the City of Atlanta, offers an array of options for whiling away a warm winter day—even if it means skipping the getting wet part.

The National Recreation Area, which includes the gorgeous East Palisades, features a range of options for hiking, kayaking and canoeing, and fishing. It’s an inexpensive, restorative way to soak in nature close to home.

Atlanta History Center

More than just a storage facility for artifacts, the Atlanta History Center’s 33-acre Buckhead grounds feature a museum, library, research center, and range of historic structures, including the amazingly ornate Swan House and plenty of trails to enjoy cooler weather.

A great place to learn about the history of the city and its citizens, the facility also is home to the fully restored panoramic cyclorama painting and the historic Texas locomotive.

A large crescent-shaped building with a  tree beside it. Courtesy of Atlanta History Center

College Football Hall of Fame

Missing your college football fix? Atlanta is the country’s amateur pigskin mecca, and the College Football Hall of Fame just might be the nucleus.

Located across Centennial Olympic Park from the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Center for Civil and Human Rights, the facility is part museum and part fan-experience zone. With an indoor football field, visitors can play out their QB (and field-goal kicker) fantasies.

A large glassy building with an orangish football-shaped appendage and other tall buildings in the background. Courtesy of College Football Hall of Fame

World of Coca-Cola

Need a fun option for a rainy winter day? Head here—and have a smile. Among the many global powerhouse companies with Atlanta roots, Coca-Cola is undoubtedly the most universally known.

While some may find the World of Coca-Cola an over-the-top ad for the company, approaching it with the understanding that it’s one big shameless paean to the hometown beverage maker allows for enjoyment. Don’t forget to sample the “Beverly” in “Taste It!”