Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Atlanta, GA

Wow! The weather outside is frightful! I'm from Michigan and very familiar with cold weather, but I seem to have acclimated very well to the mild winters and I have been freezing these past few days!  Of course it doesn't help that our heater isn't the greatest so the indoor temps have rarely been above 60!

Luckily, Atlanta is home to the indoor play industry and we have lots and lots of options for getting out of the cold and having fun indoors.

Inflatable Play Places/Bounce Houses

These are very popular with parents and kids alike.  Some have seating areas for parents, free WiFi, consessions, etc.  All vary in play times and costs and services.  Here are a few around the metropolitain area.  Be sure to check out websites or call for more details on specific open jump times. Also, some have separate toddler areas -- which is always a good thing when there are big kids and little kids about.  In Atlanta there is: KangaZoom, Bounce-N-Bob's Indoor Playground, Monkey Joes has locations all over Atlanta, Leapin' Lizards  in Decatur and Parties on Air  in Duluth (which is the areas largest indoor inflateable play place).  These are only the tip of the iceberg! As I started looking, I kept finding more and more all over the Atlanta area.  I'm sure you know of one or two in your areas as well!

Indoor Playgrounds

If inflatables aren't your thing and you prefer the "indoor playgrounds" there are a few of them about as well!  I've previously mentioned my kids favorite place, Southern-prep in Marietta.  Other favorites, DACKids Pirate Cove has a large indoor climbing frame and sandbox as well as jumpies; Little Bears Indoor Playground caters specifically to toddlers and preschoolers; and The Coffee Park which combines indoor play for tots with coffee house for mom's.

Soft Play at the Mall

It seems more and more malls are catering to moms with kids and adding soft play areas.  Of course one thing I like best about them is they are free (not couting the coffee and cookies and lunch and whatever else you buy at the mall)!   These are fantastic because they let kids run off steam and let parents put their feet up.  Everyone knows it's no fun shopping with toddlers, so these soft play areas give mom's and kids a break! The malls around Atlanta with dedicated kids play areas... The Mall at Stonecrest , Lithonia; Arbor Place Mall, Douglasville; North Pont Mall, Alpharetta; Mall of Georigia, Buford and the one I'm looking forward to most... Spring 2009 TownCenter at Cobb in Kennesaw will open an indoor soft play area as well.

Restaurant Play Places

Of course, there is always the play places at local restaurants like McDonalds, Chic-fil-a and Chuck E Cheese.  While these are not my favorite indoor play places, they do have their time and place.  Plus the kids like them for special occasions.

There should be something for everyone here... And please let me know of your favorite indoor play places!