While Fall Break may be finished for many of us, I must share our adventures in hopes that your family can have a short ‘staycation’ in the ATL soon!
It’s not often that I and my husband are at home and can escape for fun at the same time – but when we do, we try to make the most of it and as many memories as we possibly can. That’s what lead us to our 2022 Fall Break Staycation!
Last week our fun started with the North Georgia State Fair on Saturday, while the event is over for this year, I must share a few cute pictures – because we went TWICE! That’s right…. We took advantage of living super close and took Scarlett to explore two times. What were her favorites you ask? Well, she says the ‘spinner,’ Nemo, and the Ferris wheel. Though, I think the true winner is that we have a child who has NO FEAR and wants to do it all! (Oh, and the caramel pecan cinnamon rolls with a side of Mama Jugs delicious strawberry tea…)
Scarlett loves parks, especially Laurel Park in Marietta. We love it because they have ducks and an amazing playground with a walking trail. When she tires of one area, there are always others to adventure on to. And the amount of energy she uses, makes for amazing naps too.
Our next adventure was to the Zoo Atlanta. We went early so there was no crowd, the animals were playful, and the weather was amazing. We spent the morning checking out the lions, elephants, reptiles (Daddy was on duty for that one) and then finished with the Pandas! Scarlett had never been to this Zoo, so it was all new to her and she loved it!
The following day we decided to go to the Georgia Aquarium. This was her ABSOLUTE FAVORITE of the week. She was all about the sharks (baby shark doo, doo, doo…), manta rays, finding Nemo, and quite enjoyed all of the little tunnels and looking areas throughout the aquarium. I personally enjoyed the Puffins! My husband and I were married in Iceland and explored the entire island only seeing a handful up close, so seeing them here has been on my bucket lists since the exhibit opened. We had so much fun that we purchased a membership. Want a discount? Click here to purchase tickets through my link.
One of the most fun parts of our day was telling our daughter that we were engaged at the aquarium while scuba diving – it was my first dive, and I was terrified! (I’ll try to find the video of me falling in on top of a whale shark and post soon.) My now husband tried to take my regulator out of my mouth to kiss me, that was a no go… but a good story!
Then it was time to do a bit of local shopping – Costco is Scarlett’s favorite, so we hit it up, twice. Target, Lowe’s, Kroger – all of the normal musts for a week at home. Where else does she beg to go when asked? Why Los Magueys of course! She calls it the restaurant and LOVES it. The service is always amazing, and everyone is so kind and understanding that she is a toddler. Plus, she loves to give the singers tips, so Thursday night is always Mexican for us.
Then it was the weekend – I’d hit up an estate sale earlier in the week and found a deal I couldn’t resist. I scored a kids bedroom suite for $100. My dad and I spent the weekend refinishing and painting it while Scarlett and my mom played. *Love Estate Sales? Check out www.EstateSales.net.
All in all, it was a great week – even if I did work some during my staycation, but as we working parents know – flexibility is key.
Email me at mackiddallasga@macaronikid.com and let me know your favorite spots to explore - we're always looking for new adventures!
