43 Ways To Beat the Heat in Atlanta: Heat Wave Indoor Activities and Cool Outdoor Fun

There's one basic fact about an Atlanta summer: It’s HOT! When a heat wave hits, get ready to cool things down in Atlanta. Our list of places to have fun during an Atlanta heat wave will keep sweat, and boredom, away. And better yet, some of these places offer summer specials that make it easier on your wallet!

For those days you need to stay home in air conditioned bliss, check out 100 Crafts for Kids and 35 Water Games for Kids to Play All Summer Long. If you really can't handle the Atlanta heat, escape the city and hit the road with Summer Day Trips from Atlanta that families will love.

Keep cool in Puttshack, an elevated indoor mini golf course full of tech-heavy mechanics and an upscale vibe. Photo by Melanie Preis

Indoor Activities to Beat an Atlanta Heat Wave

1. Atlanta Museums

Atlanta boasts numerous museums to keep your kids entertained and learning new things.

2. Georgia Aquarium

See the sharks, penguins, seals, and more aquatic animals. For an extra fee, visitors can enjoy personal encounters and interactions with many of the residents of Georgia Aquarium.

3. CAMP Atlanta

Play, craft and shop at CAMP Store in Dunwoody. It's a hybrid destination — combining retail, entertainment, and wonder. 

4. Illuminarium Atlanta 

Immerse yourself in Horizon of Khufu, the ultimate VR experience that takes audiences back in time to ancient Egypt. 

5. Movie Deals

Take your kids to the movies for only $1. Through August 7, 2024, Regal Cinema’s Summer Movie Express offers kid-friendly movie selections every Tuesday and Wednesday. Cinemark offers Summer Movie Clubhouse with $1.75 movies on certain days through August 15, 2024. Local theater Aurora Cineplex in Roswell offers Summer Family Flicks every weekday for $3 until August 1. 

6. Sloomoo Institute Atlanta

Get your degree in slime by visiting the Sloomoo Institute. Besides touching all sorts of sticky/goopy/stretchy slime, kids can enjoy the full-body experience with a head-to-toe slime shower and take home a personalized container.

7. Evening Outdoor Movies

After the sun sets, the high temperatures lower to more enjoyable levels and families can watch a free movie under the stars.

8. Escape Rooms

Head to escape rooms like Breakout Games Atlanta, where you’ll have limited time to figure out the mystery and how to get out of the room. 

9. Arcades

Get your game on and keep cool at one of Atlanta's many fun arcades.  

10. Local Libraries

Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, and Henry County library systems kick off their summer reading challenges each year. Activities include in-person storytimes, arts and crafts, and other programs. Check your local library branch for upcoming events.

11. Free Indoor Playgrounds

Although it may be too hot to visit your child's favorite outdoor park, don't despair! Atlanta features many free indoor playgrounds to let your kids run wild.

12. Mini Golf

Cool off with a hole-in-one at awesome indoor mini golf courses in Atlanta —some feature neon colors, crazy themes, animation, and more!

13. Topgolf

With climate-controlled bays, enjoy a variety of golf games with microchipped golf balls at Topgolf. 

14. Free Bowling

This summer, kids can enjoy two free bowling games per day through Kids Bowl Free. Look online to find participating bowling alleys near you.

15. Laser Tag

Tag, you’re it! Under black lights in a two-story arena, tag your friends in a competitive game of laser tag.

16. Roller Skate

Similar to the aforementioned bowling program, Kids Skate Free allows registered children to roller skate twice per week for free during the Atlanta summer.

17. Ice Skate

Survive an Atlanta heat wave with ice skating, which allows kids to stay active and cool while indoors.

18. Trampoline Parks

Trampoline parks let kids jump out all their energy! Depending on the location, guests can tackle a ropes course, play bouncy dodgeball, and more.

19. Duckpin Bowling

Duckpin bowling uses a smaller-size ball and is easier for kids to handle as it weighs under four pounds. Each player gets three rolls per frame. To try it out, visit the Painted Duck.

20. Indoor Rock Climbing

Climb indoor rock walls and cool off from the unbearable heat while 20 feet above. 

21. LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

Kids can build creations from Lego bricks, watch a 4D show, stroll through the Atlanta MiniLand (featuring a mini Centennial Olympic Park), and more. Atlanta's LEGO Discovery Center just underwent a massive renovation!

22. Ninja Warrior Gyms and Parkour Courses

Ninja warriors and parkour enthusiasts will have a great time flying through indoor obstacle courses and challenging tracks.

23. Museum of Illusions

Enjoy mind-bending reality, with the comfort of air conditioning, at the Museum of Illusions at Atlantic Station.

24. Center for Puppetry Arts

Head to one of Atlanta's most beloved, quirkiest attractions for kids, the Center for Puppetry Arts. There are always wonderful summer shows, as well as the museum itself and puppet workshops.

25. Foam Party

Embrace the Atlanta heat wave by releasing thousands and thousands of bubbles at your own foam party!

26. Indoor Pickleball

Hop on the pickleball craze by checking out indoor Pickleball courts in Atlanta. 

Visit one of Tiny Bubbles' three locations around Atlanta. Photo courtesy Brielle Gaines of Tiny Bubbles Tea Bar

Food-related Activities to Beat the Heat in Atlanta

27. Ice Cream

We all scream for ice cream! Atlanta has delicious ice cream shops so cool off with your favorite flavor. Or try making ice cream in a bag at home! 

28. Mayfield Dairy

Cool off and head to Mayfield Dairy’s location in Athens, Tennessee. After the tour, receive a free scoop of ice cream and visit Maggie the Cow. 

29. World of Coca-Cola

Tour the 92,000-square-foot World of Coca-Cola with exhibits, a 3D movie, and the Coca-Cola polar bear. Near the end, stop by the Taste It! exhibit to sample icy Coca-Cola beverages.

30. Food Halls

Expand children’s culinary palettes by trying one of these Atlanta food halls. Located indoors, these air-conditioned halls offering everything from lunch and dinner to snacks and desserts.

31. Popsicle Project

Solve summer boredom AND enjoy a frosty treat by creating a delicious popsicle recipe.

32. Themed Restaurants

Keep kids engaged during a meal at unique Atlanta themed restaurants that offer the best in "eatertainment" and quirky menus. 

33. Boba Tea

Treat the kids and yourself to refreshing boba tea at cool bubble tea places in Atlanta. 

Cool off with friends at Willis Park pool. Photo by Elsa Simcik

Water Activities to Survive an Atlanta Summer

34. Swimming Pools

Escape the heat at these public swimming pools across Atlanta. Some offer slides, lazy rivers and diving boards. A few of them are even free! 

35. Atlanta Water Parks

Spend a day plunging down slides and splashing in the wave pool at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands Water Park or Six Flags White Water.

36. Swim Lessons

With a big focus on water activities, summer is a great time to enroll your children in swimming lessons. Rest easier knowing your kids are trained in water safety...and they can cool off.

37. Atlanta Swimming Lakes and Beaches

There’s nothing more fun than having a picnic, jumping into a lake, and building sandcastles.

38. Spraygrounds and Splash Pads

If you don’t want to spend an entire day at the pool or lake, try a sprayground and splash pad to cool off.

Have an adventure while whitewater rafting in Columbus. Photo by Rebecca Ruffin Leffler

39. Rafting

Get wet while whitewater rafting! Try a two-hour guided rafting trip down Chattooga River for adventurous families.

40. North Georgia Mountains

In the alpine town of Helen, Georgia tube right through the middle of town and enjoy cooler temps up north!

41. Chattahoochee River

Rent tubes or kayaks from Shoot the Hooch or Nantahala Outdoor Center to float down the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta.

42. Nearby Beaches

Nothing beats a cool ocean breeze and swimming in the surf. Get out of town and head to one of these family-friendly beaches perfect for Georgia families. 

43. Indoor Pools and Water Parks

If your children are prone to sunburns, visit indoor pools and water parks. Many offer an outdoor component as well.