365atlantafamily.com
What You Should Do On Thanksgiving Day In Atlanta (Beyond Shopping)
When the turkey has been carved, the last piece of pie has been eaten and the adults wake up from a nap, what is there to do in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day? Beyond hitting the mall or other retail stores? The answer is, a lot. So if you’re going a little stir crazy with the family in town, or you just want to get out and work off a few helpings of stuffing, here is what to do on Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta.
Run (or Trot)
Before the craziness begins, slip out for a little run. The Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon and 5K attract thousands of runners and walkers eager to share in the holiday spirit and give thanks for their health and fitness. Come celebrate this Thanksgiving Day with the Atlanta Track Club and earn your turkey!
Go for a hike
Fall is here with cooler temperatures and leaves still falling from the trees. Enjoy the outdoors and work off a little of your Thanksgiving meal with a family hike. Here are three places near Atlanta to enjoy a hike
- Sope Creek Trail – This trail in Marietta takes you to a babbling creek and historic mill ruins.
- Sweetwater Creek State Park – My boys loved hopping the rocks across the creek. You’ll also walk past mill ruins. Unfortunately, the Green certified visitor’s center is closed on Thanksgiving, but come back another day to check out the museum about Sweetwater Mill. Hear first person accounts of the day Union soldiers came to the Mill and destroyed it.
- Amicalola State Park – In addition to hiking, you can enjoy living history demonstrations in the lodge lobby throughout the day. Contact the Lodge for specific times.
In fact, all the Georgia State Parks are open on Thanksgiving day (as well as Christmas and New Years). And if you are looking for a way to #optoutside the day AFTER Thanksgiving, they have a full slate of events too. And REI has an entire website to inspire you to #optoutside and share with friends. Who has time to shop when there is so much to do!
Go Biking
- Silver Comet Trail – This trail is in Smyrna, and goes all the way to Alabama.
- Atlanta Beltline – There are several different sections of the Atlanta Beltline. Along each route you’ll find local art as part of the Art on the Beltline project.
- Hard Labor Creek State Park – This state park just east of Atlanta has miles of mountain bike trails for the beginner through advanced biker.
Go Ice Skating
Atlanta has several different ice rinks with very different personalities. Choose the one that is right for you and go ice skating in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day. Here is a review of the ice rinks in Atlanta with links to additional information.
See Lights
Thanksgiving night is a perfect time to see Holiday Lights in Atlanta. This is one of the most popular evenings, so if you plan to go to any of the paid attractions, call ahead for tickets and no matter where you go, bring an extra dose of patience. You aren’t the only one with this great idea. My current favorite light display is the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Garden Nights, Holiday Lights. Centennial Park usually has a great display too, and it’s free.
Play with LEGOS
LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Phipps Plaza is open on Thanksgiving Day from 10 – 7 pm. Get $12 discount tickets before you go here.
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Purchase a ClueTown Book before the holiday and explore the city with a scavenger hunt. Solve puzzles to move on to the next stop. There are four ClueTown Books, so you can explore any of these four areas of Atlanta. Decatur, Piedmont Park, Oakland Cemetery or The Atlanta Beltline.
