Things to do in Atlanta: Piedmont Park and Botanical Garden

1. Piedmont Park

Start with a walk rather than a ticket. Piedmont Park gives you space to pause between Midtown visits, and its Beltline connections let you turn a short outing into a longer one if you feel like it. Bring a picnic and leave some time unplanned.

Good to know

• The park is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm; restroom hours are shorter.
• You can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks, but glass containers are not allowed.
• Walk from Midtown or Arts Center MARTA station using the directions on the park website.
• Dogs need a leash outside the designated dog parks.

2. Atlanta Botanical Garden

Give the garden its own visit, not just the time left after the park. Use the garden map to find the Perennial Garden, Flower Walk and Fuqua Orchid Center, then follow whichever plants catch your eye. You can enjoy the different settings without needing a particular flower to be at its peak.

Good to know

• The garden normally opens Tuesday–Sunday; check current hours, tickets and area closures on atlantabg.org.
• Bring a payment card: the garden does not accept cash.
• Look at the current garden map before deciding your route, especially if a particular collection is your main reason for visiting.

3. Center for Puppetry Arts

Puppetry is worth a place in your day whether or not you have children with you. The Worlds of Puppetry Museum brings together the Jim Henson collection and puppets from around the world. A live show and puppet-making workshop offer a different way into the same art form.

Good to know

• Choose a museum-only ticket or check the all-inclusive Family Series ticket, which includes a performance, museum galleries and a Create-A-Puppet Workshop.
• The museum normally opens Tuesday–Sunday, with last admission at 4:30 pm; check holiday closures.
• Book a particular performance around its showtime and age guidance, rather than assuming you can join one on arrival.
• The entrance is behind the building off 18th Street; free rear-lot parking is limited, and the ticket office takes cards only.

4. Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail

This former railway corridor is now a shared trail linking Piedmont Park with Reynoldstown. Walk a section for the murals and neighborhood connections, or make Ponce City Market or Krog Street Market your food stop. You do not need to cover the whole route to get something from it.

Good to know

• Use the official trail map to choose your entry and exit points before setting off.
• The path is multi-use, so stay aware of cyclists and other people sharing the space.
• For an easy park connection, use the access at 10th Street and Monroe Drive.

5. High Museum of Art

The High is a good change of pace after time outdoors. Its collection galleries and changing exhibitions let you build a visit around art you already enjoy or try something unfamiliar. Pick a few galleries rather than treating the whole museum as a checklist.

Good to know

• Normally open Tuesday–Sunday and closed Monday; check high.org for current hours.
• Admission covers the collection galleries and most special exhibitions; check the exhibition you want before buying.
• The last ticket is issued one hour before closing. Find the museum at 1280 Peachtree Street NE.

6. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

Make a separate stop here to learn about King and the civil rights movement. Start with the National Park Service staff so you know which buildings and exhibits are available that day. This is a visit to plan around current access, not an old list of interiors you expect to enter.

Good to know

• Check the NPS visitor information before traveling: the main visitor center is listed as closed for renovation.
• The temporary visitor center is at Historic Fire Station No. 6, 39 Boulevard NE; confirm that arrangement before your visit.
• NPS lists free parking at 423 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue NE.

Quick tips

• A simple Midtown day: Piedmont Park followed by either the Botanical Garden or the Center for Puppetry Arts.
• Check opening days before planning Monday: the garden, puppetry museum and High normally close then.
• Save the national historical park for a separate outing, and check NPS access updates first.
• Want company? Check upcoming events in Atlanta on Socroo below and find someone to go with.

Upcoming events

• The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show (18 and Over) 12 November 2026 at 01:00 UTC The Eastern-GA, 777 Memorial Dr SE Building C