In an earlier blog, Heidemarie Chernushin wrote about her four-day jaunt through Atlanta visiting some of the destination's most notable attractions. These were places I would have loved to have visited also, but my trip to Georgia's largest city was in the company of two teenage boys who had a bit of a different itinerary in mind ... and it centered on tomahawks, cliff hangers and flying like Superman. Extreme family vacation? Not really. Just a couple of fun days at Atlanta parks that feature roller coasters, water slides and 95 mile per hour fastballs.
Atlanta is roughly a seven-hour drive from Orlando, Fla., up Interstate 75, which we managed comfortably with two drivers sharing the load behind the wheel. We arrived around lunchtime and checked in at the Hilton Atlanta downtown. This hotel's location was a short ride away from all of the things we wanted to do and provided the amenities we tend to look for when we travel. The guys quickly suited up for a dip in the rooftop swimming pool while my husband and I gathered up some sandwiches and snacks in the hotel's MarketPlace (teenage boys + swimming = insatiable hunger). The boys later experienced utter vacation euphoria when they found out the MarketPlace was open 24 hours!

Later we headed over to Turner Field to see the Atlanta Braves play the Los Angeles Dodgers. The mix of game traffic and 5 o'clock commuters made for quite a jam, but we still got to the ballpark in time to catch the tail-end of batting practice. If you're planning to go to a weeknight game, be sure to leave yourself ample time to get to the stadium.

We parked and walked a short distance to the main entrance and on the way passed a few remnant reminders of the 1996 summer Olympic Games. The stadium itself was the venue for opening and closing ceremonies before it was converted for baseball. Skirting the stadium's brick exterior is Monument Grove featuring statues of Ty Cobb, Phil Niekro and the Brave's legendary Hank Aaron. While the statue serves as a dedication to No. 44's historical baseball career, there's a better shrine situated in the adjacent parking lot on real estate once belonging to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - home of the Braves pre-1997. The original section of the outfield fence that Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th homerun over still stands as it did in 1974.

Contrary to some of the smaller, more intimate ballparks we have visited like Chicago's Wrigley Field and Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Turner Field seemed massive. From our seats in the second deck we felt far away from the action on the field, but the huge high definition video screen above the outfield wall replayed anything we might have missed. The guys enjoyed participating in the tomahawk chop chants and the interactive activities at Scouts Alley located beyond left field.

Day 2 we headed west of the city to nearby Austell to visit Six Flags Over Georgia. We arrived shortly after this AAA GEM attraction opened and had an opportunity to experience some of the more popular rides with limited wait times. The park features 10 roller coasters including Goliath, the Georgia Scorcher and Superman. This three-minute superhero flight tops out at 60 miles per hour as you ride face down, thankfully supported by more than a cape.

As the morning waned, the crowds and the wait times grew larger, especially at the water rides like Thunder River. It gets quite hot in Atlanta in the summertime, so these rides provide an ideal way to cool off. To escape the heat, the park offers plenty of shaded areas and an interactive water play zone called Skull Island.

Coming from central Florida, we figured the Atlanta heat wouldn't bother us, but we underestimated it. So, the following day we decided that if we were going to do an outdoor activity, it would have to involve water. Located just 20 minutes northwest of the city in Marietta is Six Flags White Water. Noted as the largest water park in the southeast, White Water offers more than 20 rides and 40 slides on a 50 acre site.

The kids spent the bulk of their day braving Cliffhanger, a 90-foot freefall slide, and Tornado, a seven-story drop into a giant water-gushing funnel and waterfall, while we opted for the milder slides. The biggest crowds packed the wave pool and the lazy river ... and I do mean big crowds. Note that if you intend to grab a couple of lounge chairs for the day, it's best to arrive very early.
 
On the ride back home the following day the guys were totally exhausted. But before they fell asleep in the back seat, they made a list of all the things they wanted to do the next time they visit Atlanta. Zoo Atlanta will surely be a stop. This facility has an extensive reptile collection and places to observe Western Lowland gorillas and giant pandas. The Atlanta History Center also sounds like a great way to spend a day with its tribute to the 1996 summer Olympics, interactive sports lab and exhibits detailing the Civil War.