This post is sponsored by Discover Atlanta but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Our Atlanta Staycation
This year has been full of changes, challenges, surprises, and has required all of us to adapt to doing things differently. At the beginning of the year, I made plans to travel internationally, but those plans were put off due to concerns about public health and safety. After months of being cooped up in the house and missing out on a much needed family vacation, I was so excited when I was presented with the opportunity to travel again, right to the heart of my own city, and discover the magic of my hometown, Atlanta, Georgia.
Our Atlanta staycation was a very welcome change of scenery and coincided with my daughter Aven’s 4th birthday. We celebrated in style at Embassy Suites Centennial Olympic Park Hotel and enjoyed some of Atlanta’s awesome family friendly attractions. Read more about our Atlanta staycation below.
When we arrived at the Embassy Suites Centennial Olympic Park Hotel, I was pleased to see all the safety precautions they were taking and guidelines they had in place. This gave me so much more peace of mind about our Atlanta staycation experience. The lobby and common areas in the hotel have posted signs with safety advisories. Rooms are thoroughly cleaned prior to a guest’s arrival, sealed, and housekeeping service can be scheduled at the request of guests during stay and tailored to the guests comfort level. There are also disinfecting stations located throughout the hotel.
Upon entering our room , the presidential suite, we broke the Clean Stay seal which indicated that no one had been in our room after it’s deep cleaning. The room was absolutely stunning! It came equipped with a full-size kitchen, bar area, dining room, living room, office space, extra bathroom, and a gorgeous master bedroom with a full bathroom feauturing a jacuzzi tub, and separate shower. The views from our bedroom and private, larger than life balcony were spectacular! We were even gifted with yummy vegan treats and the cutest balloon to help celebrate my daughter‘s birthday!
For our first Atlanta staycation night, we enjoyed dinner at Ted’s Montana Grill. They followed City of Atlanta guidelines for health and safety by offering a digital menu, requiring masks, and by providing appropriately spaced seating. Ted’s is one of my personal favorites and the food is always amazing !
The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel which was served continental style, with pancakes, eggs, breakfast potatoes, fruit, juices, coffee, and more! Then we headed out to visit the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is an amazing experience for kids and parents alike. We have been on several occasions and there is always something new to explore. With their ever-changing exhibits and offerings, it’s a great place to keep kids engaged and excited about.
They are keeping patrons safe by scheduling visits of smaller groups to enjoy the museum for a specified block of time. They also feature sanitizing stations, require the use of masks, consistently clean play stations, and have implemented processes that encourage families to stay in their groups and 6 feet away from others where possible. Aven participated in creating a mural, storytime, played in the sand box, did a fishing activity, and spent time grocery shopping and preparing “meals” in their kid’s kitchen. There is literally so much to do here that it is almost impossible to experience everything in one visit, which is why we keep coming back.
After our visit to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, we ended the night with a beautiful dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House located inside the Embassy Suites Centennial Olympic Park Hotel. They really took the time to make our experience a special one. Upon being seated, Aven was excited to find happy birthday confetti on our table and we were pleased to hear that the restaurant was able to honor her dietary requests.
The service and the food was absolutely amazing, especially the crab cakes and Aven’s vegan risotto dish. After our main courses, we were surprised with a specially made vegan raspberry sorbet birthday dessert! Aven loved it and it topped off our night and wonderful experience at Ruth’s Chris.
We rose early the next morning and prepared for check out, which was smooth and seamless. I hated to say goodbye to our incredible room at the Embassy Suites Centinnial Park Hotel, but now that I’ve experienced how amazing it is, I’ll definitely be back in the future!
To wrap up our Atlanta Staycation, we had another fun filled day ahead, at the World of Coca-Cola! It was Aven’s first time visiting and I hadn’t been in several years, so I was excited to check it out! We received temperature checks upon entry and wore masks throughout the exhibits. Social distancing and remaining with our respective groups, was also encouraged.
We got to learn more about the history of Coca-Cola and the brand’s impact on the world. I loved our behind the scenes look at the bottling process, the Vault of the Secret Formula, and the opportunity to sample Coca-Cola products from around the world. The highlight of our World of Coca-Cola visit for Aven, was the iconic Coca-Cola Polar Bear! She got to take pictures and loved every moment.
Atlanta is such a fulfilling and fascinating city to explore and discover, with a rich history, diverse culture, booming creative community, food that satisfies the soul, and where so many have found growth and opportunity. The brands, businesses, and people that help this city to thrive, all contribute significantly to its beauty. As a native, embarking upon an Atlanta staycation allowed me to enjoy more of the beautiful city I love, right from the heart. Check out www.Atlanta.net to discover more!
This looks like an absolutely fabulous staycation or vacation! Sign me up!!!
We had an amazing time!!!