10 Things to Do in Atlanta in Summer

During your visit you will discover that there are many things to do in Atlanta all year round. However, the summer season has a particular charm for outdoor enthusiasts.

You can ride a Segway through the city streets to explore the city, get a breathtaking view of Atlanta from a Ferris wheel and eat ice cream at a festival dedicated to this delicious dessert, among other things. Check out these and other interesting activities to incorporate into your itinerary.

Among the best tours in Atlanta that you can enjoy during the summer, the Segway tour with a local guide stands out. You can tour the main streets of the city in a fun way, learn about the history of the destinations visited and also take advantage of the warm weather of the season.

The adventure begins at a previously agreed place in the center of the city. There, the guide will give you some basic tips to drive the segway and will give you the necessary safety equipment.

The route of this tour usually incorporates places of interest such as:

• Inman Park, which is one of the oldest areas of the city, where you will find a beautiful architectural display of the Victorian period, restaurants, bars and cafes.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, where you will find the tomb and childhood home of the American minister and activist.
• The Krog Street Market, with more than 100 years of history in Atlanta.

Likewise, you'll pass by an approximately half-mile mural in the Cabbagetown neighborhood. In it, annually more than 150 street artists paint their works, giving life to a festival called Forward Warrior.

Information of interest

• Price: from 63 ¤ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Where: main streets of Atlanta (route may vary).

Escaping the hustle and bustle of the city on a wine tour of the North Georgia wine country is another great thing to do during your visit to Atlanta in 1 day or more. You'll see the colorful vineyards in summer, taste wines and learn about their production.

The wine tour usually incorporates a total of three wineries, which can vary according to daily availability. Some of the vineyards generally visited are:

• Cottage Vineyard and Winery: this is a family-owned winery with a young history, dating back to 2013.
• Serenity Cellars: a small winery whose wines are inspired by Tuscany, so they are produced from various blends.
• CeNita Vineyards and Winery: present in the wine market since 2008 and with a huge estate where you will enjoy beautiful panoramic views.

In addition, the guide will take you to the village Helen, so you can explore it at your own pace. There you will find:

• A beautiful architectural display inspired by the villages of northern Germany.
• Cobblestone streets.
• Handcrafted products in blown glass and other materials.

Information of interest

• Price: from 104€ per person.
• Duration: 10 hours (approx.)
• Where: selected vineyards in northern Georgia.

A must-see destination on your summer itinerary is the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival. This is an annual celebration where you can sample all the ice cream you want and enjoy it outdoors with your family.

When you arrive at Atlanta's major urban natural lung, Piedmont Park, you'll be surrounded by dozens of ice cream vendors, live music and a colorful atmosphere. Immediately, you'll be able to sample vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, raspberry and other treats. In addition, you will find some street food stalls.

On the other hand, you will find an area with children's games, ideal if you have decided to visit Atlanta with children. You will also have at your disposal some activities associated with physical and mental wellness, since this event aims to promote the improvement of people's lifestyle.

Information of interest

• Price: free admission.
• When: mid-July (from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
• Where: 1320 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta (located between the Midtown and Virginia Highland neighborhoods).

Skyview Atlanta is one of the most popular attractions during the summer months in the city. So, if you are not afraid of heights and your visit coincides with that season, you should enjoy this unique experience in the city.

You will board a safe gondola, with comfortable chairs, glass floor and panoramic windows. Immediately, the Ferris wheel will start spinning, reaching approximately 60 meters in height. In total, the skyview makes a maximum of four turns in a time not exceeding 15 minutes.

This is a suitable activity if you do not know what to do in Atlanta at night or during the day. This is because, during the summer, the sky is clearer and, therefore, at any time of the day you will get an amazing view of downtown and its surroundings.

In addition, the Ferris wheel is close to other attractions such as the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, the College Football Hall of Fame, among others. This way you can take advantage of the time to incorporate these destinations into your itinerary for the day.

Information of interest

• Price: starting at $15 per person.
• When: daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (summer by reservation).
• Where: 168 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.

During your stay in Atalanta in summer you will find a high tourist influx in the streets, so you could escape from the city for a day to get in touch with nature. In this sense, a good alternative is to take a trip to Cloudland Canyon State Park.

To carry out this experience, you will have to travel from downtown to Cloudland Canyon Park, a route of approximately 2.5 hours. You can do this transfer on your own or connect with a guided tour.

When you arrive at the park you will be able to do several activities, some of them being:

• Bicycle route.
• Hiking route.
• Visit to the park's waterfalls.
• Exploration of the subway cave system.

If joining one of the best brewery tours in Atlanta is on your travel itinerary, then you can attend the Summer Beer Fest, held annually during the month of June. There, for one day you will find the top local and national brewing companies gathered together.

Upon arriving at the event, you will see a stage with live music and DJs. You will also find a series of street food stands and other preparations representative of the city's gastronomic culture.

On the other hand, there will be more than 200 types of beer. All of them, produced both in Atlanta and in the United States. You will also be able to taste some wines and ciders from the wineries of the North Georgia wine region.

In addition, in the Historic Fourth Ward Park, which is the place where the event takes place, you will find several picnic areas where you can sit on the grass peacefully. There, if you wish, you can eat, drink and enjoy the festival.

Information of interest

• Price: from 45€ per person.
• When: third week of June (4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
• Where: 680 Dallas St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Historic Fourth Ward Park.

Your stay in Atlanta probably coincides with the 4th of July celebration. If so, you can join some of the activities that are held annually on that day to commemorate the birthday of the United States.

You can go to several places located in the city center. Thus, you can enjoy the traditional patriotic parades from early afternoon, ending with the fireworks show. Such is the case of:

• Centennial Olympic Park.
• Truist Park.

Other options tend to be the Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta or the Children's Museum of Atlanta, where you will find music, shows, food trucks and more fireworks.

One activity that has become a tradition during Atlanta's summer is the Hot Air Balloon Festival. This is an event that year after year brings together locals and tourists who enjoy watching these balloons color the sky.

Once you're at Callaway Gardens, you'll find a celebratory atmosphere suitable for the whole family. You will be able to watch approximately 30 hot air balloons take off, decorating the sky during the day and night throughout the weekend.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to take a tethered balloon for a ride and get a bird's eye view of the region. In the meantime, you will be able to take some pictures.

For their part, the little ones of the house will have a special area with games, aimed at all ages. For example:

• Climbing walls.
• Bounce houses.
• Ride on a children's train.

Information of interest

• Price: from 15€ per person.
• When: First weekend in September.
• Where: 17617 US-27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822, Callaway Gardens.

During your summer trip you will be able to live a unique culinary experience. This is the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, where you will be able to taste preparations from the main restaurants of the city. In addition, you will taste selected high quality wines.

In this event you will discover the best flavors from all over Atlanta through dozens of tastings. All in a celebratory atmosphere with live music, art exhibits and a small artisan market.

In addition, you will enjoy live culinary demonstrations by renowned guest chefs in each edition. You can also participate in some local and international cooking classes.

Without a doubt, the Food & Wine Festival is part of the best gastronomic tours in Atlanta and, proof of this, are its more than 20 years of tradition, promoting the culture of food and beverages.

Information of interest

• Price: from 95€ per person.
• When: early September.
• Where: the historic Fourth Ward Park (north entrance).

Another activity you can incorporate into your itinerary is the Japan Fest Atlanta, whose annual celebration coincides with the end of the summer season. You will enjoy the Japanese culture in all its expressions: dances, music, gastronomy, among other aspects.

You will have the opportunity to taste some of the Japanese gastronomy. Such is the case of spring rolls, Teriyaki, tonkotsu Ramen, gyūdon, sushi, desserts, sake, beer, among others.

In addition, during this experience you will see a series of shows, which vary according to the edition of the event. Some of them are:

• Martial arts demonstrations.
• Bonsai workshops.
• Kimono exhibitions.
• Tea ceremony.
• Cosplay contests.

On the other hand, you will find a special area for the little ones of the house. There, you can accompany the children while they learn and have fun with a series of Japanese games specially selected for them.

Information of interest

• Price: from 15€ per person.
• When: third week of September (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
• Where: Gas South Convention Center. 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097 (50-minute drive from downtown Atlanta).

You should know that not all summer months in Atlanta tend to be equally crowded. In fact, the hot season of the year is usually classified into three levels, depending on the volume of visitors.

For example, there is the high season, usually recorded during the month of May and September. On the other hand, there is the very high season, which is usually in July and August. Meanwhile, June is characterized as the low season month of the summer in Atlanta, due to the fact that it is the period with the least amount of tourists.

During your visit to Atlanta you will need to pack a few items of clothing and personal items to help you cope with the inevitable heat.

Make sure you pack light, breathable clothing: shorts, cotton T-shirts with and without sleeves, beach-style dresses, skirts and, of course, a swimsuit.

Also, pack sunglasses, mosquito repellent, high coverage sunscreen against UVA and UVB rays, and at least two pairs of sunglasses and sunscreen. Also, don't forget to bring at least two pairs of comfortable shoes.

Atlanta is a city with a rather marked summer, whose temperature can reach a maximum average of 32ºC. However, this rarely happens, since daily thermometers usually register days of up to 30ºC and nights of no less than 24ºC.

In addition, you should know that this hot season in Atlanta is characterized by being short like the winter, having an approximate duration of 3.8 months.