What to Pack for Atlanta with Kids (The Local Mom Edition)

Hi friends, Kiersten here! When my sister visited from California with her kids last summer, she packed all wrong and we made an emergency Target run on day one. Don't be my sister. Here's the Brook family packing list, season by season.

YEAR-ROUND ESSENTIALS:

• Refillable water bottles for everyone (Atlanta has free filtered water stations everywhere)

• Light rain jacket or packable poncho — Atlanta storms are sudden and dramatic

• Comfy walking shoes (you'll log 15-20k steps on a downtown day, easy)

• Backpack carrier or lightweight stroller — sidewalks are uneven in some neighborhoods

• Portable phone charger — between maps and tickets your battery will die

• Snacks. Always snacks. Goldfish, pouches, granola bars

SUMMER (May-September) SPECIFIC:

• 2 outfits per kid per day — they WILL get sweaty

• SPF 50+ kids' sunscreen and a sun hat

• Cooling towels (we love the Frogg Toggs ones)

• Mosquito repellent — especially for evenings at Piedmont Park or Stone Mountain

• Pool/swim gear — every good Atlanta family hotel has a pool

• Water shoes for the Centennial Park splash fountain (kids will run through it 100%)

FALL (October-November) SPECIFIC:

• Layers! Mornings can be 50\u00b0F and afternoons 78\u00b0F

• Closed-toe shoes for Stone Mountain and pumpkin patches

• A light jacket for evening Beltline strolls

WINTER (December-February) SPECIFIC:

• Real winter coats (Atlanta gets cold, not Minnesota cold, but it's no joke)

• Warm hats and gloves for outdoor things like Garden Lights at the Botanical Garden

• Closed-toe shoes — flip flops won't cut it

WHAT NOT TO BOTHER PACKING:

• A formal outfit (Atlanta is casual everywhere except fine dining)

• Tons of cash (most spots are card-only now)

• Heavy umbrellas (a rain jacket is more practical with kids)

MAMA HACKS:

• Pack a "first day bag" with one outfit per kid, snacks, and chargers \u2014 in case checked luggage is delayed.

• Bring a small first-aid kit with kid Tylenol, bandaids, and Pedialyte packets. Atlanta heat = dehydration meltdowns.

• Throw in an empty zip-top bag for wet swim suits or sweaty clothes on the way home from the Aquarium.